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
Categories
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. 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

Start a discussion

Blondyroses Frustrated
  • replies: 4

hi, I suffer chronic GAD, depression, mood disorder and various other stuff. I was on medication 300mg a day. It gave me a good nights sleep, however, I was drowsy most of the day or extremely tired by the end of it. Usually had to have a nana nap. A... View more

hi, I suffer chronic GAD, depression, mood disorder and various other stuff. I was on medication 300mg a day. It gave me a good nights sleep, however, I was drowsy most of the day or extremely tired by the end of it. Usually had to have a nana nap. Anyway, so I got sick of being tired all the time and hav e gradually backed off to 200mg. It still helps my mood, anxiety still happens but not as bad and same with panic attacks. It's liveable. However, I have soooo much trouble getting to sleep. I take various types of pain killers ( as I also suffer fibromyalgia) and this helps me sleep or I take a sleeping tab. Once asleep I will only wake once and can usually go back to sleep. My question is, am I better off taking a sleeping pill at night or going back to 300mg? i also have anxiety attacks where I shake uncontrollably- for no obvious reason. Exercises help sometimes but today I took a relaxant. I also have a problem with control. All things must be in order, no surprises, planned days but only one day at a time, only manage a couple of biggish tasks a day (ie shopping and housework), I have zippo zilch motivation and I have to force myself to do things around the house. Since on the high meds, my house is less tidy (but clean) and little jobs become huge when they all start to pile up. I become so overwhelmed that it affects me physically. I hate mixing with strangers, parties, big events etc. I only have a couple of close friends who I am comfortable with. It's like I have to put on a nice act just to keep them all happy. I like being by myself. Is there anything wrong with that?? Seriously. I also feel that people are always judging me, talking about me etc. I immediately think the worst of a situation or comment. I get upset ( on Facebook) if I see people from my past. I'm seriously thinking about closing my account. These people hold bad memories for me. Should I face up to it and not worry (but I know I will coz I worry about EVERYTHING) or block people or just get off Facebook. I know I am anti social but I like it that way. I wish the world would just leave me alone and if I feel like talking to someone I will. Is that attitude selfish? If so, I will still think that as its how I feel. Sometimes I even worry that the world's problems are huge, much bigger than mine and I feel like I'm just being selfish and shouldn't whinge. My problems are so small when measured against third world country problems.

TWNZ My Experience with Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I started suffering from anxiety when I was around 16. I'm 27 now but never really found a cure for it until I was about 23. I would suffer from severe anxiety attacks to the point that I was unable to socialise and found it difficult to complete eve... View more

I started suffering from anxiety when I was around 16. I'm 27 now but never really found a cure for it until I was about 23. I would suffer from severe anxiety attacks to the point that I was unable to socialise and found it difficult to complete everyday tasks. For me a period of anxiety would last 1-2 weeks, completely exhausting me and eventually bring on a episode of depression. The depressive state would last 1-2 months before eventually lifting and I would be seemingly back to normal again. When I was about 23 I had an anxiety attack that was so severe that it threw me into a mental breakdown, which was followed by a long and very dark period of depression. However, out of that event I was really able to grasp and understanding of my anxiety/depression and ever since have always been able to stay well and not slip back into the cycle that i had been going through for so long. As I became aware that my thoughts were the cause of my anxiety, not necessarily the situation at hand, I was able to disregard these patterns of thinking that seemed to be the catalyst for these episodes. It seems to me that anxiety and depression is completely connected to distorted patterns of thinking, whether they are worrying about the future or dwelling on a past event, whatever it may be the thinking is negative and fearful and generates stress and anxiety which ultimately leads to periods of depression. So being able to recognise these patterns of thinking and knowing they are the trigger for anxiety is incredibly powerful (has been for me anyway).Whenever I feel an episode of anxiety starting to come on I simply know that my thinking is out of whack. At this point I simply try and stay present, stay in the here and the now and completely disconnect from my thoughts. It can be a difficult task initially, but every time I do it I feel the anxiety slowly dissipate and eventually subside completely. Whereas in the past I would mull over the thoughts in my head which would drive the anxiety up further and eventually throw me into a state of depression. Today I have no worry or fear for my anxiety or depression, I feel like I truly understand it and see what the cause of it is. For me it is distorted patterns of thinking and identification with the thoughts (believing the thoughts to be true). As soon as I became disconnected from them and conscious of what was happening I was free from the cycle of anxiety/depression that has caused me immense suffering for many years.

