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

Ads1984 Constant Anxiety & Daily Panic Attacks
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I’ve recently discovered Beyond Blue and would like to share my experience. Really pleasing to see a good forum for people to assist one another. I’d love to hear your story too. Firstly, my mental health has always been resilient and st... View more

Hi everyone, I’ve recently discovered Beyond Blue and would like to share my experience. Really pleasing to see a good forum for people to assist one another. I’d love to hear your story too. Firstly, my mental health has always been resilient and stable. Generally a very relaxed, composed and bright / bubbly person. I never imagined my life taking this dark turn, plus I had no idea (until recently) how many people are actually going through serious mental health battles. It started for me two months ago when I sent myself to hospital after experiencing bad chest pain and dizziness. I had my very first panic attack while connected to the heart rate monitors there; saw my heart rate rise quickly to 180 and then drop to 30. At this point I was close to black out. I thought I was dying in that moment of a heart attack. Doctors told me heart and bloods were fine and to go home. My doctor immediately wanted to put me on anti-depressants, which I wasn’t overly impressed about, considering most physical problems weren’t ruled out. Since then I have done multiple physical tests which have all come back ok; Several ECG’s, echocardiogram, myocardial perfusion. I have been in a constant state of worry / fear and my life has been a constant challenge. From when I wake in the morning, to when I finally fall asleep at night, I am living on edge and feeling I could collapse at any moment. Both my nana and grandad (passed) had heart problems, plus I’ve been a smoker and binge drinker for ten years (completely stopped both after my initial panic attack). I am 34 and this is something I had never experienced before. I have been to emergency 4-5 times now, struggling to sleep at night (even my dreams are anxiety filled), can’t concentrate, easily exhausted, heavily fatigued and am convinced life is slowly coming to an end. I’ve been staying with family because I’m worried about being on my own. Have tried (and continue to do) deep breathing exercises, meditation, clean eating, acupuncture, therapy sessions, naturopath (taking a lot of supplements), and have a psychiatrist appointment next week. Was walking 6-7km daily, however most recently feel dizzy after 500m-1km in. I tried an antidepressant for three days and it sent my symptoms into overdrive, my doctor told me to stop until I see the psychiatrist. Am totally committed to doing anything safe and reasonable to allow myself a chance to get better. Myself and my daughter need me back to my healthy self.

seekinganswers1 Anhedonia? Burn Out ? - Feeling Flat
  • replies: 1

Hi All, In recent weeks I have developed a lack of feelings towards things I used to find particularly enjoyable- Sport, Music Food etc. This follows a period of approx. 2 months of sudden Insomnia and poor sleeping, Anxiety/ racing thoughts, Dizzine... View more

Hi All, In recent weeks I have developed a lack of feelings towards things I used to find particularly enjoyable- Sport, Music Food etc. This follows a period of approx. 2 months of sudden Insomnia and poor sleeping, Anxiety/ racing thoughts, Dizziness and boredom with work, the insomnia continues to today. I have had significant periods of high stress in the past but have always found enjoyment in the above-mentioned activities until now. These periods usually pass and things improve. I have been researching and believe perhaps I may have a case of Anhedonia? I still function day to day i.e. - gym, relationship and work etc. however this recent " flat" feeling has been quite confronting. I don’t feel particularly angry or sad regarding the situation just flat which is odd as I would much prefer to be angry and than at least I would be expressing some emotion! I’m interested to see if anyone can shed any light on this perhaps from their own experience? I recently purchased some medication to help bolster Dopamine and Serotonin and I thought maybe I have burnt my self out but I am very open to any other ideas that anyone may have. I really appreciate any help on this J Kind Regards,

Purple_Polka_Dot Panic attacks, fear of panic attack again and hightened anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I recently (3 weeks or so ago) had a panic attack that lasted I think for about an hour, where I was hyperventilating and my arms and legs were going numb. I felt like I was going crazy at the time. I had a series of events on a trip I w... View more

