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

Bookgirl feeling hopeless
  • replies: 7

I know i have posted here before and people are probably sick of me but all the Political stuff is really getting me down. The world feels headed for war and hopeless. I worry about my 16 year old son. What kind of future will have? I feel useless to... View more

I know i have posted here before and people are probably sick of me but all the Political stuff is really getting me down. The world feels headed for war and hopeless. I worry about my 16 year old son. What kind of future will have? I feel useless to protect him from what is to come. I don't know what to do or how to cope with what is going on. Everyone says distract yourself but how do you do that when its everywhere and everyone feels down. I think back to my grandmother who in ww2 was in london with my 6 year old dad getting bombed every night and i think of her resilience and i wish i had just a tiny bit of that courage and resilience that she had.

bebrave2023 How can I let my mum move out of my house?
  • replies: 3

Because I have been tormented by my narcissistic mother for a long time, I have developed severe depression and anxiety. My psychologist has advised me to stay away from my mother. She has no income or job and has been living in our house. She has be... View more

Because I have been tormented by my narcissistic mother for a long time, I have developed severe depression and anxiety. My psychologist has advised me to stay away from my mother. She has no income or job and has been living in our house. She has been controlling our lives, even demanding that we take her with us when my husband and I go on vacation with our children. She often threatens me, saying, "If you don't make me happy, none of you will be happy!" My husband and I can't take it anymore and want her to move out of our house, but she demands that we pay her rent because she raised me, and I owe her this in return! However, my husband and I have a mortgage to pay and two children to support, so we simply can't afford to pay her rent. I feel so helpless and have thought about suicide many times. Is there any way I can make my mother move out of my house? Are there any organizations that can help me?

Ellaminowpea Grades & School
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I'm in high school, and I usually get good grades, but recently I've been struggling with my assignments, especially since I have five going on at a time. Its gotten to the point where I've had to hand in my assignments incomplete or lacking detail. ... View more

I'm in high school, and I usually get good grades, but recently I've been struggling with my assignments, especially since I have five going on at a time. Its gotten to the point where I've had to hand in my assignments incomplete or lacking detail. I'm worried that when my report card comes out, Ill get lots of Ds. I'm trying my hardest, but I've been getting overwhelmed and that often leads to me procrastinating and leaving things till the last minute, and I think to myself that I'm not smart or good enough. I was wondering if there's any thing I can do to help me feel less overwhelmed and get rid of the negative self talk?

Rach28 eryone, Burnt out from 5 months of looking to study/ finding a job
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone,I'm writing this post because I really need to vent. I'm so frustrated, angry and disappointed.Since November/December 2024 (last year) I've been looking into studying Certificate II in Animal Care (TAFE) and during the month of December ... View more

Hi everyone,I'm writing this post because I really need to vent. I'm so frustrated, angry and disappointed.Since November/December 2024 (last year) I've been looking into studying Certificate II in Animal Care (TAFE) and during the month of December i went crazy sending out my resume and customized cover letters to potential work placement locations in my local area to start studying potentially in January 2025 (two months ago). And even after a positive interaction just having a chat to a Practise Manager at a local vet hospital/clinic I feel I've failed in gaining a spot. He told me to email him in early-mid January to follow-up when he would have a potential opening as the current students would be finishing their placement/study. And so obviously i looked into other study options that could potentially including a work placement. So I investigated the RSPCA who hold a training education course to gain work placement and physical classroom/ online virtual teaching classes. I thought it would be perfect and so I applied for any opening for future groups this year. The March 2025 dates fell through and so they changed it to May 2025 (two months from now). This week I got an email for the study coordinator team informing that applications are open. So I completed the form and read all the information. Big issue - the Smart Skills Australian Government study cost subsidy is currently basically $0 for RSPCA right now. So as I am currently on Centrelink payment - JobSeeker I cant even fork out $3000 to pay for the upfront costs to complete this course. Its perfect and would be fast tracked 10 weeks intensive so full on study dedicating 4 days a week to do work placement days and otherwise studying online and completing assignments etc. I was SO excited and beyond words read to study and do this course but I cant afford this cost and feel so frustrated and disappointed. So that's two strikes on my road to attempting to gain a career working with animals. I'm finding this whole process frustrating, beyond exhausting and I feel nothing is going my way. I am connected to an Disability Employment Services organization and fortnightly appointments with a job coach to meet Centrelink requirements and look for study/work. I just feel like screaming honestly and I feel I've lost my direction. I don't know what to do, think or apply for anymore. Does anyone have any advice because I feel so lost right now and burnt out above all. I'm mentally exhausted after 5 months.

buglove Scared of doing something wrong
  • replies: 4

I have had anxiety for a long time. I am constantly worried that I am going to or have made a mistake that will ruin my life in one way or another. For example, I have trouble driving because I keep telling myself that I will hit a car and for some r... View more

I have had anxiety for a long time. I am constantly worried that I am going to or have made a mistake that will ruin my life in one way or another. For example, I have trouble driving because I keep telling myself that I will hit a car and for some reason my insurance will be invalid and then I will be paying off a debt for my whole life and my life will be ruined. I’m feeling alone and helpless as I don’t know anyone who experiences the same thing. It impacts my life everyday and I am scared to do anything. I feel an unreasonable amount of guilt at all times and constantly am worried about getting told off or someone not liking me, even though I am an adult and shouldn’t care that much. I would love someone to let me know I am not alone. And if anyone has any tips on how to get over catastrophising and experiencing extreme guilt.

