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

Ant86 Fatigue and anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi all, Hoping to get some advice (new to these forums). Prior to 12 months ago I believe I had my anxiety under control, a bit of social anxiety and overthinking (trying to control everything). 12 months ago I went to the dentist for a routine check... View more

Hi all, Hoping to get some advice (new to these forums). Prior to 12 months ago I believe I had my anxiety under control, a bit of social anxiety and overthinking (trying to control everything). 12 months ago I went to the dentist for a routine check and he found a cyst in my left jaw, this was a sudden shock. A few days later my grandmother who I was very close with passed away (I witnessed it in hospital). Then few days after that I had the surgery. I was alright for a few weeks then became bedridden and completely sick. Dentist determined that I had a infection on the right side of my face and he would need to put me under local and clear it out which he did. Few weeks passed and I began to feel very sick again to the point where I admitted myself to hospital and put on IV. Dentist saw me and said the bone graft in my jaw was infected and he had to clear it out under general anaesthetic. Few days passed and that was done and thankfully I haven’t had any problems there since. About a month after that my wife and I had our wedding which was also stressful leading up to it, planning, organising etc. After the wedding I developed a condition called Labyrinthitis which is an issue with vertigo and dizziness which I experienced throughout the honeymoon and several months afterwards. After that I had been experiencing on and off sinus / flu / viral infections for the proceeding months as with on and off fatigue. At the moment (12 months later) it seems like my sinus issues are starting to get better but I’m left with extreme fatigue which has made working very difficult. Also throughout this 12 month period my wife and I have been building a house which has also been stressful. We are due to move house in the next few weeks and I’m extremely exhausted (still working). My sleep has been poor for the last few months with thoughts racing around my head constantly about this house. I’m also chronically worried about my health now and have been googling non stop (I know it’s bad). I’m seeing a psychologist trained in CBT at the moment and she’s helping but I’m finding it very difficult to work and function with this fatigue. Cheers.

Guest_723 Terrible anxiety
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Hi there I want to remain as anon but really want to talk about some problems I am facing atm i have terrible anxiety I have anxiety thinking I’m commuting crime stealing and gonna go to jail when I don’t do anything bad I do every thing legal I don’... View more

Hi there I want to remain as anon but really want to talk about some problems I am facing atm i have terrible anxiety I have anxiety thinking I’m commuting crime stealing and gonna go to jail when I don’t do anything bad I do every thing legal I don’t know why I think I am going to jail it’s like my head thinks it and I collect my recipets everywhere I shop if I don’t have one I flip out my anxiety goes hay wire and I think there’s no prof of purchase how did I get this did I really pay for this etc etc when I know I did so I just want to know does anyone else experience these thoughts I am going to see my doctor soon and talk to him thank you

Jsmith I need advice!
  • replies: 2

Hi Ive recently been diagnosed by a therapist with social phobia, and I’ve started trying to pick up at school some “triggers” for me. I’ve noticed my friends often use me as a scapegoat, and although I try to brush it off they keep doing it. They al... View more

Hi Ive recently been diagnosed by a therapist with social phobia, and I’ve started trying to pick up at school some “triggers” for me. I’ve noticed my friends often use me as a scapegoat, and although I try to brush it off they keep doing it. They also tend to make jokes at my expense, and I know logically they are just joking because they do it to all my other friends as well, but I can’t help feel like it’s a personal attack on me. I haven’t told any of them I have anxiety issues but I want to ask them to stop scapegoating me. What do you think I should say to them?

KateER Financial Stress + Anxiety + Emetophobia
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone, I'm new to this thread, but I'm also new to reaching out for help on this kind of platform. I've had anxiety for my entire life. I believe it first started when I was in early primary school and threw up for the first time (that I can... View more

