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

sunnydaysarecoming anxiety taking over my life
  • replies: 3

hi, i’m 16 years old and my anxiety is taking over. i’ve had anxiety since i was young (around 10) and lately it’s been hitting me hard. i recently got my first job ever which has been a huge trigger and i’m towards the end of my schooling journey wh... View more

hi, i’m 16 years old and my anxiety is taking over. i’ve had anxiety since i was young (around 10) and lately it’s been hitting me hard. i recently got my first job ever which has been a huge trigger and i’m towards the end of my schooling journey which is terrifying as now i’m facing the real world. my anxiety stops me from hanging out with friends when i’m invited places, ordering my own food, buying something from the shops, getting onto a bus by myself, class presentations, and many other simple daily activities. i have a shift tomorrow for my work which is absolutely terrifying and i can’t sleep. sometimes i feel so alone with my anxiety so i’m hoping there is people out there who feel the exact same way.

greatoutdoors123 Focussing on mistakes in my past
  • replies: 6

Hi there, I seem to have a problem with focussing (and almost obsessing) over mistakes I've made in the past. Whether it be at uni, or work etc, I will just randomly think of them and then replay them over and over. It's really getting to me and make... View more

Hi there, I seem to have a problem with focussing (and almost obsessing) over mistakes I've made in the past. Whether it be at uni, or work etc, I will just randomly think of them and then replay them over and over. It's really getting to me and makes me feel bad about myself. Has anyone else felt this way, or have any tips? Thanks everyone, x

44Max44 A distressing day
  • replies: 16

So today has been pretty difficult for me so far. Some background is I've had nasal polyps for a few months now, but they have never really caused me any worry- until this morning. I went to blow my nose and a little bit of mucus with blood in it cam... View more

So today has been pretty difficult for me so far. Some background is I've had nasal polyps for a few months now, but they have never really caused me any worry- until this morning. I went to blow my nose and a little bit of mucus with blood in it came out, and my nose was bleeding a little bit. I then stupidly googled 'blood nose and nasal polyps' and of course, one of the things Google says it 'could' be is cancer. Great. Now my mind is going crazy and I can't think of anything but that, I went to my friend's house and found it extremely difficult to socialize, I pretty much just stayed silent and was in my head the whole time. On the bright side of things, this rather distressing experience finally pushed me to go down to my GP and book both a normal consult to check up on my nose, and a mental health care plan for Monday next week. I'm seriously considering just going down to the GP tonight (it closes at 10pm) and getting my nose checked then because I'm really concerned. It could very well be (and most likely is) just a slight nose bleed caused by the abnormally hot day (28 degrees compared to 20ish degree days usual), but that still doesn't stop me from being anxious of it. This isn't really a question, I'm just really anxious right now and want to voice my concerns. Let's just say I can't wait for the GP visit tomorrow and see what the doctor has to say. I really need to get out of the habit of self-diagnosing myself because it just makes me panic even when I might have no reason to be panicking at all. I hope that's the case. Thanks guys

Maximprok Please Share - Panic Attacks and Hospital Visits
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I'm interested to see whether other people have a similar experience to me. The last 2 months has been absolute hell for me. Prior to what I'm going to share, I've never had any anxiety problems or experience a panic attack. To tell you a bit about m... View more

I'm interested to see whether other people have a similar experience to me. The last 2 months has been absolute hell for me. Prior to what I'm going to share, I've never had any anxiety problems or experience a panic attack. To tell you a bit about myself: I'm a 23 year old woman and I do temping for work (

sledz14 Tingling, muscle tension after intense anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi All, For the past 1-2 weeks I've had a really intense period of panic and anxiety brought on by a health scare. I was so wound up in paralyzing fear, dread, sadness, stress for nearly 2 weeks. I had the occasional moment of calm when distracted, b... View more

Hi All, For the past 1-2 weeks I've had a really intense period of panic and anxiety brought on by a health scare. I was so wound up in paralyzing fear, dread, sadness, stress for nearly 2 weeks. I had the occasional moment of calm when distracted, but it would always come back and hit me like a tidal wave. My sleep has been awful and my body has truly taken a toll. However, today I'm finally feeling a little bit better and like myself. I honestly think my brain just gave up and has no capacity to panic anymore. I feel calm and relaxed, am able to think straight and concentrate, but I'm having these waves of tingles and numbness down my head through my right jaw, neck and shoulders. I know it's not a panic attack. Is it possible that this is my bodies reaction to being so stressed for 2 weeks? I've been reading online that it could be that my stress response is still in a semi-hyperstimulated state. I'm considering popping to shop and getting a massage to help relieve that tension. Has anyone else felt this way?

Zazu What a year... How to keep up
  • replies: 2

So this year so far, in order, I've changed jobs from self employed to full time employment, moved house, pulled out of uni as it was too much, gotten pregnant (am still), and 2 weeks ago lost my grandfather who I was quite close to, then last week f... View more

So this year so far, in order, I've changed jobs from self employed to full time employment, moved house, pulled out of uni as it was too much, gotten pregnant (am still), and 2 weeks ago lost my grandfather who I was quite close to, then last week find out my Mum has bowel cancer and has to have surgery in 2 weeks and prognosis isn't looking good. A couple of things I could do with advice on: 1. Nothing I say or do for mum is making things better and I don't know what to do. I live 2 hours from her, and have organised with work to adjust my hours so I can be up there with her 3-4 days a week, limited by my own need for doctors appointments for pregnancy and work commitments. My idea was that I can help out with stuff around the house, shopping, cooking meals for the week etc. I tend to 'solve' and be quite practical and have no idea what to actually say to her. She said today that I'm not taking it seriously enough and don't realise she'll be dead soon. She is sure she will not make it through the operation and will only plan for her passing, not plan anything for the scenario of her living.. i.e. how can we make sure she has meals, who can check on her when I'm not there. She will only focus on who gets what and making sure I don't throw out anything of hers that is expensive. How do I handle this? Any ideas? What does she need from me and how do I balance that with what has to be done? 2. How do I keep my own head above water? I'm hormonal, grieving for pop, stressed for Mum, barely getting my job done, strapped for cash and already today felt that lovely breathlessness and heart pumping of my old friend anxiety, where I even had to end a work phone call quickly before I couldn't talk. I know I can't look after others if I fall apart, so how do I summon the strength to get through this and be there for mum?

