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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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

plaster 3 kid's a small business and a partner
  • replies: 3

Hey guys i am a 25 year old with 3 kids and a partner i suffer anxiety with ocd compulsive worries and thoughts which my partner is there 100%.......who is there when you need support and feel alone like life is so hard closing in on you and you feel... View more

Hey guys i am a 25 year old with 3 kids and a partner i suffer anxiety with ocd compulsive worries and thoughts which my partner is there 100%.......who is there when you need support and feel alone like life is so hard closing in on you and you feel you cant share this with your partner as you see her life is way harder then mine she is home with children all day..... 5...4...2 thats how old they are amd yet i feel like i am trapped in a box i love her and my kids so so deeply but i am a short and snappy person since my friend anxiety devoloped as i am getting older i feel i want things......hobbies.....more money....anything and i am feeling more and more controlled by my partner and i dont know what to do something inside makes me feel more and more stress the more i am controlled yet in life you can't just do what you want when you want.....kids come first but i have no male friends to talk to about life i am a tradie a manly man and i feel like life is getting so hard but i cant share this with my wife as i feel so selfish how do you cope with this feeling please help

anxy26 anxiety/emetophobe
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'm really struggling with my anxiety/phobia around vomiting. I have a 17 month old son and the last 5 weeks he has been vomiting and had diahhorea. I'm falling into a bad place living in constant fear of him vomiting, having to clean it... View more

Hi everyone, I'm really struggling with my anxiety/phobia around vomiting. I have a 17 month old son and the last 5 weeks he has been vomiting and had diahhorea. I'm falling into a bad place living in constant fear of him vomiting, having to clean it/him, worrying I'm going to catch something that'll make me vomit etc. I'm waiting to see a psychologist about it but that is more than a month away and every day I'm alone with him I'm tense worried and dissolving into tears due to the stress. My husband is great but can't always come home from work and I have no other family here that can help. Has anyone been through something similar? I feel like I'm slowly drowning....

GypsyAvalon ANXIETY WITH TRAVELLING
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I have a bit of a dilemma I need help with. My husband and I would like to plan a weekend getaway in January to Queensland but I have had much trouble travelling in the past. I have a fear about being too far away from home and from my d... View more

Hi Everyone, I have a bit of a dilemma I need help with. My husband and I would like to plan a weekend getaway in January to Queensland but I have had much trouble travelling in the past. I have a fear about being too far away from home and from my doctor and psychologist, in case I start to feel unwell. This has stopped me travelling any more than 3hrs away from home. Would really appreciate your thoughts or suggestions on this. Many Thanks

Random3 Tips
  • replies: 1

I would love some help &feed back.... I've always thought I have been a bit ocd with thoughts, thinking in patterns or thinking if I don't do this then something bad might happen...I kind of got control of that. every now & then I get random thoughts... View more

I would love some help &feed back.... I've always thought I have been a bit ocd with thoughts, thinking in patterns or thinking if I don't do this then something bad might happen...I kind of got control of that. every now & then I get random thoughts that I stew on for sometimes a few days sometimes a month eventually I get over it & think how did I ever think that. A few years ago I went into a depressive state over my thoughts, I got help & eventually got through it but now it is all happening again & I feel so much worse. I am getting help, but I just feel so deep in. I constantly am thinking, I wonder what that persons thinking, are they even thinking about their family or this or that, so ridiculous I know. I feel like I'm at work standing their & all the conversations are just going on around me, I find myself thinking why r u even saying that, I feel so withdrawn & feel like I have conplelty lodt my way of thinking & always questioning if how I'm thinking is right even when I am feeling fine. I know this is happening as I just over think & I am getting help to try & improve this but any tips would be great. Not even sure if any of this has made sense to anyone, but I feel completely crazy & I'm scared I won't get out of this horrible feeling!

flower_girl1 What if this is as good as it gets
  • replies: 1

Hey, it's been a while, to recap I started experiencing severe anxiety about this time last year, when I first came to beyond blue. I was medicated, I quit my job, finished college and moved to London. i am now in the same kind of job I had before an... View more

