Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

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

BFG What is going on with me ?
  • replies: 4

Everything just seems to be hitting me all at once this year, over the last 3 months i have had some major issues in my life, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in January, apon returning home they day she come home from hospital i came home to... View more

Everything just seems to be hitting me all at once this year, over the last 3 months i have had some major issues in my life, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in January, apon returning home they day she come home from hospital i came home to find the roof in my room had collapsed which destroyed some of my personal effects that i needed for my first day of uni which was in a week, they roof has since been fixed and uni is going ok, but the worst occurred when on saturday afternoon good friend of mine suddenly passed away.It just seems like my life has just turned into this snow ball that is slowly rolling down a hill getting bigger and bigger, i started displaying some symptoms of anxiety about a week ago, i noticed there were points in the day where my breathing would become uncontrollable and my heart would start racing, the chest pains would kick in for a few minutes but then i was ok. I tried to convince myself that it was something i was doing, maybe it was the coffee in the morning i was having, the amount of sugar or soft drinks in my diet, i began to cut them out over the course of the night, but the worse was yet to come. After visting the family of friend who had passed away for the second night in a row, after being there for an hour or 2 i began to get those feelings again, breathing heavily, chest tightening, heart racing so i went outside to get some air. Then my mum came out to check on me and she said "Whats wrong, you haven't been yourself lately" and then i just let it all out, i broke down in tears, i kept saying why does this all have to happen at once, and why does this always happen to us. My mum thought i might be suffering from anxiety and so did my dad who had previously had a bout of depression many years ago.I made the first step today, i got in contact with beyond blue over the phone, it was a fantastic feeling to get the ball rolling, but i know its going to take a while. My question to the people on the forum is, What are some things that helped or are helping you while suffering with anxiety especially when it comes to the area of sleeping at night, and dealing with panic attacks ?Thanks Guys xoxo

Nervous_Girl Anyone anxious about their anxiety?
  • replies: 7

This probably sounds like a weird question, but do many people worry mostly about the fact that we have anxiety? I am totally consumed with it. I have suffered with GAD for over 10 years now and there is not a day that goes by where i don't constantl... View more

This probably sounds like a weird question, but do many people worry mostly about the fact that we have anxiety? I am totally consumed with it. I have suffered with GAD for over 10 years now and there is not a day that goes by where i don't constantly worry about how i feel, why do i feel like this? Am i getting worse? Is it normal to be worried about certain things or is it my GAD. I am constantly questioning myself and exhausting myself worrying about whether i am feeling normal on any particular day. If anyone has found a way to get past it i would love to hear some ideas.

Sam_ First mental health check...
  • replies: 1

Ok so I just made an appointment to see a doctor for a mental health check on Monday and I couldn't choose my usual doctor because I'd have to wait at least a week to see her. I've never seen another doctor before and who I normally see knows my fami... View more

Ok so I just made an appointment to see a doctor for a mental health check on Monday and I couldn't choose my usual doctor because I'd have to wait at least a week to see her. I've never seen another doctor before and who I normally see knows my family and history, was it a bad choice to see someone else? What questions should I expect? because I don't like to go into something that I have no idea of and I have started to write down some issues that I have on a piece of paper. Will I have to do the test where I check the boxes? I don't think they're very accurate since I answer them according to how I am feeling at the time. Since he doesn't know me will I have to explain everything to him? i.e. family history. Any other advice would be really helpful.

damsel54 panic attacks while driving
  • replies: 2

Hi, I am new to this site and also new to panic attacks.. they only occur when I am driving,, so I have not driven for 5 weeks now.. this is very worrying as I am totally house bound... I also find it very difficult to be a passenger in a car! Does a... View more

Hi, I am new to this site and also new to panic attacks.. they only occur when I am driving,, so I have not driven for 5 weeks now.. this is very worrying as I am totally house bound... I also find it very difficult to be a passenger in a car! Does anyone else have this problem? any advice would be appreciated... thank you

Shan41 I'm not sure what's happening with me
  • replies: 6

For the past few years I've started feeling different, especially in the past year. Now, I feel like I am unable to connect with the people I thought I was friends with - of late, I've just been sitting there in silence. I'm struggling to talk with m... View more