Hi everyone, I recently (3 weeks or so ago) had a panic attack that lasted I think for about an hour, where I was hyperventilating and my arms and legs were going numb. I felt like I was going crazy at the time. I had a series of events on a trip I was on, that I had planned, go wrong that were sort of out of my control to an extent. At the time I felt like it was all my fault, I know now that it was really just bad luck. At the time I was with two friends who called 000, and an ambo helped me calm down by talking to me. This is the second panic attack I have had in the last 6 months, first one also lasted at least an hour, but was brought on by sharp sudden pain caused by a health condition that has now been resolved. Since the most recent panic attack, the first week after, almost every day I could feel my breathing getting faster, and I was terrified I was going to have another panic attack. I decided to go see a doctor 2 weeks ago, and she asked me to do the K-10 test, which I did and she said I had moderate signs of anxiety. I really just felt like I needed some medication to help calm me. I had tried meditation, and wasn't working for me, and tried to slow my breathing, which also wasn't working. I severely dislike tea and ginger, so that was a no go. The doctor gave me the referral to see a psychologist, but I don't feel like it is for me. She told me some excuse saying she wouldn't give me any meds, and I have only just realised that the medical clinic I went to, have signs up saying all doctors are not allowed to prescribe the meds that I wanted to talk to her about. I feel a bit like, she didn't want to be honest with me, that she just couldn't prescribe them. Do you think it would be okay to see a different doctor about my options? I feel like at the moment, as much as anxiety is a normal response to stressful situations, every time anything small happens my anxiety goes through the roof and it takes me ages to get over it or calm down, even if it is a silly thing to be anxious about. Sorry for the super long question.... Thanks in advance, I guess!

Oneforever Anxiety is ruining my life
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone So i have been with my partner for a year and a few months and it wss the best year of my life. He is just th ebest person in the world he is my family and my love and he helped through lots of things like when my famy abondened me and i ... View more

Hi everyone So i have been with my partner for a year and a few months and it wss the best year of my life. He is just th ebest person in the world he is my family and my love and he helped through lots of things like when my famy abondened me and i was almost a honeles person but he believe in me and i got a job and studied at uni and living the best life until recently i got a major anxiety and depression just feeling like nothing has meaning and not have no feelings for anything and started feeling that im emoyionally unacailable with him and that scared me a lot i experiences panic attack and went hospital twice because i keep thinking that i lost him or lost my life and i love him so much but my anxiety keep giving me bad thoughts. I suffered anxiety a while ago because of my family i had a bad childhood and i committed suicide when i was a kid because of my parents but i worked hard to live the life im leaving right now but my anxiety its not letting me and i told him about how i feel and hes being so supportive and understanding and he said to me we will neve lose each other. I manager now to not have a panic attack but sometimes i get anxiety when im with him and feel like i wanna run away and hide and i cant look at his eyes and i just remember myself when i was very anxious before i manager to handle it. I love him so much and i dont wanna lose him but anxiety is killing me. Im not gonna give up but please guys any advice on how to manage it? And should i go on medication? My doctor recommended me antidepressant what should i do? I dont wanna lose my life bwcaus eor anxiety and my past

Willo123 My dad doesn’t understand
  • replies: 2

Iv struggled with anxiety very badly for the last 5 years. Iv had it my whole life but has been the worst in the last 5 years. I’m currently going through a huge struggle. Iv been in so much mental pain and exhaustion that my brain thinks of ways to ... View more

Iv struggled with anxiety very badly for the last 5 years. Iv had it my whole life but has been the worst in the last 5 years. I’m currently going through a huge struggle. Iv been in so much mental pain and exhaustion that my brain thinks of ways to inflict a physical pain, so I don’t have to feel the mental anymore. The one huge thing that is stopping me from getting back into my old routine and being happy in my comfort zone is my dad. Everyone else understands on some kind of level what I’m going through but not dad. He thinks why can’t I just get over this and do what I want. He just doesn’t understand and it makes me not want to talk to him when I feel this low. I just don’t know how to make him see that I’m struggling.

Jamber2000 Isolation Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, I've been wracking my brain for a few weeks now trying to work out where to go and what to talk about. I've never really been one to have many issues or qualms about anything in my life but recently I've been feeling an overwhelming sad... View more

Hey everyone, I've been wracking my brain for a few weeks now trying to work out where to go and what to talk about. I've never really been one to have many issues or qualms about anything in my life but recently I've been feeling an overwhelming sadness associated with being isolated or alone. Being quite a social person in the past, I'd never realised how much other people influenced my mental state and now that I've tried to become a bit more of an independent person, I've found myself constantly upset and on the verge of crying. I feel really alone. I'm not sure if this is just a phase that I'm going through or if I'm having legitimate problems that need help with and I'd like to know if this is a common thing that people just go through or if i need serious intervention. Thank you.

