Anxiety

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

FAQ

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

Forums guidelines

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

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

macfan6 Australia is moving into stage 2. But am I ready?
  • replies: 10

Hi, My name is Kimberley, I'm 35. I live with my husband and son who is 4. My biggest worry with the coronavirus, is that I haven't been able to see my parents for two months. Now that Australia is slowly moving into stage 2 (as you know) we will soo... View more

Hi, My name is Kimberley, I'm 35. I live with my husband and son who is 4. My biggest worry with the coronavirus, is that I haven't been able to see my parents for two months. Now that Australia is slowly moving into stage 2 (as you know) we will soon be allowed to see friends and family and vice versa. But with not seeing my parents for so long, I feel anxious about the next step. How do we get back to normal with seeing each other again? They are in their 60's, and see themselves as high risk for coronavirus. I'm not even sure if they feel safe to see my family again. And I'm scared to ask.

Hullywood86 NEW parents, I think new MUM has anxiety
  • replies: 1

Gday all, looking for some peer experience/advice in helping a new mum (baby is still in her tummy) get to a professional for help around anxiety and catastrophising. I work in male dominated industries and i am a fixer, i dont know how to fix this. ... View more

Gday all, looking for some peer experience/advice in helping a new mum (baby is still in her tummy) get to a professional for help around anxiety and catastrophising. I work in male dominated industries and i am a fixer, i dont know how to fix this. I need some advice/language in helping my new baby mumma realise she has anxiety and she needs to speak to someone about it. cheers.

AussieWoman My Anxiety Has Been Bad
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I have been feeling really anxious ever since my younger twin brother was rushed to the hospital a few days ago. He was diagnosed with an infection in his bowel which was treated and he has since been released. But I've been really anxio... View more

Hi everyone, I have been feeling really anxious ever since my younger twin brother was rushed to the hospital a few days ago. He was diagnosed with an infection in his bowel which was treated and he has since been released. But I've been really anxious in the days following and I can't seem to sleep very well lately either. I'm also constantly thinking about the fact that I haven't had any friends since the age of 16 and how I might not ever have friends in the future because I get so anxious in social situations that it feels so crippling. I see others my age having social lives but I don't. I feel like such a failure and I don't know how to stop feeling the way that I do. It's really getting me down, I feel like I should have had a full-time job, been in a relationship (had a boyfriend), and had made friends by now but because of mental health issues, I haven't been able too. It has been really hard, I have seen a psychiatrist on May 4th which was also the first time I admitted to someone about not having friends/relationship and I can't seem to get it out of my head now. I feel really unaccomplished and I'm worried that I might never have the things I want in life. I have never felt this anxious before, not even when I was first diagnosed. The worst part is that in the Welcome and Orientation where I first made a post I was really optimistic that things would change and now I'm in a funk and don't know how to get out of it. I have spoken to my family but I still feel really low. Any advice any of you have or reassurance that things will get better will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening to me and I hope I begin to feel better. Covid-19 has definitely brought out the worst in my mental health and I think it might be a good thing too. At least now I know what the problems are but I will need help in figuring out how to overcome them.

Macbook Relationship anxiety
  • replies: 2

I struggle with anxiety regularly but manage to keep it at bay most of the time. However my anxiety always surfaces in certain situations around my relationship. I’ve been with my partner for 2 years now and we live together. He has never been outwar... View more

I struggle with anxiety regularly but manage to keep it at bay most of the time. However my anxiety always surfaces in certain situations around my relationship. I’ve been with my partner for 2 years now and we live together. He has never been outwardly romantic and has never done any romantic gestures for me. I try to tell myself that he’s romantic with the little things in what he says and at home, but I can’t help being annoyed that he doesn’t do more actions to be romantic. I have spoken to him about this but nothing changes. When he chooses his day off to hang out with friends, my anxiety builds as I don’t see why he doesn’t want to spend that time with me. We live together so in his mind we are spending time together all the time. But I want to experience more things outside of home. I struggle knowing whether it is my anxiety that is making me think I should break up or whether it real. how do we know when our feelings are real or it’s just anxiety playing tricks on us?

LisaGood Returning to school as a teacher
  • replies: 1

Im anxious about returning to school as a teacher of young students. How do I protect my self and fellow staff from the anxiety due to changes to social norms. No high fives, avoiding people in the corridor, feeling like every one may be a threat to ... View more

Im anxious about returning to school as a teacher of young students. How do I protect my self and fellow staff from the anxiety due to changes to social norms. No high fives, avoiding people in the corridor, feeling like every one may be a threat to myself of students?

corrdiorofdreams I feel anxious and guilty for standing up for myself
  • replies: 1

I run my own business. I've been going above and beyond on a client project for 3 months. Yesterday I was let go 4 days before the end of the project with no notice. I told the client contact that I was disappointed by their behaviour as I could have... View more

