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

nootnoot Final year of nursing and anxiety is worsening
  • replies: 3

As the title reads, I am in my final year of nursing and currently in my second last semester. I have received grades for my first assessments and received a low credit for one which was out of 50% and failed another essay which was out of 40%. I hav... View more

As the title reads, I am in my final year of nursing and currently in my second last semester. I have received grades for my first assessments and received a low credit for one which was out of 50% and failed another essay which was out of 40%. I haven’t failed an assessment since first year biology which made me want to give up then as well. I failed so badly on this essay that I worry even if I get a HD for the next 20% assessment I won’t get enough to pass the subject. There is a final 40% exam and even if I study heaps I feel I still won’t pass. The same with my other subject which has a 50% exam. I am so nervous and have not been sleeping well. All I can think about is how if I fail any subject I will have to repeat and won’t be able to become a registered nurse by the end of the year which I have wanted for so long. I just feel so scared, anxious, depressed, stupid and like a failure.

Jecca Anxiety getting worse
  • replies: 6

Hi, newbie here. Bit of background, I am a 28yo female with a history of anxiety and depression. Recently, this has escalated. 18 months ago, I started a new job, which is really intense at times and requires me to be aware and on the ball at all tim... View more

Hi, newbie here. Bit of background, I am a 28yo female with a history of anxiety and depression. Recently, this has escalated. 18 months ago, I started a new job, which is really intense at times and requires me to be aware and on the ball at all times. At the same time, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given 3-6 months to live. She went through treatment and is currently doing OK, but not in remission yet and will likely need further treatment. So after all the turbulence of 2018, I thought I was doing ok. Unfortunately, in January 2019 I witnessed something at work which led to my first panic attack. Things have got progressively worse since then, with further panic attacks (unrelated to the first), lots of stress and basically not doing well at all. I made appointments with a psychologist which seemed to help at first, but then she started focusing in on my partner and it felt like she was blaming him for my issues (she has never met him and he is not the problem). Basically, I’m not sure where I’m at right now. Everything is stressing me out and I’m feeling sick. I have been to a GP who told me to continue to speak with my psychologist when I asked for further help or medication to calm me down. I know some of my stress is work related (going away for training, large workloads etc.) and this ebbs and flows. But it has gotten to the point where some of my anxiety is completely irrational. For example, I read a news article about a person in Uganda who had died from Ebola that they caught in the Democratic Republic of Congo and now I am terrified of Ebola. I know I won’t catch Ebola. I know it is not currently a threat in Australia. But I’m absolutely terrified that somehow I will get Ebola. I guess I don’t really know what my question is... but does anyone have any ideas what I can do? Any suggestions that might help?

Sam145 Starting a new job
  • replies: 4

I start a new job tomorrow and I’m scared. I don’t know if I’ll be good enough, I’ll probably make mistakes. I don’t know if leaving my other job was the right decision and whether I’ll like this one better. Every time I think about it I tear up. My ... View more

I start a new job tomorrow and I’m scared. I don’t know if I’ll be good enough, I’ll probably make mistakes. I don’t know if leaving my other job was the right decision and whether I’ll like this one better. Every time I think about it I tear up. My old workplace was toxic and this one manager treated me like shit and bullied me into Leaving. I liked the simplicity of my old job and I will miss that but it was just the same stuff, different day and I hated it. I don’t know if I’ll rise to the challenge. I’m really nervous and fear I’ll jusr break down when I do one thing wrong.

outlawza 25yo male
  • replies: 2

Hi, ive been suffering with anxiety my whole life. Some months, even years I can manage it. But this year has been rough, over thinking situations, if I had out socially I create stories in my head and think it’s real. Sometimes I don’t know what is ... View more

Hi, ive been suffering with anxiety my whole life. Some months, even years I can manage it. But this year has been rough, over thinking situations, if I had out socially I create stories in my head and think it’s real. Sometimes I don’t know what is and what is not. i have had a girlfriend for 5 years, trustworthy and a good relationship but again I think she’s cheating and accuse her at times that nearly costed me it. i find it out hard to have big friend groups as there is more drama, and think most people don’t like me for who I am. I’m not sure how to get past it thanks for reading

