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

rossavo Anxiety about school
  • replies: 1

i'm starting school soon, since holidays end in a few days, i'm going into year 11, and my timetable just came out but the school messed up and some of my classes are missing and overbooked me so theirs no room for my diploma, i've tried talking to t... View more

i'm starting school soon, since holidays end in a few days, i'm going into year 11, and my timetable just came out but the school messed up and some of my classes are missing and overbooked me so theirs no room for my diploma, i've tried talking to the school about it they are not answering, and tried taking to my mum about it but she just tells me she's going to work it out and she'll handle it, she wont tell me anything about whats happening and she keeps dismissing me when i try and tell her how i feel, my friends from school wont answer my texts to get support. i stopped seeing my therapist about a year ago i'm prone to anxiety and take meds to reduce it but over all i'm okay, unless its something really big like this. this is really freaking me out and i don't know what to do. i feel really uncomfortable and haven't been able to sleep for a few nights. any advice would be really helpful.

black_rose Work Causing Anxiety...
  • replies: 4

Where to start, at the end of May after being long term unemployed for 4 or 5 years (studied during that time) I finally got myself a job, my mental health was suffering as finding a job was almost impossible. I thought this was great, I could finall... View more

Where to start, at the end of May after being long term unemployed for 4 or 5 years (studied during that time) I finally got myself a job, my mental health was suffering as finding a job was almost impossible. I thought this was great, I could finally gain some financial independence and stop being dependent on my partner, feel worthwhile and actually gain self esteem again, being a very independent person being financially dependent on someone was a real blow to me as a person. At first I loved my job, still do, customer service at petrol station is what I'm qualified to do, nor is my dream job or what I've spent a few years studying for, but hey, it's a job, it *cough* 'pays'. But it is coming to the stage where I feel taken advantage of. I know the only reason I was employed was because of the $6,500 wage subsidy that went with hiring me. Yeah ok I get that, not an issue. What is getting to me is I am being significantly underpaid, I don't receive the legal minimum wage, penalties, public holiday rates. However, the other lady who started at the same time as me complained and asked to be back paid for all her hours, including all the hours she worked that they refused to pay her because it was 'training'. 2 days later she lost her job, they found a way to fire her. She was also long term unemployed. I was told by another worker that she lost her job because she spoke up and advised me not to say anything about my pay if I wanted to keep my job. So I did. Just recently I have now found out that at the end of a shift if the till is down, it comes out of my pay. So not only am I now getting underpaid, I've also been informed that a highly illegal docking of wages can occur. I feel angry, I feel used and taken advantage of and feel that they deliberately employed vulnerable people so they can be taken advantage of, because they're less likely to complain because they need the job. The issue that I've faced these past few months, is if I speak up and ask to paid minimum wage and speak out about this I WILL lose my job, I've spoken to fair work and they suggested finding a new job and then when I leave pursuing it because unlawful dismissal is difficult to prove especially if they say the reason was performance based and only being there a few months it'll be really hard to prove and it's likely that although they'll have to pay me they'll get away with the unlawful dismissal. I'm stressed, I need the job but I hate being taken advantage of.

Lets_try Never ends
  • replies: 2

I just can't deal with people face to face I have been stuck in my house for about 10 years now since I was 22, I am 31or 32 I don't remember. The only reason I leave is to do shopping and I just grab whatever and rush back. I think it is because I h... View more

I just can't deal with people face to face I have been stuck in my house for about 10 years now since I was 22, I am 31or 32 I don't remember. The only reason I leave is to do shopping and I just grab whatever and rush back. I think it is because I hate myself just everything about me my looks my thinking. I mean if I can't stand myself why should anyone else have to. I was bullied my whole school life for my looks heh I guess it worked now I am nothing

JamesR Cant sleep or eat, and i feel like i cant reach out for help
  • replies: 1

I havent slept in 55 hours and i haven't eaten in 63 hours, my family is away at the moment and im home alone, and everytime my mum calls me she asks if im ok and i cant handle telling her that im not, and i lie, which leads to me breaking down even ... View more

I havent slept in 55 hours and i haven't eaten in 63 hours, my family is away at the moment and im home alone, and everytime my mum calls me she asks if im ok and i cant handle telling her that im not, and i lie, which leads to me breaking down even worse. I don't know what to do about this

Mendel Morning Anxiety
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I am just reaching out for advice on how people handle their morning anxiety. One of the worst things is going to bed feeling pretty good and relaxed, and then waking up in the morning with that knot in the stomach feeling anxious for no... View more

Hi everyone, I am just reaching out for advice on how people handle their morning anxiety. One of the worst things is going to bed feeling pretty good and relaxed, and then waking up in the morning with that knot in the stomach feeling anxious for no particular reason. It is frustrating, and it interferes with the mood at the very start of the day. Cheers, Mendel

