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

OllieB I want to change
  • replies: 3

So I haven't been here in a while, my counselling stopped as I had reached the end of the support a school could give and they gave me a document on how to go to someone else... But I didn't I ignored it stopped looking at all the sites I had joined ... View more

So I haven't been here in a while, my counselling stopped as I had reached the end of the support a school could give and they gave me a document on how to go to someone else... But I didn't I ignored it stopped looking at all the sites I had joined and convinced myself if wasn't real that somehow I had made it up. Then I practically locked myself up in my house I avoid school friends at first people asked questions wondering if something was up but then that stopped too and I became good at lying to myself and worst of all to others. Now I don't know what to do I feel really alone and I don't like who I am or how I'm living my life i want to change I want friends that I can rely on I want to walk into a new place and see the amazing adventure that can be had not walk back out because my heart is racing and I'm struggling to hold back tears of overwhelming fear I don't know how I got here and I don't know how to fix it... But I want the old me back

Anxiety_overwhelmed How to talk to beyond blues call line
  • replies: 3

I don’t like speaking to profession’s I’m not too sure about. Gp’s, counsellors, I know what there about and how they can help but beyond blue I’m not sure. I know nothing of this organisation as it’s only my second time on this site. Im nervous and ... View more

I don’t like speaking to profession’s I’m not too sure about. Gp’s, counsellors, I know what there about and how they can help but beyond blue I’m not sure. I know nothing of this organisation as it’s only my second time on this site. Im nervous and feel useless that I have to talk to somebody I don’t know in order to get advice about my sever anxiety. I think, will they be judgemental are they going to laugh afterwards do they take there job seriously and are they going to be compassionate all these thoughts cross my mind. but I know I really need to speak to someone how did anybody go with making there first initial phone call.

nootnoot I think I have ADD but too embarrassed to get help
  • replies: 3

For the longest time I have always felt I was stupid and that everything is hard. I have always found school and university hard. I never had good grades and never did anything exceptional because everything was too hard. I have been in and out of un... View more

For the longest time I have always felt I was stupid and that everything is hard. I have always found school and university hard. I never had good grades and never did anything exceptional because everything was too hard. I have been in and out of university over the last 10 years due to not being able to decide what I wanted to do, it was all too hard or I wasn't smart enough. Things that seem simple to understand I find it hard and need things to be explaining to me several times in different ways for me to understand. I remember in primary school not being able to do simple maths times tables and my father would make me spend hours trying to learn them every afternoon. To this day I am still terrible at maths and can not do maths in my head very fast. I have been forgetful and lost 2 pairs of sunglasses. I always feel bored and need to be doing something. When it comes to my university essays, I always leave them to the last minute because I don’t have the attention span to do them. It’s like I need that big rush of anxiety to make myself do my assignments. My assignment grades are never the best. I have had diagnosed depression and anxiety for almost 10 years. I always feel tired and have no motivation to do anything. I know these are symptoms of depression, but I have not felt depressed for a while. I usually become very depressed when I know I have an assessment due. They stress me out and I feel dumb when I write them because I can’t get what I want to say in my head onto the paper. It’s like everything is jumbled up in my head. I can’t focus on anything for too long especially if it requires strong thought which is why most of my time I spend watching tv shows or playing video games. Writing this has been difficult because I have been getting distracted and it’s also not the most well written thread so I apologise. Basically, I think I have ADD and have felt I have had it for a long time but I have always been too scared or embarrassed to tell my doctor out of fear they will judge or they will just think it is part of my depression and ignore it or say that it is normal to procrastinate etc.. I don’t know how to go about telling them that I would like to be assessed.

Clarissa26 Work worries
  • replies: 4

Hi i am moving to a new state at the end of the year and will need to find a new job. I work in education and can’t just transfer over. Where I work now I’m valued and I worry I’m not going to find that again. I doubt myself. I love what I do and jus... View more

Hi i am moving to a new state at the end of the year and will need to find a new job. I work in education and can’t just transfer over. Where I work now I’m valued and I worry I’m not going to find that again. I doubt myself. I love what I do and just want you o keep doing it. I wake up in the night and have anxiety attacks thinking about it. I wish it was easier.

