Support
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 conversation

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 conversation

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 conversation

Rae1505 Today I went to my GP..
  • replies: 4

I have struggled with anxiety since my early teens. (I am 32). It started small, never being able to do oral presentations at school. Never wanting to stand out. That horrible sick feeling when you walk past a certain group or person for no apparent ... View more

I have struggled with anxiety since my early teens. (I am 32). It started small, never being able to do oral presentations at school. Never wanting to stand out. That horrible sick feeling when you walk past a certain group or person for no apparent reason. I have always managed on my own. I knew what I had, but never felt the need to have it typed under my name in a file by a doctor. But I am struggling now more than ever before. It is effecting me in ways I can’t control and is becoming unmanageable for me. So I went and saw my GP today.. burst into tears and fell apart like the mess Im accustomed to being. Somehow I managed to get out “I have anxiety issues”.. which is barely the tip of the iceberg. Nonetheless, she listened and she took me seriously. Which is really all I wanted. Someone to not just sweep it under the rug. She sent me for a blood test to check my thyroid and some other things. I have an appointment next week for results and a mental health care plan. She’s referring me to a psychologist and we will be discussing meds at some point. Full on day. i got home and spoke to my husband who seemed more annoyed at the potential cost of it all. He also said I should only tell immediate family and don’t make it a constant “topic of conversation”. I’ve never been one to do this. In fact I’ve kept it to myself for almost 2 decades.. so I’m not sure where his comments have come from. I feel a bit sad about that. anyway.. hopefully a change is on its way. The first step is the hardest as they say..

benisaterribleperson Is it anxiety? If so, what can I do to help?
  • replies: 2

Hello, I'm new here and I've really only joined to ask this question. I'm only 14, but I fear I have anxiety or I will have anxiety if I don't do something. The past year or two I've been in high school, and I've been getting supet stressed about my ... View more

Hello, I'm new here and I've really only joined to ask this question. I'm only 14, but I fear I have anxiety or I will have anxiety if I don't do something. The past year or two I've been in high school, and I've been getting supet stressed about my marks on tests and completing homework, and being a procrastinator doesn't help. On top of that, I'm also worried about my cousin who's boyfriend of two years suddenly left her and is now in hospital for mental help. I've also got my closest friend, who I'll call K for now, who seems to have a mild depression or something like that. I try my best to help her and encourage her to seek professional help, but I still fear I don't do enough to help her, and I'm running out of time to help her. Another person, who I'll call T for now, that's my girlfriend, seems to have a bunch of mental issues, I seem to be discovering more about it every day. She has anorexia, and has apparently been on anti depressants aswell as help from professionals for over a year and a half, and she now doesn't take anti-depressants or listens to much of what they say. As well as all that, I'm so terrified of my future. A WWIII could be called at any moment, house prices are onlygoing up and wages are only going down, college costs are already expensive and haven't got amy sign of getting cheaper. Climate change is a much bigger issue then thought, in a couple of decades my city will probably be underwater. I'm going to book an appointment with the psychologist tommorow, to see if they can give me a professional diagnosis. Again, do you think I have anxiety, and also what are some small things I can do to avoid/recover from anxiety? Also also: how can I help my friends?

james1 conflict aversion
  • replies: 5

Hello, I have come to notice that I have a serious aversion to conflict. Not just my own conflict with others, but also conflicts where I am not even involved. I get really worried and anxious and just generally on edge and I usually try to help more... View more

Hello, I have come to notice that I have a serious aversion to conflict. Not just my own conflict with others, but also conflicts where I am not even involved. I get really worried and anxious and just generally on edge and I usually try to help more than I should. I am comfortable (well, I know how to deal with) conflicts that involve me, but my anxiety around conflicts to do with other people is hard to deal with, especially since I know I shouldn't get involved and hence can't do anything. Any thoughts/ideas?

