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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

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Guest_10343 Finding a way to talk when leaving the house feels impossible
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone, I'm writing this because I wanted to share a small breakthrough I had recently, hoping it might resonate with someone else who feels a bit 'stuck' like I have. For me, one of the biggest hurdles with my anxiety has always been the 'ge... View more

Hello everyone, I'm writing this because I wanted to share a small breakthrough I had recently, hoping it might resonate with someone else who feels a bit 'stuck' like I have. For me, one of the biggest hurdles with my anxiety has always been the 'getting there' part of seeking help. Some days, the thought of getting ready, commuting, and sitting in a waiting room is just as overwhelming as the reason I need to talk to someone in the first place. It felt like a catch-22, and for a long time, I just didn't do anything. I kept telling myself I should be able to just "push through it," but that only made me feel worse when I couldn't. It's a really isolating feeling. A few weeks ago, I was having a particularly rough time and knew I needed to talk to a professional. On a whim, I started looking into telehealth options, thinking maybe that could be a first step. I was a bit skeptical, worried it wouldn't feel as real or helpful as seeing someone in person. I ended up booking a session through a service I found, mainly because it just seemed straightforward and I could do it from my laptop. The idea of just clicking a link from my own safe space felt… manageable, in a way that leaving the house didn't. It wasn't a magic wand, but just having that conversation without the added stress of the journey there was a huge weight off my shoulders. It felt like I'd finally managed to get over a wall that had been blocking me for ages. I guess I just wanted to share this for anyone else who might find the logistics of getting help a major barrier. It’s okay to find a path that works for you, even if it’s from your own living room. It's still a brave step to take. Has anyone else found different ways to access support that fit around their own unique challenges? It would be nice to hear how others are navigating this.

Rach_den23_ Panic attacks while highway driving
  • replies: 1

Panic attacks while Highway or Motorway driving....How do I overcome this, I've tried pulling over, shaking my hands, deep breaths, twlling myself its going to be ok...nothing helps

Panic attacks while Highway or Motorway driving....How do I overcome this, I've tried pulling over, shaking my hands, deep breaths, twlling myself its going to be ok...nothing helps

Bloodyhell Work stres
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this site.I have been in my current full time job for 1 1/2 years. It has always been stressful. I am now getting migraine & raised blood pressure & anxiety like never before. I don't want to leave this job permanentl... View more

Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this site.I have been in my current full time job for 1 1/2 years. It has always been stressful. I am now getting migraine & raised blood pressure & anxiety like never before. I don't want to leave this job permanently butI know I need to reduce my hours/days. I'm currently of on mental health leave.I need to speak to my employer about this but im freaking out at what to say or even to begin the conversation. I'd really appreciate any advice at this time.

Guest_63728101 Talk can't sleep
  • replies: 4

Hi, I need some one to talk to I always wake up at 3 am and am very alone

Hi, I need some one to talk to I always wake up at 3 am and am very alone

Guest_48930025 What does it take to stop needing anxiety & depression medication?
  • replies: 3

I've been on same medication for over 10 years; had good outcomes generally. Sometimes a curve ball of life can exacerbate my A&D - and I'm in one of those points now. So not the time to stop at the moment. But the Scrooge in me (perhaps) doesn't wan... View more

I've been on same medication for over 10 years; had good outcomes generally. Sometimes a curve ball of life can exacerbate my A&D - and I'm in one of those points now. So not the time to stop at the moment. But the Scrooge in me (perhaps) doesn't want to spend the ~$90 per month. I suppose the question here is, how many long term suffers can stop using the meds, and what are the life circumstances that eventually allow for that, if at all?

