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
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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

Omstrength Work anxiety injury
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Hey guys hope you're all going well! First time posting, 31 yr old depression/anxiety/ocd since 13 at some points quite severe anyway.. started a new job 2 weeks ago and cut my hand at home, passed out ended up in emergency etc. But my hand and stitc... View more

Hey guys hope you're all going well! First time posting, 31 yr old depression/anxiety/ocd since 13 at some points quite severe anyway.. started a new job 2 weeks ago and cut my hand at home, passed out ended up in emergency etc. But my hand and stitches is affecting my work (manual work need my hands) and im having massive anxiety about going, as i dont want to be seen as lazy because i cant do certain tasks but they still expecte me to and im not good at saying no or speaking my mind. Anyway any tips on dealing with the anxiety so im not a nervous wreck ay work? Thank you, sorry if this doesnt make much sense

Jez1 I want to ask my GP for a antidepressant perscription how do i go about that?
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Hey guys, so anyway i have had depression and social anxiety for as long as i can remember. I have been to the GP before which recommended me see a psychologist i did three sessions then gave up i didn't feel like it was helping. I want to try an ant... View more

Hey guys, so anyway i have had depression and social anxiety for as long as i can remember. I have been to the GP before which recommended me see a psychologist i did three sessions then gave up i didn't feel like it was helping. I want to try an antidepressant now but i get anxiety just from seeing a doctor about anything let alone asking him about my mental health how do i go about it without coming off as weird if you can could anyone share their experience with me thanks Jerry.

Hagshollow Dealing With my Dad
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I have a Mental Health history and was admitted to hospital in 2013 and was diagnosed with Autism. I am currently on the DSP and don't work but study casual. I am on the NDIS and am receiving treatment for Mental Health issues and Autism. About a yea... View more

I have a Mental Health history and was admitted to hospital in 2013 and was diagnosed with Autism. I am currently on the DSP and don't work but study casual. I am on the NDIS and am receiving treatment for Mental Health issues and Autism. About a year ago while on a Helping Minds Retreat holiday my Dad told me "he wished i was dead" I told my mum about it but she refuses to admit that it happened and when i mention it to my dad he says that he didn't say it. What do i do just forget it and move on but i can't afford to live anywhere else im on the housing list but will be a long time before i can get anything so getting away is not an option if i want a roof over my head. I can't bear the thought of suicide but can't stop worrying about the future. I'm worried i'm going to be homeless when my parents eventually die. I've started studying but the requirements for getting a job are very complicated and not as simple as to the training get a job. You have to have experience and where am i to get that where i live they don't take volunteers so i'm stuck

Jojo82 Medication side effects?
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Hi all, I've been suffering severe anxiety for the good part of my life, which in turn developed into alcohol dependency. I've been quite well and living what I would call a normal life for the last 3 or 4 years. Recently I have been getting very dep... View more

Hi all, I've been suffering severe anxiety for the good part of my life, which in turn developed into alcohol dependency. I've been quite well and living what I would call a normal life for the last 3 or 4 years. Recently I have been getting very depressed. I've been taking medication for many years without any issues. Since the new depression started my GP has prescribed a new medication on top of my current medication. I've found the side effects of this new medication are really tough. I've only been taking it now for 4 days. I take it at night and get to sleep really easy, but the next day I have really severe brain fog, dizziness and confusion. I know side effects usually occur when starting medication but I'd like to know for how long do these last? TIA

Naima Anorexia Recovery - getting use to your new body
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Hi everyone, I have had anorexia for over 6 years now. For the past 2 years I am better than I have ever been before but I wish there was more discussion around how it feels to be seeing your body change and how we are all dealing with it. I now see ... View more

Hi everyone, I have had anorexia for over 6 years now. For the past 2 years I am better than I have ever been before but I wish there was more discussion around how it feels to be seeing your body change and how we are all dealing with it. I now see my belly bulge, my thighs are bigger and so too are my arms. Its hard to sit there and look at my body sometimes. My mind wanders into places where I just dont want it to go. So my questions is to all of you who feel the same: how do you deal with your body shape changing and how do you focus on being healthy? Thank you, and I look forward to chatting.

Anxious17 DEALING WITH HEALTH ANXIETY
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Hi i am new to Beyond Blue. I suffer from severe GAD when it comes to my health. I am at the doctor's every week, getting tests for what ever new symptom has popped up in my body even the smallest thing like a bruise. I am 33 and lost my Dad suddenly... View more

Hi i am new to Beyond Blue. I suffer from severe GAD when it comes to my health. I am at the doctor's every week, getting tests for what ever new symptom has popped up in my body even the smallest thing like a bruise. I am 33 and lost my Dad suddenly to brain cancer 4 years ago, since then i have never been the same. Due to my anxiety i suffer with high blood pressure. Once i feel that start to rise my anxiety kicks in, my heart will start to race and ill start with panic attacks thinking im having a heart attack. Its a viscous circle that doesnt end. I get blood tests, Ct scans, x rays, ultrasounds, ECG's and urine tests constantly. I have tried a couple counseling sessions and my doctor has prescribed me with anti anxiety meds but i am too scared to take them for fears i will be depending on them for life. Any one else in the same situation? Anyone else have these feelings or know other ways of coping? Would love to hear it.