VegeHead When workplace culture brings everything to a head
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone - first time poster, but I feel like I need to talk to people who may understand. After years of what I consider low key depression, handled ok during that time with meds, I've had a major meltdown. I had to have a week off work 10 months... View more

Hi everyone - first time poster, but I feel like I need to talk to people who may understand. After years of what I consider low key depression, handled ok during that time with meds, I've had a major meltdown. I had to have a week off work 10 months ago, because I felt so overwhelmed with anxiety from the job. I'd never felt anxiety like that - where you feel so trapped in thought processes of confusion. My meds were increased and I had talks with my boss to rectify some of the issues. All went well for a while, until the same stressors crept back in and I started to feel like nothing had been resolved. I've battled on through these past months, with another increase of meds during that time, but something snapped in me last week. I was hearing other staff laughing and carrying on as I perceive they do alot, with my boss saying to me, "have you done this"..."Could you fix that issue"...and I thought that's it, I can't do this anymore - I can't be the "backbone" of the place (as I've been called by other staff), while my perceptions of the culture within the workplace diminishes. So I just left and went home - got a medical certificate for 7 days and here I am. I have also now put in for an extra two weeks leave on top of it - giving myself time to figure things out and try to feel better. I work in a small team environment, where I'm senior to others in age and experience, but considered on the same level in my role title. It's been an occupation that I enjoy, but I just can't seem to overcome the thoughts that overwhelm me throughout the work day. New staff come in and others latch onto them for the social aspect, management of staff could be better- I just feel overwhelmed. It's an issue that always seems to rear it's ugly head with me. There are other factors in my life over the years that have contributed to the way I am - I've had to be the "strong one" through some traumatic times which include - lost my husband to illness 5 years ago - I'm estranged from two of my adult children - I know these are also factors which have contributed to me not 'being strong'. I'm in therapy and doing a lot of inner work and am actually prepared to leave this job without another one lined up. It scares the hell out of me, but makes me frustrated to think I'm leaving because I can't handle the culture that place has become - or what I perceive it has become - that they value the social aspect over the work aspect. I feel in a mess of late. Thanks for listening.

Fred22 Am I crazy
  • replies: 2

Hi start a new job in a few days - something I trained for and always wanted - I have great support from my new managers so why am I so anxious - feelings I’ll fail, make mistakes, useless, fraud etc ?

Hi start a new job in a few days - something I trained for and always wanted - I have great support from my new managers so why am I so anxious - feelings I’ll fail, make mistakes, useless, fraud etc ?

AlliS Physically sick from all the stress
  • replies: 3

...and that's just making me more stressed! I don't know at what point I stopped having fun at work and started feeling overwhelmed. I work in a high pressure job and got a new manager recently. The leadership team hasn't been willing to support our ... View more

...and that's just making me more stressed! I don't know at what point I stopped having fun at work and started feeling overwhelmed. I work in a high pressure job and got a new manager recently. The leadership team hasn't been willing to support our team to alleviate the pressure and this has really impacted morale. Over time I've started to feel a sense of helplessness as I can't seem to find another job (not for lack of trying, I've applied to over 80). To top it off my psych is making me date. Dating pushes my stress levels through the roof and I don't know how to handle it. That being said, my homework is a different kind of stress and I would definitely say work is the issue. I've lost interest in my art and music pursuits. I don't see my friends, I'm too tired. I'm lightheaded and nauseated. My appettite is on and off. My skin is horrible, I'm losing hair. I've developed sleep apneoa and wake up several times each night. My dentist, psychologist, optometrist, two doctors, friends and family are telling me to get out and I can't and I'm so trapped. I don't know what to do. Has anyone else been in this situation? Will it get better?

Scatterbrain Drug Trigger
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I’ve recently started having anxiety, worse than I’ve had in years. Been to Dr and am in the process of changing meds, however I’m struggling big time at work...I’m a care assistant who handles medications, and I have developed a paranoia tha... View more

Hi all, I’ve recently started having anxiety, worse than I’ve had in years. Been to Dr and am in the process of changing meds, however I’m struggling big time at work...I’m a care assistant who handles medications, and I have developed a paranoia that people think I’m on drugs, or that I steal them...the mention of the word “drugs” now sends me into a hot flush and I feel guilty as heck, and all for no reason!!!! Which of course then makes me LOOK guilty!!!! Anyone else had this? Any ideas on how to get past it would be most welcome, thank you!

