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

Guest_672 Stress!!!!!!
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I get stressed then my dog gets stressed then i get stressed seeing my dog stressed then my dog gets even more stressed then im beyond stressed and feel like the worst mother in the world

I get stressed then my dog gets stressed then i get stressed seeing my dog stressed then my dog gets even more stressed then im beyond stressed and feel like the worst mother in the world

gdubbs Anxiety and overthinking dating and new relationships
  • replies: 1

I have been someone who's always overanalysed situations and overthought everything, eventually leading to a lot of anxiety. While this has always affected me on the academic front, lately I've found myself overthinking majorly when it comes to datin... View more

I have been someone who's always overanalysed situations and overthought everything, eventually leading to a lot of anxiety. While this has always affected me on the academic front, lately I've found myself overthinking majorly when it comes to dating people. I've had a few horrible relationships, which definitely makes me feel paranoid and cynical about things. Recently I met a guy off tinder, and while I didn't expect much from the app, he turned out to be really nice, and we've been seeing each other for about more than 2 months now. And while I'm really happy when I'm around him and we have a really good time, and he seems very genuine and affectionate towards me, once I'm by myself and back to my routine, instead of looking forward to the next date I just get really anxious about things, about whether he likes me as much as I like him, whether he might be sleeping with other girls even though he said he doesn't use tinder. I keep thinking he's going to get sick of me soon and probably just ghost me. I'm constantly reading too much into each text he sends me, wondering why he doesn't reply sooner (despite the fact that he told me he barely texts people). The thing that worries me the most is that he's going to eventually see through these insecurities/paranoia and think I'm too much to handle. I don't want to ruin something possibly great with all these negative thoughts but I just can't keep a handle on it. Please help me out, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Dee_Junum Anxiety and severe dizziness
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I am a 27 year old female hoping that others out there have felt or are feeling the same as i am right now. For the past 6 months i have had extreme dizziness, headaches, nausea, stomach pains, fatigue, constantly thinking and been in and out of doct... View more

I am a 27 year old female hoping that others out there have felt or are feeling the same as i am right now. For the past 6 months i have had extreme dizziness, headaches, nausea, stomach pains, fatigue, constantly thinking and been in and out of doctor surgeries. My blood tests, Ct scans and ultrasounds all come back normal with no signs of bad physicsl health. Why am i feeling like this? I recently saw a therapist and she has told me I am suffering from depression and anxiety. Could these symptoms I am feeling be only related to depression and anxiety? Has anyone else out felt these symptoms? I feel like i am going crazy and no one is believing that i am feeling these symptoms. Any advice or stories would be greatly appreciated!

Booklover17 Hyperventilation whilst sleeping
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Has anyone else experienced huperventilation whilst sleeping? I have been under some stress and last night I woke up hyperventilating and could not calm down for a while. The only thing that worked was doing that technique where you squeeze your hand... View more

Has anyone else experienced huperventilation whilst sleeping? I have been under some stress and last night I woke up hyperventilating and could not calm down for a while. The only thing that worked was doing that technique where you squeeze your hands into a fist etc. has anyone else been in this situation?

Booklover17 Not looking forward to anything
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Hi everyone, I just wondered if anyone is in this situation or has been in the past? I have had a tough couple of weeks and now I am in the mindset of being down all the time, not looking forward to anything and not wanting to speak to anyone. I do s... View more

Hi everyone, I just wondered if anyone is in this situation or has been in the past? I have had a tough couple of weeks and now I am in the mindset of being down all the time, not looking forward to anything and not wanting to speak to anyone. I do see a psychologist, I do get anxiety and depression. I would just love to hear from someone who has been through it, who understands. Thank you

lucy_de I don't really know what's wrong?
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I'll start with the fact that I'm a teen, so part of me thinks this just all a part of 'growing up' but the other part of me isn't so sure. Ive been feeling like this since about three years ago but I've noticed its worsened this year. I just have so... View more