Sam_p I’m just no good
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I’m just no good those are the words that are on repeat in my head non stop. I feel I’m bad at everything I do so I just don’t do anything. My whole life I have been in the special needs classes because of my dyslexia. Everyone always calld me stupid... View more

I’m just no good those are the words that are on repeat in my head non stop. I feel I’m bad at everything I do so I just don’t do anything. My whole life I have been in the special needs classes because of my dyslexia. Everyone always calld me stupid growing up from my teachers to my so called friends and my parents. Now I’m older I still feel the way I did back then. I got married had a beautiful daughter but still I’m not good enough there is something wrong broken inside me and I can’t be happy. I have no friends because I can’t let anyone get close because I know they will just think I’m stupid and not want to talk to me. I don’t know what to do about this anymore it’s been years since I left school and all that behind these feelings and thoughts have only festerd and grown. I’m not good enough.

picrd Anxiety symptoms - weakness and tiredness
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Hi everyone, I’ve been suffering from GAD and health anxiety quite intensley for about two months. I’m writing here because I’ve been repeatedly told that I have health anxiety and that my symptoms are due to that but I also can’t seem to find many o... View more

Hi everyone, I’ve been suffering from GAD and health anxiety quite intensley for about two months. I’m writing here because I’ve been repeatedly told that I have health anxiety and that my symptoms are due to that but I also can’t seem to find many other people who are experiencing similar things. My most prominent concerns are with arm and leg weakness. I’ve been very sedentary and stressed for the past couple of months (finishing a masters in architecture) so I am aware that this could be the cause, but throughout the whole thing I’ve felt like my arms and legs are weak, I’ve also experienced numbness and tingling, and just about every other symptom inbetween, but the weakness in my arms and/or legs is there every day. It doesn’t stop me from doing anything but it just feels uncomfortable. I’m also concerned that I’ve been experiencing these symptoms for such a long time without interruption. My main problem is based around the daily fear that I have MS Als or Muscular Distrophy. I spend most of my day studying or worrying about these diseases. Does anyone else have similar experiences? Thank you in advance for your time and help.

loveyourself9 Scared and anxious
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I'm a 17 year old female and I've been diagnosed with anxiety and it has really affected my daily life. I went to the doctor when I had my first panic attack, where my vision went blurry out of nowhere, I was shaking and my ears were blocked. I thoug... View more

I'm a 17 year old female and I've been diagnosed with anxiety and it has really affected my daily life. I went to the doctor when I had my first panic attack, where my vision went blurry out of nowhere, I was shaking and my ears were blocked. I thought I was dying. That was the only panic attack I've had, however every day I have an irrational fear of dying every day. My doctor asks me why I have anxiety, and I lie and say it's because of school, but it's really about me being bisexual. I've always been attracted to boys but suppressed my attraction to girls for a long time. I developed a crush on a girl last year, and I told one of my friends that I trust and she was so accepting. I even told my crush, but we never talked about it again. We are still friends but every time I talk to her I always think about if she's thinking about how I told her I like her. But we have only ever talked about it once. Having a relationship in general scares me, but I want to marry a boy in the future and I don't want to marry a girl. I just feel an attraction to girls as well as boys, it's not as strong but it's definitely there. I'm so immensely terrified of coming out especially because I think that it will change everything. I just want to be loved and accepted for who I am but I am so scared that people around will think it's just a phase, that I'm confused or try to change me. It's so difficult because I have to deal with these physical symptoms every day because of this. I have to tell my doctor so I can be referred to a psychologist, but I can not bring myself to say it because I wonder if he is homophobic, and my mum is in the room as well. I want to come out to my family so bad but I don't know if they will understand and that's what scares me. I'm so scared that they will think I'm confused or even not love me any more. I'm so tired of having to deal with this debilitating anxiety single day.

Ryanf Hangxiety
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Hey guys, first time posting! Have been having some issues over the past year or so with anxiety Attacks and feeling guilty following a night out. I don’t drink very often, maybe once a month or two, but when I do I regret everything I’ve said/done o... View more

Hey guys, first time posting! Have been having some issues over the past year or so with anxiety Attacks and feeling guilty following a night out. I don’t drink very often, maybe once a month or two, but when I do I regret everything I’ve said/done or feel guilty for drinking and feel ashamed. I know the easy answer is to stop but I’m 25, live a very active lifestyle and would love to be able to have drinks with friends without feeling terrible for days and weeks afterwards. I’ll often get into a good space and then have a big night out and dive into a rut with pretty bad anxiety and depression. Any tips/tricks?