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

Lori32 New to Beyondblue
  • replies: 7

Hi there! Just wanted to say hello to everyone and also have a bit of a vent ! I have suffered from panic disorder with agoraphobia for over 15 years Im having a bad day today not being able to control my thoughts and in turn is making me very anxiou... View more

Hi there! Just wanted to say hello to everyone and also have a bit of a vent ! I have suffered from panic disorder with agoraphobia for over 15 years Im having a bad day today not being able to control my thoughts and in turn is making me very anxious! I have read so many times that the way to beat this nightmare is to 'accept' and not fear it. Has anyone been able to do this? I thought I was accepting it but I think I hate it so much being this way that I don't really accept it at all. And also how can you not fear something that makes you feel so horrible?! Well anyway I'm trying take deep breaths and get through today! Hope you guys are doing well

JJRX2 Morning anxiety. Help please!
  • replies: 7

Hello, I'm a 31 year old mum of 4 and currently having some trouble with anxiety and what I think is some sort of depression. It's the first time I've ever felt like this and I feel so down and disconnected from my children, husband and the world. I ... View more

Hello, I'm a 31 year old mum of 4 and currently having some trouble with anxiety and what I think is some sort of depression. It's the first time I've ever felt like this and I feel so down and disconnected from my children, husband and the world. I have been to see a GP who told me to contact Anglicare and arrange to see a Counselor. My appointment with them isn't until Friday and while I wait I'm having some major problems with sleep. I am very tired and fall asleep quite early most nights. I then find I'm awake from 3am and have extreme anxiety and do not go back to sleep. I simply lay in bed very panicked and think very negative thoughts about life until I have to force myself to get up for my children. I then drag myself around until my mood lifts a little some time after lunch. I was really hoping to get a little advice to help me get through the night. It's a horrible feeling and really can't handle feeling so down. I have tried going for walks and also tried some breathing techniques but nothing is making me feel any better. I just want to feel happy again, happy about life, happy about the future.

dorothy cant get you outta my head
  • replies: 7

Hi all Started medication day 2 today took 2days off sick leave have to return back tomorrow feeling anxious++ spaced out a little still not sleeping. All that keeps repeating in my head; what if I freak out, what if I have panic attacks what if I ge... View more

Hi all Started medication day 2 today took 2days off sick leave have to return back tomorrow feeling anxious++ spaced out a little still not sleeping. All that keeps repeating in my head; what if I freak out, what if I have panic attacks what if I get dizzy, how the hell am I going to cope and hide how I am feeling. I know it's the anxiety speaking and I try so hard not to think negative thoughts but its just like that song. I know it's only early days restarting my meds I just feel so alone and frightened. I honestly don't know what is worse my depression or anxiety.

Lookingforpeace How do I control my panic??
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone this is similar to a previous post of mine. last time I was talking about how pulling over to pick up a lost dog and return it to it's owner left me in an anxious mess for the rest of the week. would you believe it has happened again !! A... View more

Hi everyone this is similar to a previous post of mine. last time I was talking about how pulling over to pick up a lost dog and return it to it's owner left me in an anxious mess for the rest of the week. would you believe it has happened again !! Again I saw a dog running down the side of a busy road and out of a whole line of traffic not one person stopped but me. I managed to catch the dog and return it to it's owner. (I think I must be a lost dog magnet!!) Again I can't stop thinking about what if I wasn't there, what if it got hit by a car, what if what if... and to make matters worse, I just found out my brother was in a serious car accident and his cars written off. He is ok thankfully but I am a total mess. I keep thinking about how one day u could be totally fine and the next day, minute, second... Ur whole life can be turned upside down. This scares me. ontop of this I'm dealing with a bully at work and just feeling so deflated, anxious, demotivated, tired. Any words of comfort or wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

pizzaking Evil Thoughts
  • replies: 2

I have many anxiety attacks, and since I've been getting them, I have been having very evil thoughts in my head. I want to be a good person, and I know I am, it's just that I want these thoughts to go away. I don't want to be a bad person. I'm just w... View more

I have many anxiety attacks, and since I've been getting them, I have been having very evil thoughts in my head. I want to be a good person, and I know I am, it's just that I want these thoughts to go away. I don't want to be a bad person. I'm just worried about not getting help, and letting these thoughts control me. The thoughts that I have are very, very bad. Sometimes they scare me. Most of the time they are about heinous doings and Satan. I am seeing a psychologist's, but I am afraid to open up to them. What should I do?

