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
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

All discussions

Start a discussion

Feeling_Helpless Anxiety and Exercise
  • replies: 3

Hi all just wondering if anyone experieces or has experience severe anxiety after exercise. I try to get at least half an hour of moderate exercise a day but after i am done i get chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, upper back pain, weakness in aems... View more

Hi all just wondering if anyone experieces or has experience severe anxiety after exercise. I try to get at least half an hour of moderate exercise a day but after i am done i get chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, upper back pain, weakness in aems an legs and burning/heavy feeling all over. Which then lasts all day. I am a mum of 2yr old and 3yrs old so i do have a lot on my plate but i am generally quite healthy in meal choices and just had a blood test and everything is fine..

Sarah89 Help! New anxiety?
  • replies: 2

I've always been, I guess highly strung sort of person, but this last week it has occurred to me I have anxiety and am having panic attacks. My mental state was amazing earlier in the year, the best in a long time. Then I came back from a holiday and... View more

I've always been, I guess highly strung sort of person, but this last week it has occurred to me I have anxiety and am having panic attacks. My mental state was amazing earlier in the year, the best in a long time. Then I came back from a holiday and ever since I keep feeling nauseated. Originally I thought I was sick, but I'm pretty sure its anxiety and I have no idea what I am anxious about. When I get an attack, I start by feeling nauseated, then within about 10 mins I feel hot and cold and shaky and my heart beats really hard and fast. These symptoms last maybe an hour, but then I still feel nauseated and like an indigestion chest pain for hours and hours after. It's awful and I think I am making it worse for myself because every time I feel nauseated I worry I am going to feel worse and then I do end up having one of these attacks. Because of it I am having trouble eating and focusing on other things including things to take my mind off it. I'm just laying around in bed with no energy, worrying about it. And before these attacks I didn't feel overly worried about anything, now just any thought of anything in the future pops into my head and I get a flutter of panic because I'm worried I will be too anxious to do whatever I need to do in life, eg, work, socialise, etc. Does it sound to other people like I am having anxiety attacks? If so why is this suddenly happening when I didn't even feel that worried about anything in the first place? Also does anyone have an tips for nausea caused by anxiety? That is my worst symptom which holds me back from doing anything with my day.

CMF Phobia about the dentist
  • replies: 2

I am prone to anxiety. I have always been scared of the dentist. I put off going until I'm in a desperate situation. When my kids were younger and I took them for their first visits I found the courage to go myself- if they can do it so an I. I was s... View more

I am prone to anxiety. I have always been scared of the dentist. I put off going until I'm in a desperate situation. When my kids were younger and I took them for their first visits I found the courage to go myself- if they can do it so an I. I was so proud of myself, I did it. I haven't been back for years and now find myself in a situation where I need to go. I have booked the appointment, it's in a week and a half, earliest I could get. I am freaking out. It's a check up and cLean but I have a problem with my gum. I'm scared. Scared I may lose a tooth, scared how bad it will be. I keep telling myself whatever happens can be dealt with, stop pre empting things that may happen etc but I'm scared, full on anxiety. Why did I leave it so long to go, what if I lose a tooth, what will they do to me? I'm so stupid for it going for do long. I'm so scared now. I tell my self people go all the time and have things done. Why am I so scared? I kNow facing fear is a way to overcome it but I'm freaking out, don't wNt to wake up sick every morning which I knew would happen. Anyone else experienced this? How did you cope?

Skaters Severe paranoia.
  • replies: 1

Hello everyone! I am 27 years old and have previously never suffered from a mental illness. In the last 18months my mental health has deteriorated rapidly with a diagnosis of Anxiety andOCD. A few months ago I was involuntarily admitted to a hospital... View more

Hello everyone! I am 27 years old and have previously never suffered from a mental illness. In the last 18months my mental health has deteriorated rapidly with a diagnosis of Anxiety andOCD. A few months ago I was involuntarily admitted to a hospital with severe clinical depression- I was unable to talk or attend to any activities of daily living I was there for 6 weeks and changed medications. In the past week or two /i have begun feeling extremely paranoid about every aspect of my life and this world and have also been getting intrusive negative thoughts that feed into the paranoia. I am wondering if this is a normal aspect of depression that will come and go at times of increased stress or is this turning into something more?I am asking on here first as I want to wait as long as possible before telling my mental health team as I am afraid they will section me again ( Or is that paranoia??)

