Anxiety

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

FAQ

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

Forums guidelines

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

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

Quercus Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and ADHD
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone... I was speaking to a friend today who asked me whether I had looked into or asked my psychiatrist about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. She explained that it is common in people with ADHD (like me) to display an extreme reaction to perce... View more

Hi everyone... I was speaking to a friend today who asked me whether I had looked into or asked my psychiatrist about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. She explained that it is common in people with ADHD (like me) to display an extreme reaction to perceived (or real) criticism and rejection. What she described made me laugh (somewhat bitterly) because it described my thoughts and actions perfectly. She talked about the reaction being so severe it triggers feelings of worthlessness and pain and even suicidal thoughts. Has anyone else had experience with anything similar? Nat

JJ_ Help please! What is this?
  • replies: 2

Hey, I used this once before and you wonderful people helped me understand that I actually had OCD. So I’m hoping you can help again. I’ve had GAD and panic disorder for 9 years now. I used to get breathless from the moment I woke up, to when I fell ... View more

Hey, I used this once before and you wonderful people helped me understand that I actually had OCD. So I’m hoping you can help again. I’ve had GAD and panic disorder for 9 years now. I used to get breathless from the moment I woke up, to when I fell asleep. Obviously that’s concerning so I got checked, blood, heart X-rays the lot. Was just diagnosed with severe anxiety. So obviously since then I’ve just dealt with this on and off breathing issue while also on medication. (Just knowing that is was because of my anxiety) The medication has helped, I only get small Bursts of breathlessness where I need to breathe deep etc BUT, It’s been 9 years now that this breathlessness has been running and I’m just getting more concerned as I go.. I do know I have anxiety but what if this is actually physical?? I just want to know if anyone else have had this problem or similar? Because I don’t see the point in going back for a full body physical check up if I had one at the peak of my mental illness and nothing came back. I really don’t want to live breathless for ever. and if it is anxiety which is HIGHLY probable cause I’m not dead yet of physical health. Any tips on what I should do? Go back and change up my meds? Etc Thank you.

Pricilla First timer
  • replies: 3

Hi All , this is my first time on anything like this . I have a partner with anxiety and usually try to handle everything on my own . But it is hard at times and I just thought having others to talk to in similar positions might help . Anyway , hi an... View more

Hi All , this is my first time on anything like this . I have a partner with anxiety and usually try to handle everything on my own . But it is hard at times and I just thought having others to talk to in similar positions might help . Anyway , hi and it’s good to be here .

kned Anxiety and job
  • replies: 5

I started a new job last year, but I've never felt I've fit in and I suffer anxiety regularly. I know it has to be the job that is the trigger, as prior to starting the job I was on maternity leave and hadn't experienced anxiety for a fair while. I h... View more

I started a new job last year, but I've never felt I've fit in and I suffer anxiety regularly. I know it has to be the job that is the trigger, as prior to starting the job I was on maternity leave and hadn't experienced anxiety for a fair while. I have struggled to fit in professionally and personally. I had one worker question my qualifications, that sent me into a spiral of self doubt, and I nearly quit. However I've pushed on through. Things are ok at the moment but I don't enjoy the job as much as I initially expected. I have had no support. I also was promised things that haven't worked out so besides the anxiety, the job in general didn't really work out as planned. Nevertheless it's a job and financially I need to try and stay put until I figure out what else I want to do. My issue is, we are currently trying for another baby so I don't want to start looking for another job just yet. If I stick it out, then I qualify for maternity leave. However my anxiety is increasing every week. How do I get through this? My family all say I need to hang in there, but it's hard..

AplaceToStart I think someone's in my head
  • replies: 2

recently, I've been finding anxiety almost unbearable at times. my heart thumps when i try to relax, i can never think straight anymore, i can't focus on my schoolwork and all i can do is sit and think of worlds and stories that I've created in my he... View more

recently, I've been finding anxiety almost unbearable at times. my heart thumps when i try to relax, i can never think straight anymore, i can't focus on my schoolwork and all i can do is sit and think of worlds and stories that I've created in my head. but now, it seems it's getting worse. sometimes, random characters (from movies, TV shows etc) will just appear out of no-where and start talking to me in my head. sometimes i'll get carried away and even talk out loud. i'm starting to be afraid of everyone and everything because of it and it has gotten to the point where i even call her things like "whatshername" or something like that. i don't know how this came on so quickly, but i don't know if i'm OK. any help at all would be appreciated, thank you.

