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

Mandalee Scared my Children are going to get really sick and die..
  • replies: 5

Hi all, This is probably more for all the Parents out there.. Have any of you experienced extreme anxiety when your child gets sick with a cold/flu, tummy bug and especially Fever? As soon as one of my girls get a slight temp my body and mind goes in... View more

Hi all, This is probably more for all the Parents out there.. Have any of you experienced extreme anxiety when your child gets sick with a cold/flu, tummy bug and especially Fever? As soon as one of my girls get a slight temp my body and mind goes into melt down almost, the fear that it's something so serious they will die is so overwhelming. One common virus that my daughter picked up lasted just over 2 weeks.. I was that scared she seen 4 doctors because I was sure there was something more wrong. She is fine now but I was so sure I was constantly checking her temperature and getting her to take deep breaths so I could hear that she can breath fine. I get so angry at myself at the same time though because I know it's not good for my children to see this as they will be more prone to suffering the same way. And then I also get scared because you hear people say that if you keep thinking the same thing you can make it happen so I not only get scared something is wrong I also get scared that it will happen because I am thinking it. I just want to be the best mum I can be and have me children live healthy happy lives I jump and freak out as soon as something seems a little off course.. Does anybody else feel this way and do you have any coping mechanisms? I have not long been put on anti anxiety medication so I am hoping they will really start to make a difference soon. Thanks Mandalee

Sylvia770 Quitting job due to anxiety - what now?
  • replies: 4

Hey guys - this is my first time posting so I am really nervous. To set the scene - I am a young woman in her early-mid 20's and have struggled getting and holding down a job my whole adult life. I have had anxiety since I was a child and suffered fr... View more

Hey guys - this is my first time posting so I am really nervous. To set the scene - I am a young woman in her early-mid 20's and have struggled getting and holding down a job my whole adult life. I have had anxiety since I was a child and suffered from depression as a teenager. I am also both shy and introverted. I recently quit a job I had in finance in a customer service role as I just could not stand it anymore, only to walk into another job in finance that's main focus is on selling a financial product. As most of you can imagine, when you're shy, anxious and introverted any job that involves excessive customer contact is the equivalent of hell on earth. I've only worked this job for a week and am already getting heart palpitations every morning I wake up for work. I'm even anxious about working on the days I am not working. As I have substantial savings from my previous job, I have decided to prioritise my mental health and quit today. The only thing is - I don't know where to next. I am close to finishing a bachelor's degree in health science but don't have any other qualifications. I have around 3 years of general admin experience, but no real technical skills. Has anyone been in a similar position before? Moreover - has anyone been able to find a part time or full time job that doesn't exasperate your anxiety? I am just looking for ideas and a little guidance.

Harrysmum FEAR OF CARDIAC ARREST
  • replies: 3

Hey, I’m a 24yo i suffer from panic attacks and have so since I was 15, I have been on medication since I was 18, fast forward 6 years they have lost there effectiveness, I have severe panic attacks, scared of getting the flu and dieing, but my main ... View more

Hey, I’m a 24yo i suffer from panic attacks and have so since I was 15, I have been on medication since I was 18, fast forward 6 years they have lost there effectiveness, I have severe panic attacks, scared of getting the flu and dieing, but my main issue is FEAR OF CARDIAC ARREST! I have upped my dose last week, This fear has only been about for around 5 months, I hardly leave my house because of the fear of collapsing and dieing! I won’t go out unless I have my partner with me, he can’t leave me home either because I’ll freak out, he’s my safety net at the moment ive been to the hospital for my panic attacks obviously & they did blood tests and a EKG and said it was all perfectly normal, I know deep within that it’s highly unlikely for me to have a cardiac arrest, but this fear just takes over, and my best friend google (yes I know, I shouldn’t) doesn’t help with more information on cardiac arrests other then, “it happens at any age, anywhere and to anyone, even the healthy young ones” like obviously, BUT how often!? How often does a 24yo with low blood pressure, low cholesterol, a smoker, no known heart related issues in my family history in Australia? Rare right? Yes. But HOW RARE?! Rare as in 2/3 a week? 1 a year? It’s a constant thought all day everyday I’m exhausted! I’m emotionally & psychically drained. Also I do see two different psychologists, none seem to be helping me with this. They just tell me everything I already know really.. Thanks for reading guys!!! Looking forward to all your replied & help

MindfulWorrior Lost and need help - My child’s anxiety is increasing
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone my child has shown anxiety type symptoms since our family decided to relocate from the country and family to the city for better schooling opportunities. Started with not wanting to move and then not attending school or sport after school... View more

Hi everyone my child has shown anxiety type symptoms since our family decided to relocate from the country and family to the city for better schooling opportunities. Started with not wanting to move and then not attending school or sport after school. OCD has started with washing hands after any use of hands and asking if everything will be okay every five minutes. Always worried about death and any feelings, pains, niggles or actions could cause death. Feels dizzy all the time during the day and constantly says there are pains in the knees and chest. I have engaged GP, psychologist and kinesiologist and used typical meditation apps. The symptoms come and go in waves but seem to have gone to a new level and are disrupting school, sport and sleep. I haven’t mentioned it all or the worst of it, but wife and I are feeling lost, tired and not sure what to do from this point on. Appreciate some feedback on what to do and not what to say......

