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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

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bigaloo Anxiety + Comparing oneself
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I just wanted another person's opinion on how exactly do I overcome my issue of comparing myself with others? I know the harm of it, and I can very much feel the pain that it gives me but I just can't stop. For instance, I either feel like I'... View more

Hi all, I just wanted another person's opinion on how exactly do I overcome my issue of comparing myself with others? I know the harm of it, and I can very much feel the pain that it gives me but I just can't stop. For instance, I either feel like I'm never doing enough / never achieving enough / my life isn't where I expect it to be etc. It's really messing with my head and has led to quite bad anxiety and I'm not too sure what to do. Open to any input and advice.

Guest_52249044 Just need someone to talk to
  • replies: 1

Hi, sorry i just need someone to talk to/get this off my chest. Just had a really bad argument with my partner in which he was telling me that I need therapy and all that and I asked to stop the discussion lots of time but they just kept going on. Th... View more

Hi, sorry i just need someone to talk to/get this off my chest. Just had a really bad argument with my partner in which he was telling me that I need therapy and all that and I asked to stop the discussion lots of time but they just kept going on. The things they said weren’t necessarily wrong I just didn’t need to hear them then and there, and already felt bad enough about the situation. I also could’ve heard those things in a nicer way (not the point I guess). Anyways I may have taken it a bit far by saying like well we both deal with our issues a different way and they could probably use therapy too to cope healthier, in which they took it as I was comparing our issues of their sick father and my anxiety. Obviously that’s not the case and I feel so terrible that it came across that way and I just don’t know what to do.

321 Anxiety feelings
  • replies: 1

I have had so much trouble with my adult son over the years.In and out of prison and rehab. This last 2 months have been so upsetting and took a lot out of me. So much emotional and so anxious. I am 73 this year and this time really taken it out of m... View more

I have had so much trouble with my adult son over the years.In and out of prison and rehab. This last 2 months have been so upsetting and took a lot out of me. So much emotional and so anxious. I am 73 this year and this time really taken it out of me. The feelings in my stomach so full of nerves, not sleeping from it.Feeling sickly all the time I just don't know how to cope with it. My partner of 40 years been so supportive he us 78 this year. My son 54 this year went to rehab yet again 2 days ago, it is so sad the life he's lived through alcohol and drugs. We did not leave on very nice terms when we dropped off at the rehab. Which is now preying on my mind.I do love him but not who he is just now. I would appreciate any feedback and recommendations on how I can overcome this anxious nervous feeling.

aimemari Going overseas for the first time but alone
  • replies: 2

This is a huge thing for me, as someone who has always been so enclosed, introverted and dependent on others and I'm 21. I made the decision to travel to the USA to meet my boyfriend and I have to go alone. I leave in 7 days and I am just dreading it... View more

This is a huge thing for me, as someone who has always been so enclosed, introverted and dependent on others and I'm 21. I made the decision to travel to the USA to meet my boyfriend and I have to go alone. I leave in 7 days and I am just dreading it because I'm afraid of crowds and also the ear pressure in planes. I bought those pressure regulator earbuds meant for flights so I am hoping it'll work but I am scared of navigating the Los Angeles airport on my own. This is going to be like exposure therapy for me as I will have to hop out of my comfort zone to ask for help from anyone around me but it's super anxiety inducing as it is... What are some tips you'd recommend for my first time flying alone?

Losttwentysomething_ Going on my first trip overseas, and also on my own. HELP ME!!
  • replies: 6

As the title says I am going on my first trip on my own and it will be overseas. I have never been overseas before so I am quite frankly shitting myself. I have so much to think about before I go such as getting myself familiar with my flights, what ... View more

As the title says I am going on my first trip on my own and it will be overseas. I have never been overseas before so I am quite frankly shitting myself. I have so much to think about before I go such as getting myself familiar with my flights, what to pack, what i cant take, what bag/s to buy, etc. I will be going on a tour so activities and making friends will be done through this tour group. Has anyone else been overseas on their own and how did you cope? I could use people advice and tips and how they managed to prepared for their trip. There are so many websites out there that I don't know where to start I also feel pressure to travel as I am in my late twenties and that it will be harder to do when older

RemRikka Just need some advice
  • replies: 5

Hello, this is my first time using something like this so forgive me if I've done something wrong.I need some advice on my problems socialising with others. I just recently finished highschool as of 2024 and I will be attending university this year. ... View more