For the past few years I've started feeling different, especially in the past year. Now, I feel like I am unable to connect with the people I thought I was friends with - of late, I've just been sitting there in silence. I'm struggling to talk with my teachers and other adults - I normally just stare at the ground now and hardly make eye contact. I'm always becoming stressed to the point where I break down in tears. I am always feeling nervous, and I hate when things are late. In the past year, I've felt less connected with my family. My mum has MS, and her health is on a rapid decline. I've gotten in more and more arguments with my family, and I have started to spend the most of my time in my room. I haven't been able to tell them how I feel, and it's like it keeps building up inside of me. Quite often, my mum talks about others with problems like there is something severely wrong with them - this is another reason why I feel unable to share my feelings with her. A lot or the time I feek unwelcome within my own house. I have only really been able to share my feelings with my boyfriend, and for awhile now, he been making me feel more confident about talking to someone else about it all. Would someone be able to give me reasons to why I have been feeling like this? Or suggest someone for me to talk to? I'm not really sure what's happening to me

guest75 my biggest problem is catastrophising
  • replies: 6

Had an appointment with my psych yesterday, first time ive seen her in 6 weeks.. Apparently I have General Anxiety Disorder...my depression was brought on by the events that had happened but the GAD is the underlying issue...and my biggest problem is... View more

Had an appointment with my psych yesterday, first time ive seen her in 6 weeks.. Apparently I have General Anxiety Disorder...my depression was brought on by the events that had happened but the GAD is the underlying issue...and my biggest problem is i try to predict the future and have a negative way of thinking and i "Catastrophize" things (ie worst possilble outcome is always what my mind is thinking) She has a point, i have mediation tomorrow with "her" and my anxiety is peaking badly coz i keep thinking of things that might go wrong rather than what might go right...plus i really dont want to see her, havent spoken to her since the start of december and have seen her in passing twice at the 2 court dates...

Perkin How do I deal with my social anxiety
  • replies: 12

Hi all, I've gotten to a point where I'm no longer terrified of meeting new people and want to do stuff like join book clubs And interact but the problem is that the stress of this new social situation makes me shut down so I find it hard to talk. Th... View more

Hi all, I've gotten to a point where I'm no longer terrified of meeting new people and want to do stuff like join book clubs And interact but the problem is that the stress of this new social situation makes me shut down so I find it hard to talk. The one group that I am a part of I've been going to b for 4 years and have definately come out of my shell more but part way through a conversation my brain decides I've had enough socialising and I find it hard to keep interacting. Anyone else have this problem?

Lillybell How do I deal with rapid thoughts?
  • replies: 4

Just wondering if others on here deal with a brain that doesn't stop. No I'm not a genius! I'm talking about thoughts that don't cease. I haven't experienced anything like what has been occurring lately. My internal, stream of consciousness talk is n... View more

Just wondering if others on here deal with a brain that doesn't stop. No I'm not a genius! I'm talking about thoughts that don't cease. I haven't experienced anything like what has been occurring lately. My internal, stream of consciousness talk is non stop. It goes with me everywhere. Just a rapid procession of thoughts about everything. I'm just wanting there to be an ad break! So I can go and get a cuppa! I joke, but experiencing it isn't that funny, especially when you realise that the checkout operator has asked you the same question over and over and has that exasperated look, that says, 'Earth to Mars'! I've been studying, I've been having some heavy online conversations and I'm trying to do all the practical things that need doing. But I think I've gone into system overload. How do I stop the machine gun rapid thoughts that are crowding my head? Anyone experienced something similar?

Jeanette01 Social anxiety disorder
  • replies: 8

I have not been diagnosed but I'm betting this is one of my problems. I am scared to go see someone as I hate sharing my problems but I know it will help. Can anyone who has social anxiety disorder please help me?

I have not been diagnosed but I'm betting this is one of my problems. I am scared to go see someone as I hate sharing my problems but I know it will help. Can anyone who has social anxiety disorder please help me?

Lex Had panic disorder for 15 years
  • replies: 4

I am new to this online forum, I have had Panic Disorder for over 15 years so I thought I could help some other people out who are just going through similar things.

I am new to this online forum, I have had Panic Disorder for over 15 years so I thought I could help some other people out who are just going through similar things.