Support
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 conversation

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 conversation

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 conversation

Hello548 I can't leave my house
  • replies: 2

Ive always had anxiety but recently I moved into an apartment building with my partner and the constant noise and all the people so close to me is too much. I am very scared of people and I can't leave my apartment. I can't even go out onto my balcon... View more

Ive always had anxiety but recently I moved into an apartment building with my partner and the constant noise and all the people so close to me is too much. I am very scared of people and I can't leave my apartment. I can't even go out onto my balcony as I'm scared if people see me. I stay silent all day as I don't want them to hear me either. I don't know what to do about my situation. I'm scared to see doctors and I'm scared to talk to people or be in public. This has been going on a while and I've been worried to talk to anyone about it so I've kept it to myself. I feel like no one would want to help because I got myself here. Can anyone offer some advice on feeling more comfortable around people? Or on how to feel confident in public?

Blue2019 I don't know what to do
  • replies: 9

I have been in a long distance relationship for the past 15 months. My partner moved away for work. When he left I moved out of home and am living on my own. I have been feeling really lonely and sad ever since this happened. I tried to explain to my... View more

I have been in a long distance relationship for the past 15 months. My partner moved away for work. When he left I moved out of home and am living on my own. I have been feeling really lonely and sad ever since this happened. I tried to explain to my partner how lonely i felt but he didn't pay much attention to my feelings.. I didn't feel very loved and these feelings kept getting worse. I didn't know when or if he was coming back and I tried to communicate many times about wanting some clarify. I felt like I was talking to a brick wall and nothing I said was getting through to him. I wanted to visit him but it was never the right time for him. Regretfully, I cheated.. I knew straight away that it was wrong, of course. But it also made me realise how lonely I was and that I just wanted to know where our relationship was at. After this happened.. I began feeling very anxious and having panic attacks. These feelings are taking over my life. I told him and was honest about everything that happened.. He said it was ok and that it isn't my fault that it happened... I have spoken to him about all my feelings and asked him to tell me how he feels about everything and where he is at with our relationship. He says everything is ok and he is coming back in a few months. I can't stop this anxious feeling. I want to trust that everything is ok like he says. But I feel like it is slowly coming to an end. I really want things to work out. I don't know what to do.

QldMouse Anxiety, panic, and just coping.
  • replies: 41

Hi, I know I'm not alone by any means (Thank you Beyond Blue) but somehow that knowledge does not help. Trust me I've read a lot, been to a lot of therapy, made a lot of progress. But. That awful feeling of panic, then stupidity sets in, irrational b... View more

Hi, I know I'm not alone by any means (Thank you Beyond Blue) but somehow that knowledge does not help. Trust me I've read a lot, been to a lot of therapy, made a lot of progress. But. That awful feeling of panic, then stupidity sets in, irrational behaviour kicks into high gear, breath gets difficult, speech becomes impossible, and then the chest pain and headaches set in. In spite of wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me, it does not. I have to deal with my issues. In spite of a desperate need to connect with people I drive them away, and run away myself. I am so tired of being an anxiety riddled social lepper. And I have so tried. Now out of visits on my mental health plan, and can't afford the therapy I need, what do people do? Thank you all. PS. to White Rose you lovely contributor, it is so nice to see your avatar but so sad to hear your news. I am thinking of you and so hope you recover and feel better very soon.

shfer Any way to Overcome Fatigue of Anxiety?
  • replies: 7

Hello all, I have been dealing with anxiety since I was 23 , I am now 34 so 11 years but due to medication have been fine for most of these years until recently had another breakdown and had to change medication etc and now trying to recover. Over th... View more

Hello all, I have been dealing with anxiety since I was 23 , I am now 34 so 11 years but due to medication have been fine for most of these years until recently had another breakdown and had to change medication etc and now trying to recover. Over the years I have learned how to tackle the anxiety symptoms of panic and fear , just by myself and trying to learn coping skills and ways to know that these are only anxiety symptoms and nothing to do with something serious and I can say that I have quite managed to keep those in check for the most part, Also the symptoms of breathlessness and pins and needles and what not, but the one symptom I have never been able to tackle all of these years is the EXTREME TIREDNESS AND FATIGUE . I have been off medication for about 4 months prior to starting back on them again now and all other symptoms I have somehow managed to control apart from that of extreme tiredness that usually was showing up every 2-3 days or every 3-4 days , and when that happened I head to take medication to be able to get out of it, and within an hour this extreme tiredness would settle and i would keep going for another few days. So even when I was off antidepressants for about 4 months this symptom would never go away no matter how hard I tried. I did not even have depression or negative thoughts apart from this but could not cope anymore than 4 months as some other symptoms then started to appear and i ended up back to the dr to seek for help once more. If anyone has any idea what shall one do or if there is anything that can be done to ease this horrible feeling? I would appreciate it. Thank you all.