Hello, this is my first time using something like this so forgive me if I've done something wrong.I need some advice on my problems socialising with others. I just recently finished highschool as of 2024 and I will be attending university this year. Whenever I find myself in social situations it's as if I physically won't allow myself to speak. I struggle to form sentences or create conversation, unless its something that I know I have to ask about. For example, questions on an assignment or asking where a particular item I need is. Most of the time however, im sat quietly in the corner on my phone or distracting myself with other things and avoiding any and all social interactions. Even when I do manage to spurt out simple sentences they usually come out all mumbly or quiet and are full of stutters or 'um'. I also struggle to maintain eye contact for more than two or three seconds at best as my eyes begin watering, in some cases, my fingers can begin to shake or quiver too. This problem also occurs around family members too, especially my parents. The only cases where im not subjected to this problem is with a small group of friends whom I've known since primary school or very early highschool. I have had this problem for a long time now but figured I needed to do something before I started uni, if I had to estimate, I started this 'silent' phase mid way through highschool. Im not exactly sure what to do about this problem or who to speak to about this and would love to hear some advice from more experienced people on what I should be doing to start resolving this issue. Thanks

user10234 My story
  • replies: 1

Hi all, For context I lost my dad when I was a child, which was ten tears ago. It was really hard but I pushed through and then two years ago at the prime of my life I needed life saving surgery. I thought I was coping well but I found out about two ... View more

Hi all, For context I lost my dad when I was a child, which was ten tears ago. It was really hard but I pushed through and then two years ago at the prime of my life I needed life saving surgery. I thought I was coping well but I found out about two other health problems that will need some kind of surgical intervention, still I never worried. Then about a month ago I had a panic attack when I was trying to sleep, it was so strong I threw up and had body shakes. Since this episode I have had many more panic attacks and most days I am worried, worried about the future and just life itself. I want to know is panic after trauma normal? Is it treatable? I am so scared I am forever broken?

Merkles Feel like I'm losing my mind
  • replies: 11

Hey guys, First post here, I am a 26 year old Male who suffers from anxiety. I've always been an overthinker and a constant worrier, however lately I feel like I am getting worse, however I am not sure if that's the case, or if it's just the anxiety ... View more

Hey guys, First post here, I am a 26 year old Male who suffers from anxiety. I've always been an overthinker and a constant worrier, however lately I feel like I am getting worse, however I am not sure if that's the case, or if it's just the anxiety making me think it. For maybe the past 2 years or so I've been suffering with bad brain fog, I feel like my thoughts aren't clear and that my memory isn't as good as it used to be. This brain fog is scaring me as I think this is the beginning of me losing my mind and not being myself anymore. The best way to describe it is that I feel like I am zoned out 24/7, and that I always feel tired even though I get plenty of sleep each night. Not sure if it's my imagination or not, but I feel much more zoned out when I am surrounded by bright lights? A part of me is thinking that maybe there is something wrong with my brain physically, another part of me thinks it's all anxiety and that I need to find a way to cope with it. I am very anxious to visit my doctor again as I see him all the time for various different things (Health anxiety) He probably thinks I'm a lunatic.. Could this be depression? as I don't feel like I have anything to be overly depressed about, I don't feel sad, I don't really feel anything, I feel like I just float through life, I feel like I'm going crazy The only thing that seems to take the edge off is alcohol and benzos, however I don't want to end up dependent on those. Not really sure what I am looking for by posting here, I guess I just wanted to vent and see if anyone else suffers the same, or has hopefully found a way to deal with similar issues. I just want to get back to my old self who enjoyed each day and could think clearly, each day feels like it gets harder and harder. Thanks for reading.

Guest_55604052 Failing Exam and loneliness
  • replies: 2

failed an easy exam for professional career, when the pass rate was highest its been and feeling overwhelmed doing course again, not sure if this is right path for me. The exam may get harder and you just dont know. I bought a ps5 and signed up to pl... View more

failed an easy exam for professional career, when the pass rate was highest its been and feeling overwhelmed doing course again, not sure if this is right path for me. The exam may get harder and you just dont know. I bought a ps5 and signed up to play tennis because thought i was done with exams. Also, feeling like life is just a routine doing same thing and then going bed and then next day.Im also feeling lonely, no one wish me happy new year, and when i dont say anything no one reaches out, only my mate when he wants me to play call of duty but he is usually with his girlfriend he doesnt really say anything to me. This girl wants to hang out etc, then she said thanks for the advice and now she didnt even wish me happy new year, she has done this consistently when i reach out to her she says sorry i feel bad not saying anything and then again she has done it.

SushiRose09 Feeling like a failure and hopeless everyday due to not finding a job post grad
  • replies: 6

Hi Beyond Blue forum! I am writing this as I have recently finished up my bachelors degree in nursing and have not landed a job as a FT registered nurse. This has been weighing heavily on my mind and emotions as I constantly compare my self to others... View more

Hi Beyond Blue forum! I am writing this as I have recently finished up my bachelors degree in nursing and have not landed a job as a FT registered nurse. This has been weighing heavily on my mind and emotions as I constantly compare my self to others in my cohort who have successfully landed a graduate position where as I have not. Everyday I break into tears have a feeling of doom when thinking about my future as I hate the uncertainty about it all. I had my whole future centered on gaining a graduate position after finishing uni - for context I was waitlisted and could be contacted up until next August, but the waiting game is hard and as the days go by I give up hope on receiving a position. I was wondering if anyone had any good coping mechanisms as I feel like I should be proud of myself but I dont, I feel like I wasted years of my life on a degree to not even land a job. My mind is just stuck in a negative cycle of telling myself that I did not do good enough in life.