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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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

MRG First time posting
  • replies: 1

Hi I’m an older male, and have been feeling anxious, and not sleeping well.I have been prescribed medication to take. My Gp said it would ease my feelings after a couple of weeks. This was about 3 weeks ago. I have taken only 3 tablets and I think I’... View more

Hi I’m an older male, and have been feeling anxious, and not sleeping well.I have been prescribed medication to take. My Gp said it would ease my feelings after a couple of weeks. This was about 3 weeks ago. I have taken only 3 tablets and I think I’m fine. But clearly I’m not. I feel a bit anxious to go to work. I start quite early in the morning for my job. Finding it hard to unwind, and feel myself. I just wanted to know if I should see a psychologist to make sure, I’m on the right track. Thanks.

tactlesskwi Medications for anxiety & OCD
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone!!!I was wondering if I could get some advice on starting antidepressants. A psychologist has recently suggested that I have anxiety and severe OCD, and has floated the idea of starting antidepressants. I am vehemently against this, but I'... View more

Hi everyone!!!I was wondering if I could get some advice on starting antidepressants. A psychologist has recently suggested that I have anxiety and severe OCD, and has floated the idea of starting antidepressants. I am vehemently against this, but I'm not entirely sure why. I'm scared of losing myself and losing my life to the drugs/becoming dependent on them to function and having side effects when I don't take them. I've always felt this way that she describes as 'severe OCD', and so I guess it's a baseline, and the idea of feeling different is terrifying even if that different might be easier. I'm also worried that I've been exaggerating my life, and definitely don't want to be on a drug for some sort of mental health condition I do not have (although I haven't been lying in the sessions). The more I go on with therapy and all, the more I just want to stop it, which of course I know will not help. I wanted to ask on here though whether anyone has had a similar experience and could share what it's been like? I realise experiences vary person-to-person, but I'd like to hear from someone, because I feel extremely alone in all of this. Thank you so much!!!

CMF Dear Anxiety
  • replies: 41

At times I tell my anxiety to stop, go away, leave me alone. I thought it might be good to put it into a post. Feel free to write your own letter. Dear anxiety,I've has enough of you & you need to leave. I am a strong, confident, positive person & yo... View more

At times I tell my anxiety to stop, go away, leave me alone. I thought it might be good to put it into a post. Feel free to write your own letter. Dear anxiety,I've has enough of you & you need to leave. I am a strong, confident, positive person & you come in & try to take it away. You always pounce when I'm a little vulnerable & you just keep pick, pick, picking at me until my thoughts go round in circles. Well, you won't win. I know your game & I'm not playing.Go back into your little hole, you won't get the better of me Cmf

Guest_76474857 Can’t take it anymore
  • replies: 4

Can’t take it anymore I’m on anti depressants every day and I’m on some medication that I’m meant to take when having a panic attack but somehow I still seem to have them and I have them bad and I can’t take it anymore I’m so tired physically and men... View more

Can’t take it anymore I’m on anti depressants every day and I’m on some medication that I’m meant to take when having a panic attack but somehow I still seem to have them and I have them bad and I can’t take it anymore I’m so tired physically and mentally they make me so sick

Sunshine188 Anxious nurse with nothing left to give
  • replies: 10

Hi All, this is my first ever post here. I’m almost 29 and have been nursing for 7 years - my area of speciality is cancer and palliative care. I was really young when I first started and being a very empathetic person (and being exposed to really sa... View more

Hi All, this is my first ever post here. I’m almost 29 and have been nursing for 7 years - my area of speciality is cancer and palliative care. I was really young when I first started and being a very empathetic person (and being exposed to really sad/traumatic situations) I got really burnt out. I made some changes a few years ago - worked in a Telehealth role for about 2 years but I was still burnt out and I felt like I was losing my empathy and compassion for patients, as well as my own family and friends. I felt like I had been drained of all of my emotion and like I had nothing left to give. On top of this I began to experience crippling anxiety. i started a new job 2 months ago working in clinical trials. I thought I would feel less burnt out and anxious in this area but it’s worse. I wasn’t given much training or support when I first started in this role, have spoken to my boss about my concerns and not much has changed. My anxiety is awful and I am experiencing panic attacks on a regular basis. I dread work every day and I feel stressed about work on the weekends. I have been looking elsewhere for another job as I feel so unhappy. It’s really hard to explain to my family and friends how I feel. They don’t understand what constant anxiety feels like...I am exhausted from pretending like everything is ok when on the inside I feel so broken. Part of me is so angry that when I was younger I didn’t look after myself well enough, and I almost wish I never became a nurse. I ultimately feel like I need to step away from health care in general but I seem to have such an issue doing this. It’s hard because I identify as a nurse but I am ready to move on to something else. has anyone ever had a similar situation working within health care? thank you for taking the time to read my post

