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

Izfish Alone and confused
  • replies: 3

I am so so confused at the moment. So for about 2ish years I have been battling social anxiety by myself. Like I am completely alone. I really struggle to open up to people, I just don’t have anyone around me who I feel comfortable talking to except ... View more

I am so so confused at the moment. So for about 2ish years I have been battling social anxiety by myself. Like I am completely alone. I really struggle to open up to people, I just don’t have anyone around me who I feel comfortable talking to except my running coach. Anyway so long story short I finally texted him after 2 years of hesitation. The feeling of being so alone and cut off from everyone was just too much. So I reached out to him (it literally took everything I had in me). I talked to him about feeling so alone and that I didn’t know what to do (I didn’t mention my social anxiety because I thought that could be another conversation for another time). He was really supportive and calmed me down and made me feel there was someone else in this world I could rely on other than myself. But now I am questioning whether he cares about me and wants to help because it has been about 3-4 weeks and he still hasn’t brought it up since that night. And now I just feel stupid and back at square 1 (maybe even further back because I always told myself if things got bad I could rely on my coach to help) but now I have no one. I seriously have no idea what to do. I hate feeling this way. You know that quote everything happens for a reason? Well I am really struggling to find a reason for why this is happening to me and why it has been going for 2 years, and that when I finally build up enough courage to talk to someone, it isn’t what I thought it would be. Seriously I am so confused and frustrated. I am sick of always feeling this way and always crying myself to sleep without anyone to turn to

Struggling_mum Mum with anxiety and anger
  • replies: 6

Really hoping someone has some experience with this and can help me feel less alone. I have a very spirited 3 year old and an 11 month old, a very supportive husband and supportive family but they all live hours away. I have a long history of anxiety... View more

Really hoping someone has some experience with this and can help me feel less alone. I have a very spirited 3 year old and an 11 month old, a very supportive husband and supportive family but they all live hours away. I have a long history of anxiety (and depression) but have recently experienced episodes of anger, usually in relation to something my 3 year old son does (fairly normal 3 year old behaviour, ie Not listening and following instructions, throwing things/being rough with his sister etc). I feel so ashamed because I lose control at times and yell at him, usually causing him to cry. When it first started happening I saw a psychologist and spoke about some strategies and she felt sleep deprivation was playing a big part. The sleep deprivation isn’t as bad now but the intermittent anger is still there. I know that I become overwhelmed when I have too much going on and I usually experience the anger when both kids are unhappy/needing attention or I am trying to get them both somewhere by a certain time and my son is not cooperating and we are running late. Although I can identify these situations, I still struggle to find a way to keep myself calm. It’s like a switch is flicked and I just see red and cannot be rational in that moment. I feel like I must be the only person like this and worry that I’m going to damage my kids as a result of this problem. I have never ever hit them and I don’t feel I am at risk of this but I have slammed doors and occasionally thrown something across the room (they were not at risk of being hit). I know walking away is one strategy but this is not ideal as the situation often requires me to address my 3 year olds behaviour and keep my baby safe. However, I need to be in control of myself to help him and to model appropriate behaviour. I cannot understand why I cannot maintain my composure in these situations. I have always been known for being a very calm and patient person at work and feel like a fraud because my colleagues would be astounded and disgusted at what sometimes happens at home. (note: this is not a daily occurrence).

Karlsbad Med free for the first time in 3 years
  • replies: 2

My dr told me that takeing a small dose of anxiety medication was having a placebo effect and to wean myself off. I have successfuly done done this and now three weeks later I am feeling angry, depressed, sad and heightened emotions I want to stick t... View more

My dr told me that takeing a small dose of anxiety medication was having a placebo effect and to wean myself off. I have successfuly done done this and now three weeks later I am feeling angry, depressed, sad and heightened emotions I want to stick this med free period out, for as long as I can but, at what cost! My husband is walking on eggs shells My kids whisper to not make me upset I feel utterly defeated! I hope this anger and depression passes soon so that I can enjoy this period of time without being on medication!

Biankka Anxiety and Nausea
  • replies: 1

I'm am currently battling with anxiety and often feel quiet queezy in the stomach which makes me feel like I need to be sick... I have been sick for soo long on a regular basis with an unknown diagnosis which is causing me to have anxiety attacks whe... View more

I'm am currently battling with anxiety and often feel quiet queezy in the stomach which makes me feel like I need to be sick... I have been sick for soo long on a regular basis with an unknown diagnosis which is causing me to have anxiety attacks when I worry about being sick (even if I am not at the time) I am getting married in exactly 3 months and I am battling serious paranoia that I will not make it on my wedding day if i worry about being sick or stressed soo much I make myself sick... I need some serious help pleaseeeee!!!

