Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

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

CJnewme Does anybody drink to cover anxiety?
  • replies: 8

Hi I have had anxiety all my life and started to drink alcohol to mask it. I no longer want to drink alcohol ever again and would like to chat with others who are suffering and have used alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Hi I have had anxiety all my life and started to drink alcohol to mask it. I no longer want to drink alcohol ever again and would like to chat with others who are suffering and have used alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Immortalwookie Lonely, anxious and slightly depressed
  • replies: 1

Hi all, new to this forum. Ive been slowly heading into anxiety the last week or two, I have a history of anxiety and depression. Was going really well the last couple of months. Seperated from wife of 20 years over a year ago. Just started have happ... View more

Hi all, new to this forum. Ive been slowly heading into anxiety the last week or two, I have a history of anxiety and depression. Was going really well the last couple of months. Seperated from wife of 20 years over a year ago. Just started have happy and joyful thoughts however the last week I have been really down about life. I've cut my drinking down from every day to 1-2 days a fornight. But now I'm starting to feel lonely, at age 47 I'm now living with my mum, and the only thing I really have to live for is my son. I have many thoughts about beening alone for the rest of my life and if anyone will ever love me again, because I have so much crap from the past. I don't won't to be alone for the rest of my life. Is anyone in a similar situation.

KFPDW Feeling like im on "standby mode"  - stuck in my anxious mindset
  • replies: 5

Hi there, I've made a thread on here before and it really helped. I've made progress since then but there's a new situation that is really bugging me. I've had moments when I feel like when things are going really well and my mind goes uptight like s... View more

Hi there, I've made a thread on here before and it really helped. I've made progress since then but there's a new situation that is really bugging me. I've had moments when I feel like when things are going really well and my mind goes uptight like someone is twisting it tight like an elastic band. Like there's this impulse to go away from everyone and everything, to stop doing what I love to do and be with the people I care about and be on my own. And when I mean on my own,it ends up being me with my mind on standby, just not doing anything but walking around my house, wrapped up in my own thoughts all the time. Nothing I want to do gets done, i could sit and watch YouTube clips of my favorite shows because I don't know, I guess it boils down to the point that I can't bloody relax or get anything done. And by God, it scares me like I'm losing time in my life. I want to be doing things, to be at peace where I can be productive on my own and at the same be with the people I love to be with for long periods of time. Which is what I want, to be ALIVE!!!! But this "standby mode" of doing nothing and getting stuck in my anxious mindset feels as though it's pulling me down. An impulse that occurs over and over, I can't take it anymore, I want to it stop but I just don't know how!!!!!!!?????!!! Does anyone have any ideas how I can stop this please????!!!!!!

danver_1 Overcoming physical symptoms of social anxiety
  • replies: 3

Sometimes when i interact with others my head will literally shiver and if i talk in a formal environment my whole body starts to shiver. But in my mind, i dont feel nervous or anxious. It's just that in the moment my body starts to behave abnormally... View more

Sometimes when i interact with others my head will literally shiver and if i talk in a formal environment my whole body starts to shiver. But in my mind, i dont feel nervous or anxious. It's just that in the moment my body starts to behave abnormally and most of the time i can't control it. so what are some strategies to overcome this?

JesAnxious Anxious about something that may not ever happen please help!
  • replies: 3

This is going to sound CRAZY! - But I have this fear that I am thinking about OVER AND OVER... and I cannot stop it. It is on repeat and I am googling and researching and staying up late... It is a fear that Snapchat doesn't actually delete it's phot... View more

This is going to sound CRAZY! - But I have this fear that I am thinking about OVER AND OVER... and I cannot stop it. It is on repeat and I am googling and researching and staying up late... It is a fear that Snapchat doesn't actually delete it's photos that are sent, and that a secret hacker will hack Snapchat and all my old inappropriate photos I sent when I was younger (and dumber) will be out for the world to see and I will loose everything and everyone. I am loosing my mind! Can someone please help me. (I suffer from anxiety on a DAILY basis, but this thought has got my brain hooked) Would appreciate any advice!

SophieM How to stop and look after yourself??
  • replies: 10

Hi, This is my first post. I have had anxiety (with panic attacks) and depression for 10+ years and on meds.I have a GP and psychiatrist and used to see a psychologist - who I have arranged to go back to. I'm a Type A. Do everything. Do it perfectly.... View more

Hi, This is my first post. I have had anxiety (with panic attacks) and depression for 10+ years and on meds.I have a GP and psychiatrist and used to see a psychologist - who I have arranged to go back to. I'm a Type A. Do everything. Do it perfectly. Lots of degrees. Work too much. Try to be there for everyone. In the space of a few months - things have come crashing down. There are work stressors, family health issues etc etc etc... just lots. I'm on leave from work now. I have troubles sleeping (without the aid of meds) and eating (because I'm just not hungry). I know I am not OK - but there is always that thought that I should just "get back on the horse" and just "suck it up." Those thoughts that "everyone else is doing it - so why can't you?" Go back to working the crazy hours, doing too much etc etc. How do you battle that inner voice? And how do you get over the fears of what other people will think of you for being off work/taking time to care for yourself? That they will think you are weak or not up to it? How do I get myself to a point where I can be OK with taking the time to look after myself - and to respond to people who might make mean comments about it? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

pippie13 Pip 13
  • replies: 2

Hi, this is my first time on a forum and as I’m typing I can feel my heart pounding stronger, the buzzing in my ears is getting louder and my mouth is watering more. Scared to death that I’m going beyond a place I have ever been with my anxiety and d... View more

