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

Jemm89 Post Natal anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi all Baby number 2 has been difficult. A trip from regional Qld to Brisbane for NICU, separation from baby, connection with him is growing but taking more time. My anxiety is manifesting in so many physical ways including indigestion, no appetite, ... View more

Hi all Baby number 2 has been difficult. A trip from regional Qld to Brisbane for NICU, separation from baby, connection with him is growing but taking more time. My anxiety is manifesting in so many physical ways including indigestion, no appetite, racing heart, chest pains, nightmares, lack of sleep and much more. I'm feeling very observed by others and social anxiety is next level. I have experienced intrusive thoughts but never gone any further or acted on them. I'm ashamed I had the thoughts. Am doing Yoga daily which helps immensely. I have such a new understanding of the black dog and I feel like that black dog is sitting there waiting. I don't have a plan to tackle that if it happens again. I've seen the acute mental health unit and they've told me I'm not severe enough to be seen by then. There are no professionals who have expertise in pnda. Any ideas? I have a social worker with regards to NICU experience and have made contact with panda.

HarrisCloud Another new job. Another feeling that I want to flee.
  • replies: 13

I am coming to the end of my first week of a new job. My previous job I was at for 2 years and I hated it. Hated it so much so when I got this new job I was so excited. Excited until my first day. I'm an admin assistant in a smallish office. It's the... View more

I am coming to the end of my first week of a new job. My previous job I was at for 2 years and I hated it. Hated it so much so when I got this new job I was so excited. Excited until my first day. I'm an admin assistant in a smallish office. It's the same pattern that I've had every job I've ever started. I have so much anxiety about not feeling like I'm understanding my new tasks. In some ways it feels like my anxiety inhibits me from learning the new tasks. I'm a major perfectionist and I feel like I must start a new job and know all the tasks I'm responsible for. Even though I know that's not possible and it's irrational I cant help it. There is another new admin assistant that has been there 3 weeks and she is laughing with the other people like she's been there for years, she just gets in in the morning and does her work. I'm still being all awkward and not knowing where anything is. even though I truly hated my old job I knew everything there was to know about the job. If the phone rang and there was a problem I knew the answer without thinking. My manager needed something and I knew where to put my hands on whatever was needed immediately. Now I just feel like an idiot. I sit at my desk and envisage picking up my bag and quietly slipping out the door, getting into my car and driving away and never coming back. How can I break this habit of feeling so bad when I start a new job?

Jay_Bee Overwhelmed and spread too thin
  • replies: 1

Hi all, This year I very suddenly started having anxiety attacks and have since been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My parents announced their divorce and it's very messy as my mum was quite abusive growing up with mental health and addiction... View more

Hi all, This year I very suddenly started having anxiety attacks and have since been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My parents announced their divorce and it's very messy as my mum was quite abusive growing up with mental health and addiction issues. She is now attempting to fight for custody of my younger siblings. Things are messy and everyone thinks that I am exempt from the family distress as I live alone on the other side of the country. Thats just it, I'm alone. I was studying full-time and since this all started happening I'm now barely coping with 2 subjects at uni. I have work, I run a club at uni and am meant to be going on an overseas project for uni in less than a month. I am just very overwhelmed. I miss my family and friends from back home. I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above the water. Currently having issues with loneliness and lack of support and I'm not sure how to cope. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

247worrier Panicking about likely asbestos in my home. Please help!
  • replies: 13

Long time reader, first time posting. I have read every thread about asbestos..over and over. I’m desperate for some rational reassurance. I can’t stop crying, im sick to the stomach with fear. I have been in a rental for 6 months now. In the lounge ... View more

Long time reader, first time posting. I have read every thread about asbestos..over and over. I’m desperate for some rational reassurance. I can’t stop crying, im sick to the stomach with fear. I have been in a rental for 6 months now. In the lounge room, there is gap in the brick wall that is covered by a piece of metal. Behind it is copper pipe with what looks like asbestos around it. It looks like it is damaged/not sealed and I’m fretting that it has/is putting it in to the air. I didn’t realise what it could be until a few days ago. My children play right next to it as that is where their toys are and the cover has been knocked off a fair few times. I sent pictures to a asbestos removal company and they said it does look like asbestos insulation, the guy is coming tomorrow night to check it out. I don’t know what to do between now and tomorrow. And then if it is confirmed, I don’t know how I will cope. I have OCD and Asbestos has been a trigger of obsessive thought and fear for a long time, which is why I’m angry at myself for not realising what it could be until now. My worries are for my kids, not myself. My husband isn’t too concerned by it and tries to reassure me but it hasn’t worked. Any help is appreciated

Sprockett Blackouts
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone! My daughter has started experiencing blackouts. So far nothing physical found . Has anyone on here experienced blackouts caused by their anxiety? Thanks

Hi Everyone! My daughter has started experiencing blackouts. So far nothing physical found . Has anyone on here experienced blackouts caused by their anxiety? Thanks

Onepa I'm terrified of driving
  • replies: 4

I'm 34. I am married. We want to start a family. But my husband has made it clear that until I get my license, there will be no kids. I understand his reasoning. If something happens, I need to be able to take them wherever. The problem is. I am terr... View more