NLY doctor not treating my diagnosis, please help?
  • replies: 2

I am new to here so I am not exactly sure how this works but I am quite desperate. Brief background, I was diagnosed with CPTSD and RAD when I was 12 and unfortunately was going to CYMHS appointments with the main cause of those problems until I was ... View more

I am new to here so I am not exactly sure how this works but I am quite desperate. Brief background, I was diagnosed with CPTSD and RAD when I was 12 and unfortunately was going to CYMHS appointments with the main cause of those problems until I was 14/15 when I moved out. I hadn't pursued treatment until 2014 after the main cause of my problems passed away. Since seeking treatment my doctors have all ignored what I have told them and labelled me with GAD. I am really struggling to cope, I was initially on one antidepressant and then put on a different one and then I moved and changed psychiatrist and she put me on an anti-psychotic. I find that it really helps me actually sleep (without it I didnt sleep or woke so many times in the night), however I am still going through horrific nightmares (I will have panic attacks when the effects of the medication hit because I am so afraid of my dreams), panic attacks, intense depression, anxiety and paranoia. I dont know how to get my doctors to actually acknowledge that I have CPTSD and RAD. I feel that I am not being adequately treated and my doctors treat me with the assumption I am a hypochondriac and overreacting. I guess what I am asking is if anyone knows how I can get them to take me seriously? I have tried to get my case files from CYMHS but there were technical issues and I will need to reapply for them. I am a uni student and I am simply not coping and waiting for my files to get released will take a while so the sooner I can get my doctors on board the better. Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Nlpreece Anxiety worst in the morning
  • replies: 4

Why is my anxiety always the worst in the morning? I go to sleep feeling ok and then wake up panicking

Why is my anxiety always the worst in the morning? I go to sleep feeling ok and then wake up panicking

Beltane Increasing anxiety over relationship struggling...
  • replies: 50

Not sure if this should be in the anxiety or relationships forum but here goes... lI've been with my partner now for almost 18 months and we,Ve been through a lot together- hes been here for me through my battles with bipolar, depression, anxiety. I ... View more

Not sure if this should be in the anxiety or relationships forum but here goes... lI've been with my partner now for almost 18 months and we,Ve been through a lot together- hes been here for me through my battles with bipolar, depression, anxiety. I was unemployed for many months and he supported us financially. Now I'm back on my feet, have a job and well... we've been having problems for many months now and at first I thought it was the stress of me being sick and unemployed. Then I thought he was depressed, though he vehemently denies it and shows no real symptoms other than disinterest in anything, now I dont know what to think. i guess I'm a bit of a hippy, I love Tiny Houses an want to build one in the country and be environmentally friendly. I love nature, I'm very much a person who's just full of enegy, even after a day of work, and just want to enjoy the world and all it has to offer. I love music and am always learning new instruments, I sew lovely things like quilts, I dance, I sing. I talk constantly of living I the tiny home, and because tiny homes are cheap to buy and upkeep, it'll give me lots of free money to travel the world. Id happily live life without tv and I only facebook because I.m lonely. I want my life to be filled with nature, music, love, and enjoying life. he on the other hand seems to only work a nd then go to the gym and watch movies, he doesn't like nature or music, he doesn't shar my values of living life to its fullest, he wants a normal home with a mortgage. The thought of living the life we live now forever feels me with deep fear. I'm 27 and we're starting to talk about marriage.... I've had numerous talks with him asking for change over the past few months, which he promises, and he might try a little but soon resorts to old ways. Tonight I broke down Como,erect and said "we're in trouble". He promised me we'd spend tonight cuddling and discussing our future, finding compromises and solutions to our differences. then he got on Facebook and watched a movie, despite my reminder of his promise. i cried alone. i don't think I can save this relationship, I'm not even sure I want to! yet the thought of leaving him causes HUGE anxiety, terrible nightmares. I've put my bipolar meds dose up twice with doctors OK, and yet my bipolar moods and anxiety are going NUTS. I have a brand new job after a long time unemployed, I can NOT afford this kind of stress right now, I can NOT afford my illness to flare either!! Help!

littlelulu New to Anxiety :-(
  • replies: 1

Hi all, im new to all this, i dont really even know where to start...... im guessing i have been having extreme anxiety attacks for about 3 years but never wanted to admit it , i have always been a strong girl with a good solid head on her shoulders ... View more

Hi all, im new to all this, i dont really even know where to start...... im guessing i have been having extreme anxiety attacks for about 3 years but never wanted to admit it , i have always been a strong girl with a good solid head on her shoulders and i never could accept the fact that i may be weakening to anxiety...... but now i take it as being to strong for too long not weakening as dealing with anxiety is far from weakening ....... 5 years ago my partner of 19 years commited suicide and left me with two beautiful boys aged 12 and 9 at the time... i had no time to grieve i had to make sure my boys were going to be ok... but we got thru that time ok, then our friends didnt know how to treat us anymore and they all dissappeared so it was myself, my two boys and two loyal dogs......my boys have grown up well rounded members of the community and im so proud of them but it is now time for me to deal my anxiety and get on with my life........ thanks for reading

sarahl Wedding anxiety and physical symptoms
  • replies: 2

Hi guys! I've been really good with managing my anxiety through CBT and seeing my psychologist regularly over the past 10 year. I have wonderful support from my family and partner - I am very very lucky! I'm getting married in October and I am so exc... View more

