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

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EC2004 Anxiety, stressed or just too sensitive
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Hi all. This is my first time posting on this page. I haven't been diagnosed with anything and to be completely honest I'm not sure if I have anxiety or if I'm just too sensitive so I don't know whether I should be seeking help. By way of background,... View more

Hi all. This is my first time posting on this page. I haven't been diagnosed with anything and to be completely honest I'm not sure if I have anxiety or if I'm just too sensitive so I don't know whether I should be seeking help. By way of background, I work in an industry that is stressful, time sensitive and just full on. I find that I can go periods of time without incident however there are instances where I find myself really stressed worried about work. I work really hard to keep on top of my workload and I am always willing to help a co-worker when they need assistance. Despite occasional positive feedback, I still feel worried. Regularly, I struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep and I often wake up feeling like I've slept for an hour and dreading work. Every morning on the train to work I experience knots in my stomach. I find that I am irritable at least half of the time. Occasionally, I experience what I call a breakdown, where I am just inconsolable. This has happened a few times and has been the result of something relatively minor which is something I can't control or not my fault but I've taken it personally. Most recently I encountered a problem at work that made me so stressed and worried that I almost immediately started crying (just after 9am) and I was tearing up throughout the day. I couldn't stop thinking about it (even though it was something that I couldn't control, it wasn't my fault, I worked to sort the problem and it really shouldn't have been a big deal). I experienced a hot flush that seemed to last for hours (a co-worker tried to comfort me and mentioned I was burning up) , I was shaking I could barely write and I couldn't control the tears. Even after I'd solved the problem and realising it may have been actually been a misunderstanding/miscommunication and leaving work at the end of the day, I still cannot help but cry. These things have happened a few times before in my time at this workplace, and on those occasions one of my colleagues have sent me home and I've needed to call in sick the following day because I still couldn't compose myself. As I said these incidents don't happen often but when they do, they sneak up on me and I just can't get over it. I need help identifying if it is something I need to address with a doctor or if I'm simply sensitive. If anyone has any tips on how to manage it, that might be helpful. Thanks in advance

Missaaaa Scared at night & I don't know what to do
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Long story short I have anxiety. It was made worse by multiple break ins at my previous house a year ago. Ever since I can't sleep at night and living at this new place means I live with my landlord - who is overseas for three weeks. It's the midway ... View more

Long story short I have anxiety. It was made worse by multiple break ins at my previous house a year ago. Ever since I can't sleep at night and living at this new place means I live with my landlord - who is overseas for three weeks. It's the midway point and I'm hearing sounds and I can't distinguish between house, people or cats. I have the numbers for my neighbours who I've met only once and I don't want to alert them for nothing so late but I'm really anxious and tense. Anyone know what I should do??!

Nowornever Compassion Fatigue - How to Deal with it?
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In this first post I want to say thank you to Beyond Blue, I called the line several weeks ago and it helped me went through my worst break down. Whoever it was on the other end of the line, you have a kind soul, and amazingly professional. I'm 33 ma... View more

In this first post I want to say thank you to Beyond Blue, I called the line several weeks ago and it helped me went through my worst break down. Whoever it was on the other end of the line, you have a kind soul, and amazingly professional. I'm 33 male living with my partner, she's 26. We are both young and even younger at heart. I myself went through some really bad episodes of depression in my late 20s. My partner has a pretty severe social anxiety. We both work, I'm a marketing manager with really fast paced work, she works part time in hospitality. I have supported her in every way possible and encouraged her to start her own business. She went from total isolation to being able to force herself to go to work although it will drive her to heightened state every time she needs to go to work. She doesn't took meds as she didn't feel very good on it and we are not sure we can afford psychologist help. We don't have friends, I couldn't care less for social interaction and she is too afraid of it. I just feel tired of being supportive... Emotionally drained and increasingly apathetic towards many things. I'm constantly being viewed as an enemy every time we enter a argument. And we argue if I try to suggest a positive thing for her self improvement. She feels that she is under attack and I'm her enemy. I feel that I'm alone while I'm trying really hard to support her. I go under a lot of stress myself and all I can do is suck it up and go through it as I don't have support. Our personality are polar opposites, I'm a type A and she is type B. She's an easygoing Cancer, I'm a structured Virgo. But we love each other dearly as we are different and support each other. She keeps me grounded and reminds me that I'm a human being with a soul while I help her see and navigate the realities of the world. I feel we are drifting apart with each argument. How do I approach her when I want to share something that will improve her life? What do I need to do look after myself? What do I do if we enter an argument? Is there any technique to remind myself that I need to be more patient? How do I cope with holding back with myself? How do I grow a support network for myself when I don't have time? I feel better already writing this rant. I know the reason why I'm posting this is so I can get this out to at least someone, who will read this. Does not matter if there is no solution, or there is no help. I feel thankful, I feel more content. Cheers, Depressed partner.