Eyre Turning down a job opportunity
  • replies: 4

Hello. I’ve not written on this forum before. I have said yes to an amazing job opportunity but now I know I can’t do it. I know I’m going to feel humiliated by turning it down because I’ve told people already. for the last 2 weeks (since interview) ... View more

Hello. I’ve not written on this forum before. I have said yes to an amazing job opportunity but now I know I can’t do it. I know I’m going to feel humiliated by turning it down because I’ve told people already. for the last 2 weeks (since interview) I’ve been unable to function properly, the only th8ng I want is to turn down the job offer and hide. How do I say no without disclosing my mental health issues? I don’t know why I said yes! This happens all the time, I say yes and then retreat. They already knew I had other chronic health problems- I have multiple autoimmune diseases that cause severe fatigue and chronic pain. Im not entirely sure why I’m writing this, other than to get it off my chest.

Agnes09 Oh My! This is horrible!
  • replies: 1

I grew up in a very critical home and have always struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem. I then married a very critical man who occasionally used his fists to express his disappointment in me. The day my 6 y/o called me stupid "cause daddy says ... View more

I grew up in a very critical home and have always struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem. I then married a very critical man who occasionally used his fists to express his disappointment in me. The day my 6 y/o called me stupid "cause daddy says so" was the day I took 3 children, and no belongings, to the park and never went back home. I got tough and nothing was going to put me down again, especially my own negative self-talk. I put myself though uni, raised the 3, whose father refused to see or support, met a wonderful man and welcomed a new baby into our home. Things weren't always easy and sometimes anxiety would get in my way, but we were tough and we found a way around, over or though all obstacles. Life was good. The bushfires came and we lost everything, our home, some good friends and our ability to live with anxiety. But we were tough and most importantly together, and with help we got back on our feet and found a way though most problems. The anxiety was the worst problem because now the whole family was suffering and who has time to calmly deal with their own anxiety when one child refuses to go to school because they think you will die if they leave you, and another child starts self-medicating illegally. Time for professional help, and it did help. It took a while but life was good again. At the age of 50 I decided to became a nurse. I loved every moment of school and had the makings of a good nurse until my final placement, where I had a critical educator who made life difficult for all his students. I couldn't deal with anxiety anymore. I messed up all my interviews and so stayed in my job as a carer for a year, until I finally got the courage to sign up as an agency nurse. The 2 shifts I've had have been marred by extreme thirst, nervous poo, blurry vision, nausea and palpitations. The palpitations aren't new but the other symptoms are. This all means I'm working slow and can't think straight. I'm too scared to talk the senior nurses, they're getting frustrated which only makes my anxiety worse. I feel so stupid and don't know what to do. I can't take another shift but I don't want to quit nursing. How did things get so bad? I saw my GP today. He has diagnosed me with GAD and I have an appointment with a psychologist in 2 weeks time. I'm not sure what to do in the meantime because I can't take all that time off a casual job and I can't risk an anxiety attack messing up another shift.

Booklover17 In a funk - not excited about anything
  • replies: 18

Hi everyone, For the past week I have felt deflated, dreading going to work and I have this heaviness in my chest. I am seeing a psychologist and do get anxiety and depression. I guess I just wanted to unload here a little and ask if anyone is feelin... View more

Hi everyone, For the past week I have felt deflated, dreading going to work and I have this heaviness in my chest. I am seeing a psychologist and do get anxiety and depression. I guess I just wanted to unload here a little and ask if anyone is feeling the same way or has in the past and what strategies you used?

As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.

Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.

Helpful information

Stay in touch

Sign up below for regular emails from Beyond Blue, filled with information, advice and support for you or your loved ones.

Stay in touch

Talk it through with us, we'll point you in the right direction.

Call 1300 224 636

24 hours / 7 days a week

Chat Online

24 hours / 7 days a week

Email us

Get a reply in 24 hours

Copyright � 2026 Beyond Blue Ltd

All rights reserved

Contact us Terms of use Privacy policy Site map