Jennaa Social anxiety/ meeting new people/ keeping jobs
  • replies: 1

I have a constant anxiety that is there weather I’m meeting up people I’ve met before or meeting new people for the first time I’m so crippling with fear about what they’ll think of me or how I look that I just won’t go or if I do try to I won’t make... View more

I have a constant anxiety that is there weather I’m meeting up people I’ve met before or meeting new people for the first time I’m so crippling with fear about what they’ll think of me or how I look that I just won’t go or if I do try to I won’t make it there because I’ll feel to sick or start hyperventilating I have no idea what I can do to help this. it’s the same with jobs if I get a new job I’m scared that I’m not learning everything properly & that I’m an annoyance for asking about anything it doesn’t matter how many times people tell me it’s ok to ask questions I just can’t. im so sick of having all this in my head I need help in how to fix it any help would be so appreciated because I really don’t know what to do or how to help myself

_ravenclaw_poe Worsened anxiety due to recent news stories
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, i don’t know if this is the best place to put this but I don’t know what else to do. This month has been really hard. Thankfully, I have not been directly affected by the fires nor by this new virus. However, as I have OCD with massive fear... View more

Hey guys, i don’t know if this is the best place to put this but I don’t know what else to do. This month has been really hard. Thankfully, I have not been directly affected by the fires nor by this new virus. However, as I have OCD with massive fears surrounding illness/germs and danger to my family, my anxiety has been the worst it’s ever been. im too scared to leave the house and too scared to sleep at night, leaving me to sleep all day instead. I’m just so scared all the time and I don’t know what to do. I start uni soon so I need to get better. I feel like the only thing that will solve this is for the virus to be cured but idk if/when that will happen. any advice? Anyone experiencing the same or similar thing? thanks xx

Mumsy3 Social anxiety, thought of leaving the house is terrifying
  • replies: 5

I have been dealing with anxiety on/off for the past ten years, most of those Unmedicated. Last week I had a panic attack at a relatives party and since then my anxiety is ridiculous. I took myself off to the doctor 5 days ago and he prescribed me me... View more

I have been dealing with anxiety on/off for the past ten years, most of those Unmedicated. Last week I had a panic attack at a relatives party and since then my anxiety is ridiculous. I took myself off to the doctor 5 days ago and he prescribed me medication. I’m finding everyday I’m feeling better but I’ve just been staying home and resting as the dr said my body is still recovering from the panic attack. My digestive system is anxious and knotted. I’m hungry but the thought of eating makes me nervous. I’ve taken a week off work just to gather myself. Today I ventured out, just with my teen daughter to a shop she wanted to look at and the supermarket. And that’s when the anxiety kicked in big time. I couldn’t get out of there quick enough but forced myself to stay and try and deal with how I was feeling. I’m exhausted now:(. I’ve noticed the side effects of the medication are slowly getting better, I don’t feel as lightheaded as I did initially. How has everyone else coped with this medication? I have had an attack like this in the past so I know I will get through it but I’m such on overthinker. I imagine in my head that I have every sickness possible, check my pulse every few minutes and my blood pressure all the time (it’s stable) .

tpman Reducing my medication always makes me anxious
  • replies: 4

hi... its not rebound from meds anxiety, its just anxiety I create in my own head. Because you see I have such a horrible history from anti-depressant withdrawal and also really really bad memories from a severe bout of depression a cpl years ago whi... View more

hi... its not rebound from meds anxiety, its just anxiety I create in my own head. Because you see I have such a horrible history from anti-depressant withdrawal and also really really bad memories from a severe bout of depression a cpl years ago which led to me being sectioned. I have improved soo much when I think about how bad I was, but I am having sleep issues and have had them for some time now which is really affecting my overall recovery.. So on the advice of my treating psych we are trying do lower the dose (slowly of course). I already have a ton of anticipatory anxiety just at the thought of changing my doses even though its so small. I guess I just want to know if its ok to take things slowly during this period. I have a history of avoidance behavior when I feel anxious which as we all know is a big no no, and I feel I am going to do some avoidance (social mainly) during the change in doses. I mean is it ok to avoid a little bit and just slowly build my courage up again ? I guess thats what I want to no .. Anyways, wish me luck team ! Anxiety sux =(

Sunshine981991 Anxiety hard to cope
  • replies: 1

I’m finding it really hard to go no contact with my abusive mum, it is heart breaking my heart but she has always been very nasty and makes me feel awful about myself so I feel it is the best decision to never talk to her again but I don’t know how t... View more

I’m finding it really hard to go no contact with my abusive mum, it is heart breaking my heart but she has always been very nasty and makes me feel awful about myself so I feel it is the best decision to never talk to her again but I don’t know how to cope with that. Feeling extremely anxious, sad and mixed emotions. Does anyone have any suggestions to get through this and to cope? Feeling isolated and like no one of my friends understands as their mother would never do what mine has. Getting constant anxiety every day and don’t know how to calm down as I left home very recently, Thank you

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