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

michc04 New to this level of Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, Im brand new to the forums but have been battling with a severe anxiety and panic attacks for the last two weeks or so. I believe this all started with my problems with sleep that was becoming a big point of anxiety for me before I got these full... View more

Hi, Im brand new to the forums but have been battling with a severe anxiety and panic attacks for the last two weeks or so. I believe this all started with my problems with sleep that was becoming a big point of anxiety for me before I got these full blow attacks. I saw my doctor regarding sleep and the anxiety who tried a few natural methods before prescribing medication for sleep which was a terrible choice for me as I reacted very bad to the medication such as uncontrollable crying, heightend panic and anxiety as well as the feeling of being "out of it" I came off the medication after 3 days but still have the heightened panic and anxiety. I am married with a happy life where I enjoy my workplace and hobbies but when I get these waves of panic and anxiety I lose all care and feel trapped and that I won't ever get rid of this feeling. I have found beyond blue online chat to be invaluable and really like what I have read of some of these forums and how supportive everyone is. I feel I have become more accepting of my panic/anxiety over the last week but still struggle day to day. I just want to know that it gets better and that I should keep at it. Medication is a last resort for me.

cakeboss nausea from anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi there does anyone else suffer with early morning nausea mine comes and goes and is back again.Ive got relaxation cds and breathing exercises to do .I dont know why its back again any tips be great .

Hi there does anyone else suffer with early morning nausea mine comes and goes and is back again.Ive got relaxation cds and breathing exercises to do .I dont know why its back again any tips be great .

Jaymc This might help with health anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi guys, I've been suffering from health anxiety for around 8 years and just recently it's been at it's worst! I had no idea there were so many of us in the same boat! It's been so bad that I feel like it is totally taking over my life. I've been doi... View more

Hi guys, I've been suffering from health anxiety for around 8 years and just recently it's been at it's worst! I had no idea there were so many of us in the same boat! It's been so bad that I feel like it is totally taking over my life. I've been doing all of the common things associated with health anxiety... googling symptoms etc, up to 20 times per day, constantly seeking reassurance from my partner and family (I'm sure it must be driving them crazy), hearing news stories about people's health problems and freaking out... the list goes on. On the weekend I read a great post that has helped a little bit and I thought I'd share what I learnt on this forum in the hope that it might help other people as well. The guy who posted the helpful tips is also a sufferer of health anxiety... he said: "stop googling, google is not going to help you, it will only make you feel worse"!!!! I can't stress this point enough! I've stopped googling completely since I read the post on the weekend and it has made a difference (resist the temptation).. secondly, he said "stop seeking constant reassurance about your health from your friends and family", i am finding this one a little harder but I've probably cut it in half. He went on to say "avoid triggers like health-related news stories, social media, etc"... I've taken Facebook off my phone (every time I saw something on Facebook about health issues I'd be diagnosing myself with it). The other things he suggested which I've taken on board are: keep busy... I've been distracting myself with work, kids, reading, walking, meditation app on my phone, started taking a yoga class, anything to keep my mind off it. Another thing that doesn't help me personally is reading everyone's stories about what they "think" is wrong with them, it makes me freak out. This is the reason I haven't mentioned on here any of the hundreds of things I've self diagnosed as I believe you are better off not reading it (trigger). It's been 4 days since I put all of these small things into practice and I'm seeing some small improvements. It's probably going to take a long time to work through the anxiety but I'm so committed to getting my life back and the thought of having to go through this for the rest of my life is horrendous. I hope these tips can help some of you too and I'd love to hear some success stories from people who have overcome this awful experience! xx

Justin92 Tension Headaches lasting over a month after panic attack
  • replies: 4

Hi all I had a panic attack last month fearing I was dying cause over the weekend did a lot of cocaine n just kept constantly thinking for 72 hours that I was gonna die then I had a panic attack n nearly pass out at work. Physically all fine but I be... View more

Hi all I had a panic attack last month fearing I was dying cause over the weekend did a lot of cocaine n just kept constantly thinking for 72 hours that I was gonna die then I had a panic attack n nearly pass out at work. Physically all fine but I been having non stop tension headaches for the pass month n nothing seems to get rid of them. Any help here

thesedaysarenotfun GAD all my life- nervous breakdown has left me with anxiety based insomnia
  • replies: 8

Hi all, I am new to BB and I appreciate any feedback and advice . About five weeks ago I suffered a nervous breakdown due to overwork. There were warning signs in the months leading up to it which I didn’t pay attention to and it resulted in severe a... View more