I'll start with the fact that I'm a teen, so part of me thinks this just all a part of 'growing up' but the other part of me isn't so sure. Ive been feeling like this since about three years ago but I've noticed its worsened this year. I just have some symptoms I guess I'll list off in the hope that someone will have an idea on why I feel like this and maybe give some help? iI'm desperate ahhh. I've been feeling VERY tired this year, like an abnormal amount. I sleep a good amount each night (6-8 hours) but yet it feels like everything takes so much effort and that I've been just living life on auto-pilot. Its super hard to get out of bed in the morning just thinking about the day ahead. I'm drained by the end of each day even though they don't consist of tiring activities if that makes sense? I'm always nervous? I think this one is overthinking honestly. Like my friend will shift their tone in a conversation and I'll start stressing out thinking thoughts of "are they mad" "is there going to be a fight" when there never is? I just always seem to have these thoughts like something is bound to go wrong that's triggered by the tiniest things or when nothing's wrong at all. I never want to go out. Whenever my friends talk about hanging out or making plans, I FREAK out, I get super nervous, like 'about to ride a roller coaster' nervous and i want to curl up into a ball. I just want to isolate myself whenever I can and hate the thought of going out now. Well actually, I always want to curl up into a ball. Its not that I want to d*e its just want to not have to deal with the stress? I can't even do little things without freaking out anymore like asking a retail worker where something is or ordering food, let alone big things like making plans. I dunno I just feel numb too. im probably just freaking out right now and will regret this tomorrow morning but I still need to share. I haven't told anyone about any of this because I fear my friends and family won't look at me the same. More so my friends as sometimes they don't take mental illness seriously. My family says things like "if you need to talk we're here" and I know they mean it I just can't, im scared they'll just brush it off or freak out, they've been through a lot. I recently discovered this website and just needed to say what's on my mind. So if you took the time to read this thank you so much I appreciate it a ton and hope it made sense. My love goes out to anyone who feels the same

Ghostsinmyhead Done, dusted, & heart broken.
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So last night my partner broke up with me. We have been living together for 4 months, and together for over 18 months. I have noticed that they were unhappy in their job since moving to be closer to me, and talks about moving away for a better career... View more

So last night my partner broke up with me. We have been living together for 4 months, and together for over 18 months. I have noticed that they were unhappy in their job since moving to be closer to me, and talks about moving away for a better career had been on the table. At one point she said she never wanted to break up, and wanted to try distance but it would be hard. Eventually she said - She doesn't think that I can do distance, due to my anxiety levels, and thinks I don't trust her (sometimes I just send a text to check in on her). Basically, she said that we should break up last night, and that this relationship isn't healthy because we fight constantly (which is news to me). I mean all couples have small tiffs maybe once a week right? We never had huge fights. She said that she isn't good for me, because she fuels my anxiety. Come the morning, her opinion hasn't changed and she still wants us to break up. I just don't understand how a person can tell you they love you & kiss you goodbye in the morning... and by the night they are breaking up with you and revealing all these new emotions and thoughts about the relationship. Im lost, destroyed, and absolutely heart broken. I don't know what to do about our living situation... and I don't know if I fight for her ... is that desperate and unwanted? I thought she was the one & I was the one for her. Now im questioning my happiness in this town, what I want to do for a career.. if I should up and change because I feel unhappy. This thread really depicts my thought process right now - all over the shop!

Guest_598 Relationship Anxiety
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Hello All, I separated from my husband last year after nearly ten years together. Our relationship was often difficult and I have noticed a lot of legacy issues as a result. During the last year leading up to the separation, I sometimes had quite sev... View more