Concetta60 Concetta60 - experiecing very bad panic attacks
  • replies: 1

I have been have very bad panic attack feeling very nerves and shaking a specially when I go to bed at night,and some times I start coughing and I can’t breed does any one feel thick this pleases let me know please

I have been have very bad panic attack feeling very nerves and shaking a specially when I go to bed at night,and some times I start coughing and I can’t breed does any one feel thick this pleases let me know please

Mic_Quid Return to work
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice around my return to work on Monday after a short absence. I've suffered from anxiety for my entire life, but have been on a journey to better understand myself over the past seven years. I find that my anxiety... View more

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice around my return to work on Monday after a short absence. I've suffered from anxiety for my entire life, but have been on a journey to better understand myself over the past seven years. I find that my anxiety has its ups and downs as I imagine it does for most people. Recently there have been some additional pressures in life and I have found myself struggling more. I've been to the GP and have been working with a psychologist as a part of a mental health plan. One of my stressors at the moment is my work, where I don't feel valued or supported and management have unrealistic expectations. Recently my psychologist recommended some time off work and my GP gave me three weeks off. I'm due to go back on Monday but am concerned about what I tell them. I don't really want to divulge what's happening with my mental health as I don't think I will be supported at all and there's a chance it will be held against me. Does anyone have any thoughts as to what I can tell my workplace about my absence to preserve my privacy?

rose2002 Unsure and a Little Scared
  • replies: 2

So, I was talking to a friend the other day about how to go about dealing with just the general stuff going on in my head. I don't know if I have anxiety, depression, both, or neither, but I'm worried to find out. Not only am I scared to find out if ... View more

So, I was talking to a friend the other day about how to go about dealing with just the general stuff going on in my head. I don't know if I have anxiety, depression, both, or neither, but I'm worried to find out. Not only am I scared to find out if I do have an illness, but what happens if I don't? What if what I am experiencing is normal and I just can't cope as well as others? I don't know what I'd so if I talked to a doctor and all they told me is that I'm stressed or something. I don't exactly know why, but I am also scared to tell my parents that I don't think I'm coping. It's not that they'd be angry or anything. I know they are sympathetic enough towards people in my (and my siblings) life who have things like anxiety and depression, but what if it's a different story when they actually have to deal with it? I also feel like maybe they'll just tell me that I'm fine. I haven't felt as bad in the recent few weeks, but it still is always in the back of my mind. I also have this fear that I've just made up this disorder in my head and that I'm not actually anxious, but rather I've just convinced myself that I am... I'm just confused and writing this is making me upset. My friend said just to go to my GP because there's no harm in that, but just thinking about that scares me. Also, then I'd have to talk to my mum or dad and I don't think I can do that. Please help, I really need some advice. Thanks.

Daisy129 Fear of phone calls
  • replies: 23

I have struggled with social anxiety for many years. Most things I have been able to develop strategies for dealing with but for some reason I just cannot get past my fear of making and answering calls. I find it easier to make calls to strangers whe... View more

I have struggled with social anxiety for many years. Most things I have been able to develop strategies for dealing with but for some reason I just cannot get past my fear of making and answering calls. I find it easier to make calls to strangers when it is structured and I have a clear start and end to the call, but if I have to make a personal call to a family member, close friend or colleague, I really find it tough. When my phone rings, my heart races and I get really hot in the face, I just don't want to answer it. When I have to make a call it will often take days and repeated attempts and lots of worry in between. When I manage to make or take a call, I squirm all the way through, trying to be polite but honestly cannot wait to hang up. Just wondered if anyone else has this? Are there good ways of dealing with this or is it just best to avoid phone calls and communicate in other ways??

Sezza_H Feeling faint, dizzy, etc
  • replies: 3

Hello, I have been having troubles with feeling faint, dizzy and sometimes my eyesight is affected. In addition to this, I also get this feeling that I can’t quite describe whereby I can’t focus on what’s going on around me, almost as though I am jus... View more

Hello, I have been having troubles with feeling faint, dizzy and sometimes my eyesight is affected. In addition to this, I also get this feeling that I can’t quite describe whereby I can’t focus on what’s going on around me, almost as though I am just consumed with what’s going on in my head that I am not really in the present moment (sorry I realise this is confusing but I can’t quite describe the feeling with words). These symptoms can be very intense one minute and then subside shortly after or they can linger on for what feels like hours. I don't tend to feel this way at home but when I go out, especially if I am doing somethings that makes me anxious or just that I know could be an anxiety-inducing situation, I start to feel this way and it can be very intense. I also start to feel this way when I hear people just talking about it. Does anyone else have troubles with these feelings? Are there any strategies that people have to help mitigate these feelings? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Idontlikemymind Binge eating disorder & Depression
  • replies: 2

I was put on medication in July 2016 for post natal depression/ anxiety and grief of loss and have been on it ever since. This year I have now developed an eating disorder called BED which is binge eating disorder. I stuff my face with food every nig... View more

I was put on medication in July 2016 for post natal depression/ anxiety and grief of loss and have been on it ever since. This year I have now developed an eating disorder called BED which is binge eating disorder. I stuff my face with food every night. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t binge eat. This is making me very depressed. I feel very low, unmotivated and hopeless. I see a psychologist but it’s hard to get an appointment with her. I am at my wits end and really don’t know what to do. Please help!

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map