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

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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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

Daisycqt The simple act if sitting still
  • replies: 2

I'm finding that the simple act of resting for a day is causing me to panic. Having been told since I was six years old that "if you are asleep, you should be awake, and if you're awake you should be working" I now reach the point that I can't work d... View more

I'm finding that the simple act of resting for a day is causing me to panic. Having been told since I was six years old that "if you are asleep, you should be awake, and if you're awake you should be working" I now reach the point that I can't work due to physical restrictions, but not working means I mentally have a terrible time. Because I'm not working, that induces a panic attack. My brain knows I can't do any physical labour at the time as I am physically restricted (I have fibromyalgia and osteo lipping on my spine which is very painful) but by not working, even the act of "taking a day off" causes my to panic and then I need to take a calmative. the guilt I've been programmed to feel by not doing hard physical work each day is so ingrained now that the mental effect on me is devastating. How can I overcome 44 years of programming to enjoy a simple day off?

Lilyrose Hoping for change soon...
  • replies: 2

Hi all this is my first post. ive been dealing with anxiety for a little while and had an escalation which lasted 3 weeks in January. I try to stay positive, see a psycologist, exercise, I'm on medication (only for a short period), be mindful and kno... View more

Hi all this is my first post. ive been dealing with anxiety for a little while and had an escalation which lasted 3 weeks in January. I try to stay positive, see a psycologist, exercise, I'm on medication (only for a short period), be mindful and know that anxiety management takes time to master. My main issue currently (which I've had the whole time)is early morning waking with anxiety which leads to me getting physical symptoms, worry, constant thoughts but I ween it down with distractions such as watching my favorite tv show. i just want to go back to my old self full time! Any suggestions on what I can do to get on the road to recovery quicker and I just don't know how long it will take to have things more under control. Feeling frustrated. Suggestions welcomed...

tweedcoaster Social Anxiety? I am not sure, please help!
  • replies: 2

Hi,I am new here and just signed up. I am 34 yrs old, with a wife and 2 kids. For years I have been dealing with this social anxiety and I need help with this. I cant go to social gatherings unless I drink alcohol, I cant go to the front of my house ... View more

Hi,I am new here and just signed up. I am 34 yrs old, with a wife and 2 kids. For years I have been dealing with this social anxiety and I need help with this. I cant go to social gatherings unless I drink alcohol, I cant go to the front of my house with my kids as I feel weird and feel everyones watching me, I literally freeze up when I venture to far in the street, I avoid conversations with the neighbours, I only drive into the house and out of the house. I cant go and play with my kids in the front yard or the road, only at the back where I don't feel anxious. I struggle with taking kids to sports events where I have to deal with too many people. the list goes on and on, but this is a brief description, I could go on for days about whats going on in my head. I cant keep going like this, I have better days where I feel a bit better, sometimes I feel I should live in a area where the neighbours aren't so close where I can live freely and walk outside, i feel locked in living in suburbia where houses are close, but that's not fair on my kids . I don't know whats wrong with me. I need help or advice what I should do. I do take medication but doesn't help with anxiety. Should I take any other medication that would help this? some advice I would really appreciate. its really getting to me mentally, and its wearing me down to a really low point). please help .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.

headspace21 Panic, low self esteem and swinging
  • replies: 2

Last night was probably the lowest I'd been in awhile.I've been in a long term relationship for almost 7 years, and we've always swung on and off. Last night was the first time we swung since a huge fight that almost ended the relationship. I keep th... View more

Last night was probably the lowest I'd been in awhile.I've been in a long term relationship for almost 7 years, and we've always swung on and off. Last night was the first time we swung since a huge fight that almost ended the relationship. I keep thinking about last night over and over again. I feel lesser than. I feel ugly.ive gained a few kilos over the past few months and that's made me feel older and unattractive.

danger_mouse anxiety and low blood pressure?
  • replies: 2

Found out a week ago I have low blood pressure. I also have anxiety. I don't exercise and im overweight so it's not because I'm a fantastic physical specimen of a human being. I'm wondering if anyone else has this or has heard of it? High blood press... View more

Found out a week ago I have low blood pressure. I also have anxiety. I don't exercise and im overweight so it's not because I'm a fantastic physical specimen of a human being. I'm wondering if anyone else has this or has heard of it? High blood pressure runs in my family so I've always figured that'd be my worry, hereditary plus anxiety usually leading to high blood pressure, but now I'm faced with the opposite!

