Support
Support

Anxiety

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

Start a conversation

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a conversation

Pinned discussions

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

Start a conversation

J1980 OCD and Intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 4

Hey there, is there anyone out there struggling witj OCD and Intrusive thoughts? Ive struggled for a long time and havent had much success due to the nature of my thoughts. My thoughts are quite vile and disturbing which is why Im finding it so hard ... View more

Hey there, is there anyone out there struggling witj OCD and Intrusive thoughts? Ive struggled for a long time and havent had much success due to the nature of my thoughts. My thoughts are quite vile and disturbing which is why Im finding it so hard to manage. Im a loving husband and father who just wants peace and for my brain not to be constantly throwing these absurd thoughts and images at me. Im a good man!Can anyone relate?

Guest_90244248 Anxiety
  • replies: 4

I right now am suffering anxiety and I feel like it's gotten worse over time with age. I can't tolerate much anymore emotionally, I think that suffering my entire life, I've got emotional burnout. I feel like my life is almost at the point of falling... View more

I right now am suffering anxiety and I feel like it's gotten worse over time with age. I can't tolerate much anymore emotionally, I think that suffering my entire life, I've got emotional burnout. I feel like my life is almost at the point of falling apart and there are days when I just want to end it all. I'm at the point now when I think, 'If this is all life has to offer, I'm not interested'. This cannot be my reality, it just cannot be. I'm so miserable. I have gotten worse with age, and there's nothing I can do about it. Sometimes I think that I want to run away and live in the wilderness to escape everything, and other times I think that I want to die.

Guest_87249377 Overwhelmed anxiety
  • replies: 4

I’m 8 weeks post relationship separation due to DV, two kids, 17 and 13. I’ve moved out and 13 year old staying with me until everything is sorted, 17 year finds it hard to find time for me, feel like she resents me. Moved into new rental home on wee... View more

I’m 8 weeks post relationship separation due to DV, two kids, 17 and 13. I’ve moved out and 13 year old staying with me until everything is sorted, 17 year finds it hard to find time for me, feel like she resents me. Moved into new rental home on weekend and have become so overwhelmed, anxious, sick, tired. I was starting to cope before the move but now all the emotions have come back, I got to work but the body is present and I’m not, struggling. Saw go yesterday, prescribed anxiety meds and to see psychologist next week. Took first tablet today but by 9:30 think I’d experienced a panic attack and had to leave. Got dizzy, list all sensation in my arms, hands went sweaty and chest tightened. Haven’t been able to sleep or relax. Feel sick every day, so made I’ve been unable to gook meals for my son or I. Feel like I’ve ruined their lives by leaving, so much mum guilt. I just want this feeling to be gone and over. No one in my family has gone through a separation so they don’t know how I feel. How do I get past this stage?

Guest_57700542 Anxiety pulpitations and adrenaline shakes
  • replies: 3

Help with calming down your body anybody experiencing the same thing with anxiety pulpitations and than following adrenaline shaking?

Help with calming down your body anybody experiencing the same thing with anxiety pulpitations and than following adrenaline shaking?

rebeccagiraffe food worries always unable to work and feeling so anxious around others
  • replies: 3

I'm so tired and don't want to have an eating disorder anymore. I feel like I just make the behaviours worse. I tried to eat at my parents job and just felt so judged because I didn't know what to say to the employees who were making conversation in ... View more

I'm so tired and don't want to have an eating disorder anymore. I feel like I just make the behaviours worse. I tried to eat at my parents job and just felt so judged because I didn't know what to say to the employees who were making conversation in the kitchen beforehand. Then I sat down to eat and I didn't want the food and my dad was asking me what was on for the weekend and I spat out the food cause I could feel my belly getting worse and I didn't want to vomit. It's an awful cycle and I feel so stuck and also focused on it. I've had ARFID for 10 years. I'm so embarrassed and angry with these behaviours and I want it to stop. It's like I've lost skills which I once had which was knowing what to say to make any type of conversation, feeling confident and not caring. I'm so scared all the time and just get paranoid people are talking about me which also makes it worse. Help.

Billymac Feeling hopeless and depressed
  • replies: 2

Very low esteem and making decisions is a my worst nightmare been on medication for over 15 years , stopped taking it 6 months ago . started feeling really bad about a month ago and getting worse, worrying has increased into sleeping as well . Anyone... View more

Very low esteem and making decisions is a my worst nightmare been on medication for over 15 years , stopped taking it 6 months ago . started feeling really bad about a month ago and getting worse, worrying has increased into sleeping as well . Anyone experiencing similar after stopping their meds ?

