Immediate support
Immediate 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 discussion

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 discussion

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 discussion

Slaugh Apprentiship issues and extreme anxiety about working in general
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I am currently a 4th year electrical apprenticeship desperatly trying to keep it afloat whilst suffering what I can only assume is a type of work anxiety and depression. I am 32 married with one child. In my short life in the work force I hav... View more

Hi all, I am currently a 4th year electrical apprenticeship desperatly trying to keep it afloat whilst suffering what I can only assume is a type of work anxiety and depression. I am 32 married with one child. In my short life in the work force I have had 9 jobs all which I have been made redundant almost right on the 18 month mark, give or take a few months. My goal as an apprentice was to start my own business so i can avoid getting sacked from jobs every 1 and halyears. I began this apprenticeship with 5 years experience in the telecommunications feild over 3 jobs. Now I have 3 years experience as an electrician and very close to finishing my apprenticeship but one catch...i don't have an employer and I don't believe I can stand the thought of taking on what would be my 3rd job under this apprenticeship. The first job I was made redundant after 2 and half years. The next my boss fired me because I enroled in school when he insisted he needed me full time. The issue here was we both agreed I would work full time for 6 months and then re enrol back at TAFE. On the 6 month mark and following on for 4 weeks after, I requested to be enrolled daily. My boss just blew me off and continued as business as usual. So I took the initiative and enrolled. Told him, which subseqyently lead to my dismissal. Now the truth is I have come to a conclusion in my own head about what is happening in my working life and I really can't see what else it can be. That truth is that I am not a likable person. What I have found is on the 18 month mark my collegues have spent enough time with me to know they can't stand being around me. I don't blame them... I am always stressed at work no matter the job, overly cynical, shy (which comes off as snobby to many extroverts), I am a heavy smoker (so I constantly stink), and I am not interested in talking about women in a deviant manner (now you can tell I work around tradies) Now over the 14 years experience I have had in the workforce I have hit a brickwall. Some would say a nervous breakdown. This new job I have as an apprentice was a favour from a very good friend of mine, however my anxiety about failing again far outways the gratitude I have for my friend getting me the job. I'm absolutely terrified about working for someone else as I know I can never trust an employer. (My friend is not the employer, he just put in a good word for me). I am very close to finishing but simply can't stomach the thought of working for someone.

Ryanjs Feeling disconnected from society, speech problems, possible hallucinogen persisting perception disorder?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I'm in a bit of a pickle right now. I went down a hole with substances for a few months. Quite often i would do them day after day for around a week at a time. After a while i noticed I was feeling disconnected from society, and now i stuff u... View more

Hi all, I'm in a bit of a pickle right now. I went down a hole with substances for a few months. Quite often i would do them day after day for around a week at a time. After a while i noticed I was feeling disconnected from society, and now i stuff up my speech quite alot, i might have hppd, and i feel anxiety most of the time. I've been sober for almost a month now and i'm not feeling much better. Also, im not really connecting with my family or friends very well. The only times I feel normal is when im doing the things I know how to do, like when im working. I used to swim but I'm getting back into it. I've not seen a doctor or had counselling and not sure how I should go about it if I did. I understand that binging like i did was incredibly stupid and thats my own fault, but I'd like to feel somewhat normal again. Any help really would be appreciated!

Marlie Flooding treatment for phobias
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have GAD and suffer panic attacks and also have issues with ptsd and ocd. One of my ptsd triggers is I was in a large earthquake in 2011. After this I have been too scared to return to my home city where it happened. as it has been a while, fam... View more

Hi, I have GAD and suffer panic attacks and also have issues with ptsd and ocd. One of my ptsd triggers is I was in a large earthquake in 2011. After this I have been too scared to return to my home city where it happened. as it has been a while, family have pressured me to return to visit so I booked a trip thinking I would be fine. I'm not. Since booking it it has become real and i am terrified to go back. I also have a severe phobia of flying and the flight is 4 hrs. my psychiatrist thinks I should go as cancelling is avoiding the fears and that it's called "flooding". I know the trip is going to be so traumatic and I don't know if I can go straight into facing my fears like that. my psychologist who i only just started seeing thinks its too intense and that I need therapy to learn how to manage the anxiety and how to deal with it better before I throw myself in the deep end. any one been through something similar? I don't know if I should go or not! Its 2 weeks away and I can't decide!! i am scared if I go I will get there and I will have a breakdown.

cai Anxiety every time I leave the house
  • replies: 2

I'll try to shorten the back story... my mother passed away suddenly from medical negligence. 6 months later my cousin died. I fell pregnant and separated from my son's father at 5 months pregnant. My son was born at 26 weeks gestation with life thre... View more