Joker_J Anxiety, Injustice, and Fear: Workplace Exploitation
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone,I’m going through one of the most emotionally exhausting phases of my life, and I don’t know how to process everything anymore. I’ve been working at a café where the owner has been underpaying, delaying wages, and manipulating staff for y... View more

Hi everyone,I’m going through one of the most emotionally exhausting phases of my life, and I don’t know how to process everything anymore. I’ve been working at a café where the owner has been underpaying, delaying wages, and manipulating staff for years. I stayed quiet for so long, just hoping things would improve. But after months of working alone, often unpaid, and being made to feel replaceable and disposable, I’m now being accused of theft — for taking money that was rightfully mine after she promised it to me.The anxiety is consuming me. She has told people I stole from her, shown footage to others, and threatened me by saying she knows where I live and my number plate. I don’t feel safe. I’m scared that if I take action, she’ll retaliate. But I also don’t want to stay silent anymore. I feel like I’m carrying a weight no one sees. I’ve been trying to stand up for myself, but the fear, shame, and anxiety are overwhelming.I don’t know if others will believe me. I don’t know if I’ll be protected as an international student. I’ve reached out to Fair Work and legal centres, but the emotional toll is something I can’t explain to them. I keep replaying what I could have done differently, and I feel stuck between wanting justice and needing peace.I’d love to hear from anyone who’s gone through something similar. How do you cope with the fear of retaliation? How do you move forward when your body feels like it’s constantly in fight-or-flight? I feel like I’m drowning and just need to be heard.Thank you for listening.

Zephyr478 Decluttering Pandora’s Box
  • replies: 2

A year ago, I lost my elderly mother. She was my “one” . It’s been hard. I have endured anxiety for decades, bouncing between trying to stretch my comfort zones and limiting agoraphobia. Now that the Estate has been concluded, I am in a position wher... View more

A year ago, I lost my elderly mother. She was my “one” . It’s been hard. I have endured anxiety for decades, bouncing between trying to stretch my comfort zones and limiting agoraphobia. Now that the Estate has been concluded, I am in a position where I have no option but to start over again. It’s freaking me out somewhat. So in an attempt to control the situation, I decided to start a big declutter. In the dumbest move ever, I thought it would be a good idea to start with the hard stuff first. I’m talking all the sentimental stuff, not only belonging to myself but also both my parents. Triple Swedish Death Cleaning, is never a good idea. ( apologies for the gallows humour). Naturally, I became overwhelmed rather quickly, but had difficulty stopping myself. After a sleepless night, I had a morning meltdown. I have reached out to friends and family asking for help. I just wanted to share on this forum with others who understand how precious it is to seek hope…

Guest_48639112 Feeling empty
  • replies: 3

For years, I have been feeling empty when I am by myself. I hate this feeling. I often try to have people around me by spending money on them, taking them out for dinners. While I am generous, I don’t want to use this behavior to cover my empty feeli... View more

For years, I have been feeling empty when I am by myself. I hate this feeling. I often try to have people around me by spending money on them, taking them out for dinners. While I am generous, I don’t want to use this behavior to cover my empty feeling. I want to feel cheered up without needing to be around people. I want to feel motivated to do things for myself. I want to live for myself, not just because I have to live and do my best for my young daughter. I am unable to leave the house if I don’t have someone with me. For instance, I force myself to go to the grocery store for groceries. I see psychologist every fortnight but I go back to the empty feeling as I walk out the counseling sessions. How can I stop this madness?

Someone-who-sleeps Struggling with life
  • replies: 2

Finding it difficult to cope these last few months and it's getting harder. I am not diagnosed with anxiety and I keep getting told to get checked for it. I'm having a lot of trouble balancing my life and don't know what to do, I'm potentially failin... View more

Finding it difficult to cope these last few months and it's getting harder. I am not diagnosed with anxiety and I keep getting told to get checked for it. I'm having a lot of trouble balancing my life and don't know what to do, I'm potentially failing a unit at University and struggling to keep up with work. I don't know what to do:(

SushiRose09 Job affecting mental health
  • replies: 3

Hi all,I am a registered nurse in my first year of practice. I am currently in ED and have been in this position for about a month and recently spent 6 months working in rehabilitation which I enjoyed . I am really struggling with the pressure and st... View more

Hi all,I am a registered nurse in my first year of practice. I am currently in ED and have been in this position for about a month and recently spent 6 months working in rehabilitation which I enjoyed . I am really struggling with the pressure and stress of working in ED and have noticed it is significantly affecting my mental health, I have been crying on the days that I am off work and having negative thoughts. I feel like a failure and really want to quit, I am only in this position until March 2026 but I feel like I cannot make it until then due to the way I feel now. I also struggle with the rotating rosters and have bad experiences with night shift such as vomiting and nausea. I am unsure what next steps to take but I have been applying to other job roles. Should I quit now?