whyismylifesomessedup old
  • replies: 2

I have struggled a lot recently. I have an obsession with seeking reassurance, needing to know that something bad isn't going to happen - for example, earlier in the year, I became fixated with the idea of what happens after we die and constantly see... View more

I have struggled a lot recently. I have an obsession with seeking reassurance, needing to know that something bad isn't going to happen - for example, earlier in the year, I became fixated with the idea of what happens after we die and constantly seeking reassurance from people that it isn't the end, et cetera. I also like to keep things perfect - e.g., dented my brand new MacBook Pro 5 or so months ago and have been unable to get it out of my head. I also am obsessed with looking perfect/hate any blemishes on myself. Is this possibly obsessive compulsive disorder?

Willo123 Given up on trying
  • replies: 10

I’m 21 years old have have been struggling with serious anxiety disorder. Im happy in my life when I’m in my comfort zone. I have recently started a new job and that is making me feel extremely anxious. Im about to give up on it because I can’t feel ... View more

I’m 21 years old have have been struggling with serious anxiety disorder. Im happy in my life when I’m in my comfort zone. I have recently started a new job and that is making me feel extremely anxious. Im about to give up on it because I can’t feel like this anymore. I need this feeling to be over, so I just have to go back to working for my parents on the farm even tho it’s not my dream. But I can’t do my dream job because this anxiety is too much. The medication doesn’t feel like it works anymore. I wish I could be normal.

245AM WOMEN: Stress/Anxiety affecting menstruation
  • replies: 4

Has anyone experienced a very late period due to intense weeks/months of stress and anxiety or a traumatic experience? I've been to my doctor and am definitely not pregnant, and she believes it's mostly stress related so we have discussed some techni... View more

Has anyone experienced a very late period due to intense weeks/months of stress and anxiety or a traumatic experience? I've been to my doctor and am definitely not pregnant, and she believes it's mostly stress related so we have discussed some techniques and practices I can use in order to lower stress and control spiral thinking - and most importantly stop focusing on my period being late. I was just wondering if anyone out there has ever experienced this? If you were late due to stress, how late?

Fillicks Possible anxiety??
  • replies: 6

Hi im not too sure how to articulate all of this accurately but I may (possibly??) Have anxiety. I’m just going to list a bit off the top of my head. I don’t want to see a GP or school counsellor or anything as i’m scared that I’ll be wasting their t... View more

Hi im not too sure how to articulate all of this accurately but I may (possibly??) Have anxiety. I’m just going to list a bit off the top of my head. I don’t want to see a GP or school counsellor or anything as i’m scared that I’ll be wasting their time and then they’ll hate me forever. basically, I can’t catch buses, everytime I try I feel sick to the stomach and my chest feels tight, I always miss buses as I’m afraid to signal drivers in case there’s too many people and I get kicked off. I wake up really early (3-4ish) in a cold sweat if I have to catch a bus the day after. Idk I just generally sweat a lot whenever I get on a bus/go to work or school. This has caused me to walk over an hour to get home (on multiple occasions) rather than catching public buses. I have the same feelings (tight chest and nausea) throughout school and in literally any situation that I’m alone. I overthink e v e r y t h i n g to the point that my mum laughs at me, i guess it could be funny but it just makes me so angry at myself. I’m so scared of other people?? I just avoid leaving my house unless it’s absolutely necessary, whenever I go out I can feel everyone judging me and it’s just so terrifying. I don’t like talking to other people because I get really nervous and start to ramble and I can feel their annoyance which makes me even more nervous because I know they don’t like me. I get claustrophobic In crowds of people, i get panicky and can’t breathe right. On the way to work the nausea is a lot more intense, I try to distract myself with music but the feeling is constant. I cant talk to managers at work without tearing up bc I’m so scared of what they’ll think of me, (I don’t want them to think I’m weird or anything) i always rehearse everything I need to say regardless of the situation, and I spend so much time worrying about what I’m going to say or do that my fear of doing it just builds and then suddenly I’m breathing really fast and the tightness has increased and I get this rush of cold. this is all so incredibly frustrating, i try to get over my fear and act like a “normal teenager “ but I Just can’t do it. I don’t know why I can’t just do a simple task like asking a teacher a question (still building up the courage for that though) or making small talk to a classmate without sweating and rehearsing everything over and over again... im not sure if these are symptoms of anxiety or if I’m just being dramatic about everything lol