Guest_13799425 I cannot cope with my puppy.
  • replies: 2

I have autism and live alone. I got a dog 4 months ago to train as an assistance dog. I have had a weekly trainer but just can’t cope with the dog. He has allergies and I rent a house in the middle of a large farm. I have already spent a fortune on h... View more

I have autism and live alone. I got a dog 4 months ago to train as an assistance dog. I have had a weekly trainer but just can’t cope with the dog. He has allergies and I rent a house in the middle of a large farm. I have already spent a fortune on him but that’s ok. He causes me constant anxiety as everyone we go for a walk I have to bath him and dry him etc. every time he gets his paws wet I have to dry them with a hair dryer. He is prone to fungal infections. He won’t let me dry his paws and it upsets me so much. I spend at least one day a week frozen with anxiety and grief that I am not enough for him. I have also not done any of the things I love such as gardening as I am constantly attending to his needs. Exercising, training, playing and he wants constant attention. I am so depressed over the whole thing.i want to give him back to the breeder but have intense guilt and shame. My mental health has suffered a lot since getting him. Should I give him back?

LESF stress / anxiety / anger / overwhelmed
  • replies: 3

Where to start I have always had an overachieving personality and definitely punish myself when I don’t keep my standard. But the truth is I need to be focused on something to survive because when I don’t my mind wanders into unwanted areas, anxiety ... View more

Where to start I have always had an overachieving personality and definitely punish myself when I don’t keep my standard. But the truth is I need to be focused on something to survive because when I don’t my mind wanders into unwanted areas, anxiety takes over and I overthink irrational ideas.Knowing where my mind can take me, I think I’ve resulted in keeping myself so busy I’m at the point of being so stressed and overwhelmed. I get angry at the flick of a switch when people aren’t as proactive, things are incomplete or I feel unheard or misunderstood- anything really. Resulting in arguments with my partner, often being unable to shake the anger and my blame is directed elsewhere. I know I’ve snapped and somehow still can’t accept this, sorry doesn’t seem to be an option. He’s obviously not responding to this well and my rapid mood changes I can’t recover from. I feel like I keep looking for something to blame; we just created a business whilst settling into a new country on our own, a backlog of previous trauma / abuse / parental issues / mental health which never was really addressed. Maybe I’m looking for something to blame or maybe it’s everything, who knows. Whatever it is seems to be worse lately.

white knight Worry, worry worry
  • replies: 18

I've often said in these forums "worry is non productive". It doesnt produce a thing for your positivity. You can worry that you have an appointment the next day. Then you dont sleep because you are worried you will sleep in or forget your CV documen... View more

I've often said in these forums "worry is non productive". It doesnt produce a thing for your positivity. You can worry that you have an appointment the next day. Then you dont sleep because you are worried you will sleep in or forget your CV documents or not be dressed up well enough. All 3 things in this example is worry for zero benefit. You can have 2 alarm clocks to prevent you sleeping in, you can place your CV in the car so you dont forget it and you can select your clothing the night before....so off you go and have a good night sleep...bet you dont!! That's because 'worry' is inground, it's part of you, like a limb. So it's extremely difficult to rid yourself of this burden. The first and most important step is separating reality with unrealistic thoughts. When we allow out thought patterns to trod along without challenge then we have a problem. Discipline to attack unrealistic thoughts has to be there for many reasons like - the less you think unrealistically the more time you have for real thoughts. And unrealistic thoughts can cause other issues to- Fear! In 1987 I had a big dispute at my workplace. A pain in my chest and an abnormal heart beat led to a diagnosis of heart attack. This was incorrect and after a few months it was found to be a panic attack. My therapist asked me weekly what happened during the week and I'd tell him I thought my boss would knock on my door, or my doctor wouldnt believe my fear was real or I really did have a heart attack and they got the diagnosis wrong again. Can you the reader see where I'm coming from? The next step is relaxation. Learn it. Go to relaxation classes. Learn muscle tensioning exercises. They really work. What you would be doing is learning a task that some do naturally but for some reason you missed out. It isnt your fault but if you dont attack the issue it will be your fault. You wont find a relaxing life and that is not good. Take it from someone who knows. The last step is prioritising. Placing things in priority allows you to tackle the hard things first then as you tackle less important things you begin to relax more. Finances is a good example. Low on funds you should be shopping for food instead you decide to get that truck load of manure for the garden. For the rest of the week until pay day you struggle with coins only in your pocket. = worry. Worry is non productive.It doesnt produce a thing except hurt, anxiety, depression or at least assists these things. Remove it from your life. Tony WK

Jtk Anxiety
  • replies: 2

HiIve experienced anxiety at certain times throughout my life but in the last few years it has been pretty full on. I have some very strange sensations/intrusive/doom like thoughts. Thankfully I am seeing someone to talk it over but at times it is so... View more

HiIve experienced anxiety at certain times throughout my life but in the last few years it has been pretty full on. I have some very strange sensations/intrusive/doom like thoughts. Thankfully I am seeing someone to talk it over but at times it is so hard. Does anyone else have these experiences sensations, I find them very very distressing and I'm not sure how to handle them some days.Does anyone have any ideas.Thanks

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map