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

anxiety223 PTSD, anxiety and no support
  • replies: 4

have you ever gone through a difficult phase with no support? I have a boyfriend of 2.5y ears and every time I am struggling, he finds it overwhelming and has trouble coping. My biggest anxiety trigger is the thought of him leaving me. i need some su... View more

have you ever gone through a difficult phase with no support? I have a boyfriend of 2.5y ears and every time I am struggling, he finds it overwhelming and has trouble coping. My biggest anxiety trigger is the thought of him leaving me. i need some support. i have no family of close friends here. have booking in to see a psyc. but i can't even talk to my man, he is "always right", once he has his mind up there is no changing it. what can i say to him? i need his support so badlybeyondblue'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.

Matty85 Anxiety and Insomnia, need some help
  • replies: 3

Hi, my name is Matt and this is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since my late teens, I am in my late 20's now. My anxiety tends to come and go and generally I manage it fairly well, however, ever few years I have what I wou... View more

Hi, my name is Matt and this is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and depression since my late teens, I am in my late 20's now. My anxiety tends to come and go and generally I manage it fairly well, however, ever few years I have what I would call a major episode that hangs around for weeks or a few months. Usually I concentrate on one particular thing and constantly have thoughts about how it will never leave, and then I have anxiety about being stuck in that particular headspace for the rest of my life. This also causes me to become depressed. About a month ago after a big night of drinking I had a large anxiety episode. (Im not a big drinker these days, but at times when I am doing really well and in a good headspace, I find myself drinking more and partying hard, which usually brings on the anxiety episodes). Whilst trying to get to sleep I had a rather large anxiety attack about not getting to sleep. Since then I have had mild to strong anxiety whenever I think about sleep and whether or not I will fall asleep at night. When trying to go to sleep I tend to find myself dozing off and I become self aware that I am falling asleep and instantly wake myself up. This can happen a few times as Im trying to get off to sleep, and each time it happens my anxiety increases. As my anxiety increases I begin to stress that I wont fall asleep and I will be a mess for work the next day. I also get anxious that the next night I will have the same battle again, and again for the rest of my life. Whilst doing my day to day work or socialising I also become aware of my anxiety and start to stress about whether I will sleep that night. I went and spoke to my Dr about this and she has put me back on an antidepressant which I have taken in the past. She also prescribed me some sleeping tablets to help me get my sleep pattern back. I started on the antidepressant about a month ago and I feel it is slowly starting to kick in. I have taken the sleeping tablet a few times that I have needed to doze off so I will be right for work the next day, however, I am reluctant to take them regularly as I don't want to be dependant on pills to sleep. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced similar symptoms and could offer any tips or insight into moving past this battle I am having. I am about to go on an overseas holiday in a week and don't want to be stressing about sleep instead of enjoying myself. SIMILAR THREADS Anxiety after night out drinking? Anxiety and drinking alcohol Drinking anxiety Anxiety and alcohol equals despair Anxiety, depression and alcohol

ladybird01 Fear of disappointing your partner or not loving them enough
  • replies: 5

Hello all, I have had very mild anxiety through out my childhood (most of which I recently learnt I had repressed) but recently my anxiety has flared up enormously regarding my relationship. My partner and I have been together for almost two years. W... View more

Hello all, I have had very mild anxiety through out my childhood (most of which I recently learnt I had repressed) but recently my anxiety has flared up enormously regarding my relationship. My partner and I have been together for almost two years. We're from different countries and made the decision to get engaged so that we could marry here and he could get a visa. We were living in his country preparing to come out here and now I am here (due to a family commitment) and we have been long distance for 2 months) and Up until 3 months ago I felt fine with it all and completely happy and excited. Then one morning I woke up with an intense pressure on my chest and stomach and my head was swimming with fearful thoughts surrounding my relationship. Never to do with him or anything he might do, it is always me in these fears. I have flashes of what if I don't love him anymore or do I love him enough or do I want all this with him. These fears just refuse to let go and get so strong that I start believing they're real. I lose the ability to tell myself what it is that I want. I have no idea of what's real and what is just a fear. Has anyone felt this too? It's never a fear of him, it's always of me. Me disappointing or hurting him or not loving him. I have had two sessions with a psychologist and more coming up, but with him it's such a slow process while he paints a picture of the situation in order to help me deal with it. I need some way of stopping these fears when they come up, or some way to manage them effectively. thank you

