Immediate support
Immediate 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 discussion

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 discussion

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 discussion

Mond2014 New to grief
  • replies: 4

Hi, Ive never done this before so its a little weird not having a direct person to chat with but Im guna give it a go anyway. Ive recently experienced a death in my family, its the first one that Ive gone through. Im not entirely sure where to go fro... View more

Hi, Ive never done this before so its a little weird not having a direct person to chat with but Im guna give it a go anyway. Ive recently experienced a death in my family, its the first one that Ive gone through. Im not entirely sure where to go from here, its the major factor of my anxiety- which now stops me from doing things that I normally would. My anxiety has me constantly terrified that every ache and pain is a serious health issue (stems from the death of my family memeber) and just feel scared to do anything. Ive pulled myself out of situations that cause my anxiety and all I can put it down to is when Im alone in my own head and just thinking to much. Ive always been social so this is really strange not wanting to go hang out with my mates.

Ez94 Healthy Anxiety and OCD on ASBESTOS/EMF
  • replies: 4

Hi, Wanted to voice and get some help on my health anxiety. I had a period in my life, during my teens where I was the most stress and anxious free, but in my childhood and in my early adulthood now, my health anxiety has started to creep back in. I ... View more

Hi, Wanted to voice and get some help on my health anxiety. I had a period in my life, during my teens where I was the most stress and anxious free, but in my childhood and in my early adulthood now, my health anxiety has started to creep back in. I have just started my MHCP and saw a psychologist for the first time the other day, since I was 9/10. My health anxieties were very small the big with over the last year, with little stresses here and there, but in the last 3 months I feel it has become an all consuming and exhausting thing! The main thing I am worried about is Asbestos. I know it was banned a while ago now, but to my knowledge there are still fences and homes that still may contain it. My uncle moved to a new home and low and behold his fences were asbestos. My cousins were playing outside and the soccer ball was hitting the fence at times and made me think to an obsessive amount that fibres could've made it onto the ball/my cousins clothes etc and then transferred to my car and then to my house and all my belongings etc. There was no physical damage or breakage of the fence, but it still concerns me to this day. I am so aware of the effects it could have, that I am now hyper aware of where asbestos could be in the environment?? I.e could it be in my families house roof( we recently moved to a new house) My stepdad cleaned the gutters the other day and had to climb on the roof and over the cement tiling and I am worried that Maybe something has broken or cracked or something and that his clothes and any items that he had with him and what he touches in the house may affect me. It already seems to be affecting me as I don't want to using the washing machine and I worried to walk bare foot in the house or sit on the couch, and constantly washing my skin. I feel so embarrassed to want to ask and get reassured that it isn’t asbestos, but worried I will be judged for what seems to be to be silly worries. There are two family members with cancer and the last thing I want is to be sick. I am also concerned about EMF and the introduction to 5G and the potential health concerns there. I am also turning my phone to airplane mode all the time.. but as I am in a family home, I sleep close to the modem what advice does everyone have? Thank you in advance!! sorry for the long rant hahaha.

SapereAude The Resilience Project- Anxiety and/or Depression
  • replies: 6

Hi all, I’m thinking of you all I am hoping you are finding methods to help with your anxiety, depression and any other issues you may be facing in life. Has anyone had any experience with “The Resilience Project?” Whether as a professional, teacher,... View more

Hi all, I’m thinking of you all I am hoping you are finding methods to help with your anxiety, depression and any other issues you may be facing in life. Has anyone had any experience with “The Resilience Project?” Whether as a professional, teacher, parent student or another interested person? I would love to hear some feedback on whether this helps with anxiety. Thanks, be kind and take care.