Hello everyone, I'm new to this thread, but I'm also new to reaching out for help on this kind of platform. I've had anxiety for my entire life. I believe it first started when I was in early primary school and threw up for the first time (that I can remember). Since that day, the fear of throwing up has plagued my life more than you can imagine. Only those with this kind of phobia can relate to how debilitating and overwhelming it can be. Despite this phobia, I've only thrown up maybe six times since then. I've got a fantastic immune system but I neglect to tell myself that whenever I feel sick. I was on medication for two years a few years back. Two years ago, I weaned myself off them because I was in a new relationship and everything felt good. I hadn't had a panic attack for ages before I got off them, so I felt it was the right thing. I only really had panic attacks during the time my period was due, most likely due to the hormone changes and nausea that I experienced. Fast forward to three months ago when the company I work for stopped paying myself and the rest of the staff. It has now been 14 weeks, and during that time, weekly promises of the money being paid by EOW were made yet none were followed through. My partner of two years worked for the company too, so with us both not being paid, we were trying to tread water and keep each other afloat, which just wasn't working. We broke up three weeks ago because the stress was too much. We couldn't afford rent, car repayments, food or general bills. I lasted for the first five weeks without any severe stress or anxiety. Perhaps I was in denial. Only after the update meeting during week five did I lose it. From there, I started having constant anxiety attacks. Having moved home three weeks ago, I have had daily panic attacks, sometimes up to four a day. I've been unable to see friends or get out of the house most of the time due to limited availability to funds. I have a new job lined up for next week, but I'm worried that I will have panic attacks whilst I'm there. They're usually over nothing in particular, but I'm worried that I won't be able to escape if I get worried. I wish people who didn't experience this level of anxiety would understand what it's like. It's debilitating and awful and all consuming. Stay strong everyone. One way or another, there is help available and I've made my first step by booking in with NewAccess and seeing my doctor.

MaiiBear Feeling Detached When Communicating
  • replies: 5

It's strange. I am a persistent person and I'd like to think I can throw things under the rug but it doesn't completely go away. When people say "get over anxiety" and "just talk to people more", I do it. It doesn't stop me from internally panicking ... View more

It's strange. I am a persistent person and I'd like to think I can throw things under the rug but it doesn't completely go away. When people say "get over anxiety" and "just talk to people more", I do it. It doesn't stop me from internally panicking but I do it and I seem fine to others besides my apparent awkwardness and lack of emotion/hype? I don't know. Whenever I talk to someone I'm fine but a minute into the conversation I can't hear what they're saying and my vision blurs and then I don't know what's happening and forget how to speak because my head goes blank and my mouth goes dry, but I'm not necessarily panicking. I just feel like I'm losing control of my senses and forgetting how to be a human being and it's ruined my relationships with everybody because I can't relate to them or hold a conversation. I had a mock interview today and the only way to calm myself down was to pretend I was an actor in a movie and at one point I actually had to force myself to go through with it because I felt so eerily detached and it's happening too often. I'm doing the best I can to manage it but does anyone else know how to get past it?

Guest_9870 How does someone with depression and anxiety keep a job
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I have tried so hard to keep a job, even casual role's and i just cant and i do not understand why. If anyone else has been through this and overcome this please give me advice on what helped you if you have the time as i just want to get somewhere i... View more

I have tried so hard to keep a job, even casual role's and i just cant and i do not understand why. If anyone else has been through this and overcome this please give me advice on what helped you if you have the time as i just want to get somewhere in life. I just dont know how to keep a casual job let a lone a full time one, and i know i have to get a full time job and the more i put it off the more behind i am getting and i feel so down on myself but it scares me because i know i just dont end up turning up one day. Because every time i get a job i just cant keep it. Any advice will help as i am feeling defeated. Thankyou.

nattycakes29 First massive anxiety attack
  • replies: 4

Today i had my first massive anxiety attack. I was sitting on the train when i received a message regarding my financial situation. I got cold all over, nauseous and dizzy. I thought if I could close my eyes it might just go away, when in fact it did... View more

Today i had my first massive anxiety attack. I was sitting on the train when i received a message regarding my financial situation. I got cold all over, nauseous and dizzy. I thought if I could close my eyes it might just go away, when in fact it did the complete opposite, it got worse. I thought I was going to pass out right then and there. I had to force myself off the train (just on the off chance I actually did through up). What a horrific feeling it was. I thought i was going to have to walk over to the hospital emergency room nearby because i thought i was dying. Even now as i write this i am still nauseous and have the shakes. I think to top it all off I'm embarrassed. Embarrassed that i have allowed myself to get to this point. Angry that i haven't been taking better care of myself and frustrated because the moment i think I'm doing better i get knocked off my perch and end up like this. How do I get through this? I can't ask how to get over it because I don't truly think i will ever get over my depression and anxiety. Sorry for the long winded story but i felt writing it out could help when in actual fact it has made me bawl my eyes out.

