Immediate support
Immediate support

Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a discussion

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

Start a discussion

neens The Perfect Storm - my true story
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm Neens, have been a long term Blue Voices member but have been travelling well lately. Just looking for some guidance from members on this one. I have recently applied for a 1 day a week paid position locally - I have worked there for 14 months... View more

Hi I'm Neens, have been a long term Blue Voices member but have been travelling well lately. Just looking for some guidance from members on this one. I have recently applied for a 1 day a week paid position locally - I have worked there for 14 months as a volunteer, for the past two months in the role I applied for. Anyway, I disclosed my mental health status in this job for the FIRST time. Did I do the right thing or not? Also daughter has just been retrenched for the first time, we are moving house early next year and selling our house of 30 plus years. I'm calling it the perfect storm. Not able to get any answers from organisation as I've been blocked from person who interviewed me and the co ordinator's emails already. Does it make sense that I'm feeling anxious haha?

Shanequa Can't keep a job.
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm new to this so please forgive me. I'm a 26 year old and in thr last 4-5 years I've worked in various places mostly 6 month contract jobs or it just hasnt worked out. Ive done Forklift driving, call centres, factory work etc. I have just starte... View more

Hi I'm new to this so please forgive me. I'm a 26 year old and in thr last 4-5 years I've worked in various places mostly 6 month contract jobs or it just hasnt worked out. Ive done Forklift driving, call centres, factory work etc. I have just started a new job in the last month at a vet clinic which is a job i have been interested in for years. However, who I'm working for makes working there hard and I feel anxious and nervous wreck even before I get to work. She can be nice one day and I cant do a thing right the next day. I left my job previously for this one because its closer to home and the job I thought I wanted. I just want a job I dont feel stressed in and am happy there but I'm starting to think its me that has the problem not the jobs or maybe I just havent found tbe right one? Im stuck though because I dont know what to do and Im financially stuck there. Anyone have any advice please?

Slippers Worried about the future
  • replies: 6

I live with my elderly mother I am here carer. Once she dies I will need to leave the house. I haven't lived out of home before and I worry what will happen to me in the future. I don't have a lot of money saved, I do have a full time job however. I ... View more

I live with my elderly mother I am here carer. Once she dies I will need to leave the house. I haven't lived out of home before and I worry what will happen to me in the future. I don't have a lot of money saved, I do have a full time job however. I don't seem to be living at the moment, more existing worried about the inevitable fate of my mum. I worry about my future, I don't have the skill set to live on my own or somewhere to live once Mum dies. I am new to this forum so I apologize if Ive put this in the wrong area. I would like some advice on how to tackle my future, obviously people have moved out of home and been really happy in live, i just don't see my in that position.

GlitterRose Going back to work
  • replies: 5

I have had almost 4 weeks off work caring for my elderly mother and dealing with some other difficult family issues. I need to go back to work this week and I am terrified. Due to the anxiety my brain is functioning he best and I am very scared about... View more

I have had almost 4 weeks off work caring for my elderly mother and dealing with some other difficult family issues. I need to go back to work this week and I am terrified. Due to the anxiety my brain is functioning he best and I am very scared about being around people. Any advice on ow to ease back into work after severe anxiety and depression is appreciated.

Kmart96 Physical anxiety symptoms
  • replies: 4

Hi, I’ve been suffering from anxiety for nearly ten years now but it’s only recently that I’ve started getting really bad physical symptoms. I get severe aches and pains throughout my whole body, especially in my ribs which makes me more anxious and ... View more

Hi, I’ve been suffering from anxiety for nearly ten years now but it’s only recently that I’ve started getting really bad physical symptoms. I get severe aches and pains throughout my whole body, especially in my ribs which makes me more anxious and worried about my health. Just wondering if anyone else has had this sort of experience with it as I feel like I’m the only one

worrywarrior Experiences in overcoming phobias
  • replies: 2

Hi All This is my first post...I have been living with anxiety for many years but there is one thing I have never fully addressed and now has come a time where I need to face it which scares me greatly! I once had a panic attack at traffic lights whi... View more

Hi All This is my first post...I have been living with anxiety for many years but there is one thing I have never fully addressed and now has come a time where I need to face it which scares me greatly! I once had a panic attack at traffic lights while driving. I then became scared of traffic lights and avoided them, then I became nervous of driving in the city, and then after moving to country it became fear of driving in any large town. I know that avoidance just makes it worse but 10 years on from my original panic attack I have recently started a job which is going to force me to drive in a city. I guess I have been ashamed and never truly admitted this fear to any of my psychologists or anyone other than my husband. It was also never really necessary to overcome it. But now I am petrified and am realising it has possibly turned into a phobia. I am seeing a psychologist again soon with whom I plan to discuss this sole issue and face it once and for all. I was hoping to maybe gain some insights or tips from those who may have overcome their phobias or immense fears of things? I have moments of thinking 'how hard can it be?' but other times of thinking I am going to have to quit my job. But I like every other aspect of my job so really don't want to go down this path, just because of an irrational fear! I would love any words of wisdoms or even stories to inspire me and realise it is possible to move forward from this... Thanks everyone

Zevon Night time panic attacks
  • replies: 1

Have just started experiencing panic attacks, generally related to my claustrophobia . I wake up several times a night fearing death or worse, being in a confined space. I use DBT techniques and yin yoga to try and sort it out. At the end of the day,... View more

Have just started experiencing panic attacks, generally related to my claustrophobia . I wake up several times a night fearing death or worse, being in a confined space. I use DBT techniques and yin yoga to try and sort it out. At the end of the day, with all my “skills” and practice, I can’t sleep properly. The unsubstantiated fears have overcome my ability to sleep, and disrupt my life. Does anyone else experience this? It’s my worst waking nightmare. Any ideas?

Hey_ Hangxiety - help!
  • replies: 5

I suffer from anxiety generally, but it is at it's worst after a night of drinking. Obviously there is a simple solution there - don't drink! I have been working hard to try and limit my alcohol consumption to save myself the panic attacks next day. ... View more

I suffer from anxiety generally, but it is at it's worst after a night of drinking. Obviously there is a simple solution there - don't drink! I have been working hard to try and limit my alcohol consumption to save myself the panic attacks next day. However sometimes it is hard and you slip up. I had a big night last night and am lying in bed absolutely hating myself, going over and over and over the events of last night in my head. My heart is racing and I feel completely beside myself and at a loss of what to do. Which is why I'm here posting I guess! This time is particularly bad - we were at a friend's wedding and the night ended unpleasantly with an altercation between some friends. I wasn't directly involved, i dont think i did anything wrong but the memory is fuzzy. I was part of the group involved and can't help but feel like it was my fault and I ruined people's night. When you do have hangxiety, what do you do to get you through those hours of hell?

LadyS Derealisation
  • replies: 9

Hi guys, I recently had an incident where I took a drug and have since suffered from derealisation and feel like I’m stuck in a dream. I have lost a great job, my anxiety is bad and depression is also prevalent. I have lost a lot of confidence within... View more

Hi guys, I recently had an incident where I took a drug and have since suffered from derealisation and feel like I’m stuck in a dream. I have lost a great job, my anxiety is bad and depression is also prevalent. I have lost a lot of confidence within myself. I used to be so outgoing and loved life so much but since taking that drug I have spiralled down and feel like there is no hope for me. Everyday life feels like a dream and I feel like I can’t enjoy life to its fullest now. Has anyone had a similar situation happen to them or someone they know? Thanks guys.

WolfRito Does any one know why we get anxious?
  • replies: 2

I need to know why we get anxious if you know or think you know post it here

I need to know why we get anxious if you know or think you know post it here