Artsy_Chick Anxiety over new job interstate and need advice
  • replies: 2

Hi Guys. This is my first post and I just need some advice as my anxiety is going through the roof atm and I'm suffering bad headaches from my current dilemma. It actually very exciting but unfortunately life isn't always straight forward and smooth ... View more

Hi Guys. This is my first post and I just need some advice as my anxiety is going through the roof atm and I'm suffering bad headaches from my current dilemma. It actually very exciting but unfortunately life isn't always straight forward and smooth sailing. So without going into too much detail ill just say a bit a bout my situation. I am 28 engaged for 2 years in the relationship for almost 3. We love each other but I'm a bit stuck atm and i need a new job. I work in a very specialised field and i am also a teacher of what i do. I applied for a new job here but it is not ideal and doesn't have the specialist areas that i work in. I was also just offered a job interstate in Brisbane which is an amazing job with great pay and the people sound wonderful. dilemma is my partner won't go and my entire family are here in Melbourne. I don't know if i should go and use this as a opportunity for self growth and to spread my talents or if i should stay and take a job i don't really want which is not good pay and will have me working double what the one in Brisbane is offering. I can take my dog with me but then of course i will need to pay rent and be alone. My family said they will all visit but i do worry about my mum as we are very close and i go see her all the time ( just cos I'm a mummys girl) My partner was not over excited about the idea as you can imagine and said to me if i want it just go...but it wasn't said in a loving way like its great just go and he said never has he heard of long distance relationships working....i have. I also said it wouldn't be more than a year and he would just have to visit. I also honestly think it might be good for us cos we will miss each other and we rarely see each other anyway (we live together) we have ridiculous schedules and he has never really done much with me anyway throughout the relationship. I know that he could find work anywhere as he is multi talented. But i know he wouldn't want to leave his friends, which i can understand as they are very close. Me on the other side i don't have many friends and i am wanting to make new ones. I feel very bored here and need a change but i don't want to make the wrong decision and get there and ruin my life and live in regret. Please help i need advice. The Brisbane school said they are so excited to have me and they didn't even need an interview cos they love my work and know of me here in melbourne... my anxiety is sooooo bad... x

Stormgrl101 Anxious
  • replies: 3

I feel like nothing I do is good enough. I get so anxious living in this house with my best friend and her (ex) partner. I love her to bits and appreciate everything she has helped me with. But I am sad because I feel people don't understand me, I kn... View more

I feel like nothing I do is good enough. I get so anxious living in this house with my best friend and her (ex) partner. I love her to bits and appreciate everything she has helped me with. But I am sad because I feel people don't understand me, I know it's hard for people who don't have anxiety to understand. No one has said anything but i am anxious people think I am lazy or whatever but I really try hard to keep everyone happy. I'd like it if people have any issues to just come and talk to me nicely and I'll try and fix or try harder instead of keeping quiet getting angry behind closed doors. I was feeling depressed about moving back to my parents house in January but now I can't wait. I feel far to anxious living here and i am breaking

Jskyewalker Unsure of how to start
  • replies: 2

Hi, I have thought for a long time that I might have social anxiety and I would really like to seek help for it, however, the idea of having to go through a GP to get a mental health plan to then go see a psychologist is exceptionally overwhelming, a... View more

Hi, I have thought for a long time that I might have social anxiety and I would really like to seek help for it, however, the idea of having to go through a GP to get a mental health plan to then go see a psychologist is exceptionally overwhelming, and I was just wondering if anyone else has gone through this and how they overcame it. Thanks

Eddy77 Is anyone experiencing my anxiety symptoms
  • replies: 3

Hi Guys, I feel so desolate, helpless and hopeless. I have been suffering from severe anxiety whereby I experience feelings of unreality. Meaning my surroundings seem dream-like and I can not recognize myself in the mirror coupled with frequent urina... View more

