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
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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

PinkDiamonds25 I've managed to get "stuck" in a rut and I can't work out what to do to change it?
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One of my favourite quotes; "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein. Hi guys, I don't really know why I'm here, I guess it's because I've been thinking about the same things over and ov... View more

One of my favourite quotes; "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein. Hi guys, I don't really know why I'm here, I guess it's because I've been thinking about the same things over and over again for months without ever coming to a solution/plan that I can commit to.. Life keeps throwing huge hurdles at me and although I wish I knew the solutions to make the hurdles stop, I'm proud to say that I'm still here, managing as best I can.. I've had mental health issues for as long as I can remember, I've had a pretty broken life thus far which seems to have added to the ways that my symptoms manifest themselves. Mostly, anxiety is the condition that I feel affects me the most.. I'm on medication with benefit but I don't really have any friends or support. I've been on my own for years so I don't know why I'm having so much trouble moving away now.. I'm thinking about taking my son and moving a few hours away in time for him to start school next year. I think it might be good for us to start fresh, go to a new town where everyone doesn't know everything (or think they know everything) about our lives. Whenever I'm far enough away from where I am now, my anxiety is better for it. The only reason that I am where I am now is because I've been trying to keep other people happy at my own sacrifice and I don't think that it's best for me or my son to stick around. I am stuck inside the house where I am at present but I can actually get out to the shops, do errands ect in this said town (I lived there for 2 years, 2 years ago and still visit). I'm also happier with the schools available there for my son whereas I'm not in the town that I'm being pressured into (my brother and I were abused at the local school when we were children). With all of these points in mind, it seems like a easy solution to the problem but I don't know why I'm finding it so hard? Is it just because I don't want to disappoint everyone? Perhaps I'm just afraid to fail (it's not like I'd be stuck there forever even if It didn't work out)? I'm tired of being remembered and talked about in the community by the misfortune and failures in my life/my family's life when it doesn't define who I am eg, these been family suicide over the years (my uncle and now recently a cousin), there's been drug abuse (my father), drug induced phsychosis (my father), social issues.. Nothing feels "personal" anymore. I just want to start fresh?

Mimz My life with anxiety
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Hi everyone, so my name is Miriam and this is how my whole life turned around. I used to have the 'perfect' life. Loving family and friends but it's all gone now. My own 'best friend' of nearly 7 years left me and started treating me badly and backst... View more

Hi everyone, so my name is Miriam and this is how my whole life turned around. I used to have the 'perfect' life. Loving family and friends but it's all gone now. My own 'best friend' of nearly 7 years left me and started treating me badly and backstabbing me. I also found out that my dad was kind of cheating on my mum. There's no happy place for me anymore I really need help I'm not feeling like myself anymore

Georgina13 Anxiety triggered by peripheral neuropathy
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This is my first day on here. I have recently developed anxiety after a difficult year. I was coping with my peripheral neuropathy symptoms in my legs and feet quite well...but since I developed this anxiety suddenly I find myself worrying constantly... View more

This is my first day on here. I have recently developed anxiety after a difficult year. I was coping with my peripheral neuropathy symptoms in my legs and feet quite well...but since I developed this anxiety suddenly I find myself worrying constantly about the sensations...and feel they are getting worse which triggers the anxiety and it becomes a viscious circle. I have been on medication now for 4 weeks but the anxiety is still there. I have my first visit with a psychologist next week. Has anyone been in a similar situation who can give me some encouragement. Thankyou

Scotchfinger Anxiety and Humour
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We all have different senses of humour I know. What I'm interested in here is how much anxiety plays a role in making us laugh. John Cleese used to make me laugh on Fawlty Towers when handling difficult situations/people and his own incompetence as w... View more

We all have different senses of humour I know. What I'm interested in here is how much anxiety plays a role in making us laugh. John Cleese used to make me laugh on Fawlty Towers when handling difficult situations/people and his own incompetence as well. I think when I most want others to take me seriously, is when I look the most vulnerable and possibly the funniest. I can remember giving a speech at Toastmasters once and I was so nervous, my hands and arms were going everywhere. The feedback was "Scotch, your content seemed OK, but it was so hard to concentrate on what you said, because of innapppropriate body language." I often try to use humour to diffuse anxiety. But it can backfire if not accepted well. I remember an appointment I had with the boss I was a few minutes late and I said when he arrived "oh he won't mind me being late, he's only the boss." He didn't smile. I think it helps my mental health to try and see the funny side of things. Comedians like Bob Hope and Woody Allen, often use it, I noticed. I sometimes say to myself "OK what's the worst case scenario? I'll be homeless, never afford to have a phone, computer or TV and not be able to post on forums like BB!" Hey that doesn't sound so bad, actually.

Elaja25 Meeting up my psychologist
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Hi everyone do you experience this too? Yesterday is my first appoinment to my psychologist we had a chat bout whats happening tome then thought me what to do the relaxation breathing technic then when i get home before went to bed i tried it even th... View more

Hi everyone do you experience this too? Yesterday is my first appoinment to my psychologist we had a chat bout whats happening tome then thought me what to do the relaxation breathing technic then when i get home before went to bed i tried it even though i feel ok coz she told me to do it to practice it but when i do it i started tobe anxious again that end ups of thinking of nothing again the result is i cant sleep so i need to take my sleeping tablets to control it,is that normal? Do you guys experience it too?

