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

Aggy Just want to say hi: diagnosed with agoraphobia
  • replies: 63

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all. I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to c... View more

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all. I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia. I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to come and compare notes. You all seem very nice and supportive of each other. That makes me feel better already and think I will like it here. That's my first post, so look after yourselves and I'm looking forward to making a friend or two. -aggy

Dreamcatcher Anxiety over Illness
  • replies: 5

Not quite sure how to begin this! Well here goes! I am a 33 year old mother of one beautiful baby girl and happily married so my anxiety is not stemming from either. This all began 4 years ago when I battled an illness and was quite un well and was s... View more

Not quite sure how to begin this! Well here goes! I am a 33 year old mother of one beautiful baby girl and happily married so my anxiety is not stemming from either. This all began 4 years ago when I battled an illness and was quite un well and was sure that I was going to die! I recovered but now every time I have a stomach ache, my mind runs away and the little voice in my head that I like to call the accuser tells me it's stomach cancer. Or if I have a head ache it's a tumor I am sure you get the drift I try my best not to give in to these fears and stop googling my symptoms as this only makes things worse. At the moment I am really anxious as I am waiting on ultra sound results I wish I didn't always think the worst I hate to burden my husband with my constant health worries and have no close girl friends that I can talk too. I work in a fast paced enviroment part-time so that I can be with my daughter. I am not sure how to get over the anxiety and dont want to take medication, I would appreciated any ones thoughts?

Optimist_Prime What works for you to escape your moment of anxiety?
  • replies: 5

Hello It is hard for me to admit to myself that my anxiety is unhealthy and that it has reached a point where I am no longer in control. But I think I'm finally ready to stop denying the problem (again). Would some of you lovely, sharing people discu... View more

Hello It is hard for me to admit to myself that my anxiety is unhealthy and that it has reached a point where I am no longer in control. But I think I'm finally ready to stop denying the problem (again). Would some of you lovely, sharing people discuss what has truly helped you in the moment to overcome your anxiety? Is it simply "being strict with yourself" and forcing thoughts to be more positive? Or have you found other things helpful? I am not open to medication (health reasons, long story). And I have sought professional help before but did not find it healing longterm. I find my anxiety/ depression goes in waves. Sometimes I can get on top of it for years and then a number of stressful occurrences finally push me back over the edge to the same anxiety and negative thoughts.

sw A whole new world..
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone I am new here & reasonably new to the extreme anxiety experience. Ive suffered bought's of depression in the past but after a recent trauma I am living with anxiety and not enjoying the experience at all of course. One of the most difficu... View more

Hi everyone I am new here & reasonably new to the extreme anxiety experience. Ive suffered bought's of depression in the past but after a recent trauma I am living with anxiety and not enjoying the experience at all of course. One of the most difficult symptoms I find is the insomnia..When I am having a bad day, like today, Ill be lucky to get to sleep until the early hours of the morning. Its a vicious cycle and feels so hopeless at times. This week I almost had an anxiety attack in a work meeting when a person triggered a memory of the recent trauma I referred to. It was a hellish experience and I hope its not the start of further deterioration. I am on medication that is taken at night and meant to help me sleep but only works on good days...Went off the sleeping tablets as I do not want to become reliant. Thankful to have the opportunity to share a part of my story with my peers & hear your feedback

Overthinker Feeling lost and alone.
  • replies: 18

Hi i am 29, i have been struggling with myself for a few months now. I have 3 children, a partner who works away in Western australia 8 days on and 6 days off. I am not the bright bubbly happy fun loving girl i use to be. I am constantly over thinkin... View more

Hi i am 29, i have been struggling with myself for a few months now. I have 3 children, a partner who works away in Western australia 8 days on and 6 days off. I am not the bright bubbly happy fun loving girl i use to be. I am constantly over thinking things creating stupid senarios in my head. I am always worrying about things i shouldn't be and worrying about what people think and have to say about me. My biggest issue at the moment, is that my partner who works away has a female friend who he has known for 5 years now and has dinner with her maybe 3 times a year, they do talk through fb messenger as do me and him while he is at work. But my biggest concern is that after their dinner catch up last night she put on his fb that they must do it more often as its been to long. I keep thinking she is trying to come between me and him. As she knows that things havent been great with him and i of late. I keep feeling like i am not good enough for him anymore, he has assured me that he doesn't see her as anything but a friend but obviously she has other ideas. I feel like my whole world is falling down around me and i can't pick myself back up. Thats all happening and my kids wont listen to me or do what they are told to do. I have no motivation to do anything but sit around and cry and over think things Everytime my partner is on Fb messenger when he is at work i keep thinking he is talking to his female friend. He doesnt talk to me very much at all. Today i had a breakdown i couldnt stop crying i actually thought to myself that i dont want to be here anymore. Its so hard i dont feel i have any support i dont feel like anyone understands me. I feel so alone and not wanted. But im just too scared to tell anyone. I know im not well at all and want to get back to my normal self, i know this takes time but at the moment i just dont want to be here. 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.