Hi Guys, I feel so desolate, helpless and hopeless. I have been suffering from severe anxiety whereby I experience feelings of unreality. Meaning my surroundings seem dream-like and I can not recognize myself in the mirror coupled with frequent urination, hissing sounds in my ears, agitation and crying as a result of this. Has anyone experienced these feelings ?

lillicat Struggling to clear my mind
  • replies: 5

Hi... I am new to this. I can't stop stressing. I am overwhelmed with problems. I actually feel like screaming and curling up into a ball. How do I clear my head and relax? I visited my doctor at the start of the year for my anxiety. I went on medica... View more

Hi... I am new to this. I can't stop stressing. I am overwhelmed with problems. I actually feel like screaming and curling up into a ball. How do I clear my head and relax? I visited my doctor at the start of the year for my anxiety. I went on medication to help cope and went to some sessions with a psychologist. I went off the medication after 6 months. I wanted to have a second child, but I can't stop thinking about all the negative what ifs. I am terrified of hospitals and I have an intense fear of obstetricians. I thought I would be okay, but I'm not. So I have let my partner down. I don't really have anyone to talk to. My partner just doesn't understand. It seems like he is sick of hearing the same concerns over and over. He just thinks I am worrying for no reason. I just want him to hug me and say everything is going to be fine. I am struggling with work at the moment. I have been finding it very stressful lately which isn't helping. I worry about being sacked on a regular basis and not being able to pay my huge mortgage. Thanks for reading.

frosty67 New to these forums
  • replies: 3

Hi guys This is my first time here...have been reading through the forums and there is some really good advice...hoping someone has experienced what I am going through Was diagnosed with depression nearly 20 years ago but recently have wondered if it... View more

Hi guys This is my first time here...have been reading through the forums and there is some really good advice...hoping someone has experienced what I am going through Was diagnosed with depression nearly 20 years ago but recently have wondered if its more anxiety I suffer...I know the two are co-morbid but...anyway In the past 12 months I've lost nearly 30kgs in weight, starting eating healthier, been dating a great woman for 10 months, trying to finish my studies, moved to a different job, changed medication. All sounds pretty positive But, in the past month or so I've been suffering terrible anxiety...my psych and I have decided its probably about my studies which I have been working really hard on trying to complete and getting minimal feedback on...hopefully that will change tomorrow. But there are things that I am not sure about... One is that since Sunday night I've had the feeling of being unable to empty my bladder ...I also have a tingly sensation at the end of the tubes...my urine yesterday was really strong and the tingly sensation may be because of that...I'm nearly 48 and of course these things always make me think about Prostate issues...occasionally, not often, I get that feeling that when you go, you need to go straight away again but there is nothing there or a little dribble...is this Anxiety related or something else??? I feel I am tensing the muscles in the pelvic floor which I guess is related to the feelings of "holding on" Are there other things that are common issues...like recently I've noticed that I haven't eaten a lot of meat...I've eaten cereals, dairy products and lots of salads but no meat...also drank too much coffee too and not enough water...I have also from the weekend tried to drink a cup of camomile tea before bed... So just wondering what people think and whether I am taking 2 and 2 and making 7... Thanks Steve

simmobc Panic Attacks
  • replies: 2

Hi all,I am just after some advice, recommendations.I am 36 and currently in the middle of a pretty hectic bout of regular panic attacks. My doctor has given me some medication as an emergency parachute in times of need and I have had one sessions wi... View more

Hi all,I am just after some advice, recommendations.I am 36 and currently in the middle of a pretty hectic bout of regular panic attacks. My doctor has given me some medication as an emergency parachute in times of need and I have had one sessions with a psychologist, next session coming up soon.I have the classic panic attack symptoms and am now tending to avoid certain situations. My panic attacks seem to be driven by anticipatory situations, business meeting et al. I try at all costs to avoid medication and tend to give in when the panic attack and anxiety becomes unbearable.Whilst I have read a lot of literature about panic attacks, the one thing I struggle with during a panic attacks is diverting my mind to a different place to circumvent the episode. Does anyone have anything they can share that works for them? I try to focus on deep breathing, music helps too.With my panic attacks at the moment, and I'm sure it is/has been the same with everyone, is that once the panic attack starts, it is a pretty slippery slope to get off! It is intense.. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated and have a great sunday.Cheers