Claremary No inbetween
  • replies: 2

Hi So I have been dealing with anxiety and depression since I can remember. It started out with obsessing over how I looked and acted due to bullying, then progressed into workplace anxiety, general anxiety and social anxiety as I got older. I am 24 ... View more

Hi So I have been dealing with anxiety and depression since I can remember. It started out with obsessing over how I looked and acted due to bullying, then progressed into workplace anxiety, general anxiety and social anxiety as I got older. I am 24 now. I am unsure what to do, I don't have the financial ability to see a psychologist, and I know from past experience therapists don't help. So the gist of it is that on meds or off meds, about every 3-6 months I have a breakdown. It's like all the anger and anxiety and stress accumulates until I can't handle it anymore. The stress/anxiety comes from over thinking everything. I have a lot of techniques to deal with it all. Over the past 6 months I have incorporated exercise and a healthier diet to help improve my mental health, but then I started to stress and obsess over that too. Thoughts like; I'm eating too much, I'm not eating enough, I had too many biscuits, I didn't run or walk far enough. I ran or walked too far, I'm going to get fat like my mum, I can't accept food that has been bought for me. Also note that I have quit smoking over this period too. I'm not sure why but it's either I'm stressing over everything and get angry at everyone and every single noise, or I'm having a peaceful day. (The peaceful days are very rare). There is no inbetween. I feel stuck. I can't get hell from family because they can't afford to help, but the government won't help me because I'm not defined as someone who needs help. I am on Job seeker at the current moment, but they will eventually push me i nto a job and the cycle will start again. I just want to get better, and not have to turn back to medication. But there is no help for me.

DaniJ New job
  • replies: 2

Recently started a new job and am filled with self doubt and anxiety. I am starting to recognise that I suffered this at times in my last job too, and lately I have been waking up through the night with feelings of panic, wondering if I have done eve... View more

Recently started a new job and am filled with self doubt and anxiety. I am starting to recognise that I suffered this at times in my last job too, and lately I have been waking up through the night with feelings of panic, wondering if I have done everything right and doubting whether I have what it takes. I have always been an overthinker and procrastinator. I am getting sick of hearing myself constantly voicing the same self doubts and anxieties and think maybe its time to actually do something about it to help overcome this. Does anyone have any pointers or services to recommend? Thanks in advance. D

KK7 Just after some advice
  • replies: 3

I’ve been to the dr what feels like a million times over my eyes straining hard to focus. I’ve done countless test, had ct scans done seen everyone Nd my eyes still strain hard, the only thing I can put it down to is the pinched nerve in my neck or m... View more

I’ve been to the dr what feels like a million times over my eyes straining hard to focus. I’ve done countless test, had ct scans done seen everyone Nd my eyes still strain hard, the only thing I can put it down to is the pinched nerve in my neck or my anxiety, just wondering if anyone else has the same problem ? Thanks

hobi I want to change
  • replies: 4

Hello everyone, i found out about this forum accidentally and i want to talk about somethings i have always held back. I am 21 years old and i don't know what's wrong with me. I moved to Australia almost four years ago when i turned 18. After i finis... View more

Hello everyone, i found out about this forum accidentally and i want to talk about somethings i have always held back. I am 21 years old and i don't know what's wrong with me. I moved to Australia almost four years ago when i turned 18. After i finished High School, my parents thought it was better for me if i move 9000+ miles away from home and start a new, better life. I was excited about all the new ventures but i was scared my anxiety would get worse. I lived very basic life back home, my parents raised me well i think and gave me a perfect childhood any kid could could ask for. The kind of society i lived in is how i developed my anxiety, i was always told i was never enough and there were standards for girls and boys that just had to be met. I have always been that innocent, quiet, shy girl at the back of the class. No one really ever talked to me and i don't really have a good amount of friends. I know it's not about having a lot of friends but about having a few good ones but i don't even think i have a few good ones. Over the years, I have held back too many of my emotions, i always thought i was overreacting when i felt overwhelmed during different situations and that what i was going through was all normal. I was somehow taught that i had to keep quiet if i were to lead a NORMAL life and I knew that i was never going to be an IMPORTANT person and that my emotions could never mean anything to anyone and that was alright with me until i started to breakdown every night, every afternoon, and wake up with this heavy, tired feeling. I have no one to talk to because i feel like i'm asking for too much and that i am creating all this anxiety i have. I have developed a traumatic social anxiety that refrains me from being able to talk to people or a small group, i feel i am a burden to all the people around me and my parents as well. Don't get me wrong, i have done nothing to hurt the people around me but i feel like my presence is never appreciated so i tend to be by myself, contained in the four walls of my room. I cant really seem to be able to put into words what i am going through but i hope it was understandable at least. I really want to change myself because i have a whole life to live and i can't lead a happy life this way. I want to improve my flaws and live the best possible life i can but i need a little guidance, what would you suggest i do first? xoxo