I'm 34. I am married. We want to start a family. But my husband has made it clear that until I get my license, there will be no kids. I understand his reasoning. If something happens, I need to be able to take them wherever. The problem is. I am terrified. I sit behind the wheel of a car and I just start to shake and sob. I freeze and can't move. I have never been in an accident or been scared in a car so I don't know why I feel this way. I don't want to be the reason why we don't have a family but at the same time, I physically and mentally just can't get past this. I don't want to wait much longer before we start a family and I hate it that I'm the one holding us back and if we don't have kids, it will be my fault.

bimmadude101 Relationship anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I have posted on here a couple of times over the years about my anxiety and OCD... I have had OCD for around 2 years now and have really learned how to handle it. Although it does creep up on me and latches onto important things that are... View more

Hi everyone, I have posted on here a couple of times over the years about my anxiety and OCD... I have had OCD for around 2 years now and have really learned how to handle it. Although it does creep up on me and latches onto important things that are happening in my life that I value. Anyway, I recently got into a relationship with this wonderful girl. Everything just feels right about this girl and I'm pretty confident I'm falling in love with her and I'm very happy about that. I broke up with my ex-girlfriend around 8 months ago because I just didn't feel that connection with her as I do with my current girlfriend. Although ever since I made it official with my current girlfriend I have had OCD like thoughts about my ex. I keep getting thoughts of her popping into my head. Yes, I care about my ex and we did end on good terms but thoughts and memories of her just keep popping up. I do not have feelings for the girl and am glad I'm not in a relationship with her but the thoughts are just really bothersome. I know this is my OCD as now that I have a new relationship my brain just wants to sabotage it as usual. I guess you could call it ROCD? which I have suffered from in previous relationships although in a different form. Before asking out my current girlfriend I hardly thought about my ex but as soon as I made it official I just started getting all these annoying thoughts pop up. My ex and I are still friends and message each other here and there just to see how one another is going. I also get thoughts of worry about my ex like well what happens if something bad happens to her and I'm not there to help her. But then again I'm not really apart of her life and I don't want to be having these worries because I just want to 100% concentrate on my new relationship as I really see myself having a future with my current girlfriend. I know these thoughts will eventually subside and its just my OCD that keeps firing these thoughts off but i would love some advice or someone who has had a similar experience. Bimmadude.

Alizerath fear of losing people
  • replies: 1

hi. my name is ali, and for as long as I have been alive I have had the most detrimental fear of losing somebody. for example, whenever someone I love is even 10 minutes later then they said they would be home, I start panicking. I lose all consiousn... View more

hi. my name is ali, and for as long as I have been alive I have had the most detrimental fear of losing somebody. for example, whenever someone I love is even 10 minutes later then they said they would be home, I start panicking. I lose all consiousness and kind of enter a "new body". it's such an odd experience. I start violently shaking and sometimes crying, and I can't think of anything else but the person who isn't there. I am so scared to find out someone I love is not here anymore. sometimes during these episodes, I think incredibly irrationally. I often times find myself thinking life will never be the same, etc. I have looked everywhere online for anyone who has dealt with something similar, but no one has and it makes me seem crazy. what makes me feel worse is that I don't think I have any reason to behave this way. nothing in my past, nothing. I can't live like this anymore because it happens so often- every day, if not twice a day. I just can't bear the thought of someone not being there anymore. please, if anyone has even heard about this before let me know. it'd be nice to know if I'm not alone.

Roscoe88 Can’t shut my mind off
  • replies: 1

Hi There I’m a generally happy person but have recently been really nauseous and overthinking every task at work, family conversations and feeling exhausted. My mind won’t shut off and feel in a rut. I have love from all my family and partner surroun... View more

Hi There I’m a generally happy person but have recently been really nauseous and overthinking every task at work, family conversations and feeling exhausted. My mind won’t shut off and feel in a rut. I have love from all my family and partner surrounding me but feel numb sometimes. Definitely never had any suicidal thoughts. Life is smooth in general with no issues but wake up everyday overthinking things that are trivial to a point I have made myself tired and nauseous. I talked to my GP last Friday and told me before going on anti- depressants I should look at jumping on here and chatting daily with everyone with same thoughts and issues. See where this leads. I have also started breathing excersises to help relax. Think it’s working but only been a few days so far. I’ve also gone off social media for good. Got to start somewhere I guess. R.

SMER Supporting my BF and his anxiety HELP!
  • replies: 5

After some advise please! My boyfriend sinks into a terrible hole when anxiety rears its head. We don't live together, and he would prefer to SMS me only when he feels unwell. He has come a long way, by admitting how he is feeling on occasion. Howeve... View more

After some advise please! My boyfriend sinks into a terrible hole when anxiety rears its head. We don't live together, and he would prefer to SMS me only when he feels unwell. He has come a long way, by admitting how he is feeling on occasion. However, it's now been about three weeks, and he's starting to get a little abusive. I know it's coming from the anxiety and lack of self belief. It kind of feels like he's unconsciously testing me. I've not changing my behaviour the whole time, and checking in daily with a hello...not necessarily asking any questions. Sometimes I do. I figured it would gently help him to know I'm not going anywhere. The advise that would really help me....if I stop my daily msg, would that cause more anxiety issues? I've not ever encountered anxiety at this level before. I just don't want to cause him any more stress. Understanding anxiety is important to me. Our relationship broke up once before because of his anxiety management. I want to support him, because when he is healthy he's amazing.