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

T4 panic attack or not
  • replies: 2

HI everyone I'm very worried about this i usually have panic attack which was minor and recovered quickly but 3 days ago I was in class all a sudden my ear started ring, heat surging in my chest I felt like I was about to collapse I quickly ran out a... View more

HI everyone I'm very worried about this i usually have panic attack which was minor and recovered quickly but 3 days ago I was in class all a sudden my ear started ring, heat surging in my chest I felt like I was about to collapse I quickly ran out and since that day on I constantly have that feeling I would just sit there I start hearing a ringing, loss sensation of body with chest pain and heat surges It last for a few seconds but comes on a lot in the day and I very frightening I so afraid to go out now because of this. Thanks in advance

_AnxiousMess_ Please Help...
  • replies: 6

I am really struggling with anxiety at the moment. The physical symptoms are starting to get the better of me. I feel like there is a constant knot in my stomach I'm dizzy spacey and just can't stop crying. But when I am at work I am focussed as long... View more

I am really struggling with anxiety at the moment. The physical symptoms are starting to get the better of me. I feel like there is a constant knot in my stomach I'm dizzy spacey and just can't stop crying. But when I am at work I am focussed as long as I keep my mind active I'm fine. Soon as I leave work I'm a mess. I have my first psychologist appointment on 28th of this month but I'm scared I will go crazy before then!!! Please help with any coping strategies you have to help me through... I would be forever grateful

dudu87 INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS.. MAY I GET INSIGHTS PLEASE?
  • replies: 14

I have these intrusive thoughts, I didn't even know my problem had a name for it. But I read about "intrusive thoughts" and I can absolutely relate to it. I have intrusive thoughts of becoming gay. I have nothing against gay people, I have many frien... View more

I have these intrusive thoughts, I didn't even know my problem had a name for it. But I read about "intrusive thoughts" and I can absolutely relate to it. I have intrusive thoughts of becoming gay. I have nothing against gay people, I have many friends who are.. And I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it.. I just get afraid I may become it, that's all.. It all started in one of my old jobs, a few years back when a lesbian took over as 2IC and then after a few weeks working with her on a morning driving to work (I remember as if it were yesterday) a thought popped up, it was related to what if I was gay?" and that's how it had started.. I even remember what intersection I was on when this all took place.. Light was red, and I was waiting to turn right onto the FWY.. Before this, I had never not once feared that I would turn gay. I was so happy with who I was, and what I had achieved (as I had anxiety before this job.. I had feared and convinced myself I was going blind.. but that's past now..) I get paranoid that I may walk gay, talk gay, how I sound when I'm speaking to someone, try to act more manly even when I get a hair cut.... =/ I know, I'm VERY aware how silly this is.. I only get sexually aroused by woman. I see myself with woman. I see myself with a kid. It's what I always wanted since the age of 16.. I have no sexual fantasy on men at all.. I do however know when a man is good looking/handsome.. And this to be honest scares me, as I made myself believe that a straight man can not determine whether or not other men are good looking.. I get scared to speak to my psychologist about this as I fear he will straight out label me as gay, and I'm the type of person (with my anxiety) to believe stuff, and make me worse then I already am.. Deep down I know I'm straight, I just can't help but feel this uncertainty So my questions are: Do straight men know when another man is attractive? What exactly does in the "closet" mean? Are they afraid of what society will think, or are they afraid to be gay because they want to be straight? (I know this looks like a stupid question. And I'm sorry if I look to be ignorant, its just with this intrusive thoughts, these weird questions pop in, and remain unanswered..) Again, please don't take me the wrong way, I help people as much as I can, I love gay people, I respect them, and they make awesome friends. It's just me and this fear, and I really want to get through this and get better.. Thank you all. Thank you

45987 Is it better to quit a casual job if it's causing anxiety?
  • replies: 3

Such as lack of sleep (i.e. as low as ~2hrs a night), general stressing/constant worry/extra pressure (which roll into other unrelated tasks). I'm a first year uni student and pushed myself to take on a tutoring job, but I feel like no approach I try... View more

Such as lack of sleep (i.e. as low as ~2hrs a night), general stressing/constant worry/extra pressure (which roll into other unrelated tasks). I'm a first year uni student and pushed myself to take on a tutoring job, but I feel like no approach I try gets through (this is confirmed by students test results), despite the fact I put in heaps of extra effort to make notes, practice how to explain, ect. Then I just feel super bad for how much parents are being charged (I'm more than happy with $24/hr, but this turns into an actual rate of much lower when driving and extra time factored in, also I feel super bad parents get charged $60-65/hr, when I'm just a recent high school graduate, and not actual professional tutor). Am I a bad person for quitting?