EverdeenKatniss Personal Training = Personal Hell
  • replies: 1

Hi, i am an overweight girl in her twenties, to go to the gym was a great, not to mention terrifying experience. To speak up and ask for a personal trainer was even harder, I was shy and embarrassed. I suffer from a major depressive disorder and anxi... View more

Hi, i am an overweight girl in her twenties, to go to the gym was a great, not to mention terrifying experience. To speak up and ask for a personal trainer was even harder, I was shy and embarrassed. I suffer from a major depressive disorder and anxiety issues. My trainer was unreliable and flakey, he cancelled often and never gave me what I paid for. I have chased him for three and a half weeks in seek of appointments, which he never replied. After finally getting hold of him and sending a frank, appropriate message seeking availability. Out of nowhere he replied stating this was purely professional and he believed he had given me the wrong idea and he would understand if I got another trainer. I was embarrassed and horrified because in honesty I never was suggestive or inns proprietor not to mention interested in him. The problem I face with my anxiety is when I am upset I obsess, I can't stop thinking about an issue (like one mentioned above) I am sad and sullen, I am basically haunted by the emotions I am faced with. My family want me to stay at the gym, I am so hurt and embarrassed. I am unsure how to cope with the feelings I have, as to anyone else what I am upset about is not a big deal. I am struggling with the defeat and embarrassment I am feeling. I decided to join this site to seek advice and support as I feel alone and mortified. I am obsessing over this, my anxiety is suffocating me. Thank You, J

Zoostar84 Living with Anxiety and depression
  • replies: 2

This is my first post with BeyondblueI have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression since 2004.This year has been very difficult for me. Earlier this year I was feelingvery drowsy every morning and stuggled to push through the mornings. I had runo... View more

This is my first post with BeyondblueI have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression since 2004.This year has been very difficult for me. Earlier this year I was feelingvery drowsy every morning and stuggled to push through the mornings. I had runout of my thienobenzodiazepine a couple of days before I was to see mypsychiatrist. I noticed I was not feeling drowsy during these couple of daysand I told my psychiatrist and he was happy for me to discontinue my thienobenzodiazepin. He prescribed me a tricyclic antidepressant that has been used for decades. Oneday at work I had went to the toilet and felt a sensation like I was on arocking boat. I went back to work and just froze. My manager wanted to speak tome in a private room and I felt very unsteady. I went to the tea room and layedon the couch. I later found out my blood pressure was low and I nearly passedout.I saw another psychiatrist whilst my psychiatrist was away in April. Heprescibed me a serotonin-nrepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). I was keepingfit and healthy. I go to the gym three times a week most weeks. At times I felta throbbing sensation and sharp pain in my forehead. I felt something was notquite right. My psychiatrist increased my SNRI dose. I went to thepharmacist and looked at the SNRI dose that I was being dispensed andquestioned the considerable increase in SNRI dose i was being dispensed. I spoke to him the following day and theremust have been a miscommunication between the psychiatrists because i was being dispensed the starter dose since April and he thought I was takingmore. Knowing this he increased my dose until my next appointment.I now keep a diary of my prescribed medications.Mid september I had close to a week off from work as I woke up every morningat 3:30-4:00 with heart palpitations, my head feeling a bit fuzzy. I'm back atwork now. I went to see my counsellor last week and she is very worried aboutme. I have lots of people that support me including my family, girlfriend, andwork colleagues. My counsellor gave me a mental health number for someone totalk to in an emergency situation. I am having currently having difficultyconcentrating, memory loss and feel very absent minded. I dont feel I amcurrently on the right dose of medication or right type of medication. I amtrying to manage my stress levels, but every day is difficult.

CoffeePowered how do i get past the freeze response
  • replies: 1

I have a problem with freezing up due to anxiety. Mostly I get a mental block while writing... or speaking. Like exam anxiety but all the time. I've been trying to overcome it but i can't. I break things down into smaller steps, i do calming/breathin... View more

I have a problem with freezing up due to anxiety. Mostly I get a mental block while writing... or speaking. Like exam anxiety but all the time. I've been trying to overcome it but i can't. I break things down into smaller steps, i do calming/breathing exercises. I've tried everything, but I still can't unfreeze myself.

