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

white knight Anxiety -mind over matter
  • replies: 4

We've heard the saying "mind over matter", that is to be mentally strong enough to endure lifes challenges like abuse, rejection, mental daily challenges and even basic action like going outdoors to shop. One of the many problems with anxiety, that w... View more

We've heard the saying "mind over matter", that is to be mentally strong enough to endure lifes challenges like abuse, rejection, mental daily challenges and even basic action like going outdoors to shop. One of the many problems with anxiety, that was highlighted in1987 during my first therapy session was realism. He asked me regularly when I mentioned my thoughts during the week- "is that realistic"? 90% of the time it wasn't hence, an anxious mental state. Eg I wont park in a one hour zone to enter a newsagents or I might get a parking fine. Unrealistic as I'd only be there 5 minutes. I wont take a train into the city as there might be a train strike and I'd be stranded. Getting things into perspective is a key to recovery with anxiety. What about "matter over mind"? It is another theory of mine. Many times during my decades of anxiety now largely conquered, I'd question my ability to carry out a basic task like driving to a town I not often visited. Yet when I finally found the courage the task proved easy. Some of this process involves changing our mind Google Beyondblue Topic switching mindsets Essentially that theme is to allow your physical actions to commence a task BEFORE you think too much about it, knowing that it is my minds anxious makeup that is enabling me to feel I cant do those tasks. Mind over matter is an impossible thinking process if it is beyond your capability. "Matter over mind" is more possible by temporarily detaching your over thinking, over analysing mind. A process more likely within your capability. It is a different path to the same objective...to overcome our unrealistic fears that can lead us back towards a normal life. Freedom from anxiety took me 30 years. Matter over mind had a significant role in that recovery. TonyWK

Rod_NR93 Adopted a pet by mistake?
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I wasnt sure where to post this thread but as I suffer anxiety this seemed the best place. I adopted a kitten only three days ago and feel I have to return it. I thought long and hard about adopting. It was not a decision I made on impulse. Having th... View more

I wasnt sure where to post this thread but as I suffer anxiety this seemed the best place. I adopted a kitten only three days ago and feel I have to return it. I thought long and hard about adopting. It was not a decision I made on impulse. Having the kitten has almost turned my home life upside down. The cat also demands my constant attention. I can't handle it and fortunately the RSPCA will take her back. I've decided to reassess on Monday. I feel just awful though.

Jimbo86 Depersonalisation
  • replies: 5

Hello everybody does anyone have any helpful tips on depersonalisation

Hello everybody does anyone have any helpful tips on depersonalisation

CourtneyJ Post kitten adoption regret - can anyone relate?
  • replies: 8

Hi 31 year old GAD sufferer here. I've just recently adopted a 12 week old kitten named Henry. For a kitten he's very well behaved (uses the litter box, does scratch too much etc.) Now I didn't adopt on a whim. I thought about it for a while and did ... View more

Hi 31 year old GAD sufferer here. I've just recently adopted a 12 week old kitten named Henry. For a kitten he's very well behaved (uses the litter box, does scratch too much etc.) Now I didn't adopt on a whim. I thought about it for a while and did a lot of preparation. But now I have him home I am f-n miserable. My anxiety levels are through the roof. I can't eat, don't sleep and even forget to shower. I don't want to pet him at all and I cry all the time. And I resent the changes he's caused to my living space (not being able to have open doors in my house to the bedroom or balcony). I have a 1 bedroom apartment and I've alway been very introverted and valued my personal space and not having to share it with anyone else. All my friends say that it's a phase, that it'll pass and that eventually I won't be able to live without him. I don't see this happening (probably because I'm consumed by my anxiety). I just want to return him to the RSPCA and I have 1.5 weeks to decide. Has anyone else been through this? Does anyone have any advice? Note: Please don't say anything about "adopting 2 kittens" because that is not going to happen.

