Immediate support
Immediate 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 discussion

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 discussion

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 discussion

Guest_7070 Leaving stressful job and too much change at once - feeling broken
  • replies: 10

For the last couple of years I worked 12 hour days and it wasn’t unusual for me to bring work home to complete on weekends. My family warned me that this wasn’t sustainable. Then three weeks ago after not sleeping due to stress, tension and anxiety, ... View more

For the last couple of years I worked 12 hour days and it wasn’t unusual for me to bring work home to complete on weekends. My family warned me that this wasn’t sustainable. Then three weeks ago after not sleeping due to stress, tension and anxiety, I resigned from my management job. Stupidly, I thought once I left my job I would feel better again quickly. Not having a job has made me feel empty and even though I want to look for work as soon as possible, I feel scared of the process and starting a new job. Two weeks ago I went to see my Doctor and just broke down in tears – it was very embarrassing. She thought it may be due to the lack of sleep and prescribed sleeping tablets to take for two weeks to try and restore my sleeping pattern. I had to wait while the Pharmacy ordered them. In the meantime I started to sleep again, so I didn’t end up taking them. Then one week ago my eldest son moved out with his girlfriend which broke my heart and the house feels so empty … I know I should be happy about that. Unfortunately I’m not sleeping again. I have decided to start taking the sleeping tablets for a week and see if that makes a difference. I will go and see my Doctor next week once she returns from holidays. I have also made an appointment with a Psychologist. I have done extensive reading about how to return from this horrible experience, but I think the constant reading of the endless information on the internet probably isn’t overly helpful. I have been trying to reconnect spiritually, learn mindfulness/meditation, walking heaps, positive talk, etc. and forcing myself to eat even though I have no appetite. I'm taking natural remedies for mild anxiety. I found the lead up to Christmas to be incredibly difficult – I just wanted it to go away. At the moment I feel broken and I just want to feel normal again. Has anyone else felt like this before? Any advice would be welcomed.

Jeff57 help
  • replies: 3

Pleaase someone talk to me please... the depression is at me again, please. In messager, please. Someone. Jsut for a few minutes, please. I'm alone... I just need a voice. Somone. Ihave no credit on my phone, no friends here, only been here 8 months.... View more

Pleaase someone talk to me please... the depression is at me again, please. In messager, please. Someone. Jsut for a few minutes, please. I'm alone... I just need a voice. Somone. Ihave no credit on my phone, no friends here, only been here 8 months. Know no one. I'm on medication and seeinga councilor, but I just needa voice for a few minutes. Please. I just need to hear someones voice.

jonjr Anyone else want to kick me
  • replies: 2

Been a while since i have posted and have been in a relatively good space. Until a month ago. My divorce is done ..... that didnt trouble me. Then i find out my visa application stands no chance and now in 8 months i have to leave back to england. I ... View more

Been a while since i have posted and have been in a relatively good space. Until a month ago. My divorce is done ..... that didnt trouble me. Then i find out my visa application stands no chance and now in 8 months i have to leave back to england. I have 2 young children one of whom is a Australian citizen but it seems that even then i have no rights unless i can come up with 100.grand. My world has been shatered and my anxiety is kicking into over drive. I contribute, i work, but still not enough. What do i have to do i scream. I can not cope with the pressure and my lvs are rising. For people in here who know my story my lvs dont know where to stop. That spiral feeling ive tried so hard to fight off in my life is building and my heart is breaking. Please no more kicks in the teeth i carnt take it.

winterily Worrying about worrying - the joys of anxiety!
  • replies: 11

Hi everyone, I’m new here! I have been dealing with horrible anxiety since late last year when my partner abruptly up and left me. We have since reconciled, but I can’t help worry almost daily that this will happen again. I am scared to not worry in ... View more