Hi, this is my first time on a forum and as I’m typing I can feel my heart pounding stronger, the buzzing in my ears is getting louder and my mouth is watering more. Scared to death that I’m going beyond a place I have ever been with my anxiety and depression before. Over the last 10 years I have been lucky to have been in a good place and funnily enough about 9 months ago, I thought I was well enough to have a chat to my GP about ditching the antidepressants. I was in a challenging job and coping well with the stress and pressure the role threw at me. I decided to get the piece of paper to back up industry knowledge and began self paced learning. A close family member was terminally ill and I was coping with supporting them and their partner. I coped when they passed. I coped when my partner lost his job. I coped when my work underwent a takeover. I coped when money was tight. I coped when my partner had a major operation. I then took a huge plunge and quit my job. Got a new job and was coping with the challenges of learning the ropes. Enjoyed it actually. Then bang - work load became huge, concentration depleted, buzzing in the ears began, mouth started salivating continuously, pounding in the chest, not sleeping well, feeling like I can’t string a sensible sentence together when I talk to someone, so not wanting to talk to people just in case they make a negative judgement about me. Feeling like I’m letting my work down as I’m not able to complete tasks on time and making a lot of mistakes. Can’t handle any pressure just go totally blank and feel,like running out of the room So scared I’m going to lose my job which will put a huge financial strain on my relationship as my husband is on work over and is not in a good head space himself. Seeing a Counsellor fortnightly - god bless his cotton socks he has been really supportive and wants to help me with how I’m feeling when he is going through so much himself. Im asking myself is,it the job, is it a build up of life stuff that has happened over the last 9 months, is it that time when poop happens in a mid fifty year old women’s life? Feeling like I’m ready for the scrap heap and scared to death of that scrap heap!

Aabb Anxiety without panic attacks?
  • replies: 6

Do I have anxiety if I dont have panic attacks? Or at least not in the chest tightening sense. I feel weight on my shoulders and chest. It's not smothering more like a burden. I'm self obsessed and tend to believe that people dont like me or that I'm... View more

Do I have anxiety if I dont have panic attacks? Or at least not in the chest tightening sense. I feel weight on my shoulders and chest. It's not smothering more like a burden. I'm self obsessed and tend to believe that people dont like me or that I'm doing something wrong. Or that people treat me differently because they dont like me. I always act confident outside of the home or in front of the kids. But to myself or my husband I let the sadness out. Right now I feel trapped and numb at the same time. I hate my house is a mess, my cars a mess but I dont do anything about it. I'm numb. I cant. What a bad excuse and I hate myself for it. I just want to be on my own, wallow a bit but I cant. I have a family. They need me to be strong. But the weight is constantly there. Sometimes I'm happy, the confidences is real and I have so many ideas and plans I'm a whole person again. Not whatever this thing is I become before I can claw my way out. What's wrong with me?

Mayla Feeling like no one cares abour your emotions. Asking you 'how is your mental state?'
  • replies: 6

Lately my anxiety has turned into rage. Some people around me i have had relationship problems with for years and they turn around to me and tell me its all in my head. That i need to go see someone. I know for a fact its not in my head. Everyonr aro... View more

Lately my anxiety has turned into rage. Some people around me i have had relationship problems with for years and they turn around to me and tell me its all in my head. That i need to go see someone. I know for a fact its not in my head. Everyonr around me has seen how this person treats me. But apparently im the bad guy because i confront the situation? Its turned my anxiety into rage. I scream. And i feel physical pain inside me that i know if i release out i will hurt someone. So the littke things now annoy me. Rage takes over but i burry it deep. And now i overthink and make up scenarios in my mind bc i cant talk to anyone about this because its not important to anyone around me. I'm selfish now to feel this way. Why is it that when i express my emotions no one cares? And when i dont express anything still no one cares? Its crazy. I havd no idea what to do

Chippy1759 Feeling very unstable at the moment
  • replies: 1

Hi all. Where to begin? I have no idea. My mental illness has finally end a beautiful relationship with the most awesome person. It finally happened! I’ve always been over hyper and often the other pole, depressed. But in the last few months I’ve bec... View more

Hi all. Where to begin? I have no idea. My mental illness has finally end a beautiful relationship with the most awesome person. It finally happened! I’ve always been over hyper and often the other pole, depressed. But in the last few months I’ve become unhinged. I don’t mean totally mad! Just unhinged for me. Yesterday I refused to come home from work! We own (owned) a shop and worked it together. Although retail being what it is. I was working ridiculous hours often 14hrs per day. Just so you get the picture. My problem is I take on far too much and ended up exhausted and snappy! Why do I do that? I’m very upset right now so will leave it at that