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

Catobun86 Extreme anxiety and moving out of home
  • replies: 5

Hi All, I'm new here but not new to anxiety. I have had GAD, SAD, and Panic Disorder my entire life. Generally I handle it well, I work full time in a school, I have hobbies and I am active, expect I do have periods when it gets on top of me. I am ju... View more

Hi All, I'm new here but not new to anxiety. I have had GAD, SAD, and Panic Disorder my entire life. Generally I handle it well, I work full time in a school, I have hobbies and I am active, expect I do have periods when it gets on top of me. I am just recovering from a dark episode that saw me in bed, unable to move, eat or do much but sleep for days. This was all bought on by signing a lease for my first unit on my own and then regretting it. I am 32 and have lived at home most of my life, except for periods here and there, including a four month stint that ended last week. I can live alone, I actually prefer it, but the idea of signing a lease, getting my own furniture and committing made me spiral. I have since cancelled the lease. Now I'm anxious that I'm the oldest person alive still living with their parents!!! I am slowly recovering from what the Dr call a "mental health crisis" after he put me on some pretty heavy meds. I'm going back to work tomorrow after three days off - albeit against Dr's orders - because being away is making my anxiety worse as I'm scared they will fire me as I take so much time off for anxiety related things. To top things off, when I told my bestfriend, she turned it back on me saying that I needed to make a decision if I wanted anxiety to rule my life. I do get that, but when you are in crisis mode and are considered a danger to yourself, I don't know that this comes into it, unfortunately. I guess what I'm asking is, does anyone/has anyone dealt with the same issue (moving out/signing a lease) making their anxiety spiral into crisis? How do you remedy it? Thank you all in advance.

Alyssa95 Someone to relate to?
  • replies: 6

Hi guys, I have been suffering from anxiety since a huge event in my life but recently I tried an antidepressant and had a massive increase in anxiety and panic attacks so I stopped the medication. Although I think my anxiety has improved since stopp... View more

Hi guys, I have been suffering from anxiety since a huge event in my life but recently I tried an antidepressant and had a massive increase in anxiety and panic attacks so I stopped the medication. Although I think my anxiety has improved since stopping it is still worse than before the medication. Im really worried that I am going to lose my mind or go crazy when im anxious and that the thought of being riddled with anxiety and panic attacks for the rest of my life is really stressing me out. Just looking for some sort of reassurance that feeling like this is normal and that it will improve? Thanks!

ZARA73 Tired of having anxiety every day!
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, i have suffered from really bad anxiety for years to the point where i can't socialise with any one, i get all funny in the stomach, feelings of paranoa like every one is watching me for no reason, if i have to socialise i have to drink ... View more

Hi everyone, i have suffered from really bad anxiety for years to the point where i can't socialise with any one, i get all funny in the stomach, feelings of paranoa like every one is watching me for no reason, if i have to socialise i have to drink alchol to do so, does anyone else feel this way, i'm so drained by it, tired of drinking alchol to cope with it. Does any one know what i should do as i don't have family support to help me.

AshleighD Seven - My battle with OCD
  • replies: 6

My alarm went off at 6:40 today, I didn’t want to get out of bed. But I did. Everything was so quiet, my mind was quiet. I felt calm. I felt... anxious. Why am I anxious? I touched all of the doors, I checked the locks. The kitchen was fine. One... T... View more

My alarm went off at 6:40 today, I didn’t want to get out of bed. But I did. Everything was so quiet, my mind was quiet. I felt calm. I felt... anxious. Why am I anxious? I touched all of the doors, I checked the locks. The kitchen was fine. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... “I have to leave for work, I’m going to be late.” But leaving doesn’t feel right, do it again. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Seven. Breathe. On my drive to work my mind is loud. Was the garage shut? Did I run a red light?Was I speeding? It doesn’t feel right, turn around and do it again. I’m going to be late. At work there is no routine, my day is unpredictable. This feels nice. Sometimes I question myself, “why did I say that”, “I wonder what they think of me” But today, I didn’t count at work. My drive home was long, I had stopped and turned around twice. It didn’t matter because that felt right. I’m tired, my mind won’t shut off. I need sleep. I need quiet. I need... I need to check if I turned the microwave off. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... That didn’t feel right, do it again. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Lights off, walk away. The doors are locked, the lights are off. Go to bed. Did I leave the oven on? I didn’t even use the oven. This doesn’t feel right. Out of bed, lights on. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Four power point switches and seven knobs on the oven. Seven feels right, why doesn’t it feel right. One more time... Why can’t I stop? I am so frustrated but I have to do it until it feels right. I just want it to feel right.

