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

Beanie018 When you don't even know yourself
  • replies: 1

I have been through anxiety and depression for many years. I am now 29 it all started about 12 years ago. 4 years ago was my first experience with anxiety, after months of struggle I finally started getting better. Much better that I stopped my medic... View more

I have been through anxiety and depression for many years. I am now 29 it all started about 12 years ago. 4 years ago was my first experience with anxiety, after months of struggle I finally started getting better. Much better that I stopped my medication and hadn't experienced any low moods or panic attacks for 4 years. Lately it's all come back and what feels like twice as hard this time. I feel like I'm on the outside looking in and I don't know who I've become. I don't have family here as they are all overseas. I have a partner of almost a year but don't live with him, he doesn't understand it and I have started to distance myself from him. My doctor has just started me on medication again and I'm working up the courage to call to book counselling sessions. It scares me not knowing who I've become or why this is happening again. I feel alone in this uphill battle and don't really know where to begin to start feeling like myself again... advice please

vala2017 I am back and worst then ever
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I had some health anxiety last year which cleared up with some time, but am now in a worst state then how I was last year. I now get these really obtrusive disturbing thoughts that come from I do not know where and they scare the hell ou... View more

Hi everyone, I had some health anxiety last year which cleared up with some time, but am now in a worst state then how I was last year. I now get these really obtrusive disturbing thoughts that come from I do not know where and they scare the hell out of me. I have been diagnosed with OCD and am seeing a psychologist about it, but they are away at the moment and not sure who else to turn to in the meantime. I feel scared and alone and cannot relax. Can anyone share any stories of how they have overcome this to give me some hope......I was a happy and fun person before this but now feel a shell of my former self. I really don't know how much more I can take and my anxiety is giving me anxiety! Please share some success stories to help me get by this difficult time. Thanks.

Safeasmilk Recommendations for podcasts
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for podcasts in the areas of motivation, inspiration, wellness and self help etc thanks ben

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for podcasts in the areas of motivation, inspiration, wellness and self help etc thanks ben

Superdry87 Panic attack calm down
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I mostly just came here to try and calm myself down. I need to feel connected to people or talk to people when having a panic attack. Also wondering if there are other people out there that have an panic attack so bad that you vomit? I d... View more

Hi everyone, I mostly just came here to try and calm myself down. I need to feel connected to people or talk to people when having a panic attack. Also wondering if there are other people out there that have an panic attack so bad that you vomit? I don't usually have a problem with anxiety attacks, not for a long time. I am on medication for scitzoaffective disorder and when it is making me tired and I fight it, this is when i seem to have panic attacks. As mentioned, I really just came by to calm myself down. Thanks for reading

jade-elizabeth Fear of relapsing - Eating Disorder
  • replies: 4

Hi All This is my first post, so has taken me a lot of courage to write (and I hope I have done ok!) In 2014 I was "officially" diagnosed with anorexia. Although looking back, I have always had a strange relationship with food. I was obsessive about ... View more

Hi All This is my first post, so has taken me a lot of courage to write (and I hope I have done ok!) In 2014 I was "officially" diagnosed with anorexia. Although looking back, I have always had a strange relationship with food. I was obsessive about counting my calories, comparing what I ate to those around me. I soon began skipping meals, and distanced myself from all my friends. I found myself at a very unhealthy weight, and with severe depression and anxiety as a result of the thoughts that consumed my life. I was lucky to have the most amazing support network (my family) and health professionals around me, and I managed to re-gain a healthy weight within 12 months. During the initial recovery period I suffered severely with binge eating. Since 2014, I have resumed University study (which I had to withdraw from due to my illness), began working full-time, and become a gym junkie! Exercise has been my saving grace, as it has given me something else to focus on, and introduced me to a variety of new people. It has also helped to teach me that food is necessary to maintain the energy levels I need to train the best of my ability(I am very competitive). I have been training in the gym everyday for a year now, and I have put on a considerable amount of muscle in that time. Therefore, my PT suggested that I give the gyms 8 week nutrition plan a try to help further increase my muscle mass. I didn't even think twice, as although I still struggle with some obsessive food thoughts from time to time, nothing has been extreme for a number of years. I have been on this nutrition plan for only a week now, and I constantly have the urge to binge eat. The food is substantial, and although I am feeling tired (de-tox from sugar), I am not hungry. I have binged twice in the space of that week, but it is consuming my thoughts. I dont really know what is causing these feelings, perhaps the fact that I'm not in control of my food? I really want to see results in my training, so I know this nutrition plan is the best for that, but I am so scared of getting my old eating habits and thoughts back. Does anyone have any advice, or has anyone been in this situation?

sagejacob DSP for anxiety/panic attacks etc.
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, My name is Sage and I'm 19 years old, and it's my first time posting! I'm currently going to attempt to apply for DSP for my anxiety/panic attacks that have been persistent for as long as I can remember (but seem to have been getting wor... View more