Guest_41 Panic attack out of the blue???
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Hey everyone, I’ve posted here before about missed heartbeats and other strange symptoms I get. But tonight something strange happened... My partner and I had just finished washing up after dinner and I’d made myself a cup of chamomile tea. I went to... View more

Hey everyone, I’ve posted here before about missed heartbeats and other strange symptoms I get. But tonight something strange happened... My partner and I had just finished washing up after dinner and I’d made myself a cup of chamomile tea. I went to sit down in the loungeroom when I felt funny and noticed irregular heartbeats... It lasted maybe 2-3 minutes I got up and spoke to my partner and felt ill. He checked my pulse and said my heart wasn’t beating right. I started to panic - I burst into tears thinking I needed an ambulance. It stopped but the fear remained... I am now shaky with prickly forearms and well needing to use the bathroom heaps... My heart I feel is also I feel beating faster than normal and I can’t sleep... I’m petrified. I have had tests done on my heart 2x 24 hour holter monitors and an echocardiogram all normal. I figured if I had a dangerous arrhythmia it’d have shown up in the testing... It hasn’t happened in so long and I thought maybe I was getting better but this came I feel out of the blue... I’d been feeling so good lately I decided to have a glass of wine tonight. I had a glass yesterday and nothing like this happened.... I do have a lot going on at the moment... I’m just wondering could it have been a panic attack?

Ma-jd I am in need of some guidance and support
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, Ive just been going through these threads and I've become so emotional after reading the responses. You all seem to care for each other so much and I would really like some help if that's okay. I have developed GAD over the last few mont... View more

Hi everyone, Ive just been going through these threads and I've become so emotional after reading the responses. You all seem to care for each other so much and I would really like some help if that's okay. I have developed GAD over the last few months and I am terrified. I'm always nauseous, dizzy and terrified. My stomachs in knots and I'm restless. I feel like I can't go to work but I have to as they only employ a handful of people to do a lot of work - we don't really get paid very well but I think it will look good on my resume (I'm babbling, I'm sorry). Last week the nausea got so bad at work I threw up. I have been referred to a psychologist office but I can't get up the courage to call... I feel absolutely pathetic I feel like I've lost complete control over who I am, my doctor has now prescribed me some medication but I am paralysed with fear that my anxiety will get worse before it gets better. I am so scared about the future. I just want to be myself again but I don't know what to do. I know I need to get help, but I'm so scared. I really don't know how to help myself. Thanks for your time.

Vitsyra Anxiety Triggers
  • replies: 11

Hi All, I have been wondering if other people have anxiety triggers. I've always been quite sensitive, though have gotten a little tougher with age. Last Friday I triggered my anxiety by watching a scary zombie movie, which I knew I shouldn't have do... View more

Hi All, I have been wondering if other people have anxiety triggers. I've always been quite sensitive, though have gotten a little tougher with age. Last Friday I triggered my anxiety by watching a scary zombie movie, which I knew I shouldn't have done, but did not expect to struggle so much with anxiety for the last few days. Even just thinking or mentioning the movie makes me fearful. So I was wondering if others have triggers, I have quite a few things I avoid because I worry they will set me off. It is kind of a sucky way to live life. For me, I have to be very careful with movies, TV, books.. anything too scary, unfair, cruelty to animals, or just too sad can set me off. I also have to be careful with social media, news.. etc. I don't travel, because being away from home can trigger me. So hard to explain to workmates that I haven't traveled and nor do I want to. Meeting new people, new situations. but also not doing these things can set me off. Getting into trouble at work, accidentally breaking a road rule, or being told off by someone. Even if I THINK I did something wrong with work it can set me off. Being alone in some places, like events, shops, etc. When I'm already suffering anxiety, the chance of triggering myself again is always more likely than when I'm in a good place. I know a lot about what can trigger my anxiety, I just wish I knew how to turn it off once it starts. One moment can lead to weeks of despair.