Wizard1 Fear of eating?
  • replies: 5

My mother in law has been having some digestive issues of late. One year ago she was diagnosed with diverticulitis. She was treated for this and improved. Over the last few months she has had almost daily issues with diarrhoea. The doctor prescribed ... View more

My mother in law has been having some digestive issues of late. One year ago she was diagnosed with diverticulitis. She was treated for this and improved. Over the last few months she has had almost daily issues with diarrhoea. The doctor prescribed a medication a few weeks ago which helped with the diarrhoea but she now vomits almost daily. The doctor has not found a physiological cause for this. She has lost about 20kg in the last year (now about 45kg). We are wondering if the nausea may be due to anxiety. She has no hobbies (she doesn't seem to want any) and spends her days alone at home. We suspect that she may now have a fear of eating food due recent experiences. Are there suggestions on how we can confirm or rule out anxiety as being the cause? Has anyone come across similar problems? Although we are still investigating possible physical problems, assuming it could be psychological, how do address this with her when she likely to not accept the possibility of psychological affects? Thank you.

Guest_74919819 Dishearten
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Hello group and Thankyou for excepting me how is everyone tonight just a little bit about my story I brought a run down beach house 300 metres from the beach finally finished it after 3 years meet a nice couple well I thought who asked us to agree wi... View more

Hello group and Thankyou for excepting me how is everyone tonight just a little bit about my story I brought a run down beach house 300 metres from the beach finally finished it after 3 years meet a nice couple well I thought who asked us to agree with a deposit then a rent to buy option after that within 2 months they started damaging my home saying if I didn’t knock 25% of the price they were going to pull out of the contract so they did move out left the 2 storey home absolutely disgusting and they were only living there for 17 weeks it looked like they’d lived there 10 years left 2 levels of crappy furniture in both levels of the home never payed rent except the 2 weeks that bonds department gave them it took almost 4 months to get them out they left windows open aircons on at the lowest level 17 the mess my home was in was heart breaking now more demage is visible now we are tidying it up it’s just heart breaking that ppl can treat kind ppl like that with no shame at all it’s so disheartening it really is

car10001 need someone to talk to about things
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hi everyone wondering how you would be able to find friends and a friend to have meaningful conversations with. what am wanting is a girl and a friend to have meaningful conversations with about things and am feeling behind. have worked in hospitalit... View more

hi everyone wondering how you would be able to find friends and a friend to have meaningful conversations with. what am wanting is a girl and a friend to have meaningful conversations with about things and am feeling behind. have worked in hospitality which means worked weekends for 15 years until 2024 when leaving due to sale of business and only had a year to rebuild social side and its not long enough or hasnt been long enough to rebuild. where as others my age have probably had more time to build their social life because of not working weekends for as long as me and most have probably moved on by age 25 onto different careers thats closer to monday-friday no weekends/evenings/holidays, where as myself have stayed too long in my old job and some days am wishing that had left old job post lockdown like all the other middle aged and older workers did and not stay as long as have stayed. because of that am not way behind where it should have been. what is a short term solution while continuing to work on a better solution also how and what could you do to organize a birthday for someone when you dont have many siblings and friends and without becoming a events manager as am not willing to work in hospitality again as done my time in hospitality and it wont be happening again. also how do you ask for one on one time with your sister for a big birthday when you dont have a female friend or a friend to hang out with. what could be done for now.

Amielle Depressed over life
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I've been let go from the past 3 jobs i've had and im unemployed now. I have also gained weight from covid and unemployment and my confidence has gone down dramatically. I have been drinking a lot to cope with the stress and boredom. Last night i got... View more

I've been let go from the past 3 jobs i've had and im unemployed now. I have also gained weight from covid and unemployment and my confidence has gone down dramatically. I have been drinking a lot to cope with the stress and boredom. Last night i got so drunk I brought a random back home and they stole a couple hundred dollars worth sunglasses. I feel violated and unsafe in my room now. I cant look at my wall or bed without thinking of what happened. I feel so stupid because i could have prevented the situation. I dont really feel I have a good support system No one around me likes doing normal things. I feel hopeless. I just want the strength to bounce back and have a good life.

Alycia New job stress and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi guys, I started a new job 2 months ago and my training has now come to an end as of last week. I’m starting my first week out of training tomorrow. I have had anxiety and depressive thoughts for many years of my life on and off. The last couple of... View more

Hi guys, I started a new job 2 months ago and my training has now come to an end as of last week. I’m starting my first week out of training tomorrow. I have had anxiety and depressive thoughts for many years of my life on and off. The last couple of weeks i have been feeling overwhelmed with the work load and expectations that i will be under eventually. I have been having panic attacks while working and anxiety and crying every night because I feel like i am no good at the job and embarrassed to ask for help from my manager or other staff. I feel like im not getting it. I ask for help and my manager usually likes to do a video call when he is free which can be in a few hours. I ask smaller questions from experienced officers that my work wont require a supervisor approval to continue. I try continue other tasks when im waiting for a response but then feel overwhelmed by the amount of work outstanding and questions per item i have. I have already expressed to my manager about how I’m overwhelmed and anxiety has been alot. He understands and had a good chat with me to reassure me. I feel myself and my manager are doing all the right things and most of my anxiety stems from my own insecurities and lack of self esteem and confidence in my knowledge and how to action my work. I’m struggle to tell my body and my mind that I am just doing the best I can and it will get better with time. I keep having dark thoughts about self harm or self destructive behaviour like maybe i shouldn’t have taken the job. I know I’m capable and these things come with experience. I wouldn’t have got this job if i wasn’t suitable. I am looking for advice and a really a pep talk to calm myself down. I have had face to face psychology appointments in the past so i know some techniques such as breathing. The shakes, irritability, panic attacks, nausea, self harm/thoughts of self medicating and crying has been going on for about 2 weeks now. Im over feeling this way and i want to have more faith in my self and be kinder to myself. The fear of not knowing, fear of failure and fear of judgement is strong. Any advice or kind words would be helpful.