I'll try to shorten the back story... my mother passed away suddenly from medical negligence. 6 months later my cousin died. I fell pregnant and separated from my son's father at 5 months pregnant. My son was born at 26 weeks gestation with life threatening conditions, spent nearly 6 months in NICU and then my step father passed away a few months after my son's 1st birthday. I have severe anxiety with panic disorder and I have had panic attacks since I was 4 years old. My daily anxiety has increased significantly to the point that I don't like to leave the house unless it's for my son's therapy sessions, special needs playgroups or for him to socialise somewhat. I have my son most of the time but when he does stay with his father I feel lost and very anxious and don't want to leave the safety of my house. My question is how do those with this kind of anxiety (or terrible anxiety/ptsd) deal with having to leave the house or their comfort zone? I have this never ending feeling of dread and heightened anxiety that is both draining and makes me feel physically sick. I have an awful fear of death and have awful worrying thoughts of something terrible happening to me or to my loved ones. I'm so sick of feeling as though I need to be constantly aware and controlling of everything.

Ardenrose Feeling extreme anxious and worthless. Suffering from PTSD too
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, I want to start off by saying thank you for opening this thread. I know a lot of people are on this website dealing with personal issues, so i just want to thank you, whoever is reading this and taking time to reply to my thread. It does mea... View more

Hi guys, I want to start off by saying thank you for opening this thread. I know a lot of people are on this website dealing with personal issues, so i just want to thank you, whoever is reading this and taking time to reply to my thread. It does mean a lot really. I have anxiety issue. I dont know if im still depressed but i know for a fact that i still get flashbacks from all the bad things, traumatic things that happened to me. Right now, i feel very down and distressed. I just canceled my 9hr shift because i couldnt do it.. What makes it even more upset is that, I tried my hardest this morning to be able to feel strong enough, to fight this anxiety as i could already see it coming. I prayed, read the bible, had a good breakfast and whatnot. but after even getting ready, i just couldnt do it. i wanted to burst out and cry. I know for a fact tho that not only i have anxiety issues, i also have been dealing with relationship problem with my partner... It tears me apart. Now i feel like such a looser for not doing my shift. It reminds me of the reason i lost my job before because cancelling my shifts.... I just want to cry and let this out. I need someone to understand me.wanted to tell my boyfriend but I know he will get angry especially that we are struggling financially (we live together). I hope thats the reason why im saying all these things here... I have work again tomorrow. already scared of whats gonna happen.. If anyone could give me kind words or any encouragement i would really appreciate it. Thank you. Ps: I dont see a counsellor anymore. Not at the moment as i dont feel like its evhelping me at all.

Mojo76 Relief teaching anxiety
  • replies: 9

I am really struggling with anxiety while working relief in schools. I find that every day I work I make at least one really, really stupid mistake that makes me look incompetent. These are always mistakes that I would never make if I was calm but be... View more

I am really struggling with anxiety while working relief in schools. I find that every day I work I make at least one really, really stupid mistake that makes me look incompetent. These are always mistakes that I would never make if I was calm but because I am in a constant state of anxiety, I'm not thinking straight. I'm worried that I am going to end up never been called back to these schools and I have no other source of income. Does anybody else struggle with this?

Nervybella Just needing to write all this down
  • replies: 16

So I have posted a few threads before but I just need to vent today, not sure if anyone will even respond but have to do this Firstly: at the start of the I got a new job, it was awful and I resigned after around 3 weeks. I've been out of work since ... View more

So I have posted a few threads before but I just need to vent today, not sure if anyone will even respond but have to do this Firstly: at the start of the I got a new job, it was awful and I resigned after around 3 weeks. I've been out of work since then and have applied for over 12 jobs, had an interview for one but haven't even heard from any of the others. Making me feel worthless and shit. I was so nervous in the interview, I just kept thinking about my terrible experience at the other job. Its becoming extreme where I dream about the boss who was awful to me, I think I see her in the streets (when it's impossible) and I can even hear her voice putting me down in my head, I can't escape these thoughts and I feel like she has ruined my life...I've lost all confidence and lost all faith, I can't seem to imagine it get excited about a new job because I am convincing myself it will be just as bad as the last.... second: I am feeling very alone at the moment, lots of my friends are overseas before Uni goes back, and those that are hear don't make time to see me. I think it's because they think my anxiety is "fixed" by leaving the job and visiting my psych. When I was in the thick of my most recent bout of anxiety my friends and family were super supportive. Ringing me and offering to catch up and keep me busy, saying all the right thing etc. But now I've left their support had dropped off but really I still need it....I don't know what to do abut this Third: my birthday is coming up and I'm having a get together at my house but this is starting to cause me grief...I'm so nervous to have people in my house, especially eb cause it's usually my safe haven away from everyone....I don't know fourth: I'm also finding that because I'm home a lot I am becoming obsessed with checking these threads to see if people have posted anything. When there is nothing new I get really upset, I can't explain why but I feel like I'm depending on these threads to keep me company or dove my problems, does anyone else feel this way? Anyway, I inow there aren't really any questions in here to be answered but I just hoped that writing my thoughts down would diffuse them a little bit and take away their intensity thanks to anyone that answers, Bella