I run my own business. I've been going above and beyond on a client project for 3 months. Yesterday I was let go 4 days before the end of the project with no notice. I told the client contact that I was disappointed by their behaviour as I could have filled in that time with other work if I'd known. I know that was a reasonable thing to complain about but I was treated as though I was being a drama queen. The client contact just said something to the effect of 'I'm just the middle man, these are shit times, and here are all 50399978 problems too!' so it just turned into a guilt trip and how none of it was their fault. It's got me really knotted up inside... not because of the money (that's not urgent) but because right now is a shit time, and it's really disappointing to see people treating people without common decency. I should mention this business operates in the mental health field, especially supporting people through uncertainty, so it borders on being unethical. I'm kind of proud that I stood up for myself as this is not easy for me to do. However, it's given me so much anxiety to have ended things on bad terms. I didn't want it to be taken personally, but I wanted to point out the unprofessionalism and lack of ethics. I've tried to talk about this to my partner but he keeps saying 'well, you should have done XYZ before it happened.' That's just not very helpful for the now though. I just need to move past the knot in my stomach feeling. How can I do this?

MichaelJo What are the best books for you to deal with anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Hi. Lately, I started noticing that reading have had a great impact on my anxiety. I am much calmer and optimistic now. The last book a read was a great one named: Worry Free LIfe: 15 quick lessons on How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear That can Change ... View more

Hi. Lately, I started noticing that reading have had a great impact on my anxiety. I am much calmer and optimistic now. The last book a read was a great one named: Worry Free LIfe: 15 quick lessons on How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear That can Change Your Life by Marcos Lima. This book came with a course that really helped me to stop my panic attacks. I think everyone should have a look at it. I found it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Worry-Free-Life-Relaxation-Happiness-ebook/dp/B0828M892J/ What about you? What are the best books that you guys read to overcome anxiety and how it has helped improve your lives?

Lyndakaren Workers Comp Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi I have been on WC since November last year for anxiety and panic attacks, this has continued on and I have been on such a roller coaster ride with the insurance company and old employee. I also note I have never been on WC before and I am learning... View more

Hi I have been on WC since November last year for anxiety and panic attacks, this has continued on and I have been on such a roller coaster ride with the insurance company and old employee. I also note I have never been on WC before and I am learning so much, I feel everyone is be deceitful and just wanting me to be back at work. Since leaving my old work place last year as it was toxic I have taken on 2 jobs as I have felt so pressured by my rehab provider, both attempts have lead to me being unwell and pressured each position only lasting 4 weeks. My insurance have said they are going to stop my payments as they believe I have the capacity to work as all certificates said I could until recently I said to my doctor no I am unfit I do not want any more pressure to go back, I really want to take this slower instead of feeling pushed into just taking a job to keep the circle happy forgetting about why I an actually in this situation. I have spoken to a solicitor they are taking over for me to relive my pressure due to also having covid-19 its been very tuff. I have just started talking with a Phycologist under the WC and I feel they are just being the same as my job rehab provider. I feel I just don't want to talk to these people anymore they don't understand what I go through on a daily basis. I also have a daughter and she has been seeing me on this emotional roller coaster ride its not right on her I just want my life back. I know this is a short version on the event but has anyone been through this journey. I feel its getting to the point I want to tell all of them to get ……. love to hear you're thoughts

Ezz81 Dealing with anxiety and having no way of overcoming it
  • replies: 2

Hello, I have been dealing with depression for a while now and seeking help throughout this time but my anxiety seems to be overtaking this now. i work 8n a high pressure job with long hours, and the ongoing thoughts am I good enough to keep going. S... View more

Hello, I have been dealing with depression for a while now and seeking help throughout this time but my anxiety seems to be overtaking this now. i work 8n a high pressure job with long hours, and the ongoing thoughts am I good enough to keep going. Sunday nights are the absolute worst with but I don’t know why and I’m unable to get good sleep because of this. During the covoid pandemic I have been the one to try and reassure people there jobs are safe, but knowing that some will be let go any moment. I get to a point in my life where I feel enough is enough and want to give up, how long do I keep doing 60 to 70 hours a week at work, all I do is work, go home eat dinner go for a walk and sleep and then do it all over again. I never take anything for granted but it’s really consuming me now. what do I do, and where do I go with this?

Littleg94 OCD
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone I fee like I struggle with OCD is as a councillor once who said I didn’t but I clean a lot! Not constantly but the house has to look a certain way or I get anxiety and angry and sometimes take it out on my partner. I vacuum every day and ... View more

Hi everyone I fee like I struggle with OCD is as a councillor once who said I didn’t but I clean a lot! Not constantly but the house has to look a certain way or I get anxiety and angry and sometimes take it out on my partner. I vacuum every day and everything has to be in its place! I recently had our in-law stay with us for a month and due to covid and being stuck from the uk there staying til June but where sharing it between here and my sister in-laws there about to come back for another four weeks and I can’t deal with my anxiety of them coming back and me not being able to control my environment and cleaning ect! I always get super paranoid about what they think of me as I come straight home from work and vacume I feel like they think I’m crazy or something just need help or advice to stop this