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

eth93 I think I'm dying.
  • replies: 6

I honestly do. And I'm an absolute mess. I've suffered from what my GP calls phantom pains many times before. These are physical pains/sensations that usually occur with somewhat obsessive thoughts of dying. I've had 'headaches' that have last 6 mont... View more

I honestly do. And I'm an absolute mess. I've suffered from what my GP calls phantom pains many times before. These are physical pains/sensations that usually occur with somewhat obsessive thoughts of dying. I've had 'headaches' that have last 6 months or more at a time. Lower back pain. Pain in my groin. Sensations of being cold all the time during summer. Tingling fingers. Collar bone pain. These have all lasted longer then a couple of months at a time. Usually a constant pain that gets worse when I'm not occupied. These all occur with thoughts of generally having that particular type of cancer. Each and every time I generally see my GP for the same old routine. Blood tests. MRI scans. CT scans. XRays. Ultrasounds. Whichever is recommended online as the best method of diagnosis. And my GP always comes to the same conclusion. Its all in my head. But I'm so scared that this time is different. I have had a slight pain/burning sensation on my right side of my abdomen, for the past two months. I also have extended periods of nausea, and sometimes what feels like acid reflux. So I have come to the conclusion that I have either stomach cancer or bowl cancer. Once again I've had many blood tests. A CT scan, and a ultrasound. All have come back negative. And my GP has once again suggested that this is all just phantom pain. But I honestly don't think so. I can be having a good day with my head and the pain will not be there. Then all of a sudden the next day the pain is there. Surely if it is all in my head. The pain should not be there when I'm not thinking about it. So why can I be having a good day, yet still be having the pain. I would love to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy. But I just can't afford to. And they are really the only sure way of telling. I'm only 26. Diagnosed with OCD and clinical depression.

SleepyTiger Is anxiety and fatigue in cahoots?
  • replies: 3

I find that often when I do something that is important to me that isn't a physical task I get really tired and if I don't stop and do something mindless I will fall asleep at my desk and have done so before. When I'm doing the task I don't feel that... View more

I find that often when I do something that is important to me that isn't a physical task I get really tired and if I don't stop and do something mindless I will fall asleep at my desk and have done so before. When I'm doing the task I don't feel that anxious. Sometimes I get moments where I do if I ruminate on a negative thought but I usually just let it go. For example I have been following some video tutorials for what I want to be a career change but as good as they are I just can't concentrate for long and I'll start yawning. I should mention that I have trouble sleeping and rarely get a restorative nights sleep however I wonder if I need to fix the anxiety to fix the sleep issue? I don't even know how bad anxiety is for me. How do I work out how anxious I am? Could it be that I'm so used to it that I'm not even really aware of it anymore?

jessrobb Anxiety and finding the strength to help your self
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I find it funny how I'm doing a social work course and want to help people but I can't help my self. Me and my friends in my course have this joke we can help others and give great advice but when it comes to our own lives the great advice just can't... View more

I find it funny how I'm doing a social work course and want to help people but I can't help my self. Me and my friends in my course have this joke we can help others and give great advice but when it comes to our own lives the great advice just can't work full stop, it's like it's only good advice if it's given to someone else, and not your self. My problem is when it all gets too much and thing pile up, I just can't tell the people around me I need help (mum &dad). I mean I can talk to one or two people but even when I do talk to them and I tell my self I'm going to tell the people around me I need help, I just can't. It's like I know I need to ask for help but for some odd reason can't.

Bo11 Can’t feel my body
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I can’t stop panicking about not feeling my body. I know I get like this during a panic attack but even when I’m calm I feel like I’m not experiencing my body like everyone else. I know that no one can feel their bones or organs but it freaks me out.... View more

I can’t stop panicking about not feeling my body. I know I get like this during a panic attack but even when I’m calm I feel like I’m not experiencing my body like everyone else. I know that no one can feel their bones or organs but it freaks me out. It’s like if I look at my arm I can’t feel the shape of it and only feel it if I stretch it out. Same with my legs. I can’t fee my toes unless I move them. I don’t know how to get passed this. I don’t know how to continue life not feeling my body parts. Please help

Pureison How do I deal with social anxiety when dating?
  • replies: 3

Hi. I’m 26 year old female and I never had a relationship. I’ve always wanted one and people have often asked me why I don’t have one yet. All through high school boys have made fun of me for liking them, and since then I’ve been terrified of dating,... View more

Hi. I’m 26 year old female and I never had a relationship. I’ve always wanted one and people have often asked me why I don’t have one yet. All through high school boys have made fun of me for liking them, and since then I’ve been terrified of dating, or meeting a cute guy or talking to them. I’ve tried tinder and that didn’t go well at all because whenever they did show interest I would just say no or would get too scared to say yes and make up an excuse because I’ve never been on a date before. I’ve even had guys on there asking inappropriate things which didn’t help either. I’m not sure if this is classed as social anxiety, but I do know that I get so nervous even just by texting a guy and trying to get to know him. The thought of dating makes my heart race and I get nervous even when I’m not talking to anyone or I worry about what I would say to my parents or family about meeting someone new. I want to get over this,so I can meet someone. It would be helpful if someone could give advice on how to cope with social anxiety when dating?

pinkfloyd33 Brain fog and tiredness 24/7
  • replies: 12

Hello readers, so I've been posting on Beyond Blue on and off for 2 years. I am at the end of my wits, I am so scared and I don't know what to do or if things will get better or worse. I've suffered from generalised anxiety and depression real bad fo... View more