Hi everyone, I’m new here! I have been dealing with horrible anxiety since late last year when my partner abruptly up and left me. We have since reconciled, but I can’t help worry almost daily that this will happen again. I am scared to not worry in case it happens again, it’s as though I think this will lessen the pain if it does happen (silly, I know). I worry about worrying, and worry that it will upset him and he will leave again. I have suffered bouts of anxiety previously in my life, but nothing to this degree. We have a good relationship, the reason he left was heartbreaking and we were both grieving. I just feel like my anxiety will slowly push him away. I look for signs in every message, every verbal conversation we have, that he might leave me again or that his feelings are changing. My GP referred me to a psychologist, who I have seen a few times now. She is great, but we more so talk about ways to work through my anxiety and she gives me homework to do. She has suggested meditation which I can only seem to do at night before I sleep as during the day it makes me feel more anxious. She has asked that I keep a ‘Worry Journal’, which I am yet to start, possibly because writing down every time I worry will make me feel crazy, as I worry a lot. My anxiety started from the sudden relationship change, but has since stemmed further into worrying about certain family members falling ill. One of the did and I guess that just proved worrying doesn’t prevent anything. I wish I could just switch my brain off at times as it makes me physically sick. I have lost almost 30kg this year and feel weak at times. It’s hard to swallow any solid food, it was hard to even drink water at first. I guess the point of this post is to reach out to others who are suffering from a similar issue. I enjoy seeing my psychologist, although sometimes I come out feeling worse. Sometimes I just want to talk to another human who suffers from anxiety and understands. I find talking incredibly therapeutic! I hate how this is consuming me lately and just want to feel better. I have been prescribed medication but don’t know if I want to take that route. I am afraid of side effects, and as much as I don’t want to feel the way I do I worry that it might numb it all too much and I will never be able to recover and just become dependent on the medication. This post is a lot longer than I intended, sorry! Thanks for reading - winterily

Booklover17 Does anyone else feel fed up with their anxiety?
  • replies: 68

Lately I have wished there was a magic switch to turn off my anxiety. It's just so hard to deal with. Does anyone else feel like this?

Lately I have wished there was a magic switch to turn off my anxiety. It's just so hard to deal with. Does anyone else feel like this?

markrob0 Workers Compensation for anxiety
  • replies: 11

I was wondering if anyone else is going through Worker's Comp for anxiety/work related stress. My lawyer accepted me on a no win no fee & told me that I have high success rate. I do security. I had problems with a co-worker. This co worker went balli... View more

I was wondering if anyone else is going through Worker's Comp for anxiety/work related stress. My lawyer accepted me on a no win no fee & told me that I have high success rate. I do security. I had problems with a co-worker. This co worker went ballistic on me over nothing. He was emotionally unstable. He is a Filipino, my wife is a Filipina. As I was walking away from him through the middle of the car park & for all people to hear him as he called me a racist. That arvo, my roster changed & was told that we have to share our rosters. Why should I lose hours? I was doing my best to keep my head down but once they changed the roster, it peeved me off. The next day the client of the site decided he didn't want this co-worker & he was removed. My roster went back to normal. I was told that I wouldn't have to work with him again. Less than a week, he's back. 2nd day, first thing in the morning, he came up to me, put his finger in my face & said 'you are a racist even you have a Filipina wife.' I was fuming that my company allowed this to happen - where was the duty of care? I contacted Operations, I was so pissed off I told Ops I'm leaving site under duress to prevent further baiting & provoking. Prior to me working there, two guys had a fight onsite for similar reasons & both lost their jobs. Apparently one was defending himself. What if this guy attacked me & I defended myself? I'd most likely lose my licenses no matter the outcome. ALL OF THIS ON PAPERTRAIL AND A LETTER THAT I WROTE TO THE COMPANY. I went for a meeting the following Tuesday & was under investigation to be told that I will receive a First and Final written warning & will be placed back on a permanent on call basis, which is what I was did for 3 years prior. I FOUND 18 BREACHES IN MY CONTRACT. In Mundaring we were placed in the bush, next to the dam to watch a boat. I wasn't shown a toilet. There was no phone reception & no welfare checks. It was winter then & was 2 degrees. 2 days later I found out that they were expecting me to use an outdoor toilet. I MADE COMPLAINTS BY BOTH EMAIL AND PHONE BUT NOTHING WAS FOLLOWED UP - PAPERTRAIL EVIDENCE. Another site I was removed for complaining about a supervisor who ignored me, and guess what? It was the same manager who gave me the First and Final written warning. I HAVE ON PAPERTRAIL SHOWING THAT SHE IS REMOVING ME FROM SITE BUT NOT BASED ON MY WORK ETHICS. Can any experienced person give some advise of the process? Cheers.