Cas7 Agoraphobia?
  • replies: 2

A few years ago I went to Africa for a month and had a really hard time-- nothing actually happened, but I felt isolated and alone and so low that I just didn't know what to do with myself. When I came home I developed this irrational fear of travel,... View more

A few years ago I went to Africa for a month and had a really hard time-- nothing actually happened, but I felt isolated and alone and so low that I just didn't know what to do with myself. When I came home I developed this irrational fear of travel, at first anywhere outside of my home state, though I've started to be able to comprehend other countries and states now. I always just described myself as an intensely associative person because it doesn't take me more than one or two bad emotional times to associate negative emotions with certain places or people. In the last year though it's gotten worse, to the point where sometimes I hit a spiral and I can't move. The best I can describe it is that it's like all the brakes are going on in my head and I just need to stay exactly where I am and not think and not move and just try to feel okay. Nowhere feels safe for me right now. I have beautiful friends and family and all of them are scary, because nothing seems to ease this insane anxiety and depression. I've struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life, but this is something else and it's getting worse. I wake up and I'm scared. I don't go home because my home is not an emotionally safe space. I don't really feel like I have a home, just because my brain won't let me. I can't hold down a job because I associate it with negative emotions and my most recent job I had to leave because I kept almost having panic attacks at the idea that I had to stay in that space where I didn't feel safe for a few hours. I've started university and I'm scared I'm going to drop out because the campus has started to scare me. My doctor said something about 'mild agoraphobia' and it was the first time I'd ever heard of it outside an extreme 'scared of outside' kind of way. I don't know what to think, but I'm looking for anything and everything to try and take a step in the right direction. Please help.

JK113 Scared that my intrusive thoughts will ruin my life
  • replies: 3

Recently (late May) my Harm OCD has returned but this time it’s been a lot worse because it’s been in conjunction with me feeling depressed after my best friend of 2 1/2 years cut contact with me and so I began feeling apathetic which only added to m... View more

Recently (late May) my Harm OCD has returned but this time it’s been a lot worse because it’s been in conjunction with me feeling depressed after my best friend of 2 1/2 years cut contact with me and so I began feeling apathetic which only added to my worry because I thought I was becoming emotionless and didn’t care about those around me anymore. And I get scared because I’ll have these thoughts than cheer up a few minutes later and worry that I’m a psycho whose just tricked themselves and family members into thinking they have ocd and because I’ve been snappy lately I’ve worried that means I’ll act on these thoughts. I’ve been googling profiles of a psychopath/assessments and than I worry cause than I convince myself that it’s a possibility even though everyone around has said I’d never do anything. And my psychologist I’ve been wanting to see isn’t available till September. I’m only 19 and I have so much I want to do a lot with my life but I feel like these intrusive thoughts are just going to drag me down and that I’ll just become a panicky nutcase with very little quality of life.

Neopopulas Its just been a tough week. (Maybe a vent)
  • replies: 3

This is my first post here but i have been lurking around for awhile and after this last week, sitting here reading through things, i felt like i just wanted to say something, anything.. Even if it comes off a bit like venting too much which i don't ... View more