Zoelea9 Panic attacks and the school run
  • replies: 5

Going on nearly 10 years of GAD and OCD. Mostly managed until now. I'm a new school mum, my son has just begun reception. The first 2 days I was okay, a little anxious but manageable but yesterday I had crippling panic attacks and just cried and pani... View more

Going on nearly 10 years of GAD and OCD. Mostly managed until now. I'm a new school mum, my son has just begun reception. The first 2 days I was okay, a little anxious but manageable but yesterday I had crippling panic attacks and just cried and panicked the whole before during and after. These runs are everything that triggers me, Crowded, no escape knowing I HAVE to get my son, getting stuck in car parks etc and now I'm obsessing over having to do them. It's set my whole debilitating anxiety off again. I tried to force myself to go out today but I managed 5 mins before I couldn't take the stomach pain and panic anymore before I sat in my car crying and drove myself home. I'm feeling like a total failure right now and am not coping at all.

Ovenmitt Hello, I'm new and I need help coping with anxiety 
  • replies: 2

So I'm currently studying in Japan (it's a good thing, I know) but I've always had trouble with managing my anxiety. Before I left Australia I was seeing a psychologist who was trying to get me to work through it, but recently I became really ill and... View more

So I'm currently studying in Japan (it's a good thing, I know) but I've always had trouble with managing my anxiety. Before I left Australia I was seeing a psychologist who was trying to get me to work through it, but recently I became really ill and have spiraled into unhealthy thoughts about getting well. Every time I'm alone I am online looking up more and more symptoms and it's starting to make me feel sick all the time. I feel like I can't trust what the doctors are telling me and I can barely even understand them to begin with. I've been so scared and kind of lonely and I feel like everything is falling apart right now and I don't know what to do. How do I stop worrying when I'm probably fine? I feel shaky all the time now and I just want reassurance.

panicaway panic attacks
  • replies: 2

I have been having panic attacks for the past 1yr. Overall, my condition has been improving although sometimes it's hard to realize that. However of late, the frequency of the symptoms have changed. There are more short bursts of a lesser intensity (... View more

I have been having panic attacks for the past 1yr. Overall, my condition has been improving although sometimes it's hard to realize that. However of late, the frequency of the symptoms have changed. There are more short bursts of a lesser intensity (2-3) episodes everyday for past week. whereas before, I tend to have a more intense episode that could last couple of days, dormant for 1 week or so before another hits with similar intensity. Wondering if this change in pattern is a sign of recovery at tail end? Are there any literature out there describing the symptoms of recovery at tailored end?

Elle972 Always thinking something is wrong with me
  • replies: 7

Hello , I am new here , I have been wanting to write for sometime and now finally I’m here !! Last year I experienced a traumatic event where I was receiving stabbing pains in my chest/ heart where I was going to faint , dizzy, sick. My family put me... View more