Guest_9486 Anxiety and panic triggered by kids
  • replies: 5

Hi. I have 3 small kids and have lived with anxiety most of my life but have found that since having kids my anxiety has become much worse. I often feel panicked that I’m just not cut out for being a parent. (I’m a great mum but just feel so complete... View more

Hi. I have 3 small kids and have lived with anxiety most of my life but have found that since having kids my anxiety has become much worse. I often feel panicked that I’m just not cut out for being a parent. (I’m a great mum but just feel so completely overwhelmed sometimes that it comes out in physical symptoms nausea, vomiting, feeling dizzy etc). My husband is very supportive of me and extremely understanding but I’m very worried about my anxiety affecting our marriage as I will often want to avoid going places with the kids etc. Also I have noticed that my panic attacks are also being set off when he becomes angry with the kids so it’s kind of this horrible cycle of me getting flustered and can’t handle the kids, then he trying to sort things out and gets angry with them, then my anxiety escalates til I have to go lay down because I’m totally panicking. I saw a psychologist and got help with some advice and techniques and also have a medication to just take when I have a bad attack (not everyday). But here I am at 4am triggered into panic because my son woke up crying with a tummy ache.... like what the hell! I shouldn’t be panicking because of that! Does anyone else experience this?

mad_woman Alone & coping with anxiety.
  • replies: 2

I find my anxiety very scary,mainly being alone,it scares me so much.I have no family or friends here where I live.I am a carer to my two sons with autism.they live with me.I am so lonely most of the time,but worse still very scared,I hate the nights... View more

I find my anxiety very scary,mainly being alone,it scares me so much.I have no family or friends here where I live.I am a carer to my two sons with autism.they live with me.I am so lonely most of the time,but worse still very scared,I hate the nights.its getting worse.I am 57.

Butterfly64 Head Pressure
  • replies: 6

Wondering if anyone else has unrelenting head pressure? I've had it for 3 years and tried every medication, therapy and alternative treatment there is and nothing has helped. Had CT scan and MRI both normal. It is always there but sometimes unbearabl... View more

Wondering if anyone else has unrelenting head pressure? I've had it for 3 years and tried every medication, therapy and alternative treatment there is and nothing has helped. Had CT scan and MRI both normal. It is always there but sometimes unbearable. I'm going to try neurofeedback soon - after that, I'm out of options. I've read up on tension headaches and it sounds like that's what I've got, except that mine NEVER goes away

Emerald12 Suffer from very bad anxiety - please help
  • replies: 5

Hi, for years now I suffer from terrible social anxiety and just to leave the house when I’m not working is a massive battle.. I’m nearly 30 years old and I can’t even go to the supermarket or fueling my car up without freaking out , I am getting mar... View more

Hi, for years now I suffer from terrible social anxiety and just to leave the house when I’m not working is a massive battle.. I’m nearly 30 years old and I can’t even go to the supermarket or fueling my car up without freaking out , I am getting married next year to the love of my life and I am very worried as I need to do a speech and my social anxiety is terrible .. so worried the words won’t spit out and it’s choking me .. please what will help me .. I’ve tried exercise and everything and none of that stuff helps , my anxiety is to strong it over takes me every time thanks

mad_woman Too scared to sleep,recent pain meds & sleeping meds,have made me sleepwalk & have falls when I get up.stopped the meds but still happening.
  • replies: 4

I am so scared to sleep,I keep sleep walking & having falls.Tried to go to sleep so tired but anxiety kicked in.Last night woke up on kitchen floor,fell backwards & hit my head.My knees & legs are covered in bruises & very swollen,can barely walk.Too... View more

I am so scared to sleep,I keep sleep walking & having falls.Tried to go to sleep so tired but anxiety kicked in.Last night woke up on kitchen floor,fell backwards & hit my head.My knees & legs are covered in bruises & very swollen,can barely walk.Too scared to have a shower in case I fall,its in a bath,so not totally flat surface,its been a week now. Havent had any sleep or pain meds for nearly a week now. I am 57 female,first time ever taking stronger sleep meds & pain meds,originally for oesto pain,really bad side effects.I cant stand up for too long & house is a disaster,my anxiety is super high now.

Rururumble Work Stress - TGiF
  • replies: 2

Its with great relief that Friday is here, 2 days to chill out. However work is on my mind. I struggle with conflict and am confronted by other members of the team getting angry but being aggressive. I start second quessing, blaming and remonstrating... View more

Its with great relief that Friday is here, 2 days to chill out. However work is on my mind. I struggle with conflict and am confronted by other members of the team getting angry but being aggressive. I start second quessing, blaming and remonstrating with myself. My internal voice is active and gathering evidence that Im not good at my job. My anxiety is hitting fever pitch and if I cannot debunk my negative thoughts I will be living into them. Decided to try this forum as a way of debunking the negative thoughts and getting some perspective so I can over come my anxiety and empower myself.

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