Bookworm_ My dog is making me anxious
  • replies: 3

Hiii I'm new to this. My parents have gone overseas and I'm home alone with my sister and the dog. Today hasn't been a good day. I keep having anxious thoughts about everything and I can't find a way to relax myself. Even my dog is making me nervous ... View more

Hiii I'm new to this. My parents have gone overseas and I'm home alone with my sister and the dog. Today hasn't been a good day. I keep having anxious thoughts about everything and I can't find a way to relax myself. Even my dog is making me nervous as she won't listen to me and keeps barking for attention. I haven't been sleeping very well either lately. I keep waking up several times during the night. Any advice is appreciated thanks

Bond007 Another OCD sufferer with some tips and questions..
  • replies: 5

Hello folks, New to this site but let me start by saying that I have suffered with pure type of OCD for 7 to 8 years now. It all began when I suffered from testicular cancer stage-1 many years ago. Unfortunately there was no one to talk to and was pr... View more

Hello folks, New to this site but let me start by saying that I have suffered with pure type of OCD for 7 to 8 years now. It all began when I suffered from testicular cancer stage-1 many years ago. Unfortunately there was no one to talk to and was pretty isolated due to my family being overseas during treatment. It was bloody heck of a difficult and testing times. This obviously caused me depression, anxiety and OCD. I have overcome this cancer. Moving forward to present, I still have OCD and depression. My OCD seems to lie dormant if I take proper sleep and if I can avoid caffeine completely. I mean even damn decaf tea can cause me anxiety, obsessions and compulsions to come back which means i have grown sensitive to caffeine. If I take caffeine even in decaf tea or coffee form, than I need to make sure I take my medication too. My doctor has prescribed SSRI which I am taking daily. As my OCD/anxiety lies dormant without any caffeine, doing ERP/CBT is pretty ineffective. I read somewhere that for CBT/ERP to be effective there has to be some level of anxiety while doing exposure. For example one of the obsession and anxiety I suffer from is fear of addictive illicit drugs like ice. It just scares me completely even when I have never taken any drugs whatsoever. My main questions are: Have you been able to completely quit caffeine altogether? I mean no decaf as well. If so how easy you find to not take any caffeine at all? What is your main tip about overcoming OCD? How do you practise ERP for pure type of OCD without any physical compulsions? Any suggestions for my obsessions and fears? Tips: Eat and rest well. Avoiding caffeine seems to definitely help. Going for a run or even walk can be helpful too. Look for less stressful job if work makes you more anxious. Use of essential oil like lavender oil on your feet before going to sleep is helpful. Meditation and affirmations on youtube are handy. Please share your thoughts.. thanks

-Peter- Panic Disorder. I don't know what is happening...
  • replies: 11

Hello, I'm a 29 year old man from rural WA. About three weeks ago I was doing some shopping at Coles when I started feeling nausea, tingling in my hands, panic, tightness in the chest and trembling uncontrollably. The girl at the checkout was looking... View more

Hello, I'm a 29 year old man from rural WA. About three weeks ago I was doing some shopping at Coles when I started feeling nausea, tingling in my hands, panic, tightness in the chest and trembling uncontrollably. The girl at the checkout was looking at me strangely and I know why. My hands were shaking and all the colour had drained from my face. I looked like a ghost. In the past 3 weeks I have had around 10 or so of these horrific panic attacks. I went to the hospital 1 week ago and was referred to a local GP who started me back on medication. In the doctors waiting room I had another massive panic attack and almost feinted. I knew I had to get help so I stuck in there. When the doctor showed me into her room I was basically in tears. I have another appointment with the Doctor a week from now but I am too scared of having another attack in the waiting room. Now whenever I leave the house I am getting these panic attacks. I purposely go to the Deli just down the road so I don't have to go into town. I am no longer able to function properly. I am terrified of having more attacks. I am completely dominated by these feelings and it seems they have no trigger, apart from leaving the house. This is by far the most horrible feeling I've had in my entire life. I am considering asking the doctor to visit me at my home because I don't feel safe to drive. I was previously taking medication three months ago but I weined myself off them as I thought I could cope. Is this just a reaction to stopping my meds? I scored extreme on both the anxiety and depression tests. I really need help to overcome this because this is absolute torture. Thank you for reading my long winded post. I really hope whoever is reading this is having a better time than I am.