Jane24 Can't be alone
  • replies: 5

I struggle with anxiety & panic attacks when I'm alone, especially when I'm physically unwell with a flu etc. as I feel unable to cope/scared of something happening to me with no help. I'm 25 & live at home with my retired parents. They get angry at ... View more

I struggle with anxiety & panic attacks when I'm alone, especially when I'm physically unwell with a flu etc. as I feel unable to cope/scared of something happening to me with no help. I'm 25 & live at home with my retired parents. They get angry at me for not being able to cope on my own as it affects their life & they can't leave me home by myself. I feel like the worst person ever & they make me feel very guilty about my anxiety/how it affects them. I feel so depressed because of how I'm ruining their life & how little life I have. Right now I have the flu & asked mum to stay home with me as I'm feeling very anxious. She is angry at me, saying how much she is sick of putting up with me, how I'm stressing everyone out & ruining her life etc. How can I cope with these comments when I'm also reliant on her & physically sick right now? The stress is making everything worse.

flappybird Does your eye twitch too?
  • replies: 3

I'm so sick of this nervous twitch in my eye. It started after a fairly explosive breakdown at my high stress job which very nearly cost me my job almost 6 months ago. I've had 8 sessions of CBT and meds, and I still can't get rid of this twitch in m... View more

I'm so sick of this nervous twitch in my eye. It started after a fairly explosive breakdown at my high stress job which very nearly cost me my job almost 6 months ago. I've had 8 sessions of CBT and meds, and I still can't get rid of this twitch in my eye. Every time it twitches it reminds me of the explosive outburst and what a mess I'm in - i.e workplace anxiety running rampant - catastrophising that I'll be walked off-site tomorrow etc etc.... Not to mention how tiring it is feeling anxious all day. This makes me grumpy, my productivity drops, then I get start catastrophising again and the cycle continues. Add to that the now compulsory regular meetings with the boss only help to make it worse as I convince myself I am being "performance managed" out the door. I'm looking forward to catching up with my councilor again when she gets back from holidays. Has anyone else managed to rid themselves of a eye twitch? It is a very annoying and constant reminder that my mind isn't working properly.

Mum_with_four Anxiety and anger with kids
  • replies: 1

I am feeling really defeated at the moment. I have 4 kids between 7 and 1. I have had some family help over the past few weeks and they know I have been struggling. After work I come home and my peaceful house turns to chaos. Kids yelling and fightin... View more

I am feeling really defeated at the moment. I have 4 kids between 7 and 1. I have had some family help over the past few weeks and they know I have been struggling. After work I come home and my peaceful house turns to chaos. Kids yelling and fighting for attention. When I’m home during the day it’s the same. I had a really bad day the other week and I ended up in tears. My 7 year old said to me the other day, even though you cry sometimes I still love you. I do get angry with the kids sometimes just little things trigger me. But it’s the build up of days and days of the same arguments and struggles and battles. I didn’t think much of my child’s comment until yesterday my parent said that they want to talk to my husband and me because they can see some serious problems in the house and we are struggling as parents. I can’t even look my parents in the eyes now. I have felt like a failure as a parent when we have a bad day but having it pointed out has broken me. I know I have to get some help somehow but I don’t know when to start. After I had my last child I was supposed to see the nurse as I was borderline post natal but I felt like i couldn’t go back to get help. I feel ashamed when I get angry and snap at my kids. I have so much to do and need to work to help out financially all the stresses of life are getting too much. I feel my anxiety is triggering my anger and sometimes I see red and have to remove myself. I have 2 challenging children who argue from the minute they wake up in the morning. I don’t know where to start. I need to make my situation better but don’t know how.

Fazza new, remote mum with anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, I live in remote WA and have limited access to services. I manage and live on a remote property and am a mum of a 13 month old who I adore. I had to go back to work when my baby was 6 months and I've struggled with leaving him for work which impa... View more

Hi, I live in remote WA and have limited access to services. I manage and live on a remote property and am a mum of a 13 month old who I adore. I had to go back to work when my baby was 6 months and I've struggled with leaving him for work which impacts my general anxiety. My dad has just been diagnosed with cancer and only has a couple of years which I am struggling with balancing a very busy and high responsibility job, living remote, missing my baby and being away from my dad at this time. I'm looking for support counselling or help that might be available to assist me through this hard time as I'm getting overwhelmed and struggling with sleep (more than just a new mum is!).

Anntug Back again....
  • replies: 3

Bugger this anxiety thing, I had been good since June last year and now my health anxiety has flared up dramatically. It all started when I had the flu and recovered from it with the exception of headaches. I tried not to worry about them but of cour... View more

Bugger this anxiety thing, I had been good since June last year and now my health anxiety has flared up dramatically. It all started when I had the flu and recovered from it with the exception of headaches. I tried not to worry about them but of course it has got the better of me again. The anxiety is killing me more in the mornings, cannot eat and feel nause all the time.

jessypixie Hypnosis for treating Selective Eating Disorder (SED) - Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
  • replies: 7

Hey beautiful people, Just wondering if anyone has or knows anyone that suffers from Selective Eating Disorder (SED) - Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?? It is only a recently recognised "Eating Disorder", but I have been trying to... View more

Hey beautiful people, Just wondering if anyone has or knows anyone that suffers from Selective Eating Disorder (SED) - Avoidant / Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?? It is only a recently recognised "Eating Disorder", but I have been trying to seek help with this for years. Because of suffering from this for 27 years of my life, I have also developed and suffered with Panic/Anxiety disorder for the past 6 years. I guess I'm just curious to know if there is anyone on this forum that knows/understands what I'm going through? Trying to find information/ support groups is really really hard. I hope your day is a happy and positive one, thank you all for taking the time to read this Peace & Love - Jessypixie