Ziggy3 Anxious Drinking leading to hurting relationships
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I get severe social anxiety and when I am in social situations such as parties I tend to drink too much as it makes me feel less affected by anxiety. I only drink socially so I don't think it is a problem with drinking, only a problem with co... View more

Hi all, I get severe social anxiety and when I am in social situations such as parties I tend to drink too much as it makes me feel less affected by anxiety. I only drink socially so I don't think it is a problem with drinking, only a problem with controlling myself. Recently I got very drunk at a party and recently hurt someone I love by saying something I don't remember. I often hurt this person when I am drinking and there seems to be a cycle of me hurting them unintentionally when I drink a lot and then having to profusely apologise the next few days. I think I am mean and hurt them because it stems from my insecurities and jealousy towards them. They are one of my closest friends and we have known each other for 10+ years but i'm afraid that I have really upset them and this could be the end of our relationship. I have anxiety about this to the point where I constantly feel sick and cannot eat. I have reached out to them but they seem to be ignoring me. Please, any help about how I could manage this from happening again and any help to try and mend the relationship because I do not want to lose this person in my life?

Hppyf33t Separation Anxiety?
  • replies: 12

Hi everyone, This is my first post and I’m very new to all this so bear with me. I have been suffering with anxiety for the past 6 months and I’m at my wits end. I have never ever felt like this before. I have seen my GP about this. I know what has t... View more

Hi everyone, This is my first post and I’m very new to all this so bear with me. I have been suffering with anxiety for the past 6 months and I’m at my wits end. I have never ever felt like this before. I have seen my GP about this. I know what has triggered it and I’m not coping very well at all. After living in the one town for over 10 years (we have moved a lot with my husbands work around the state) with my husband and two children. We have now gone through some BIG changes in our family and living situation. Both the kids have moved out of home to different towns and my husband and I have also moved to a new town as empty nesters. One child now lives 8 hours away and the other 4.5 hours. The reason for our move was my husband resigned from a job that he was in for a very long time as he wasn’t happy there anymore and was very stressed. He was offered a new job with another company in another town that he loves. I left a job that I had been in for 10 years and enjoyed. We are now living in our own home for the first time in our 28 years of marriage which I was so looking forward to. We weighed up all the pros and cons about this move and felt it was the right thing for us and our future. But things haven’t gone as well as I had hoped with all the changes. (For me anyway) My husband is doing fine and he knows that I am struggling and has been very supportive. I’ve got friends here and I got another job but I’m not enjoying it and want to leave but it’s really hard to find work in the town so I feel I’m stuck there for the time being. We try and see the kids as much as possible as I miss them desperately. We see friends often and keep ourselves busy getting our house to how we want it. I’ve also just had a major operation which I needed weeks off work. All this tied together has put me in the place I’m in now. I have the same thoughts going around in my head over and over, what if?? What if we didn’t make these changes?? My heart feels heavy and broken, I’m not sleeping well so I’m tired, I’ve lost a lot of weight as I’ve lost my appetite, I cry a lot, I zone out and just have this numb feeling through my body. I feel lonely and lost. It takes effort to get up and go for the day. I don’t have much energy to do anything but I make myself push through the day. Is this separation anxiety? Will it pass eventually? Has anyone else experienced these feelings after such changers? TIA.

Guest5643 There is no such thing as a little bit of ocd
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I regularly here from people that they have "a little bit of ocd" or "im ocd in the house"ect. THERE IS NO SUCH THING! Its got to the point i say i have real ocd not fake ocd. I know these people have no idea about the illness so they don't know any ... View more

I regularly here from people that they have "a little bit of ocd" or "im ocd in the house"ect. THERE IS NO SUCH THING! Its got to the point i say i have real ocd not fake ocd. I know these people have no idea about the illness so they don't know any better but its very disrespectful to what is a very debilitating illness. A had a psychologist once argue with me telling me ocd symptoms are only excess handwashing, cleaning and fear off germs! Those symptoms are a very mild fraction of what real ocd is like.

