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

Heids Coping mechanisms for anxiety and OCD.
  • replies: 3

I have recently moved to a small community in outback Western Australia. I take medication to try and assist my anxiety and OCD but it doesn’t seem to be working as well anymore or I am just not coping as well. I’m 8hrs from any major town/city so it... View more

I have recently moved to a small community in outback Western Australia. I take medication to try and assist my anxiety and OCD but it doesn’t seem to be working as well anymore or I am just not coping as well. I’m 8hrs from any major town/city so it’s very isolated. I was wondering if anyone had any coping mechanisms or strategies to help? Thanks in advanced

Lacie New job
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, so this has been affecting me for sometime and now it is really affecting me, I have been working for the same company for over 7 years, and I want to get out.. I have applied for many other job, I have no problem going for the intervie... View more

Hey everyone, so this has been affecting me for sometime and now it is really affecting me, I have been working for the same company for over 7 years, and I want to get out.. I have applied for many other job, I have no problem going for the interview I get a tad nervous but when they offer me the job or to go for a trial I literally can’t physically go into the work place, I had a trial this morning I got all the way to the place and I couldn’t get out of my car, I can’t even explain why though it’s like I start having negative thoughts in my head and it gets so bad that I can’t go in. And this morning I just lost it crying in my car because it is really affecting me but I don’t know how to deal with my thoughts and just take that step into going into the work place.

HarlowWynter Sleep help
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am having trouble with sleeping not getting to sleep but staying asleep. I wake up at 4am every morning and cannot get back to sleep, i am exhausted and i know it only adds to my anxiety. Most of the time i wake up feeling nauseous, does anyone... View more

Hi, I am having trouble with sleeping not getting to sleep but staying asleep. I wake up at 4am every morning and cannot get back to sleep, i am exhausted and i know it only adds to my anxiety. Most of the time i wake up feeling nauseous, does anyone else get the same? Any tips on how to get a more restful sleep? I should mention i am not on medication as I'm trying to recover without for now. I am open to taking natural supplements if there are any suggestions for that. Thanks.

SDeliahS Does anybody have this issue? Stress, Anxiety and Digestion
  • replies: 6

Hi, I am feeling quite alone with my issue, I have never spoken to anyone that experiences the exact issue that I have. - I will go through a period of feeling good, happy and energetic - no health concerns whatsoever and I think clearly. If anything... View more

Hi, I am feeling quite alone with my issue, I have never spoken to anyone that experiences the exact issue that I have. - I will go through a period of feeling good, happy and energetic - no health concerns whatsoever and I think clearly. If anything I feel excited, but like a good stress, for example working on an interesting project at work or meeting with friends. This will last between a week to a month. I feel like I'm living normally. - Then I will all of a sudden start feeling 'off' (with no obvious triggers, its almost like my body starts not coping anymore). I get anxiety in the evenings, get cramps in my gut after eating. I will then start feeling dizzy after talking to people, my stomach pains get so bad I can't eat, and my anxiety will go through the roof. I then need to take it easy for a while to allow my body to recover. It feels as if my body gets exhausted from feeling 'normal' and I need to recover by not doing much and not experiencing emotions as they'd affect my body to the extreme. This cycle has started to repeat itself over a few years now. My grandfather had bipolar, but I googled it and can't identify with it. I still think rationally when I feel 'normal' and don't make rash decisions. I also don't feel depressed. I have seen psychologists but they just give me the 'anxiety' label. Help! Does anybody experience what I experience?

Bethy_M Anxiety - Dad with cancer
  • replies: 2

Hi... I'm new here. After googling this afternoon about anxiety I came across this forum. Ive always struggled at times with anxiety but Ive always somehow managed it on my own. Until maybe now... November last year my dad was diagnosed with lung can... View more

Hi... I'm new here. After googling this afternoon about anxiety I came across this forum. Ive always struggled at times with anxiety but Ive always somehow managed it on my own. Until maybe now... November last year my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. In the new year he had 2/3 of his lung removed, 2 months ago he started treatment. My dad is the world to me. He lives with us (seperate living) Things have been tough. My dad is the strong one of the family. Always puts things into perspective and always there for me. I left the job I was in for a totally different job just over a month ago so that I am here more for my dad and two children. I was having to take to much time off with dads treatment and him being so unwell and needing me. Which is fine, Ill do whatever I have to for my family. I dont tell people how I feel... but my heart is broken. I wake up in the morning and face the days but Im just rolling with it. This morning I woke up and I felt anxious and so irritable. The house work was annoying me the kids and they werent doing anything wrong. I made myself take them out for the morning but once we got home I was so exhausted I went back to bed. Some nights Im not sleeping. Some nights Im having horrible dreams that my children have cancer. It just feels never ending. I feel like Im juggling so many different balls. Trying to be ok for everyone. I even feel terrible for writting this and making anyone go to the bother of reading it. But I need to start somewhere. I am yet to head to my gp. Its hard because sometimes Ill feel fine and others it hits like a ton of bricks and the day I go to make an appointment I feel fine again and think Im being silly and wasting their time. Not sure where to start.