Guest_2574 How do i deal with my abusive neighbour
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My neighbour adjoining my townhouse is psychologicaly abusive to me and my dog. I have nothing but polite and helpful to her. I have given her expensive things. Helped her pets out. Even bought her a washing machine. Never got a thankyou for any of i... View more

My neighbour adjoining my townhouse is psychologicaly abusive to me and my dog. I have nothing but polite and helpful to her. I have given her expensive things. Helped her pets out. Even bought her a washing machine. Never got a thankyou for any of it. I hadn't seen her out her front for awhile and even knocked on her door to ask r u ok? For quite awhile now shes been realy rude to me in subtle ways. Not once has she asked about my mental health. She gives me a slanty eyed look or avoids eye contact altogether. She knows im the least externaly angry person so knows it will bottle up inside me. Shes put a bin against the fence and piling her dogs poo in plastic bags up in it. You can imagine the smell on a hot day. I wish i could move where theres no humans but im stuck here

rhianna_jn Sick of work
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Hi everyone. For the last four months I have being working two jobs to save up a little more money before heading back to uni. Before taking this job, I wasn’t getting many shifts and thought this was going to help makes things easier financially and... View more

Hi everyone. For the last four months I have being working two jobs to save up a little more money before heading back to uni. Before taking this job, I wasn’t getting many shifts and thought this was going to help makes things easier financially and to an extent, it has. The last couple of weeks have been an absolute nightmare and I’m filled with dread each time I have to go there. It’s very unorganised and each individual has their own way of doing things. As someone who is still learning their job, it makes it difficult to have a good grasp on what I need to be doing to effectively do my job. I’ve mentioned several times that things are simply not working but my complaints have fallen on deaf ears. I’m sick of feeling like shit when I go to work. I spend most of my shift counting down the hours until it’s over. It makes me miserable and I truly hate being there. The only good thing about it is the hours (which are still pretty crappy) are permanent so I know I will be receiving at least some money for that week. I want to leave but if I do, I go back to working solely a casual job with a manager who cuts hours at her own discretion. I am currently job hunting in the hope of finding something better, and that’s making me feel worse because it can be quite discouraging waiting around to hear if you have got an interview. I’m not sure whether I should stay at both or quit the one that fills me the most with dread and just work the other, even though there’s anxiety around my managers rostering because she tends to fluctuate with how many hours she gives me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Meowface Guilt about boundaries -39 weeks pregnant
  • replies: 3

I’ve had to deal with very dominant personalities since childhood - my own mother has been a very strong and controlling influence in my life. Ive done a lot of therapy over the years and have learnt that my response to the dominance has been to beco... View more

I’ve had to deal with very dominant personalities since childhood - my own mother has been a very strong and controlling influence in my life. Ive done a lot of therapy over the years and have learnt that my response to the dominance has been to become a very passive person. I stick to myself and try to be very independent. This normally keeps things manageable even though deep down I know there’s a lot of anger there. Anyway I’m now 39 weeks pregnant and am overwhelmed by the dominant people I’m having to manage. My husband is similar to me with similar parents so there’s a whole group of people that are pushing about expectations to be in the waiting room, babysit the baby, organise other visitors etc. without ever asking what we want or need. I just got off the phone with my mother and explained that we don’t want anyone in the waiting room. Grandparents will be first but we want a few hours to ourselves to bond with baby on our own. Its an awkward conversation because these personality types never ask what you actually want, so you kind of have to sound a bit dramatic when putting your needs forward. She was typical in her response, made me feel stupid and demanding “oh there’s so many rules”. I want so desperately to have better boundaries but after I speak up for myself my anxiety just gets worse. I feel very alone and worried about my own mental health but other people just don’t seem to care.

YellowPoppy Have a peaceful sleep
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I know everyone is going through their own serious stuff, I know I am. But I wanted to put something nice out there for people to see tonight. So I hope everyone has a peaceful and restful sleep and that when you wake up tomorrow morning I si... View more

Hi all, I know everyone is going through their own serious stuff, I know I am. But I wanted to put something nice out there for people to see tonight. So I hope everyone has a peaceful and restful sleep and that when you wake up tomorrow morning I sincerely hope things will feel better or easier. Sending love and support and kindness and compassion for all of you YellowPoppya

Live_in_the_Now Marriage Anxiety
  • replies: 3

This is my first time posting on an online forum, I need support. The wedding is around the corner and for the last 2 months I've felt very high anxiety levels. To give you some background, myself and my fiance have had a amazing relationship for the... View more