PuzzlePup Funeral - to go or not to go?
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A friend of mine passed away last week. We weren't that close but we knew each other for a number of years. Her funeral is next week and i'd like to go out of respect but I have a fear of death. If my mind gets the better of me I have a mini panic at... View more

A friend of mine passed away last week. We weren't that close but we knew each other for a number of years. Her funeral is next week and i'd like to go out of respect but I have a fear of death. If my mind gets the better of me I have a mini panic attack. I don't know what to do?

Bluey_moon Getting the help I need!
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Today I hit a low, real low. I rang the mental health team, she was lovely and made me promise to see my GP today! My gp didn't work today, so I saw a different one, he was kind, and honest and he suggested the SSRI I was on wasn't particularly helpf... View more

Today I hit a low, real low. I rang the mental health team, she was lovely and made me promise to see my GP today! My gp didn't work today, so I saw a different one, he was kind, and honest and he suggested the SSRI I was on wasn't particularly helpful for OCD, so we are trialing a different one! I feel like he really wants to help! For the first time in a bit I feel hopeful!

aryastark OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
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Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with OCD four years ago; when I was seventeen years old. Since then, I've come a long way with the help, patience and guidance of my wonderful psychologist. But at times, I feel like I'm back to where I started; at the me... View more

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with OCD four years ago; when I was seventeen years old. Since then, I've come a long way with the help, patience and guidance of my wonderful psychologist. But at times, I feel like I'm back to where I started; at the mercy of a terrifying, debilitating anxiety. The intrusive thoughts - mostly fear of harming my immediate family and my loving dogs. The irrational anxiety - panic attacks, feeling nothing but alarm and terror. The compulsion - alarming the house at night so that my family are protected from me. Therapy has taught me that these thoughts are just what they are - thoughts. And my psychologist has told me that they are alarm bells - warning me of some false danger. I need only to tell myself that I am safe, as are my family and pets. I need only tell myself that I have nothing to fear, because nothing is going to happen. But sometimes, I can't help but put self-judgement ahead of rationality. I am often left, powerless and weary, at the mercy of my intrusive thoughts. If I do get a rare moment of peace, I start to feel uncomfortable. I feel like the thoughts are just biding their time, waiting to attack. Poisoning my heart, my soul. Turning me into the very thing I fear the most. I live in fear of my own mind. In fear of myself. What if I am capable of that? As I write, I feel nothing but ice-cold panic. Rare moments of peace are fleeting. Just like that, they are gone. Just like that, I am fighting again. Fighting tooth and nail for a semblance of normality. For a semblance of what people call "peace of mind". I'm not sure I'm familiar with the concept. If I was at some point, then I've forgotten it long ago. I want to get better. I want to be able to control these thoughts, to lessen the power they have over me. But I' m afraid. Afraid they will somehow corner me, drain the strength out of me. I' m afraid that I'm going to lose. I read a quote somewhere which basically said that when we are weak, it is the time we are strong. I hope that's true because sometimes, I feel anything but. 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. SIMILAR THREADS OCD and Intrusive Thoughts Help with intrusive thoughts caused by OCD Intrusive thoughts and images Anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts help! Intrusive thoughts

Boomgate Hello.
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Hi, I am new to the forum. I have joined this forum to see if anyone else shares what I am going through. I get the physical result of anxiety (adrenaline, and a feeling of anxiety) at really odd times, even when I don't feel overly strongly about th... View more

Hi, I am new to the forum. I have joined this forum to see if anyone else shares what I am going through. I get the physical result of anxiety (adrenaline, and a feeling of anxiety) at really odd times, even when I don't feel overly strongly about things. It is almost like my life and my feelings are the same, but the result is uncensored.... like a faulty knob on the anxiety response button. Things that will set it off are things like - Kids screaming (even when playing) - Bad news (stupid little stuff included.... like I left my lunch at home). -Someone posts a racist comment on my facebook Those are some examples.... Yes, they cause some stress, but I have always been able to deal with them... but these days the physical response is much stronger... Some days I don't have any problems at all with these kind of things, other days the response is very strong...

Bluey_moon I'm scared!
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I'm really scared! Im scared I'm a bad mum (it's my daughters first day of second grade and I'm worried about me) I'm scared I'm a bad wife (I constantly cry and unload on my husband) I'm scared the mental health team are wrong, they say I don't have... View more

I'm really scared! Im scared I'm a bad mum (it's my daughters first day of second grade and I'm worried about me) I'm scared I'm a bad wife (I constantly cry and unload on my husband) I'm scared the mental health team are wrong, they say I don't have a psyciatrict illness and I just have to work hard to get better! Im scared I can't work hard anymore and I'll get worse and destroy my family! Im scared of over analysing every sound I hear! Im scared it'll never get better and I can't do it anymore! I'm so so scared!