Littleone23 Scared about health
  • replies: 7

Hi guys, I’m going through a hard patch of GAD (general anxiety disorder) and OCD since I was 12... I was going really well until a few weeks ago I started getting panic attacks daily... The reason this started was when I read an article about the as... View more

Hi guys, I’m going through a hard patch of GAD (general anxiety disorder) and OCD since I was 12... I was going really well until a few weeks ago I started getting panic attacks daily... The reason this started was when I read an article about the aspartame in Diet Coke causing brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Now my brain is FREAKING OUT, I haven’t had a period since I was 15 (I’m not 27 but I’ve had 3 recovery periods) so my head is like “You’ve had artificial sweeteners your whole like and no hormones to protect your brain so now your doomed to Alzheimer’s” Someone please help I’ve been having panic attacks on the daily

twelve12 Misophonia treatment?
  • replies: 2

Hello, I've seen a few posts in the search about misophonia and just wanted to introduce myself as another sufferer. I've had it since probably age 11 ish. I'm now 32 and am really keen to get some help with it. I search google for treatment options ... View more

Hello, I've seen a few posts in the search about misophonia and just wanted to introduce myself as another sufferer. I've had it since probably age 11 ish. I'm now 32 and am really keen to get some help with it. I search google for treatment options but since I have not had much success getting help for depression through psychiatrists and psychologists I don't hold much hope that a great treatment program exists for this fairly newly discovered disorder. Has anyone sought treatment? If so, what did you have to do and can you recommend a Dr or program? A main concern I have is that they'll offer exposure therapy and I really disagree that will help, otherwise I probably would have gotten over it by now! This coming from someone who has had social anxiety and saw great results with exposure therapy. But misophonia is different, I almost feel like I need a medication that will reduce stimulation in some part of my brain. Thanks for reading!

EllsieElizabeth Work anxiety taking over my life
  • replies: 4

Questions: Is it me/my anxiety or is it my boss/workplace? Will quitting and finding a new job relieve my anxiety? Or will I find the same anxiety issues/be unhappy where ever I go? Details: I am in my mid 20s and I have had anxiety for as long as I ... View more

Questions: Is it me/my anxiety or is it my boss/workplace? Will quitting and finding a new job relieve my anxiety? Or will I find the same anxiety issues/be unhappy where ever I go? Details: I am in my mid 20s and I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember. My anxiety goes up and down; really bad for months, then really good for months/years. For the last few years I have been pretty good, hardly any anxiety attacks, that was until recently when I was blindsided in my 3 month probation review at my new job. I thought I was doing an excellent job and meeting expectations, the review was not good, basically saying my professionalism and attendance were the only things I was meeting expections on, none of my other tasks I have completed successfully were mentioned. She has extended my probation for another 3 months and review from there. Now I feel I can’t trust my boss, I feel like because I wasn’t her pick (HR and her boss picked me) I will never be good enough, she is terrible at communicating (example: every Friday at around 4pm I get an urgent request to sort something which takes hours to sort, I am meant to finish at 4pm) she also never gives feedback even when I ask for it. From that day of the review I have anxiety attacks every morning, and have anxiety 100% of my days. I can hardly eat, I am not sleeping very well; go to sleep at midnight, up at 2am, go back to sleep at 4am, alarm for work at 6am. I can never stop thinking about work/meeting expectations, can’t stop thinking about all the things I’ve stuffed up, can’t focus properly, and it is effecting my long term relationship with my boyfriend. Basically, I feel overwhelmed 100% of the time. Work have set out too many daily tasks to fit into my schedule, and I have raised this with my boss and HR asking for assistance and I receive no support. My boss also never has time to catch up or have a meeting with me and she is always out of the office. I also do huge hours, overtime not paid (salary) and I feel like I am being set up to fail. To add to my work stresses my dad is about to die from cancer, last few weeks of his life. I haven’t had the mental strength to see him for a few months now, he has brain cancer and is hugely different to the father I use to know...he’s pretty confused, has no hair or beard, plus in a wheel chair. I want to quit work now, but I can’t due to depts. So I have to suck it up, but I am really struggling and need guidence.

Kathy85 Pregnant and anxiety increasing which is cresting havoc on my life
  • replies: 2

Hi all. I am nearly 6 months pregnant and am getting terrible anxiety and now some depressive symptoms. I had anxiety before pregnancy but was able to treat it with exercise and just trying to stay positive. I have had bad bouts in the past and it ha... View more

Hi all. I am nearly 6 months pregnant and am getting terrible anxiety and now some depressive symptoms. I had anxiety before pregnancy but was able to treat it with exercise and just trying to stay positive. I have had bad bouts in the past and it has caused me to pull out my hair and just lose it at friends or family. My anxiety is getting so much worse. I am telling my partner off for all sorts and am feeling flat some days. I fidget and have started picking at my split ends and pulling at my hair. I know this all sounds so silly. I feel like I am self sabotaging myself and my husband has taken off his wedding ring and says he does not know how long he can handle this for. The fear of losing him and being a single mother is making me even more anxious. I am going to talk to my GP about this and try and get some help. I have tried to get support off my husband but he says I am crying crocodile tears. The worst thing that is happening is I am craving cigarettes and things that can help my stress such as sleeping tablets. But I love my baby and don't want to hurt him or her. So I grapple with all this each time my anxiety takes hold of me. I just wanted to share this and thought sharing this with you all may help.

HarlowWynter Health anxiety help!
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone, I have been dealing with health anxiety for the last 4 months, i have tried meditation, yoga and therapy however i just feel like in the last couple of days i am back to square one. When the anxiety started i would bet racing heart etc a... View more

Hi everyone, I have been dealing with health anxiety for the last 4 months, i have tried meditation, yoga and therapy however i just feel like in the last couple of days i am back to square one. When the anxiety started i would bet racing heart etc and was so worried i would have a heart attack then it changed to stroke like symtoms, head aches and thinking i was either about to have an annuerysm or a brain tumor. Now the last couple of days i have been getting head zaps especially when i am in the shops with bright lights, i start panicking and thinking I'm about to have a seizure. Does anyone else experience brain zaps is it a normal part of anxiety? They last for one to two seconds. I am just terrified.