Hi all, I am new to BB and I appreciate any feedback and advice . About five weeks ago I suffered a nervous breakdown due to overwork. There were warning signs in the months leading up to it which I didn’t pay attention to and it resulted in severe anxiety, depression and anxiety based insomnia. They don’t give you a lot of room here to go into detail so the short version is that I can’t sleep atm without pills. I’ve tried various things to mixed results. Im scared of going to bed. I’ve been on an SNRI for 3 weeks which is starting to stabilise me but I still can’t sleep. There has even been one night where I got no sleep at all and then had to go to work. OTC sleep aids have provided some relief but they don’t always work. Panic attacks and brain zaps prevent me from falling asleep. I should mention that I have also been undertaking CBT therapy with a psychologist for my anxiety and sleep anxiety. The steps he is asking me to take to combat my problem haven’t really worked so far and after a night of no sleep like the last one my resolve and confidence is badly shaken. I tell myself the right things, like it isn’t the fact that I’m tired that make me feel like , it’s my thoughts surrounding it. The problem lies in my subconscious and how I’ve trained myself to think and react to stressors, it will be ok etc. I’m trying to take one day at a time, I’ve dramatically reduced my caffeine intake and changed my diet. I’ve cut out sugar, alcohol and tried to keep a sleep schedule. The only thing I can’t stop is the cigarette smoking which has increased with all the stress. I’m smoking 15- 20 cigarettes a day at this stage. I’m trying everything I can short of just stopping taking pills and trying to suffer through something which feels like it will never end. How do I function without sleeping? Many times I’ve felt like I’m at the end of my tether and can’t go on anymore and it scares me. The anxiety passes of course, but comes back. I’ve been in dark places before with anxiety but nothing like this. My sleep was never effected before. If anyone has any advice or stories of their own, particularly successful ones, then I am in much need of hearing your experiences. Thanks!

Wizzyg New anxiety symptom -metallic smell
  • replies: 5

Hey guys just wondering if anyone has ever experienced a metallic almost blood like smell/taste whilst they are experiencing high levels of anxiety.. i had this symptom come out of nowhere after dealing with anxiety for years.. the smell isnt chronic... View more

Hey guys just wondering if anyone has ever experienced a metallic almost blood like smell/taste whilst they are experiencing high levels of anxiety.. i had this symptom come out of nowhere after dealing with anxiety for years.. the smell isnt chronic its only happend twice or 3 time in the last 2weeks but comes on for a few seconds during high anxiety. i was taken to the hospital last week because of this because i thought it was a stroke symptom but was reassured its not however the doctor could not give any reason for it. Hoping someone here has also experienced it with their anxiety so i can calm myself and believe it is yet another symptom of the long list. I should also mention ive been lightheaded the last week.

Elizabeth2601 Health Anxiety - waiting for MRI
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I need some help and support. I have recently had terrible headaches, tingling and wet skin feelings in patches on my body, dizziness and blurry vision and I am freaking out! my GP referred me to a neurologist who has ordered a brain and... View more

Hi everyone, I need some help and support. I have recently had terrible headaches, tingling and wet skin feelings in patches on my body, dizziness and blurry vision and I am freaking out! my GP referred me to a neurologist who has ordered a brain and spine MRI which I had on late Thursday night (it's Sunday night now). I feel like I can't even face to day tomorrow as I live in complete fear that my phone will ring with him wanting me to come in to discuss the results. I have been seeing a psychologist but it hasn't seemed to be helping, I can't control this panic I am feeling that something terrible was on the MRI. has anyone else experienced this? Please help!

Noso Anyone else had these panic attack symptoms before?
  • replies: 8

A couole of hours ago I had what was probably the worst panic attack I've ever had, I won't into huge detail about what triggered but needless to say I can't handle confrontation whatsoever, I pretty much fall to pieces straight away and freak out. A... View more

A couole of hours ago I had what was probably the worst panic attack I've ever had, I won't into huge detail about what triggered but needless to say I can't handle confrontation whatsoever, I pretty much fall to pieces straight away and freak out. Anyway when it really kicked into gear my hands and fingers all siezed up like crab claws and it was actually quite painful it was like I was being mildly electrocuted, this then spread to my face and my face went all numb and it actually made it difficult to talk, at that point brain goes into overdrive and screams stroke! It took me a while to convince myself otherwise and get movement back in my hands, fingers and face. I've had anxiety for a fair while and I've never experienced anything like this before, just putting seeing if this has happened to anyone else? cheers for listening guys, Kieran

kucingcantik Change of career due to anxiety?
  • replies: 9

Hi there, I am new here! I was diagnosed with GAD and Social AD in 2015, but have really been experiencing this my whole life. I am a lawyer and that is obviously quite a stressful job. I find it really hard to manage my anxiety in many situations th... View more

Hi there, I am new here! I was diagnosed with GAD and Social AD in 2015, but have really been experiencing this my whole life. I am a lawyer and that is obviously quite a stressful job. I find it really hard to manage my anxiety in many situations that arise frequently in my job. This leaves me having panic attacks and feeling awful for days/weeks at a time. I find it hard to interact with my children and husband and withdraw when this happens. It affects how I enjoy my whole life. I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was 13. I thought it was something I was really passionate about. I do enjoy some aspects of my job, but every few months since I started working as a lawyer I have wondered if what I enjoy about my job really does justify the anxiety flare ups I experience due to my work. Has anyone here changed careers because of the way that their career impacted upon their mental health? I feel like I would be a failure if I did this, but I also feel like I am wasting my young children's childhood due to how this is making me feel.

DomM Anxiety and OCD thought patterns leading to self destruction
  • replies: 3

Was Curious if anyone else feels their anxiety/ OCD thought patterns make them feel like they are a bad person. I am constantly feeling like I have done something wrong, acted in a bad manner, worrying people hate me, self destructing my relationship... View more

Was Curious if anyone else feels their anxiety/ OCD thought patterns make them feel like they are a bad person. I am constantly feeling like I have done something wrong, acted in a bad manner, worrying people hate me, self destructing my relationships, and making up scenarios that never happened. I was wondering who else has these types of experiences and how they work through them? As it appears to most people "nothing" is wrong with me, but I am destroying myself on the inside with thoughts and now thoughts of things I know I did not do but keep questioning it anyways. Thanks in advance for any advice.

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