Hey, it's been a while, to recap I started experiencing severe anxiety about this time last year, when I first came to beyond blue. I was medicated, I quit my job, finished college and moved to London. i am now in the same kind of job I had before and I am starting to feel really stressed in it. It's a shame because in theory this is the kind of job that I want but dealing with customers can just be so aweful when things go wrong. I love the job but day to day there seems to be so much I don't love about it. but when is start to look for a different job I just can't find something that I will be enjoy that I can do and pays decent. I guess know I'm wondering if this is all I can expect from any job, to just scrape by and not really enjoy it. What if there isn't really a job for me out there? flower girl

tulpa worried about my capabilities
  • replies: 3

hello again I haven't been around the forums for a while. I seem to be worrying more and more about my level of intelligence, sometimes I think I'm the biggest idiot on earth and everyone is too nice to tell me, other times I feel like I'm a genius a... View more

hello again I haven't been around the forums for a while. I seem to be worrying more and more about my level of intelligence, sometimes I think I'm the biggest idiot on earth and everyone is too nice to tell me, other times I feel like I'm a genius and that if I wasn't apathetic there would be nothing I can't do. I can't understand it I seem to swing from sheer arrogance and absolute certainty in my superiority to a self loathing idiot, never in between. Is this some kind of narcissism?

Justus Newbie
  • replies: 1

I'm not too sure where to start. I guess by writing this now, I've started. I wake in the early hours of most mornings with what feels like my heart pounding out of my chest. I feel like I cannot cope with everyday stuff and feel like I'm being lumbe... View more

I'm not too sure where to start. I guess by writing this now, I've started. I wake in the early hours of most mornings with what feels like my heart pounding out of my chest. I feel like I cannot cope with everyday stuff and feel like I'm being lumbered with every decision, such as: What are you organizing for Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc, why dose it have to be up to me always. Feeling very alone, scared, not in control of me, overwhelmed, sad

gucci coping with ptsd anxiety
  • replies: 2

hi therei have had anxiety for about 10 years now and have recently been diagnosed with ptsd anxiety. i witnessed and was made responsible for patching up a bipolar pd family members suicidal attempts from when i was 15 to now. i have been doing ok (... View more

hi therei have had anxiety for about 10 years now and have recently been diagnosed with ptsd anxiety. i witnessed and was made responsible for patching up a bipolar pd family members suicidal attempts from when i was 15 to now. i have been doing ok ( have a stable job, loving partner and a good home now) but i often feel very anxious with anything that reminds me of that situation and lately even with things that dont - but instead that i assume are simply going to lead to a very threatening situation for me. i would just like to know how to better cope please,...if anyone has any advice id be very greatfull xxx beyondblue's clinically-trained moderators often work offline (invisible to you) on issues relating to suicide or self-harm. At the same time, general supportive comments from the community are encouraged. If you have concerns around suicide or self-harm, please phone our support service on 1300 22 4636.

julzabee Panic disorder, anxiety and intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 3

I've suffered from anxiety for a long time and recently the amount of panic attack i'm having has become extreme to the point that I dont think I will ever get better. The intrusive thoughts have been scaring me into having panic attacks. I know I'm ... View more

I've suffered from anxiety for a long time and recently the amount of panic attack i'm having has become extreme to the point that I dont think I will ever get better. The intrusive thoughts have been scaring me into having panic attacks. I know I'm not going to do something stupid due to these thoughts and I've been put on a medication to help cope with them but I just want to find out, is there light at the end of the tunnel? Im seeing psychiatrists and psychologists but yeah will I have a better life? I'm over being afraid every second of every day, its exhausting which isnt great because I havent been sleeping

ELove ADHD/Bipolar/Anxiety - undergoing diagnosis and fixing a misdiagnosis.
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, more than anything I'm probably looking for support and people to relate to more than answers. I've been around these parts but have never posted, so I'm looking forward to getting more involved. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Diso... View more

Hi guys, more than anything I'm probably looking for support and people to relate to more than answers. I've been around these parts but have never posted, so I'm looking forward to getting more involved. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and mild depression when I was 16 by a GP, and after being on and off with various psychologists and medications for a few years (I'm nearly 22) I decided to commit to a new psychologist at uni, who I am very pleased with. She thinks I might have ADHD, has spoken to my parents, and is trying to discern whether I may have ADHD or bipolar. The prospect of a new diagnosis is terrifying me. The reason I went to see a psychologist again is because I can't get through uni, I've completely lost all motivation, focus, creativity, any form of drive, but I'm not necessarily all that sad. I think the medication may be having an effect on that; making me feel flat and completely blocking out my ability to even react to stressful situations. I'm starting to think the only times I'm genuinely very happy is when I'm drinking with friends.... That's probably an issue. Not being able to complete tasks has had a huge effect on my life, I've started feeling pretty hopeless, as if time is running out and I've wasted my life. Kind of like life keeps moving and I'm just going through the motions to scrape through, being tripped up but having just enough energy to stay upright and look normal, but nothing more than that. I have huge goals that will never come to fruition if I can't commit myself but I can't see a change in myself coming. It's scary. Anyone else feeling something similar or have some pearls of wisdom?