Relay_for_life Can anxiety and depression change who you are ?
  • replies: 2

I have been on this road of anxiety and depression for three years now , with three relapses due to medication change or lowering the dose , the last year I was following up with a phsychtrist who is managing medication and talk therapy weekly . I am... View more

I have been on this road of anxiety and depression for three years now , with three relapses due to medication change or lowering the dose , the last year I was following up with a phsychtrist who is managing medication and talk therapy weekly . I am coping well , working , handling my family , dealing with some friends , depending more on my mind and positive thinking skills to manage my life situation . Proud of the skills I have learnt to deal with life . But I still miss my bubbly , very social , very caring , very outgoing , confident , fearful, popular personality ( I use to love allll people , saying yes to help all peoole, having this idealistic ideas and expectations from my self, I use to be what you call people person ) . It is like I have changed ,I am not that person anymore. I now think million time before agreeing to any commitment, I lost that spontaneous vibe in my old self . I can’t feel very excited or very happy about events , like Christmas or Easter celebration. I use to live life to the max . Now I feel I have a very neutral attitude towards everything, I do not get very sad or very happy . Is that normal ? Can anxiety and depression change you ? Do you have to get used to your new self and accept it fully ? . I am not saying I am depressed or sad . I am existing and living and coping , just wondering if I would ever be back to my old me. Thx

Nodisplaynamesleft Letting it out
  • replies: 6

So finally after reading on here for so long I am finally going to post. I am so over getting caught out by daily triggers. My anxiety starts to come between my partner and myself because he doesn't understand and I can't just make it all go away. Iv... View more

So finally after reading on here for so long I am finally going to post. I am so over getting caught out by daily triggers. My anxiety starts to come between my partner and myself because he doesn't understand and I can't just make it all go away. Ive seen numerous psychologists and everything they say makes sense but when the anxiety comes calling it all becomes words. Normal day to day things for most people send cold chills through my body and my heart racing. Ive tried grounding exercises, I've even tried pain. (Nothing over the top, just pinching myself or a finger nail digging in) Just to bring me back to present. Sometimes it works quickly sometimes only temporarily. No one around me gets it. I don't know how to explain to my partner how I'm feeling. He used to be empathetic and I started getting anxious less but I think he thought it would all go away. Of course it hasn't so he doesn't know how to fix me and gets frustrated and short....which of course makes me feel worse. How do I explain to a 'black and white' man that I'm in a very 'grey' zone. Im so lost and alone.

Mumworrier Anxiety over the health of others
  • replies: 2

Hello, i have been struggling this last few months with anxiety. It seems to be directed in particular to my children and especially my 10 year old son. He is a wonderful, happy, healthy boy but he has a peanut allergy and I feel I am getting more an... View more

Hello, i have been struggling this last few months with anxiety. It seems to be directed in particular to my children and especially my 10 year old son. He is a wonderful, happy, healthy boy but he has a peanut allergy and I feel I am getting more and more paranoid about it. It isn’t just the allergy though I will avoid taking them into large crowds or always be checking they have washed their hands etc. because I am nervous about them getting sick. Just tonight he had a little cough before he got out of the pool and although I know it’s far fetched and unlikely I started googling ‘dry or secondary drowning’ and now I am in his room listening to him sleep. Sounds terrible as I even write that. It’s exhausting.

Leewee Health Anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone; I am new to this site, even though I've heard about it for years. I guess I've gotten to that point where I need to try everything. I am 21 and have been suffering from health anxiety for at least 5 years. I have been seeing a psychologi... View more

Hi everyone; I am new to this site, even though I've heard about it for years. I guess I've gotten to that point where I need to try everything. I am 21 and have been suffering from health anxiety for at least 5 years. I have been seeing a psychologist for 4 or those years and I do not believe I have made any improvements. If anything it has gotten worse. When I am busy with university I have minor symptoms, however; when I'm on break (like now) I suffer from severe anxiety, which impacts on my social and work life. This constant fear has left me feeling depressed like life is never going to get better. When I experience somatic symptoms I am able to logically understand how they can be symptoms of a mild disorder (eg. Allergies, anxiety, hunger). However; the stronger part of me tells me that the pain behind my eye, muscle twitches and tiredness is something more serious like multiple sclerosis. I have made an appointment to see my GP about getting an MRI scan but I know I will not be satisfied with the answer either way.. I will either have the disease, or not trust the doctors judgement. I am aware that I am suffering from health anxiety and that my worries are illogical.. however I am unable to escape the worries and depression that follows. Any advice would be greatly appreciated xx