Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

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BeyondBlue Hi! Check out this post if you're not sure how to start
  • replies: 0

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are... View more

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are really interested in what you might want to add to these conversations. We get it, having anxiety makes it hard to share in a public place. Remember, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anxiety in some form in their lives. This might be in social settings, at work, or just in the day to day. You don’t need a diagnosis to post here. If it feels like the right spot for your post, go right ahead! We know that feeling anxious can make it hard to reach out so we want you to know that getting this far is amazing and a great start. A few tips for getting the most out of this section: Get involved when you can! Posting and replying is the heartbeat of this community and you DO have something worthwhile to share (when you’re ready ) Every experience is different. There is no competition here. We know how challenging anxiety can be and how it comes in all shapes and sizes. What you are experiencing will be respected and supported here. Trust yourself! You are the expert in your experience. This community works because people like you share what has worked for you. Thank you for getting involved and taking a look. We can’t wait to hear from you! Beyond Blue

All discussions

Tannie Anxiety depression can I leave work and get centrelink
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Hi, My anxiety and depression come to boiling point ever Sunday. I start to feel so sick. Every muscle, joints and blinding headaches. I am the only one in my household that works. My husband lost his job with covid. We are both in our 50s and have o... View more

Hi, My anxiety and depression come to boiling point ever Sunday. I start to feel so sick. Every muscle, joints and blinding headaches. I am the only one in my household that works. My husband lost his job with covid. We are both in our 50s and have only held support type roles. Money is a serious issue for us. So we absolutely need me to work. It's getting harder and harder. I am seeing a psychologist and have a mental health plan. Im taking antidepressants. I want to quit. I know I need to because its just too much feeling like this every Sunday. Because money adds another level of stress and concern I am too scared. Would I get centrelink or need to wait 6 weeks? Please give me advice

G12345 My anxiety feelings
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I’m feeling low and it anxiety its making me upset I sick of dealing with it can someone help me keep fighting it I just don’t want to deal with alone I’ll scared of my attacks I cry so during my attacks I feel so heavy and weak I don’t feel like I d... View more

I’m feeling low and it anxiety its making me upset I sick of dealing with it can someone help me keep fighting it I just don’t want to deal with alone I’ll scared of my attacks I cry so during my attacks I feel so heavy and weak I don’t feel like I deserve to get better help me see a way out I’m trapped

Bronsm76 How do I overcome a cycle of anxiety and depression
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Hi, I have had a situation where I’m stuck between anxiety and depression. It’s either one or the other. At the moment it’s depression, which came on rather suddenly after weeks of being anxious about having panic attacks when I go out. The panic fea... View more

Hi, I have had a situation where I’m stuck between anxiety and depression. It’s either one or the other. At the moment it’s depression, which came on rather suddenly after weeks of being anxious about having panic attacks when I go out. The panic fear became so strong that I wound up very avoidant. Now I’m afraid that I’ll stay depressed. Is there a way to achieve harmony? My family is unsupportive and I have a gp and a psych that don’t really help. I take medication and have tried all of the therapies (well not all). I just can’t achieve balance and happiness and see a purpose. It’s such a lonely place.

009 Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have developed some anxiety in the last few years. My main problem is driving situations especially going over bridges and going around trucks. I have a panic attack, shaky hards, escalated heart rate and light headed. I am also a really bad pa... View more

Hi, I have developed some anxiety in the last few years. My main problem is driving situations especially going over bridges and going around trucks. I have a panic attack, shaky hards, escalated heart rate and light headed. I am also a really bad passenger. I think I'm just scared of situations that have risk. I have only been like this in the last 2 years but im really concerned. Any ideas? Thanks

artiste9909 Health Anxiety Issues
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I don't know what to do anymore, been having bad headaches/blurry vision and was diagnosed with GAD. Recently, I went to a well respected neurologist where he looked over my past CT scans and what not and told me that an MRI was not needed because of... View more

I don't know what to do anymore, been having bad headaches/blurry vision and was diagnosed with GAD. Recently, I went to a well respected neurologist where he looked over my past CT scans and what not and told me that an MRI was not needed because of clinical and diagnostic yield and high costs. He also assured me that what I had was merely migraines and tension, and not to worry about fainting etc. However, this did not assure me one bit, in fact it only made me more worried. Having thoughts like, "What if the tumor somehow grew after the last CT scan?", "I did not ask the Dr all the questions I had in mind", "I lead a relatively healthy life, how can I have headaches this bad?", "I don't feel anxious at times, so why am I having headaches?" and lots of worse thoughts. It has gotten to the point where I would just lie in bed, tell myself that I won't see the next week and that even if I do, how am I going to manage these headaches and issues. I do not know where to turn to or how to start. I know that I have to see a psychologist for my anxiety, but what if there is something else that needs to be checked? Plus even if I do see the psychologist, not as if I would be better straight after, then what? After all, how could I have headaches even when I don't feel anxious? At this point, I have spent so much money on CT scans, consults and medical stuff (I am a student so I don't have much in excess), pissed off everyone around me with my constant nagging for options and assurance and I have completely lost faith in my physical body. Just feel so hopeless. I think one of the worst part about this is that I physically feel unwell, with the pounding headaches and other symptoms, but nothing is medically "wrong" with me. Thank you for reading this. Sorry for sounding so negative.

