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

Matilda26 I feel like I am running on pure adrenaline
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I've never posted on here before, but I was wondering if anyone feels any similarities to this. I feel like I am running on pure adrenaline, I just can't seem to feel calm. I feel like I'm constantly whining and I can't stand myself. I am in a stress... View more

I've never posted on here before, but I was wondering if anyone feels any similarities to this. I feel like I am running on pure adrenaline, I just can't seem to feel calm. I feel like I'm constantly whining and I can't stand myself. I am in a stressful job, but I feel like I'm less than everyone there and I could be a better person than I am currently being. I do enjoy my profession and I'm also studying my post graduate certificate in my field. Along with the anxiety comes the lack of self worth. I have good friends, but currently find it hard to comprehend why they would want to spend time with me and this leads me to start isolating myself. i just wish I could feel calm and happy or just peaceful.

Azza Help with intrusive thoughts caused by ocd
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Hi All, I have been on anti depressant meds for around 8 weeks now and need some advice or med suggestions that can help with obsessive intrusive thoughts. I do meditation and some mindfulness every day but I am still struggling, had quite a bad morn... View more

Hi All, I have been on anti depressant meds for around 8 weeks now and need some advice or med suggestions that can help with obsessive intrusive thoughts. I do meditation and some mindfulness every day but I am still struggling, had quite a bad morning yesterday morning, tears and sobbing, I realise the thoughts are just that " thoughts " but they are very distressing for me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards, Aaron

Lostdreaminglover Struggle to get out of bed even thou I feel like I'm letting work down!
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I have suffered from aniexty my whole life but I do have a stack of other labels too. Bi pola, borderline personality disorder and depression. My main issue right now thou is aniexty about going to work. I just can't get out of bed, I have this guilt... View more

I have suffered from aniexty my whole life but I do have a stack of other labels too. Bi pola, borderline personality disorder and depression. My main issue right now thou is aniexty about going to work. I just can't get out of bed, I have this guilt about taking time off to get better and forget that I do have an illness. My work is understanding arm but when is it going to stop and them to say to me enough is enough. I'm scared and don't know how to fix this. I want the step I used to have about work, I do love my job and I don't want to lose but I feel my illnesses take over every aspect of my life. I spend all day in my room/bed then all night. I have no energy to do sport ( and can't do anything crazy due to accident late last year) How do I get my morning step back, how does one feel good in the morning and doesn't have panic attacks. I gag and heave until I've called in sick then I lay there all day feeling awful about it but I just know I couldn't of got up and gone.. Also one other thing that happened that could be playing a big part is my friend attempted suicide at a wedding a few days ago and I had to keep my cool and help her. It was awful, not sure if this is effecting me somehow also. Anyhelp would be amazing.. I feel so helpless.

samantha1988 anxiety/Panick Attacks
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Hi everyone,I started suffering from anxiety in 2012 during my last semester of my nursing degree. Constant anxiety and panick attacks no more that 1 hours sleep a night, couldn't be alone blah blah.Anyway, I was started on one medicaiton which worke... View more

Hi everyone,I started suffering from anxiety in 2012 during my last semester of my nursing degree. Constant anxiety and panick attacks no more that 1 hours sleep a night, couldn't be alone blah blah.Anyway, I was started on one medicaiton which worked wonders for over 1.5 years. However, it made me gain over 20 kilos, I have always been slim and never had weight issues. I gradually weaned off it and was perfectly fine for nearly 2 years, manged to lose the weight and get back to normal.Working as a nurse doing shift work and all other shifts I started having panick attacks again. I've been on another AD for about 6 months and it has done wonders, the only issue is that the psychiatrist started me on another medication too . I've found it highly addictive and the longer I've been on it the more I need. I've tried to cut down but find I'm edgy and can't really sleep well without it. Has anyone else got a similar story or any advice?I desperately want to get off one of the medications, but happy to stay on the other one. It's so difficult. Why do doctors give you something so addictive that you depend on. I now take melatonin at night instead of sleeping tablets to try and get off all this crap.

Beachie Anxiety over my Self Worth
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Hi, I am suffering anxiety constantly about myself. Feelings of being a worthless person, self talk about how bad I am and because of this cutting myself off from enjoyable things in life. I'm a single person, working 2 jobs & feeling like life is pa... View more

Hi, I am suffering anxiety constantly about myself. Feelings of being a worthless person, self talk about how bad I am and because of this cutting myself off from enjoyable things in life. I'm a single person, working 2 jobs & feeling like life is passing me by. I love to help my friends with their issues & try to help them feel at ease because I don't want them to go through what I am. Other people come first & because of my thinking, never do anything for myself. I avoid lunches, dinners & IF I am out with friends, I absolutely will not have any photos taken with me in them because of the way I feel about myself. I avoid going out with my friends who are married or coupled up because I don't want them to have to be with me because I am single and I am completely honest with them as to that reason. Does anyone else have an issue like this as I would love to talk about it.