Hi everyone, My name is Sage and I'm 19 years old, and it's my first time posting! I'm currently going to attempt to apply for DSP for my anxiety/panic attacks that have been persistent for as long as I can remember (but seem to have been getting worse as time goes on and more responsibilities become present). I'm currently working usually a max of 9 hrs a week as a pizza delivery driver but afraid to ask for a solid max of 9 as my partner and I are relying on this job to get by and my boss doesn't seem the type to be understanding and empathetic - especially to mental illness, but that could just be a bad assumption. Also I am currently taking medication and other tablets (for migraines) but none of which seems to really be effective. Currently I'm having to take additional medication before work so I can function and do my job without panicking but still have my partner on speaker phone for many of my travels. And honestly, I feel as though I am at the very edge of my capabilities and have been pushing myself so much I'm not sure how long I can keep it up. Luckily my shifts are only 3hrs long (maybe a bit over if we're busy) and it's only a 5 minute drive from where I live, but even so all the stress is giving me the worst stomach pains and muscle aches. I think my doctor wants my medical cert. to say I'm not fit to work in general but will see what my psych says soon. Anyways I was wondering if anyone has been in this sort of situation here and could offer any words of advice or encouragement? If you have read all of this thank you and I hope you're having a great week

Denv12 Lonelyness in SA. Ocd,agoraphobia and cfs contribute.
  • replies: 2

Hi. My personal life is bad.I live on my own,I have agoraphobia,cfs and recovering from ocd.I have 1 social visitor every week and 2 people helping me with my shopping once a week.The chronic fatigue means I dont have enough energy to go anywhere and... View more

Hi. My personal life is bad.I live on my own,I have agoraphobia,cfs and recovering from ocd.I have 1 social visitor every week and 2 people helping me with my shopping once a week.The chronic fatigue means I dont have enough energy to go anywhere and agoraphobia set in because the cfs keeps me at home all the time.I am alone a lot.I even have the symptoms of lonelyness where because I've been on my own too long I've been miming my own thoughts. The only way I can stop the miming thoughts is to have people in my life everyday.I need conversation.So much for trying that idea.I'm in many forums for all my problems.I still cant find new friends locally.In the time I've posted in this forum and the previous one nothing has changed in my lonelyness.The intenet gives me something to do by helping others and get through a day but not finding new friends in person.Can anyone relate to that? I have email contact with several internet friends but no companion.I cant even get into a relationship.How can you meet someone for a potential relationship in my situation? I'm lonely.Its that simple.Considering what I'm going through I dont get depression.Major bonus.No depressiion what so ever.I'm lucky there.

Abal Coping with depression, anxiety and ocd
  • replies: 4

Hi my name name is al. I suffer from serious ocd and anxiety. I was originally diagnosed in my late teens with anorexia so I believe the depression and anxiety along with the ocd stems from there. I am a clean freak and I clean constantly if I’ve tou... View more

Hi my name name is al. I suffer from serious ocd and anxiety. I was originally diagnosed in my late teens with anorexia so I believe the depression and anxiety along with the ocd stems from there. I am a clean freak and I clean constantly if I’ve touch one thing I feel it’s dirty and I have to clean the whole area or room I have enter with any small touch. It’s extremely disabling and I wondered if anyone had a advise or is going through something similar.

A_Marie Anxiety and nightclubs
  • replies: 2

I have had anxiety and depression for years (since I was a kid). I am in my late 20s now and manage my mental health reasonably well now with mindfulness and medication. But recently, my anxiety has created a new symptom - panic attacks in nightclubs... View more

I have had anxiety and depression for years (since I was a kid). I am in my late 20s now and manage my mental health reasonably well now with mindfulness and medication. But recently, my anxiety has created a new symptom - panic attacks in nightclubs! I get the fight or flight response kicked and usually have to leave straighaway. I only calm down when I get outside. I'm not sure if it's the alcohol or due to a recent incident when I got harassed by a stranger and touched on the back. Does anyone else have panic attacks in nightclubs? I'm cool as a cucumber in bars where the noise is not as loud, concerts and I see live bands play all the time. Thanks for reading.

Luna50 Work Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone I'm a long time sufferer of anxiety and a classic over thinker. I had a change in career earlier this year but the job never really took off and I wasn't exactly sure what my role was supposed to be. All that aside I got through it becaus... View more

Hi everyone I'm a long time sufferer of anxiety and a classic over thinker. I had a change in career earlier this year but the job never really took off and I wasn't exactly sure what my role was supposed to be. All that aside I got through it because I had a good team around me. A couple of months ago that changed and my team was disbanded and I was moved to a new department. My role is the same but the department I work for doesn't really have anything to do with me so now I don't have a support network and I feel very very lonely and isolated and all the anxieties I was able to control before hand have got completely out of control. I sit there everyday wondering what I'm doing there and I'm extremely bored with the little work I do have and sitting there for 8 hours with not much to do distresses me. On top of that my new boss could not be more different to my old one, he's extremely busy and our roles have virtually no cross over so that adds to the loneliness because I don't feel like I'm part of a team. As a person he's a really nice guy but I've raised my issues with him twice now and nothing has changed. I was once told have a fear of being bored and I think thats one way to sum up my anxiety. I obsess about how I'm going to fill in 8 hours a day and how I'll get through the week. I set my self mini goals just to get me through to Friday but then I start thinking if I'm that miserable why am I still sitting there? I get jealous of people who are busy and it almost becomes child like - why does their day get to go quick and mine doesn't?? Its completely consuming my life, I go home and stress out about it. All weekend I think about resigning but Monday comes and I back out because I'm worried being unemployed and on my own at home all day will be even worse for my mental health than being employed in a job I hate. Its becoming a vicious circle. I have an appointment this week for a referral to a psychologist and I'm booked in for the following day so I'm taking action. I've also started applying for new jobs so I'm trying to get myself out of the situation. Would be great to hear any coping strategies or similar stories. Thanks for listening. Luna50

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