Hello All, I separated from my husband last year after nearly ten years together. Our relationship was often difficult and I have noticed a lot of legacy issues as a result. During the last year leading up to the separation, I sometimes had quite severe anxiety with ruminating behaviour, constant worrying and fatalistic thinking (i.e. everything would go wrong). A lot of these things stem from stress and the fact that everything was always my fault and my issue (that was what I was told). I now have a new partner. He is absolutely lovely but he is going through quite a bit of tough times himself at the moment because he separated from his alcoholic wife a few months ago. He is holding up well and seeing a psychologist but it is obviously all still hard, especially since he needs to sell their house and manage her finances. I am now really worried and anxious because we have to keep our relationship secret for work reasons and so that she does not display aggressive behaviour before the consent order is signed. Also, he is dealing with so much emotional turmoil that he cannot progress emotionally as fast as I, even though he started out faster than me and now is kind of slowed down by all the emotional stress. I have no doubt we have wonderful potential but sometimes, this situation takes a massive toll on my psyche. When I mention that it is tough, I get really worked up (sad) because I feel worried and guilty that I pile onto his stress. But I cannot just swallow all my concerns and neither do I think I should have to. We can communicate well but this week, it hit him quite hard when I had another episode of strong anxiety. I think it is becoming a bit much for him although he says he finds me wonderful. I am scared that I will drive him away because he is in a fragile state and I am dealing with my past and the current situation causes me a lot of anxiety because of the limbo I feel we are in. I am not sure what to do, I am seeing a psychologist next week to start sessions and I am reading up on strategies and providers for help on beyondblue. But I would really like some reassurance and advice from people who understand how I feel. I do not want to drive my partner away, I really care about us. But how can I best look after myself and his needs? And how can I make sure I do not lose myself and my own needs just to keep him. That would not be healthy either. I would really appreciate your help. Thank you in advance!!

Yvaine Work Anxiety
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Hi all, This is my first time ever posting on here! So basically I've had anxiety since I was young and as far as I remember was consequently diagnosed with GAD. I've been working in a new job since June 2018 in a completely unfamiliar field and I've... View more

Hi all, This is my first time ever posting on here! So basically I've had anxiety since I was young and as far as I remember was consequently diagnosed with GAD. I've been working in a new job since June 2018 in a completely unfamiliar field and I've been suffering panic attacks and severe anxiety every day since. I've been finding it really hard to be happy or stay positive, I still attend social action the hope that they make the anxiety and pain go away, but half the time I'm thinking about work and about how unqualified I believe I am and start catastrophizing in loops. I lose sleep, fear that time is moving so fast and dread just claws away at every moment. I've never felt this bad before and I'm lost on what to do. I've been considering medication just to take the edge off because right now I'm just not coping well mentally/physically/emotionally. Doea anybody have any advice or similar experiences and can offer any support? Ps: my boss knows that I have anxiety but has told me that I have to find a way to put it aside and focus on my work because I'm just making mistakes all the time that I shouldn't be and they're getting more stressed and concerned about everything I'm doing on the job (making sure I'm doing it right). Hope that all makes sense. I'm just feeling very alone right now and feel that my anxiety is so out of control I can't feel content or happy without being reminded that anxiety and dread will always come back to take it away. Thanks so much for your support and responses in advance! God bless.

Gordon112 Now im straight but scared i am in denial
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Hey, so my entire life I have not only been certain I have been confident that I am straight, and I know that for certain deep down I am straight. But since the start of the school year I have been terrified that I am slowly turning gay, or that I ha... View more

Hey, so my entire life I have not only been certain I have been confident that I am straight, and I know that for certain deep down I am straight. But since the start of the school year I have been terrified that I am slowly turning gay, or that I have and am in denial. When this fear started it began with a massive bout of anxiety that slowly began to manifest itself in the form of intrusive thoughts. I have not only never had crushes on the same sex (I should clarify that I am male) and I have found the thought of being in a same sex relationship does not only sit well with me, It doesnt feel right at all. Fast forward a few weeks the thoughts have died down but I am afraid that I may have subconsciously accepted these thoughts as myself and that I am only in denial. This has left me freaking out to the point that I have developed what I can only describe as compulsions (looking at pictures of shirtless men vs naked women and seeing if I have a reaction down in my pants, picturing the images in my head to see if I enjoy them, watching gay porn to see if I have an reaction). I should also clarify that it doesnt feel like questioning, it only feels like intense to mild anxiety. I have also considered the possibility of having undiagnosed OCD because I have also had intrusive thoughts and anixety in the past about having undiagnosed Bowel cancer even though there was no evidence I had it, and have also had a bad panic attack last year involving a gory scene I had seen that made me terrified of leaving my house. I should again clarify that I have known my sexuality since I began puberty (halfway through year 4, very early bloomer at age 9). I havent really had any reason to doubt my sexuality because I have never had a crush on the same sex and any experimentation I did during early high school with gay porn also didnt fit right with me. I also wouldnt call this anxiety internalised homophobia because while I know im straight and homosexuality doesnt really sit with me, I understand that love is love (my sister is bisexual herself). I just dont want to be gay.