Maccamuffin This is my anxiety awareness film
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This is my anxiety awareness film. I used to suffer from an anxiety disorder for a large portion of high school, and this film is a personal account of my road to mental health. I have made this film in hope that it helps to guide others who are stil... View more

This is my anxiety awareness film. I used to suffer from an anxiety disorder for a large portion of high school, and this film is a personal account of my road to mental health. I have made this film in hope that it helps to guide others who are still suffering from anxiety, encouraging them to seek help. I hope that perhaps it can also help people to identify feelings of anxiety that they do not know are even there. So here is my Year 12 film project, which is designed and formatted as a web advertisement to be played before YouTube/ web portal videos (theoretically). I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions about my experiences with anxiety, don't hesitate to ask. I'm glad to answer and help in whatever way I can. Stay safe.

tweet81 Newbie/Health Anxiety
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Hi there everyone,I am new to forums, i am glad to have come across Beyond Blue as i have read a few posts on here and see there are alot of understanding, caring people on here.I have suffered from anxiety since a young age, after giving birth to my... View more

Hi there everyone,I am new to forums, i am glad to have come across Beyond Blue as i have read a few posts on here and see there are alot of understanding, caring people on here.I have suffered from anxiety since a young age, after giving birth to my second child, i suffered from my first panic attack.In the last year and a half ive been stressing so much about my health, worrying that i have this illness or that illness, every ache in my body must be a serious health condition and its been so exhausting Im extremely luck to have an amazing husband who comforts me when im having a panic attack or thinking irrational.i have been on medication and with my drs supervision, gradually came off them.i recently took myself off my cholesterol tablets as i thought perhaps they were contributing to my body aches and pains, soon to realise they werent because i still have aches and pains all over every day. i shouldnt be feeling like this, im only 34 I wish to control my anxiety without medications as well as see if i can keep my cholesterol at the recommended levels... im 5ft 1inch and weigh 67kgs so im too much over weight, ( i hope!! ) but high cholesterol is a genetic type that i have.since coming off cholesterol tabs, ive been fearing of having a stroke or heart attack, and this causes my anxiety attacks more so at night... i do believe i will over come this anxiety and fearful worries, and its nice to know i can come onto this site and chat with others who understand.

MrShyB Nervous bladder with anxiety
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Hi I suffer from anxiety, mostly mild, but sometimes full on. One of the side affects of my anxiety can be what I call nervous bladder where I end up needing to go to the bathroom a lot when I am in stressful situations. I have recently started a new... View more

Hi I suffer from anxiety, mostly mild, but sometimes full on. One of the side affects of my anxiety can be what I call nervous bladder where I end up needing to go to the bathroom a lot when I am in stressful situations. I have recently started a new job where I will be in lots of meetings, on the road with colleagues a lot etc which are all situations this occurs in and can often lead to panic attacks. This job is a great opportunity to further my career and I wasn't going to let anxiety talk me out of it but I know I will have these issues. I was just wondering if anyone experiences this and has some advice on how to deal with it?

Bryns Terrified/Paranoid - Please Help Me
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Hi, this is my first post - it's difficult to put this into words, here goes. I'm a 34 year old male who just over a month ago woke up feeling a little strange. At first, I put it down to having a big night out with the boys two nights prior - so I w... View more

Hi, this is my first post - it's difficult to put this into words, here goes. I'm a 34 year old male who just over a month ago woke up feeling a little strange. At first, I put it down to having a big night out with the boys two nights prior - so I went into the office as normal. As they day went on I knew these were not symptoms of a delayed hangover. I found myself (and still do) analysing EVERYTHING in my head, for example: 'would I normally sit like this?'/'would I normally type like this?'/'would my hands normally sit at my side like this?'/'would i normally itch my nose like that?'/'would I normally find that funny?'/'should I find that email stressful - would I normally find it stressful?' etc. Further to this I often feel almost outside of myself - like a looking glass I suppose. Conversations with people (even my own wife who I adore) have become difficult. I have always loved chatting with friends/family/co-workers and love good banter - this is now practically impossible. When I converse with people i can't enjoy the moment as I'm thinking: 'they are not going through the same thing - how must it feel for them to feel this way (normal)?'. This is not just when I'm communicating with others - whenever a person walks past me or I see someone on television I experience the same thing...ALL THE TIME. Subsequently it's not possible for me to enjoy books/television/movies - all things I would have previously counted as favourite pastimes. On that - I've always found enjoyment in many things: Friday night drinks and junk food with my wife, going to the footy with mates, cooking, hiking, long lunches with family friends - this 'problem' is making this increasingly difficult. I have always been a pretty anxious/stressed person (it's part of who I am and I don't want that to change) but never like this - it is running/ruining my life. I'm absolutely terrified this will be with me for the rest of my life - I'm really scared and I don't know what to do. Please help Bryn

gnark i have been really paranoid this is new to me and i need help
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I have never experienced paranoiha until 2 weeks ago. Im not sleeping well maybe 3 hours a night, I think someone is going to break into my house while I'm sleeping and murder me. Everyone tells me don't be silly, and my little little dog Molly will ... View more

I have never experienced paranoiha until 2 weeks ago. Im not sleeping well maybe 3 hours a night, I think someone is going to break into my house while I'm sleeping and murder me. Everyone tells me don't be silly, and my little little dog Molly will go nuts at any noise. It still isn't helping me relax, every noise and I freeze, I lay there all night it seems listening. I have anxiety, depression and P.T.S.D but have never been paranoid, I've seen people paranoid and couldn't understand why they were worrying about there issues, now I understand but really need some advice if anyone can help me please