Tricky_Mick Depression and anxiety
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Hi I am new to this I do not know how to deal with anxiety and depression I got diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 3 years ago and they come in waves I feel like I got no one and I feel like I'm losing my friends I've run out of ideas to dea... View more

Hi I am new to this I do not know how to deal with anxiety and depression I got diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 3 years ago and they come in waves I feel like I got no one and I feel like I'm losing my friends I've run out of ideas to deal with anxiety and depression like techniques I've tried listen to music and other techniques I must appreciate if someone can help me give me some techniques and ideas to deal with anxiety depression

anxiouslydizzy Anxiety and dizziness
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I am struggling with anxiety induced dizziness. Please help. Thank you.

I am struggling with anxiety induced dizziness. Please help. Thank you.

AinslieB Anxious mum
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Hi everyone - I am a mum of two young teens. Both are lovely and social but sitting underneath this is some anxiety (runs in my family). My youngest had panic attacks at age 9/10 which was awful but have disappeared now (they were triggered by people... View more

Hi everyone - I am a mum of two young teens. Both are lovely and social but sitting underneath this is some anxiety (runs in my family). My youngest had panic attacks at age 9/10 which was awful but have disappeared now (they were triggered by people taking photos of him and being on social media) and he said he feels he can manage it and he's proud of what he's achieved in overcoming it. My eldest is diagnosed GAD a long time ago and his manifests in mild depression and anger. At this stage its relatively OK - both are healthy, loving, appear happy. My eldest does brilliantly at school, is currently positive and motivated, and very aware of his feelings so that when he feels down he takes action. My youngest less brilliant at school (I do attribute this to anxiety), but he is sociable, artistic, engaged and outgoing - has many friends, and he recently held his first art exhibition which he was proud of. He to is very alert to negative feelings and talks about them so feels he can take control of it. So really - they are not bad to the point where I need to take them out of school and seek serious help (this is their current state, mind you - but they have had bad times in the past) At this stage, I am the biggest problem - I have serious anxiety diagnosed 5 years ago after my mum died and while on the outside it looks OK it's starting to eat away at me where I worry about my kids and their future constantly. I am convinced one of them will develop a serious mental illness and/or will have any other host of significant problems in the future - I am just 100% convinced regardless of what anyone says. It's ripping me up inside and I am blaming myself and my parenting for their 'future' problems and don't know how to cope with it. Up at 3am every night, heart racing, tingling legs, the other night I burst into tears in front of my husband and I feel for him as he doesn't know how to help and is tired of it. I am totally sure my kids are going to suffer in life and have serious problems - mental, physical. employment, challenges with further education etc. It's affecting my life and work and I want out.......it's so bad I feel like Iwant to run away as a mother vs. deal with any of their problems head on, should they pop up. I just don't have the coping mechanisms anymore nor do I feel I can help. This is also affecting my work and I am retreating socially. Any tips???