This is my first post here but i have been lurking around for awhile and after this last week, sitting here reading through things, i felt like i just wanted to say something, anything.. Even if it comes off a bit like venting too much which i don't like doing. I guess a little bit of background, i'm 35, male and have been dealing with or suffering from some from of mental health issue for as long as i can remember. Starting when i was about 13 but not fully diagnosed until i was in my twenties. Prior to being diagnosed most of the time it was the normal, typical reactions that i'm sure most kids got at that age. I was eventually diagnosed with, well just a slew of things, mixed anxiety disorder with depressive episodes and panic attacks, and add in a personality disorder or two (OCPD) and you can no doubt guess things can get a bit tricky for me. Since i have had probably two jobs in my entire life, both of which were basically given to me by family members and neither of which lasted more than 8 months, combined with no real highschool education job hunting is a struggle, to say the least. I have dealt with centrelink on and off for years, but its been getting progressively harder and thats where i am left now. After a very tough week or two. I understand why centrelink operates the way it does and i don't blame the workers, they have been almost universally polite and considerate but this last couple of weeks has me at wits end. I have been with job service provider and on newstart for awhile now and my attempts at getting a medical exemption have been trying. My psychiatrist wrong a letter explaining the situation, i submitted it, but of course when you have to call, two and a half hours on hold and i'm told i need the centrelink form, i guess my Psych was wrong there, so I wait a fortnight and try again, get the certificate from my Psych, try again - three hours this time - and i'm declined again, because you can't get a temporary exemption for a marked 'permanent condition. But we're not at the stage where i can be looking at a disability pension, we still have a ways to go before then.. Its just frustrating when you're honest and do everything right and it still doesn't work out. I'm not sure if i should.. maybe not lie, but at least tweak the forms to get what i need.. its like, in trying to not exploit the system i have made life harder for myself. Maybe i should just go for DSP, it seems like their goal sometimes. Thanks for listening..

liamf22 My brain is broken . I'm 17 and my memory feels broken, I am full of anxiety and have lost the ability to communicate or do basic things I used to.
  • replies: 5

I am a 17 year old guy who has had issues with social anxiety and controlling negative thoughts in the past. I have been having epsiodes that last a week and then go away for a week. I am experiencing one of these episodes right now and it feels like... View more

I am a 17 year old guy who has had issues with social anxiety and controlling negative thoughts in the past. I have been having epsiodes that last a week and then go away for a week. I am experiencing one of these episodes right now and it feels like I am completely disconnected from my identity and my personality. I have lost the ability to form basic sentences in discussion and have become a completly useless and extremely awkward person. It feels like I have lost my basic human comprohension. There are many long term memories that feel completely blurred. It feels like all my basic human skills are impaired such as spelling, writing, vocabulary, the ability to speak in full sentences. I feel trapped in my mind and am having trouble writing this right now. My whole life feels like a floaty, dreadful, anxiety dream. I am so scared that these episodes will not stop happening. I have completely lost my social connections and am now known for being very wierd and stupid at my school as of lately. I'm trapped in my head and can't even comprehend my own thoughts. I'm unable to communicate what I am truly feeling because of this and can't communicate what I want to with my therapist. When these episodes end I think to myself - how stupid was it that I let my brain get this way, I'm fine! it won't happen again surely. I just want to die so this nighmare cycle can be over. I'm sorry if this doesn't make any sense, I am just trying to find anyone who can relate to this.

Ziggy78 New to Anxiety and to Beta-Blockers
  • replies: 4

Hi all: I suffered my first panic attack in public three months ago. A nasty situation at work I believe was the 'trigger' but so was ongoing and work related stress. My bouts of anxiety have been coming and going in intense waves since then - unfort... View more

Hi all: I suffered my first panic attack in public three months ago. A nasty situation at work I believe was the 'trigger' but so was ongoing and work related stress. My bouts of anxiety have been coming and going in intense waves since then - unfortunately, the worst of them happen when I'm giving public presentations and not doing these is not an option for me. So: I have to face my most fearful space time and again and deal with the physical effects. My Doctor recently prescribed Beta-Blockers for me (the lowest dosage ) - I took one but I honestly did not feel its effects when I talked. The Dr said that should 'play around' with the dosage but I'm frightened to do that... Does anyone have any advice? I am practicing my deep breathing, seeing a psychologist also - I'm trying to resist going on prolonged medication and trialling everything else first.

Malaalsieh Health Anxiety and physical symptoms
  • replies: 5

Hi I’m new here I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression 7 months ago. I spent the first 5 months crying 6-10 times a day because I thought I had every cancer under the sun!!! I literally thought I was dying and because I’m a mum of 3 I c... View more

Hi I’m new here I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression 7 months ago. I spent the first 5 months crying 6-10 times a day because I thought I had every cancer under the sun!!! I literally thought I was dying and because I’m a mum of 3 I couldn’t bare the thought of them living without me. I was under so much stress and my body has totally run itself down. I stopped work 2 months ago and slowly getting back on my feet. My main symptoms were my glands and lymph nodes were so inflamed! I have a sore neck all the time but docs said it was my anxiety causing all this pain. It wasn’t until I saw my naturopath who told me my immune system is so low my glandular fever has come back. However my muscles in my thighs and shins are so sore. My back is sore. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck and I’m over feeling like this. I would like to assume it’s just my body now recovering from all the stress it’s been under? You can’t even touch my muscles without it being sore! I’m scared. Even though I know my body is going through some tough times I get scared it’s the worst case scenario. Does anyone else feel like this or has been through it?