KK7 Anxiety and Panic attacks are ruining my life
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, just need a moment to vent to people who understand how I feel, I’m so over my anxiety everyday I have an anxiety attack over the way my body feels, not being able to find something example if I can’t find my phone, feeling like I have f... View more

Hi everyone, just need a moment to vent to people who understand how I feel, I’m so over my anxiety everyday I have an anxiety attack over the way my body feels, not being able to find something example if I can’t find my phone, feeling like I have failed my children, I cry all the time. I feel tired all the time, I’m constantly worrying if I’m going to die, my anxiety is health related and I’ve never been like this! In the past 2 months After having my baby I’ve had constant headaches, ear infection, really bad vertigo, bad sinus infection and pinched nerve in my shoulder and Burtist in my shoulder, I was on medication and It didn’t work for me at all it gave me nightmares, made me feel numb and not myself, so I stopped that real fast was convinced I didn’t need medication to help but it’s getting worse and paying $160 to speak with someone to help this isn’t helping, it’s just taking money I don’t have! im constantly calling my husband home because I’m scared something bad will happen when he is at work! He is currently on the verge of losing his job because of me he tells me my heath is more important, but I can see it’s starting to drain him also! im just trying to see what my next step is and if I should give medication another go, I’m tired and I need to feel myself again! any advice would be great thank you

Ricman The Anxiety of Getting Better
  • replies: 5

In the last 6 months I have experienced a significant amount of trauma with illness and death of a sibling (the second I have lost way too young). During her illness (and other life stressors along the way) I developed GAD and Health anxiety. I was f... View more

In the last 6 months I have experienced a significant amount of trauma with illness and death of a sibling (the second I have lost way too young). During her illness (and other life stressors along the way) I developed GAD and Health anxiety. I was fixated on my own mortality and every body niggle or pain lead me to catastrophising about my health. I was convinced a heart attack would happen at any moment or I had some illness that would end me soon. I could not function in every day life activity - showering, toileting, cooking, driving, relaxing, exercising - everything caused a significant amount of stress and anxiety - I couldn't even walk to the letterbox without my phone in case something bad happened. I was dealing with a level of anxiety I could never have imagined. The physical symptoms were debilitating. Chest pain, racing heart, a pulse so strong I thought my heart would burst, headaches, pins and needles, aches everywhere in my body and on and on - I ticked every item on the symptoms list I am sure. But I got help. I did some online CBT and started seeing a psych. I worked extremely hard to help myself feel better and most importantly safe. And it started to work. The ruminating thoughts have nearly vanished, I can do things again like take a shower for longer than 2 minutes. The physical side has calmed down tremendously and I know I am on my way to recovery. But - and here's the clincher. It's hard to remember just how bad I felt (I liken to when women say they forget about the pain of childbirth because what they got from it is so much better) But forgetting means when I get those anxious days and the heart palpitations pop up or the muscles ache or the tears flow for a while, it brings back the anxiety I had nearly forgotten I had. It's very weird, I know it's way less than it was but it still feels incredibly hard. Using my journal I can usually take my self back and reassure myself that I am better (not cured) and that gives me the strength to move forward. But sometimes this doesn't work. I am curious to know how recovery set backs work for others?

bluenight How did your anxiety start and how did it become a disorder (if it has) for you?
  • replies: 14

I was anxious as a kid but it was normal anxiety, it had hardly no impact on my life. I remember being really nervous about having to do a speech in front of the class in year 11 and I was really worried and anxious about it the afternoon/night befor... View more

I was anxious as a kid but it was normal anxiety, it had hardly no impact on my life. I remember being really nervous about having to do a speech in front of the class in year 11 and I was really worried and anxious about it the afternoon/night before. I've lived with an anxiety disorder for quite a few years now and just going to work everyday for many years was worse then how I felt performing the speech. Just going to the shops or catching public transport brought out my anxiety pretty badly. Study, socialising, work, family gatherings all cause me anxiety sometimes to the point in which I've had to not show up many times. I feel like there's hope though and I'm getting better at managing through self care. I've been wondering how it all started and why I have been like this and I think it's because of my own actions or decisions, may sound strange. Or is anxiety something that happens to us? or is it a bit of both?