Liz71 No reason
  • replies: 5

Saturday night at home, nothing happening, no dramas, no fights, nothing confrontational & my guts are churning with anxiety. Why? Hubby's cooking a BBQ, going to struggle to eat it....doing my breathing, comes back the second I stop. I'm an intellig... View more

Saturday night at home, nothing happening, no dramas, no fights, nothing confrontational & my guts are churning with anxiety. Why? Hubby's cooking a BBQ, going to struggle to eat it....doing my breathing, comes back the second I stop. I'm an intelligent & successful person, why can't I control this? So frustrating & irrational.

Smiths I Just Read About Anxiety
  • replies: 0

I just read on the beyondblue community that, three million Australians are living with anxiety or depression, it's really a huge amount of anxiety. Only way to overcome from anxiety is self awareness. Every person need to understand what is the reas... View more

I just read on the beyondblue community that, three million Australians are living with anxiety or depression, it's really a huge amount of anxiety. Only way to overcome from anxiety is self awareness. Every person need to understand what is the reason behind their anxiety and which is the best cure for it. Deep breath exercise is a best cure to reduce anxiety. But in the case of extreme anxiety or anxiety attack most important think to consult with a Doctor, psychologist. Keep in mind self help is very important for anxiety.

Danibug Coping (or not) with Anxiety
  • replies: 4

I am posting this partially as a distraction for myself and to organise my thoughts when the panic makes them scramble ... it's a sort of sharing of my story and a shout out for strategies.Tonight I wrestle with my anxiety and panic, with the added w... View more

I am posting this partially as a distraction for myself and to organise my thoughts when the panic makes them scramble ... it's a sort of sharing of my story and a shout out for strategies.Tonight I wrestle with my anxiety and panic, with the added weight of having to muster as much strength as I can because my 7 year old boy is home and doesn't need to see my struggle. But then once I am alone, it's an explosion, there's only so long I can hold it in, it's just so overwhelming sometimes. I hate this feeling so much ... I'll be up, achieving, feeling invincible ... then the slightest thing will boot me down to desperate and scary depths.No,I've never contemplated suicide. But i harm myself because the panic and emotions I go through become so overwhelming I want them to stop. I don't want to feel these emotions, I want calm and peace. My outbursts are scary, I know in my head I shouldn't do what I do, but the overwhelming urge is hard to fight. And I know, as my doctor pointed out, that if I lost too much control, I could end up seriously hurt. And yet even that thought doesn't help. I've been pretty on top of it for a while, since my last 'explosion' resulted in an ambulance ride and a hospital stay. Thank goodness for the friends I love so dearly, who show that they love me back. I've had medications adjusted, see a psychologist and psychiatrist ... and things, until tonight, have felt so settled.How do others cope with their overwhelming emotions? I'm at the point of accepting all kinds of ideas. I carry healing crystals, I craft, I keep busy ...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.

MissA Has anyone experienced weightloss caused by Anxiety; i feel like i'm going insane
  • replies: 9

During my teenage years I had suffered from depression, around 4 years ago I was able to go off my medication and I felt better. No sadness at all. However, in the past 7 or so months I have been under a lot of stress. Stress from hours being cut at ... View more

During my teenage years I had suffered from depression, around 4 years ago I was able to go off my medication and I felt better. No sadness at all. However, in the past 7 or so months I have been under a lot of stress. Stress from hours being cut at work, a wedding that needed to be paid for and finish planning (lucky the wedding turned out wonderful), me and my husband moving interstate so I could be with family and searching for a new job then stressing about making it work here cause I want to live near my family. During this time I have suffered around a 4-5 kg weight loss which is very noticeable on me as I was only 53kgs to start with. I have clammy hands and feet a lot of the time, rapid heartbeat at times, a lump in my throat, clenching my teeth causing very bad headaches, muscle and joint pain. IBS. Tired. I worry about EVERYTHING even things that aren't rational. My mind just won't switch off! I have been to the doctors who has ruled out thyroid problems, diabetes, celiac disease etc but I still google things to try to find out whats wrong with me... then I start to think I have something really really bad. I feel like my mind is fighting itself every minute of everyday. Have you experienced this? Is weight loss possible? Any advice? Thank you so much.

Snakes How do you eat when food makes you feel sick?
  • replies: 3

Normally I love food, but when I have bad anxiety even the smell of food makes me feel severely nauseous. All food, even healthy food. Last time I had a serious anxiety episode I only ate every three days, and by "ate" I mean half a sushi roll or a b... View more

Normally I love food, but when I have bad anxiety even the smell of food makes me feel severely nauseous. All food, even healthy food. Last time I had a serious anxiety episode I only ate every three days, and by "ate" I mean half a sushi roll or a bite of lasagna. Does anyone have any tips on how to eat properly (even at all would be good) when highly anxious? I've tried mainly eating salads because it doesn't have much of a smell but I don't even really want to eat those. Oh and I also work in a kitchen