chloe33 Falling apart and trying to put myself together
  • replies: 2

Everything got too much. I took some leave from work but they are still contacting me and asking me to do things. I went to a GP but don't think I made a lot of sense. They were really good though and I think I can go back to seek the help I need but... View more

Everything got too much. I took some leave from work but they are still contacting me and asking me to do things. I went to a GP but don't think I made a lot of sense. They were really good though and I think I can go back to seek the help I need but it is so so hard to talk. I feel sick and so stressed about everything. I feel like I am letting everyone down. I don't know who I am at the moment.

mrsanxiety not right....
  • replies: 4

ive been going well with my anxiety and depression but today/tonight nothings going right!! My partner has started working which is so great. But he has to stay at his sisters house 1 hour away. Hes home every two or three days. He is my rocks. we ju... View more

ive been going well with my anxiety and depression but today/tonight nothings going right!! My partner has started working which is so great. But he has to stay at his sisters house 1 hour away. Hes home every two or three days. He is my rocks. we just got a new dog yesterday. bulldog cross hes 13 months old. its the first dog ive owned in 5 years. we adopted him... im just not feeling a connection with him. Hes very energetic and needs alot of training. im not sure why im feeling this way but everything is making me feel numb. I feel very alone and it hurts. i have no family who live close. Ive barely been sleeping i have a 6 year old daughter so no sleep makes life hard. I want help, no i need help! But i want someone who will come to my house where im comfortable. I know i need help. My depression is becoming out of control. i also got my implant contraceptive out a week ago after having it for four years and im wondering could that be affecting me?? I feel scrambled even in what im writing and im just asking if theres anyone thats felt this way? Anyone that can help?Thank you for reading. hope to hear from someone soon

Ann72 I'm going crazy
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm wondering if anyone else has issues like mine. I feel like I'm going crazy . My partner of 30 years wants to leave because of it.while I'm at work or even going to the shops without him I think he is cheating whether on internet chat or chat l... View more

Hi I'm wondering if anyone else has issues like mine. I feel like I'm going crazy . My partner of 30 years wants to leave because of it.while I'm at work or even going to the shops without him I think he is cheating whether on internet chat or chat lines . Gets really bad I think I'm ruining the best thing in my life which is his life. my children even think I'm nuts . What could be wrong if anyone had same as me let me know thank you

Angel87 Anxiety, difficulty breathing, loss of a loved one
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Im new to Beyond Blue but am here as I am desperate to get my life back to normal. Since January I've been getting bad heart burn, indigestion & chest pains. I saw my GP, he took a blood test & found my cholestral was high. Since then I've ch... View more

Hi all, Im new to Beyond Blue but am here as I am desperate to get my life back to normal. Since January I've been getting bad heart burn, indigestion & chest pains. I saw my GP, he took a blood test & found my cholestral was high. Since then I've changed my diet & started exercising more. Around the same time I also found out my grandmother only had weeks left to live. This is when my anxiety started. The difficulty taking deep breaths, chest pains, heart racing, not sleeping, constantly on edge, fidgety etc. Now my grandma has gone it still isn't any better. I have an appointment with a cardiologist & was reading about the forum on Cardiac Anxiety & this sounds like me. I truely miss when I could actually go through a day without constantly struggling to take a deep breath. I wish there was a day that I don't think there is something seriously wrong with me I know grieving is different for everyone & the time it takes to heal varies, but it has affected my entire life. I use to love my job & now I struggle to get through a day. It is really busy at the moment which doesn't help, but I use to love going to work & now not so much. Please tell me it will get better & my life, my breathing & sleeping will feel "normal" again one day..

Inner_strength Anxiety and itching
  • replies: 4

Hey I'm new to this site and I've have anxiety on and off for several years . Recently it's really bad and I've had to change medication which hasn't been fun ! I have a new symptom with my anxiety now and was just wondering if other people have expe... View more

Hey I'm new to this site and I've have anxiety on and off for several years . Recently it's really bad and I've had to change medication which hasn't been fun ! I have a new symptom with my anxiety now and was just wondering if other people have experienced the same . I have really itchy skin , mainly my back and arms . It's driving me insane and my skin goes all red and blotchy and raised which then makes me worry more !