El4 Is it anxiety
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I haven’t really told anyone what’s REALLY going on. It’s been a while since I started to feel like this. Orginialy I thought it was just me being a teenager but what I feel like it’s more than that. When ever something happens I can’t get it if my m... View more

I haven’t really told anyone what’s REALLY going on. It’s been a while since I started to feel like this. Orginialy I thought it was just me being a teenager but what I feel like it’s more than that. When ever something happens I can’t get it if my mind, I tried talking to my mum but she just said I was over thinking it. But I never did this before. It all started when my best friend moved away and then my group broke up and now I feel alone. Whenever someone looks at me funny I start to overthink it and then I feel my heart pick up and I get hot. I can’t sleep sometimes. I just want to go back to normal but I can’t. I started to think that maybe I have anxiety but then I felt bad for over reacting. Some things make me feel sick when I see them but then is that just normal? Idk what to do.....

sue_denim Any teachers with anxiety? I need help to get through prac.
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Hi everyone, I've just started in the forums, but am seeking some tips/ help etc to get through my 4th year / 10 week prac block. I'm a mature aged student, have been studying since 2011 due to parenting/ earning responsibilities, and I'm on the home... View more

Hi everyone, I've just started in the forums, but am seeking some tips/ help etc to get through my 4th year / 10 week prac block. I'm a mature aged student, have been studying since 2011 due to parenting/ earning responsibilities, and I'm on the home stretch of practicum/ internship to get this dual degree. Thing is, it's not fun. I'm not getting that joy I'm supposed to feel when people who teach love their teaching. I struggle with classroom management , and no matter how many hours I spend on my lesson plans, it often unravels and I end up having an anxiety attack in front of the kids. I've burst into tears in front of one group: I can handle most kids (I've been a teachers' aide for 10 years), but the ones who argue that the sky is not blue, that I can't have their phone to take to the office because they've used it in class, etc, esp. those with ODD and just rude really confound me, and now know how to push my buttons. My uni obs. sessions have been mixed, the last one, she witnessed a train wreck of a lesson, and I've barely passed that stage of prac. I'm a really high achieving student: I normally get Ds and HDs, and now to be floundering is soul destroying. The 80 minute periods don't help either. I'm even questioning whether I want to be a teacher. I'm back at it for the last half of prac tomorrow. Am trying to get in exercise, mindfulness meditation, eating well, trying to get enough sleep etc, but am scared I'll fail. My partner has also just left me, and I've got 2 disabled kids. I have to get through this. Help!

toodepressed Severe anxiety - new serious symptoms need help !
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I'm having problem in my severe anxiety. New signs and symptoms that destroying my life. I don't have a family or even close friends to give me a clear feedback about my daily life, but what I feel I'm becoming so lost, losing control " time manageme... View more

I'm having problem in my severe anxiety. New signs and symptoms that destroying my life. I don't have a family or even close friends to give me a clear feedback about my daily life, but what I feel I'm becoming so lost, losing control " time management" losing opportunities, friends, personal stuff, and attention to small details. My short memory is getting worst, tried to get a job but my anxietys' symptoms are really clear such as shaking hands and lack of attention. I'm so scared about my future need your advice !

G89 Reaching out.
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For the purposes of this post, I’ll call myself John. I am 28 years old and have been living with some type of anxiety disorder since the age of 10. As a young child, I distinctly recall having textbook OCD – the counting, checking, touching, repeati... View more

For the purposes of this post, I’ll call myself John. I am 28 years old and have been living with some type of anxiety disorder since the age of 10. As a young child, I distinctly recall having textbook OCD – the counting, checking, touching, repeating rituals based on everything and anything. In my teenage years it largely subsided, but only to make room for GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). This too was textbook. The what if’s would repeat over and over and over again. Moving forward 10 or so years, I have developed an ugly eating disorder, body dysmorphia as well as a reoccurrence of both my OCD and GAD. I work in an industry where I deal with separated parents and it is bloody difficult. It has taken a toll my mental health in ways I can’t explain. In the last week I’ve been forced to take some off from work on sick leave because my anxiety and paranoia just became all too much. I have seen various psychologists and psychiatrist and I am currently being treated with therapy and medication. As I don’t have many people to talk to about this, I thought posting on here would be a good idea. I have a daughter who is one year old and a supportive partner, who unfortunately has to put up with me with when I am feeling extremely down. I am not sure if anyone will respond, but it would be nice to hear from others in similar distressing situations. John.