Hi guys! I've been really good with managing my anxiety through CBT and seeing my psychologist regularly over the past 10 year. I have wonderful support from my family and partner - I am very very lucky! I'm getting married in October and I am so excited and thrilled to be able to spend my life with someone I care about and love so much, who feels the same about me. The problem is (and it's not really a problem per se - it's our way of life!!) is that my anxiety tends to manifest with physical symptoms, even when I can completely and logically breathe through a situation. I tend to get stomach and bowel issues and quite hot, flustered and then dizzy. I'm terrified this is what will happen at the wedding - a large group of people, a lot of pressure and stress - EEK! In the past fortnight, I've had two anxiety attacks of this nature - after years of nothing, and I'm very worried I am creating my own little nightmare. Has anyone had any similar experiences with a wedding or major speaking opportunity or something similar? Am considering taking a whole lot of anti-nausea meds before the big day just to block my system up - but obviously would rather work though the anxiety!!! Thanks! Sarah

rascal Anxiety and Panic Attacks and how it makes us feel....
  • replies: 2

Dealing with anxiety is one of the most difficult barriers i have EVER had to deal with. I had my first panic attack when i was 15 - my mum and i were at a massive sale in a major shopping centre.., We were walking around and looking at clothes, shoe... View more

Dealing with anxiety is one of the most difficult barriers i have EVER had to deal with. I had my first panic attack when i was 15 - my mum and i were at a massive sale in a major shopping centre.., We were walking around and looking at clothes, shoes and the like.., i remember just walking next to my mum there were people everywhere, is was packed. The next thing i know i could here all the people chattering and it seemed like all their voices were inside my head, it was loud and confusing and this strange feeling came upon me.., i began to feel really warm and dizzy. I became confused and scared. I said to my mum; "Mum, i feel really weird, i don't like this any more" - She replied.., "it's ok darling, you are having a little panic attack.. Lets go sit down and have some food and water." After some time, i began to feel a little more relaxed and calmed down. I will never forget the feeling. Ever. Anxiety and panic attacks is the worst feeling for me - it is horrible. Sometimes i feel like im dying. My anxiety stems from a feeling rather than a thought. My body starts to tingle, i begin to feel really warm, then my left arm goes numb and i get tingles in my fingers.. Sometimes, i don't know how to deal with it. Now i am learning breathing techniques. When you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks; Does it begin with a feeling or a thought ??

Bones90 Well here goes nothing.
  • replies: 6

Hello,Right now I'm sitting on my bed trying to figure out where to start. I've always known even from a young age I was different. I've always craved some sort of acceptance. I remember in primary school, I used to do and say things so that other ki... View more

Hello,Right now I'm sitting on my bed trying to figure out where to start. I've always known even from a young age I was different. I've always craved some sort of acceptance. I remember in primary school, I used to do and say things so that other kids could show me some sort of acceptance or what I believed to be acceptance by my own standards.I would never put myself first. I would analyse every single action or comment other kids would say and think about them 1000 times over. It's not easy being someone you're not everyday, than getting home and having all these thoughts running through your head, while acting like everything is fine because you don't want to put a burden on your family.Even in high school I remember doing the same exact thing, although this time I was being bullied even though I used to act like everything was fine at school. I still remember being called "Losty" or be made fun of all the time, and it hurt but I didn't want to show weakness so I never did anything about it. I used to act like I was fine then I would get home and lock myself in my bedroom.I feel like I'm stuck and I've been the same way my whole life. I always try to think about the future and say to myself "Hey, everything is going to get better" But its not I still do the same thing today. I'm too scared to be myself and feel like I'm never going to change. Im grateful to have friends but I feel like me being around them is just bringing them down. I can't speak to my mother because I don't want her to worry about me, she has five other kids to worry about. I don't speak to my dad, he tries but we don't have a connection, and it's sad but he wasn't really around when we were young, always working and trying to provide us with a better life so we never really got to build a relationship.I've been to a psychiatrist and he has diagnosed me with social anxiety disorder and while I understand the concepts behind this disorder It's still so hard to get over. I sometimes look at my friends and ask myself why can't I be like them? Why am I trapped? I've never been in a relationship and feel like I'll never be in one. Who would want someone who can't even be himself? I feel like I'm ugly and hate my reflection in the mirror. You know I have suicidal thoughts but It's too hard to do, because I know how hard it will be for my family and friends so I'll never go through with it. I just honestly can't see myself in the future. I struggle with life everyday.Thank-Youbeyondblue’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.

Looney Struggling
  • replies: 4

I was diagnosed with anxiety 3 months ago and have tried everything I thought things were getting better until Friday as I had lasted 2 whole weeks at work during that time mum had a major op and also my daughter had an op too which my husband took h... View more

I was diagnosed with anxiety 3 months ago and have tried everything I thought things were getting better until Friday as I had lasted 2 whole weeks at work during that time mum had a major op and also my daughter had an op too which my husband took her. The symptoms I exoerience are hot flushes, jittery, tingling in legs and arms, head goes funny and most of all feeling like I have a lump in my throat and feel like I'm not going to be able to breathe. I have been put on an antidepressant and I also take vitamin B6 and milk thistle. I don't feel like going out I feel safe in my own bed and sleep a lot. This is driving my family crazy. Has anyone else experienced the same symptoms? If so how did you get past it?