Anxietyprone 2 week anxiety
  • replies: 8

Over the past 10 years I've suffered on off with severe anxiety spells. They generally last 2 to 3 weeks. Weeks filled with the weirdest. Tightest chest, can't eat can't think straight for more then 2 mins and fear the absolute worst. I know it event... View more

Over the past 10 years I've suffered on off with severe anxiety spells. They generally last 2 to 3 weeks. Weeks filled with the weirdest. Tightest chest, can't eat can't think straight for more then 2 mins and fear the absolute worst. I know it eventually settles but I want to start looking at underlying issues and other methods of getting on top of this? Has or.does anyone suffer similar

Amond New health anxiety need help
  • replies: 10

I need help or just some reassurance I do suffer from anxiety triggered usually by a stressful situation but my anxiety which can be appropriate for the situation can get really out of control. I just hate being in this state. i am mother to two youn... View more

I need help or just some reassurance I do suffer from anxiety triggered usually by a stressful situation but my anxiety which can be appropriate for the situation can get really out of control. I just hate being in this state. i am mother to two young children and recently had a biopsy for a suspicious nodule found internally a bit more than a week ago. I am totally panicked and I’m just not going to be able to handle a bad result. I definitely have symptoms which is why I was referred to the specialist in the first place but I’m just not coping at all I get the results tmw . Please can anyone provide some reassuring words. Thanks

Paulin Feeling extremely anxious about work
  • replies: 3

I am a 20 year old international student in Australia. Just a month ago, I managed to get a job closer to my university and move out of my toxic sister's home which was really far away - it took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach university every day... View more

I am a 20 year old international student in Australia. Just a month ago, I managed to get a job closer to my university and move out of my toxic sister's home which was really far away - it took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach university every day. I work as a Personal Care Assistant in a privately owned low care facility. Along with this my work also involves doing kitchen duties, ie making and serving tea and coffee, cleaning the floors, wiping tables, doing laundry etc. I am sad to say that even after a month of working in that place I still get really anxious over every small mistake I do, for example forget to close the closet doors after taking something out, forget to place the sppon on the right side of the table, not remembering which resident has been served and which hasn't in the dining room, forget to turn the washing machine on etc. I get scolded for every mistake I make - it started in the 2nd week of me working and continued to get more and more brutal. Although my 1st priority is always making sure the residents are safe and taken care of, the managers are more concerned with the beauty and look of the place to make it pristine for the health inspectors. On my last shift I got scolded by the manager for not noticing that there was spilled milk in the freezer, even though my duties are not in the kitchen - they have 1 chef and 1 kitchen hand for that - just because I had to quickly make a cup of tea for a resident and had to open the freezer to take milk out. I am sure I did not spill it - the bottle was half empty anyway. Next, I got scolded for not noticing that someone had left the heat pack in the microwave for too long, even though I had not put it there, and the smell was in that room. All this got me so anxious that when I was moving a resident with help from another PCA to the bed, my leg was stuck in the walking frame and I tripped and fell. I told the manager what happened as I felt it was better coming from me than have the other PCA rat me out. She basically told me I am not fit to be a nurse and need more training. She said she was ready to give me her reference if I still wanted to work in the same field buf elsewhere. I asked her if I am going to be removed from the roster and she said "no no, you will not be removed from the roster".

Atmraanedgaer Constant anxiety attacks need help :(
  • replies: 2

Hi The past week I have suffered from aniexty attacks alot. I get warm or cold sensation in my arms and then chest and sometimes thru my whole body. I feel sick i dont want to eat and light headed that i struggle to walk sometimes and feel like i hav... View more

Hi The past week I have suffered from aniexty attacks alot. I get warm or cold sensation in my arms and then chest and sometimes thru my whole body. I feel sick i dont want to eat and light headed that i struggle to walk sometimes and feel like i have something stuck in my throat 24/7. Its effecting my sleep as i wake up with these feelings and find it hard to sleep again. I have a million things going on in my head...what is wrong with me am I dying i cant just be aniexty i must be sick. My husband took me to hospital earlier this week as i was having a brake down saying i was dying (infront of my kids) and i have had alot of tests done on my heart and blood to see if i have an infection but it all comes back normal. I did have a CT and colonoscopy done and waiting for the results tomorrow so anxious about that. I guess its a long time coming. My mum past away to cancer 2 years ago, then my grandfather past away shortly after, my husband had a mild heart attack last year and found a tumor in his kidney which he had removed and at this stage is ok. I live in Gippsland Victoria and my family is in South Australia so i do feel alone alot. Im a stay at home mum that stopped uni this year to get my health back on track which i think made this worse for me. Im really struggling with this i keep thinking im sick and will die and leave my kids, i cant stop the thoughts and i struggle to meditate as the thoughts are just too much. Its affecting my life and my family i just want to be normal again. Does anyone else feel these symptoms too and is there any support groups that i could meet new people with similar issues to talk to as my husband just doesn't get it. Amanda