Lil_b Lockdown lifted causing anxiety
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In the last 24 hours, Melbournes lock down laws have been lifted, to which at first I was so excited about it, quickly called my hairdresser, texted friends and so forth, however within the hour I found myself crying and all the societal pressures I ... View more

In the last 24 hours, Melbournes lock down laws have been lifted, to which at first I was so excited about it, quickly called my hairdresser, texted friends and so forth, however within the hour I found myself crying and all the societal pressures I put on to myself came creeping in so rapidly and now I find myself today with the freedom I have been longing for for these last 4 months...locked away in my room not wanting to do anything. I don't have secure work at the moment, I am only studying, and I am embarrassed at the prospect that as my housemates/friends go back to work that I won't join them for god knows how long and i'll fall behind in life. My anxiety has enjoyed the predictability of each day that lockdown has offered. I am by no means wishing it to be extended as I am aware of the hideousness Corona has caused..but is there anyone else who relates to what I am feeling? How are you coping with it?

Kay-la-la Anxiety/depression is affecting my work performance
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Over the past 3 months I have been struggling with my mental health, resulting in constant low performance at work. I fear that I will soon be asked to resign or fired due to this. Anxiety/depression symptoms are not new to me, I have been taking mil... View more

Over the past 3 months I have been struggling with my mental health, resulting in constant low performance at work. I fear that I will soon be asked to resign or fired due to this. Anxiety/depression symptoms are not new to me, I have been taking mild medication for this for a few years (no regular counseling), and it is not usually a problem. However a few recent events/circumstances seemed to have triggered a spiral that I am having trouble coping with. I have been as open as possible with my manager as to my circumstances and why this is affecting my work. As my own efforts to deal with this was not improving my performance - I reached out to receive counselling. I feel so scared of losing my job. My managers say they are supportive, and acknowledge that I am making steps to get better. But lately they have been very short with me, and haven't responded to the mental health updates they request. I have been in this job for almost a year, and I do enjoy it, but I am questioning if I should continue. I have a very strong sense that my managers are frustrated with my performance, or that they don't believe me. I don't know what to do.

KMTE Anxiety and swallowing problems
  • replies: 19

First time posting, I've just been diagnosed with anxiety and am seeing a mental health worker next week. For the last week I've been paying heaps of attention to my swallowing and it feels like I think so much about it I forget how to do it and then... View more

First time posting, I've just been diagnosed with anxiety and am seeing a mental health worker next week. For the last week I've been paying heaps of attention to my swallowing and it feels like I think so much about it I forget how to do it and then it feels like I can't swallow and I might choke. That triggers my anxiety even more and then it starts to feel like something is trying to come up almost like I might be sick but without actually feeling sick. Then it all flows from there and I get an even worse choking/something coming up feeling and the trembling hands and light headed ness kicks in. Does anyone else experience this and have any tips on combating it? Thanks

New_Experiment Catastrophic thinking - I always go to worst case scenario
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Hi, I am increasingly becoming aware that any random fact about a disease or any heart condition that I read anywhere takes me to vivid imaginations of my family members suffering it and dying from it and where I am not there to help or see them cons... View more

Hi, I am increasingly becoming aware that any random fact about a disease or any heart condition that I read anywhere takes me to vivid imaginations of my family members suffering it and dying from it and where I am not there to help or see them considering I live in another country (can't travel due to covid) and it brings me to tears and makes me want to call up and check on them despite the time difference (they are usually sleeping). I haven't actually called them up to check on them during such thoughts, but I am usually super eager to talk to them in the next most convenient time. I am just looking for a way to manage this cascading thought process because it feels very scary. If anyone else has this, how do you manage it?

Green grass Social pranking scares me, so I stay home.
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I am not a fan of social pranking that takes place to total strangers. I’ve seen on social media where women have a blanket thrown over them while shopping and other situations where women are the target of being frightened. I mainly live with anxiet... View more

I am not a fan of social pranking that takes place to total strangers. I’ve seen on social media where women have a blanket thrown over them while shopping and other situations where women are the target of being frightened. I mainly live with anxiety and PTSD. I have nightmares regularly and avoid going out as I have been hassled many times because of my sexuality and how I dress. So I don’t want to go out and now be more frightened of pranks. Are there Others who are worried by these pranksters who target women. thanks