Lily_28_ Feeling out of my depth and anxious in a foreign country
  • replies: 8

Hi all/anyone who is reading this thread. It has been a while since I have been on here, maybe that is because I was doing better? Maybe I was busy and distracted? Who knows. Anyway, I am now 27 and still suffer from anxiety and depression and have b... View more

Hi all/anyone who is reading this thread. It has been a while since I have been on here, maybe that is because I was doing better? Maybe I was busy and distracted? Who knows. Anyway, I am now 27 and still suffer from anxiety and depression and have been on medications since I was 19. Over the years I have gone through the motions of losing my best friend through suddenly dying, losing a relationship, losing friends etc etc. Have gone through and tried to deal with that the best I can. In the past year, my partner went for a job on the other side of the world, I have finished university (yay, only took numerous more years!)and my god daughter was born. I felt great for a while there. I am now situated on the other side of the world, as you got it, my partner got the job and here we are for 18months. I am so happy for him for this new step in his career and everything, but I am not feeling too happy about being here. Sure, it's beautiful etc in europe, but its not what I want or need. I have had to give up my job, friends, family, pets etc and move to a place where it's going to be hard to get a job as im not very bilingual, and I dont know anyone etc. I feel so out of my depth and scared I guess you could say. I have panic attacks in the supermarket just trying to see what certain foods are as I do not know the language, and I also have food allergies. Some would say im so lucky and so fortunate to have an amazing partner who is supportng me, but i do not want to just live off of him, and being able to support myself , and feel my own achievements. I used to be great at my job, I want to feel that again. Otherwise, I'm just the 'unemployed/depressed/anxious' girlfriend. Has anyone ever done this move or something similar and can offer me any support?

Stuart_He_ Life on hold
  • replies: 4

Im tired of feeling like this,its holding my life up , i cant see an end to it. Im going to see my doctor in 2 days. I havent spoken to my wife as yet, not sure why. There are times when im fine and having a good time then this overwhelming feeling o... View more

Im tired of feeling like this,its holding my life up , i cant see an end to it. Im going to see my doctor in 2 days. I havent spoken to my wife as yet, not sure why. There are times when im fine and having a good time then this overwhelming feeling of fear just smothers me,im not sleeping long enough. This the first time I've ever done this sort of thing , is it going to help me?

black_rose Post Social Event Anxiety
  • replies: 13

Out of everything I've ever had to deal with Social Anxiety has to be the absolute worst of all, Bipolar seems a walk in the park to this, mostly because at least with Bipolar I know how it can and will affect me. Social Anxiety though is so unpredic... View more

Out of everything I've ever had to deal with Social Anxiety has to be the absolute worst of all, Bipolar seems a walk in the park to this, mostly because at least with Bipolar I know how it can and will affect me. Social Anxiety though is so unpredictable and can rear it's ugly head at any point in social situations. Before, during or after. It's pot luck at which stage it emerges. Over the weekend I had my oldest and closest friend's 40th birthday, we also dated back when I was 16 for like 6 months, but have remained friends throughout the years, even despite him leaving the country for a decade. We were better suited as friends. Honestly I planned for and anticipated the anxiety to occur either before or during the event, and had planned for such contingencies, I made sure I had an anxiety pill beforehand and even had an extra one on hand in case of emergency and I needed it. But nope, the night was awesome, I had a blast and the crowd didn't seem to bother me much. However I wasn't prepared for the anxiety to hit me after the event. Yesterday and Today I've had the worst anxiety, today it has caused me to burst into tears, all because my brain is an a hole and refuses to shut up. Just some of the crippling thoughts echoing through my head: remember that stupid thing you said, yeah that one, you idiot, I'm sure everyone heard it and thought you were the biggest idiot there. remember doing that, yeah how dumb, no doubt everyone saw that, you moron Hahaha, I bet everyone thought you were fat, like an elephant You know he'll probably never want to speak to you again, I bet his entire family family and all his friends thought you were the biggest idiot there and have probably told him as much you are too much, next time you should just stay home, it easier! It's the pits I despise it with everything I have in me. I try telling myself that no one noticed the small stupid things and that they weren't really that stupid and only I noticed them, sadly I cant seem to convince my brain. Social Anxiety really is the pits...