Lostflutterby Overstressed about my usefulness
  • replies: 3

I suffer from depression and generalised anxiety and im finding it really hard to cope with day to day life right now. Im a mum of two kids 5 months old and 4. My anxiety is causing me to shut down and i dont end up doing any housework or running err... View more

I suffer from depression and generalised anxiety and im finding it really hard to cope with day to day life right now. Im a mum of two kids 5 months old and 4. My anxiety is causing me to shut down and i dont end up doing any housework or running errands or sometimes even playing with my kids. My head is full of everything and nothing. I mediatate and scrapbook and knit for myself. And was doing boxing until i injured my shoulder. I had two main emotional supports but sadly my aunty passed in september 2015 and my other, my dad passed last year. Im overall having a hard time. I have my psych and a good gp but they obviously cant help me organise my life. I have two housemates that are amazing helpers but i hate that most days i literally.leave everything to them. Are there any simplified apps or strategies to help combat my stress and so i can get things done? Thanks in advance.

M2 Dealing with fear
  • replies: 1

Does anyone have any advice on battling debilitating fear? I suffer from anxiety (general and social, with panic attacks when it gets particularly bad) and depression. Fear seems to be the source of all of this. If I could work out how to overcome it... View more

Does anyone have any advice on battling debilitating fear? I suffer from anxiety (general and social, with panic attacks when it gets particularly bad) and depression. Fear seems to be the source of all of this. If I could work out how to overcome it, I'm certain the rest (including depression) would follow. Changing thought patterns is obviously hard, but what can be done to alleviate fear? I try challenging it by facing it but I find that introduces massive spikes of intense anxiety over a short time so I shy away. Pushing through it causes panic attacks. I don't want to live like a recluse. I want to have and maintain friendships but I also want to live without feeling like I'm suffering heart attacks, followed by dark periods of self hatred. Life can surely be a more pleasant experience! Any advice?

Lurch09 Severe anxiety.
  • replies: 2

Hey guys, all my life I have had problems with anxiety and sleeping. They went away for 18 months but have now come back again even worse then before. My rock all my life, Is now leaving for a holiday and I mentally and physically can't deal with it.... View more

Hey guys, all my life I have had problems with anxiety and sleeping. They went away for 18 months but have now come back again even worse then before. My rock all my life, Is now leaving for a holiday and I mentally and physically can't deal with it. I've gone back on my medication and have booked an appointment for Monday with my gp but I was wondering if anyone could help with to get through the next couple of days/ weeks. Thanks in advance.

Hannahm2 No job in 2 years because of panic attacks
  • replies: 2

It started when I got fired from my job at the time for having panic attacks at work. It's been 2 years and I still haven't had a job since, I need some advice on what to do. I'm only 21 and feel as though I've done nothing in my life and I'd love so... View more

It started when I got fired from my job at the time for having panic attacks at work. It's been 2 years and I still haven't had a job since, I need some advice on what to do. I'm only 21 and feel as though I've done nothing in my life and I'd love so much to have a career and a job that I love but can't pluck up the courage. I get sweaty, nauseous and gag when I think about getting a job. What do I do? I'm also having trouble with when I do end up applying for jobs should I be letting my employer know of my condition or keep it to myself?

Tiger04 Anxiety symptoms?
  • replies: 3

Hi, ill keep it short I just want to ask if anyone gets really dizzy, almost vertigo type feeling when their anxiety is really bad or they have anxiety attacks? i feel dizzy all the time lately and my anxiety is out of control right now, I can't even... View more

Hi, ill keep it short I just want to ask if anyone gets really dizzy, almost vertigo type feeling when their anxiety is really bad or they have anxiety attacks? i feel dizzy all the time lately and my anxiety is out of control right now, I can't even go to the shop without having an anxiety attack. i suffer from vertigo and have for most of my life and I'm not sure what's what anymore and it's driving me up the wall. I guess I'm looking for answers I don't know.

Hypersleep When you do something you thought you couldn't, how do you reward yourself?
  • replies: 2

Thus far I have two ways of rewarding myself, that come to mind at least. After I do something that stresses me out I get some take out or if it's something big I buy myself a video-game or other media related merchandise. But lately I am looking for... View more

Thus far I have two ways of rewarding myself, that come to mind at least. After I do something that stresses me out I get some take out or if it's something big I buy myself a video-game or other media related merchandise. But lately I am looking for more ways to spoil myself. So I'm wondering: how do you reward yourself for doing something that made you proud or otherwise overcoming an obstacle?

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