Hello readers, so I've been posting on Beyond Blue on and off for 2 years. I am at the end of my wits, I am so scared and I don't know what to do or if things will get better or worse. I've suffered from generalised anxiety and depression real bad for over 2 years now, I've always been a stress head but nothing as severe as the last 24 months. A lot of PTS has occurred in my life and I am struggling to stop thinking about the past my fears. If there was a magic pill I'd take it in a heartbeat! Over the last year I struggle to function properly, I am tired everyday no matter how much sleep I have, I have been suffering from brain fog and I find it so hard to focus, reading and taking in conversations are so hard, because this brain fog and tiredness has gotten so bad over the last year it is all I think of when I wake up, I am so scared I am going to feel lethargic the moment I wake up and then I do. I am stuck in my own negative thoughts and fears EVERYDAY, I am so depressed I don't know what to do anymore. I've been eating well and trying to exercise a little day by day, sometimes it's so hard to leave the house it's that bad like yesterday for example: I had no idea what was going on and it felt like someone was pushing their hands on my skull I am freaking out, I am so scared I will develop alzheimer's or dementia at a young age, this is not the life I want to live, I just want to be happy and function well Is anyone going through the same thing? Or was and has found ways to take away brain fog? I know stress and anxiety is a massive indicator but surely there is a way around this problem, thank you and much love to everyone.

Marcus_33 Feeling a bit sad and ashamed after a rough patch
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Hey guys, For the last two years, I'd experienced symptoms of OCD/HOCD/and anxiety. I've seen a therapist regularly over the time, and with a lot of work, I feel as if I made some sort of sense of things and on the other side of it/out of the storm. ... View more

Hey guys, For the last two years, I'd experienced symptoms of OCD/HOCD/and anxiety. I've seen a therapist regularly over the time, and with a lot of work, I feel as if I made some sort of sense of things and on the other side of it/out of the storm. I feel and realize now that if I've been seriously delusional, and the thoughts and feelings I'd been on a mission to fight just were not real all along, they were things that I created in my head and no matter what people tried to tell me, or the evidence that I had/didn't have, I was convinced that I was right and that I was in trouble, when I really wasn't. I'm exhausted and I'm just not sure why that happened or why I tried to fight it all so hard. It's been a long time and I just don't know why things like this happened or what to take out of it. Just wondering if there's anyone on here that has felt the same and how you felt better about yourself afterward after having experienced a really tough time dealing with anxiety, depression, or other illnesses.

sometimesanxious Physical symptoms - do they ever go away?
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I feel like I am in a vicious cycle with my physical symptoms at the moment. Just when I feel like they are starting to ease bam they come back with a vengeance and I don’t understand why? And then of course I get even more anxiety because I am think... View more

I feel like I am in a vicious cycle with my physical symptoms at the moment. Just when I feel like they are starting to ease bam they come back with a vengeance and I don’t understand why? And then of course I get even more anxiety because I am thinking about them. lately my symptoms consist of severe headaches that make me physically ill, pressure in my ears, tingling, numbness and chills in my head and face and other parts of my body and also needing to pee all the time. I have all of these symptoms for most of the day in varying degrees. sometimes I really struggle with the fact that anxiety can cause all of these symptoms and of course it makes me question if there isn’t something else going on. i just don’t know how to get out of this cycle. For the most part I feel like I have my anxiety under control but by having physical symptoms all of the time clearly I am wrong?!? can anyone offer me any insight? Is there something I am missing?

MontanaR Workplace Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi All, This is my first time posting. I'm seriously struggling with my anxiety and would like to share my experience to see if anyone has had a similar situation. I work at a marketing agency that had 2 people leave the first week I joined (should h... View more

Hi All, This is my first time posting. I'm seriously struggling with my anxiety and would like to share my experience to see if anyone has had a similar situation. I work at a marketing agency that had 2 people leave the first week I joined (should have been a warning sign). It was going ok for a while but as more people left I took on more responsibility that I wasn't trained or supported in. We had a new manager promoted and things got worse. Every time I made a mistake he was so disappointed and mad at me. I developed severe anxiety around this and ended up having to go back on medication and seek counselling. I told work and they were very understanding and without me saying anything, had sensed the tension and said I no longer reported to my manager. Which was great as a new very supportive manager had come on who I really clicked with. Unfortunately the new manager didn't like the environment and left after a month, leaving me with no manager. Over the past few months I have become extremely anxious and unhappy. Yesterday, I found out I had made two mistakes. I told my first manager about one and then found out about the second and got too scared to say anything. Once I left work I was having a panic attack waking down the street. I know I need to take time out and focus on my mental health. My friend in the same role is also quitting this week. If she wasnt, I'd 100% put in my notice. I'm so scared about doing it at the same time as her and everyone being mad but my anxiety is so crippling I don't even want to go back. I know this was super long winded sorry. I am just in a very awkward situation! Any advice or story sharing is much appreciated. Thank you

Bluecity Anyone take mood stabalisers for Anxiety?
  • replies: 5

I have been on an SSRI for 3 years, it seems to mostly help. But I'm currently hit with a massive bout of anxiety out of nowhere for no reason. My question to all of you: Does anyone here take mood stabalisers to help with a bout of anxiety?

I have been on an SSRI for 3 years, it seems to mostly help. But I'm currently hit with a massive bout of anxiety out of nowhere for no reason. My question to all of you: Does anyone here take mood stabalisers to help with a bout of anxiety?