This is my first time posting on an online forum, I need support. The wedding is around the corner and for the last 2 months I've felt very high anxiety levels. To give you some background, myself and my fiance have had a amazing relationship for the last 3 years, I understand him and who he is in a special way and he understands me the same. When we first met, it was like I was swept off my feet, I was never looking for a relationship but there he was, it was like he was sent to me for a reason, like it was fate. As the relationship continued, I learnt his flaws and he learnt mine, I get angry, I can be patronising, and can get closed off sometimes, he can be sensitive, emotional and rude. However we both recognise our flaws and are working on being better people to others and to each other. Like any relationship, we have been through ups and downs, however I've never seen any 'red flags' in 3 years. We've travelled, laughed, cried, felt the good times and the bad together, we are best friends. I believe what I'm going through right now is something like marriage anxiety. I've felt extremely overwhelmed by the entire wedding planning process and thought of being married. I recognise that my mind is playing tricks, I catastrophise, I think extremely negative thoughts like "what if I run away" "what if I dont love him", "what if our marriage fails", and this snow ball effect has caused severe panic attacks. I feel like I lost trust in myself, I lost trust in my judgement, I feel like am so nervous about the change that is going to happen in my life, that I am avoiding it at all costs. I feel like because I lost trust in myself, I lost trust in my partner because I lost trust in myself. I feel the 'fight or flight' response in my blood and I feel like running - but I dont know where I am running or who I am running with or what the running is going to fix. I feel so alone yet I have so much support around me, my fiance is dealing with this situation so well. I feel so numb to the point where I am creating terrible stories in my mind just to feel something. I tell myself "ok go, run, cancel the entire wedding" or " you never really loved him" or "you're going to get a divorce", but I feel nothing .... I feel so numb that I dont even know what I feel!! I am so desperate to feel something, anything!! I am feeling completely confused, as what I am feeling is the complete opposite of the evidence of my relationship for the last 3 years. Help

Lalunia82 I’m back after 7 month with worst anxiety and insomnia ever
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Hi, Last time I post on this forum was July 2017 and I was feeling awful, though I will never battle my anxiety. But I did and was having a happy life till about 4 weeks ago when I started having “MS” king of symptoms like numbness in one side of fac... View more

Hi, Last time I post on this forum was July 2017 and I was feeling awful, though I will never battle my anxiety. But I did and was having a happy life till about 4 weeks ago when I started having “MS” king of symptoms like numbness in one side of face and dizziness. I started searching the answers on google and worrying that I have various illnesses like brain tumor, MS, stroke. I got myself panicked and ended up at the hostpital emergency. All tests, CT scan, MRI, blood tests came back normal and my neurologist said that I’m very healthy person. The symptoms I had are anxiety related. I was shocked to hear that all of that was an anxiety as before this happened I was not anxious at all. But once this simptomps developed and I started believing I have a serious illness, my anxiety kicked in. Even after the neurologist’s assurance I’m healthy, I was still feeling anxious. I was crying every day, going to work was a struggle because I was aftraid to burts in tears in front of everyone. I started taking to myslef loudly :” I’m healthy, and this is just my brain who is trying to trick me”. Started taking some sleeping tablets and after having a decent night sleep, my anxiety level started reducing. I also started session with psychologist who was telling me that the anxiety is like a wave, it does not last forever. It will be bad for some time but it will go away eventually. And that happened. Last week I was getting really better, my physical symptoms of dizziness and numbness disappear and I thought anxiety is gone. Then it came back again on Monday this week. Since Monday I practically don’t sleep. Yesterday I was awake the whole night. The next morning I was hardly able to walk, brushing my teeth was a challenge. Today I took strong sleeping tables and was able to sleep 5h but anxiety is teeeible. I lost 5kg in last 4 weeks, I cannot swallow the food, I have terrible diarrhea and worrying horribly of losing my job. I have house settlement in 3 month in June 2018 and I cannot afford losing my job! Otherwise I won’t get loan and lose deposit. I’m getting married in poland (where I come from) in August and have so much financial commitments. What do I do with my job? I’m to weak to work and everyone start noticing at work that I struggle. The session with psychologist don’t help much. I do everytjjng: yoga, meditation and nothing helps. I’m worrying that I’m going to die!! please tell me how everyone who experience anxiety is able to work?