Jon364 Agoraphobia and Centrelink payments
  • replies: 2

Hi, I've been homebound for 10 years, with anxiety/depression and feeling uncomfortable being in public places. It was at it's worst point about 5 years ago but even now it's still very bad. I'm a part of a very small family with only my mother and m... View more

Hi, I've been homebound for 10 years, with anxiety/depression and feeling uncomfortable being in public places. It was at it's worst point about 5 years ago but even now it's still very bad. I'm a part of a very small family with only my mother and my brother (who lives elsewhere) and have only been out of the house twice in the last 10 years in terms of being a social/fun sort of thing. I'm always more comfortable when at home and very uncomfortable, even when someone else comes over. I recently went to a GP and got a medical certificate and referral to speak to a psychologist/psychiatrist about it but there's a waiting time of a few weeks and I'm in a bit of a limbo at the moment in terms of waiting. I also went to open a bank account, which was especially hard.. especially being in the shopping centre. I was shaking and felt really uncomfortable and overwhelmed. The GP was ok once I was able to get into his office and talk.. but anything else other than talking to a doctor is very hard for me right now. The reason why I don't mind the doctor so much is because it seems the one situation where someone can understand or help. And I don't have to try and act "normal". I've applied for Centrelink payments but going in on my own would have been hard, so I've had my mother handle it for me by giving her the authority t odeal with it. It's been a month of ups and downs so far, I have a medical certificate for two months, but currently waiting for ID to arrive via mail before payments can start. The reason I am making this post is for any general advice anyone has with this situation.. and secondly because I received a letter today from Centerlink for an appointment next Wednesday. A suitability for work appointment etc. It says if I don't go the payments will be stopped (I haven't even started receiving them yet and money is getting quite tight, even just to see a doctor). I was told by the GP I wouldn't have to look for work, and through the whole process Centrelink have said I wouldn't need to look for work (at the moment) so I don't really understand what my options are. This appointment was never mentioned until today (via mail). Does anyone have any advice? I really want to speak to a GP/counsellor, but anything else seems very hard at the moment. Work is the last thing on my mind right now, and to have to worry about cutting of payments is an additional stress that makes things harder. What should I do? Thanks

Rochan2014 Really struggling with physical symptoms. Need to be heard/listened to.
  • replies: 7

Hi, I'm new here. I've suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for about 15 years but lately things are really getting out of hand. I suffer from all kinds of physical symptoms, many of which I don't believe are stright out anxiety/panic but due to t... View more

Hi, I'm new here. I've suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for about 15 years but lately things are really getting out of hand. I suffer from all kinds of physical symptoms, many of which I don't believe are stright out anxiety/panic but due to the medicine I'm taking. I'm due to start my new anti-depressant medication tomorrow and really hope I can get back on track. Today I've had a massive migraine, pain in the head/spine plus discoordination, feeling of passing out, constant dizziness, jolts in the head plus more. Everyone I tell dismisses my symptoms as panic attacks and I simply can't make myself heard except by people who support me in the community (but they are not the doctors).So I'm welcome to any advice because I go for a morning walk every day, try to eat the right foods, and want to get well. I live with my parents but they don't come anywhere near me so I'm both physically and emotionally isolated. Luckily I have a good neighbour who I spend an hour and a half with each day. It helps to get out of the house.My GP isn't really on the same wavelength as me either. Any advice is welcome. Thanks for reading.

Kelvin How hard does it have to be
  • replies: 3

My father used to say ( If it is to be it is up to me )I totally get though the implementation is easier said than done.Running a business when your failingTired 24/7, panic attacks, no concentration, the want to disconnect,Why have I lost my MOJO I ... View more

My father used to say ( If it is to be it is up to me )I totally get though the implementation is easier said than done.Running a business when your failingTired 24/7, panic attacks, no concentration, the want to disconnect,Why have I lost my MOJO I never was like this. I guess the antidepressants dont help hey.Well back to work know. Thanks