Jamie1984 Reset Button
  • replies: 5

Hi all What's eveyones ways of hitting that reset button. Yesterday I had a very anxious overwhelming day felt like i was on a poor mode of auto pilot and was just over everything. I just want to flick a switch a turn myself of until the next day to ... View more

Hi all What's eveyones ways of hitting that reset button. Yesterday I had a very anxious overwhelming day felt like i was on a poor mode of auto pilot and was just over everything. I just want to flick a switch a turn myself of until the next day to which I was hoping my mood would improve. Cheers guys from a guy going through a rollercoaster of up n downs.

moganjae_12 i feel like i'm trapped..
  • replies: 1

is it just me? i feel like i'm trapped in a box and there is no way to escape.. my anxiety takes control of me and i cant find a way to get a grip and fix it, i am whats called a severe hypochondriac, every moment of every day i am constantly worried... View more

is it just me? i feel like i'm trapped in a box and there is no way to escape.. my anxiety takes control of me and i cant find a way to get a grip and fix it, i am whats called a severe hypochondriac, every moment of every day i am constantly worried about getting sick, it prevents me from doing everything, just simple things like eating breakfast because i'm worried i'm going to get food poisoning but it feels like life it falling apart because its not just my anxiety its everything, it feels like everything is falling on top of me and i can't get out because everything else in my life just makes it seem like a bigger deal but i don't know if i'm in over my head, if i'm making it a big deal or if anyone else feels the same? i have panic attacks on a daily basis and i don't know how to cope anymore

Baker82 Child with Anxiety after being bullied at school.
  • replies: 2

Hi this is my first time here. My son is 9 and last term at school he was physically and mentally bullied at school and the school handled it really quite bad. The schools way to deal with it was to try and make him be friends with the kid and tell h... View more

Hi this is my first time here. My son is 9 and last term at school he was physically and mentally bullied at school and the school handled it really quite bad. The schools way to deal with it was to try and make him be friends with the kid and tell him he was not allowed to tell the child who who bullied him he couldn't play with him. I had so many meetings over the term with the school and they couldn't understand how this was wrong and even said that my son could "fix" this other child as he has behavior issues and my son is quite bright and is a strict rule follower and is quite gentle and values good friends. Ever since he has dreaded going to school. The little boy has settled down and his behavior towards my son has turned around. However My sons anxiety of a morning is terrible. He is always either sick or has a sore tummy or headache. I even took a video of him this morning. I thought it might be better after the holidays but its not. He is apparently OK during the day and once he sees his friends he waves at them but still quiet with his head down. He Expresses he doesn't like the noise at school??? its a new thing. The school yard is small and quite busy for the amount of kids in it and I don't think that helps. He is a really bright boy and loves learning and for him to be feeling like this about school is heartbreaking. We are thinking about moving him and his brother to a new school next year but wonder if we should try and get them in this year would that help? any suggestions would be grateful. Thank you

Booklover17 My mind is racing
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I guess I really wanted to vent to people who will understand. I have so many problems/ issues at the moment and in the past few days it has been so hard for me to not let those thoughts rule my mind/ life. I do have anxiety and sometime... View more

Hi everyone, I guess I really wanted to vent to people who will understand. I have so many problems/ issues at the moment and in the past few days it has been so hard for me to not let those thoughts rule my mind/ life. I do have anxiety and sometimes have panic attacks. I do see a psychologist. It’s just I want to be more positive and not just focus on my problems. How does anyone on here get through that?

Volar 13 Years and still anxious - tips?
  • replies: 4

Hi All, I wanted to start by giving a background... I grew up with great family and friends, and nothing from my past really was stressful or bad. My parents are very liberal meaning that drinking from a young age was allowed, which didn't interest m... View more

Hi All, I wanted to start by giving a background... I grew up with great family and friends, and nothing from my past really was stressful or bad. My parents are very liberal meaning that drinking from a young age was allowed, which didn't interest me much. They also smoke (not cigarettes) which is something I seemed to enjoy a lot more, no hangover or loss of control etc. Most/all of my friends got into smoking and other stuff pretty early on and yet still managed to be A students, ending up at good Universities and now all have good/well paid jobs. I used to smoke most days for 8ish years and at weekends do other stuff. I then decided one day to stop it all as I was bored of it....still no anxiety. One summers day after a few drinks I went to a shop and bought a "legal high," thinking by this point in my life not much could really affect me I took it...an hour went past and then I started being sick, sweating and feeling very unwell. I decided to take myself home, where I spent the next 8 hours shivering and throwing up. This is where my anxiety started...every morning for 6ish months I would wake up and want to throw up and I would shiver myself to sleep every night. At work it felt like the screen was moving around and had this constant "root" down my throat and in my stomach making me want to gag. I spoke to friends and professionals who all asked "what are you anxious about?" The answer...nothing, apart from the feeling of being anxious. I remembered a few relaxation techniques I had learnt as a kid - slow breathing and think of somewhere you feel relaxed (beach under a palm tree, with my hand in the sand). This seemed to get me through most days when things were bad. My brother then committed suicide after battling with being bi-polar, all of a sudden my anxiety was gone (perhaps the shock cleared my thought paths). I now have a good job, great wife/friends and am healthy and fit. I still go through patches of anxiety and depression, but they are less frequent/severe. When the anxiety comes I tell myself I can get through it, use the relaxation techniques and I always do. The worst bit about anxiety for me is the physical feeling (the "root") that makes you feel sick, faint, heart racing and want to gag and unfortunately after 13 years I still don't know how to cope with this and you can't tell people about it or be labeled as mad etc. Anyone got any tips?