Guest_05915216 i don’t know
  • replies: 1

i can’t sleep because i keep worrying and it makes me shake which causes me to be nauseous and eventually i vomit or pass out from exhaustion. i’m basically fine all day until i go to bed then my anxiety really hits me and i don’t really know why. if... View more

i can’t sleep because i keep worrying and it makes me shake which causes me to be nauseous and eventually i vomit or pass out from exhaustion. i’m basically fine all day until i go to bed then my anxiety really hits me and i don’t really know why. if anyone experiences this and has tips please lmk

lhr- Leadership Anxiety
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Hey there,I have inadvertently become the spokesperson for my entire student body, and I'm deathly afraid of the outcome. I launched a small scale investigation on some of the discrepancies occurring throughout leadership at my school, had a meeting ... View more

Hey there,I have inadvertently become the spokesperson for my entire student body, and I'm deathly afraid of the outcome. I launched a small scale investigation on some of the discrepancies occurring throughout leadership at my school, had a meeting with the principal to discuss my thoughts and findings, and found myself dissatisfied with the outcome. They deflected, shifted blame onto me, and overall did not answer any of my questions nor make any effort to take any action. I was livid and then found out more upsetting news which ended up snapping my final straw. I decided I wanted peaceful protest, and started planning for a walkout. I now have dozens of kids come up to me asking questions I don't have answers for, and it seems in the short amount of time it's been decided for, the news is spreading must faster than I intended. Most of them are on board, but the planned date is not for a while, and I know things will spread more. These people trust me to speak on behalf of them, to lead our cause, but I can't lie, I'm terrified. I don't mind being reprimanded for doing what I'm doing, but I am so worried others are going to get in trouble for something they didn't plan. I am sought out for guidance, answers and comfort, and I have to sit there and say words I don't believe. I know what I'm doing is right. I know what I'm doing will create the voice needed to cause the admin to take action, but damn it I'm terrified and have no idea how to manage it all. How do I manage all the stress? It has to happen I can't avoid it, but I'm so afraid of all the "what if's" in such an unusual situation.

Guest_10367 Perimenopause HELP
  • replies: 1

Hi I was diagnosed with peri about 6 months ago because I started feeling tingling in my legs…. I have some irregular periods and ringing in my ears… my hormones were checked and showed peri. I lead a pretty healthy life and I workout 5 days per week... View more

Hi I was diagnosed with peri about 6 months ago because I started feeling tingling in my legs…. I have some irregular periods and ringing in my ears… my hormones were checked and showed peri. I lead a pretty healthy life and I workout 5 days per week doing CrossFit and so my strength is quite good however recently My muscles are getting quite sore and legs are heavy and hot at night and it seems to be my worst symptom …. My left leg is just bad and i am feeling quite panicked about it because I can’t see many people saying this happened for them and when I google it it says MS …. Am I going crazy? like is this normal !?i would love any reassurance from anyone experiencing this …. As I just feel likeim mental right nowhelp !!

Nice Loneliness
  • replies: 1

My whole life changed 2.5 years ago. I went from a full house of people, plenty to do to the exact opposite. First time ever on my own and feeling very lonely. I have family and friends but the quiet of my home is deafening and I feel so alone and lo... View more

My whole life changed 2.5 years ago. I went from a full house of people, plenty to do to the exact opposite. First time ever on my own and feeling very lonely. I have family and friends but the quiet of my home is deafening and I feel so alone and lonely. I’m very much a people person

Aneeta-Karan Worried About My Cat’s Health
  • replies: 4

It’s been two weeks since we brought home a new kitten to join our family. Our older cat, our world, still hasn’t fully accepted her, and, it’s been a tough time. The cat has stopped eating and barely drinks water now. I’m worried because she’s getti... View more

It’s been two weeks since we brought home a new kitten to join our family. Our older cat, our world, still hasn’t fully accepted her, and, it’s been a tough time. The cat has stopped eating and barely drinks water now. I’m worried because she’s getting weak,,, and I’m not sure what to do. We love her so much, but seeing her like this is breaking my heart. Please anyone suggest me some healthy cat food options that might help bring back her energy and appetite. Maybe something soft, nutritious, or homemade that your cats have liked?