Hello , I am new here , I have been wanting to write for sometime and now finally I’m here !! Last year I experienced a traumatic event where I was receiving stabbing pains in my chest/ heart where I was going to faint , dizzy, sick. My family put me to sleep to relax. I woke up the next morning with a heavy chest,overtime I had constant pain on the left side of my abdomen ribs etc. Constantly wass seeing my gp who sent me for all different test ultra sounds. Went for a endoscopy and everything was fine it was anxiety as per what my gp said when I initially told him the issue. Next day after the endoscopy I got up for work I had no pain but I had a striking head ache I was confused lost felt like I was losing my mind. Don’t know how I drove myself to work but at this point I was freaking out had a panic attack at work and no matter what I did the pain wouldn’t go away. I wasn’t myself I was at breaking point. Two weeks went by I went to my gp and asked for anxiety tablets he didn’t want to as previously discussed. I cried my heart out which he provided them to me. I also went and done a MRI scan because this pain wouldn’t go away it wasn’t a head ache it’s hard to explain. Results came back everything is fine I’m normal !! I was lost why is this happening to me I was losing my mind thought I was going crazy. The pain eased up and as day by day went I was struggling but coping in some what way. After Christmas break I went back to work for two days and quit my job I just couldn’t go back. I am now unemployed, wanting to go back to work but I’m so so scared I don’t want to go back to square one. Trying to tell myself nothing is wrong with me and all my results show good but this pain doesn’t match the results it’s making me think something is wrong. I am seeing a psychologist who is great! But convincing myself is so hard. I have come a long way from when it all started in sepmtember last year , all I wanted to do was sleep , not eat , not move from the couch etc. I hope I can relate with some people, my anxiety has calm down but I’m not 100% yet. Please I also ask with your responses to not mentions anything about doing more test because it will just freak me out even more !! Thank you

Jellybeank Anxiety about traveling help please
  • replies: 5

Hi all I’m new here so sorry if I sound ridiculous. I have generalised anxiety in day to day life which can make things extremely hard. A group of my friends and myself have been talking about going to the USA for years now and finally we took the le... View more

Hi all I’m new here so sorry if I sound ridiculous. I have generalised anxiety in day to day life which can make things extremely hard. A group of my friends and myself have been talking about going to the USA for years now and finally we took the leap and booked and paid for the trip. It isn’t until May but now that it’s booked and set I’m getting major anxiety about the whole thing. ive never been on a plane before let alone left the country. I’m majorly anxious about something bad happening while I’m gone. Now I have a new problem I’m really anxious. I’m currently on birth control pills and I’ve read that it’s a big increase for DVT/blood clots while flying. I’m so scared and stressed about this. Could anyone that’s on the pill and been overseas give any advice? I’m so scared something extremely bad is going to happen to me while I’m flying. Any help would be appreciated thanks

matt48 OCD or ASD or something else???
  • replies: 1

I'm really struggling right now. I have an obsession to be in control of every aspect of my life. I hate changes in my environments, for example, a roof was put up outside my room and I can see it from my window when i'm lying down. I cried for the f... View more

I'm really struggling right now. I have an obsession to be in control of every aspect of my life. I hate changes in my environments, for example, a roof was put up outside my room and I can see it from my window when i'm lying down. I cried for the first week it was up to the point where I made myself physically sick. I purposely make my desk, my room, my locker and pretty much anything i can messy and unorganized. By making everything messy it can't get cleaner by itself and it makes me feel very in control because if it's messy it can't get ruined or messed up. If someone else were to clean my room I would feel nauseous and probably cry and if I have to clean my room I feel very uncomfortable being in that space and would most likely pull stuff out and make it messy again. I also struggle with things study planners and if I do not follow them to the exact time I become very anxious and feel sick so I have also decided not to have set times to do study. I don't know if this counts as OCD or not because most things I see OCD tends to be describe as like excessive cleaning whereas I feel like I'm doing the reverse. When I said I obsess over being control of everything in my life that includes other people. I plan my conversation with other people and how they should react before approaching them and if they don't react in the way I predict then I break out into uncontrollably laughter which is apparently is a coping mechanism according to my former psychologist. I do this in any awkward social situation and I'm not sure if it's linked to this or my sedatephobia but i thought it was worth mentioning I have been diagnosed with ODD and ADHD although as far as I'm aware this is not apart of that. I have also been told by my pediatrician that I show traits of mild Aspergers. I have other things I do like I avoid touching the colour yellow and I can't eat skittles and other colored foods like that without feeling sick because I don't know how I should eat them (although they are delicious). So are these traits of autism/aspergers or OCD or something entirely different? and should I seek help from a doctor?? Please help I am very confused and unsure if I should seek medical help