Lookingforpeace Anxious about things that haven't happened
  • replies: 4

Hi all I'm new to this forum and looking for some short-term relief before I seek professional help. I have an over-active imagination and coupled with my anxiety, I tend to imagine horrible things that haven't/may never happen. For example, the othe... View more

Hi all I'm new to this forum and looking for some short-term relief before I seek professional help. I have an over-active imagination and coupled with my anxiety, I tend to imagine horrible things that haven't/may never happen. For example, the other day I was driving on a busy road, there was a bus coming in the opposite lane and a dog ran across the road. Me and the bus both missed the dog (not really that close) and I subsequently pulled over, chased the dog down and then called the owner to come and collect him. Despite knowing that the dog was safe, I could not stop thinking about it for the next two days. What if I had hit it? I could never live with that. What if I had seen it get hit? I would never get that image out of my mind. What if I wasn't there at the right time/place, would someone else have pulled over? And it just goes on and on and on. This is just one example, but I'm like that with everything. I make sure all major electrical items are off before I leave the house because what if one of them sparks causing a fire. What if I accidentally lock myself in a room at home and would have to wait hours for someone to find me? It would be funny if it wasn't so disruptive to my life/mental health. Inevitably, these anxious thoughts always lead to what I call a "depression hangover". It's a vicious cycle. Can anyone relate and how do you deal with it?

Kell2014 Anxious about being anxious.... vicious cycle!
  • replies: 1

I went through a serious separation 18 months ago leading to my first experience with anxiety. I was absolutely decapacitated due to it. I could barely function, I couldn't work, my mum had to take leave to come and care for me. I started taking medi... View more

I went through a serious separation 18 months ago leading to my first experience with anxiety. I was absolutely decapacitated due to it. I could barely function, I couldn't work, my mum had to take leave to come and care for me. I started taking medication for 10 months and am 5 months off of taking them. Since I go through bouts of anxiety, nothing as serious as previously but now in a new relationship I find myself being anxious about the anxiety coming back should things not work. I am scared to tell him how i feel incase he doesn't feel the same way and dont want to burden family or friends with my anxiety again. So i sit here crying, feeling nausous and generally overwhelmed. I know only I can stop myself from feeling this way but its just so hard to pull myself back up after what feels like falling down again. I assume I have self worth issues that result in my questioning if / why he would want to stay with me when there isn't actually anything wrong at all in the relationship. In fact its the most functional one i've ever been in. The more I care the more I'm scared it wont work and I will end up an anxious mess again. Well I guess I already today.. I wish i could stop the negative rubbish in my mind.

HelenM I don't know where I am
  • replies: 4

A couple of weeks ago I went into a terrible fear - that I'd go right down again. My depressions have been very mild for a long time but the fear was awful. Then on the Sunday it cleared. So I did loads that week. But on Saturday (just gone) anxiety ... View more

A couple of weeks ago I went into a terrible fear - that I'd go right down again. My depressions have been very mild for a long time but the fear was awful. Then on the Sunday it cleared. So I did loads that week. But on Saturday (just gone) anxiety started kicking in. All I can think is that my mood will go down - perhaps not to the bottom but badly. My sleeps rubbish - it was just getting right again. I feel trapped. People who know me tell me this will lift. I can't believe it. It's so scary. My GP saw me recently and tells me my fear is something that might come and go. He is satisfied re my meds. And here is a worry. I have recently been changed to the generic drug from the original. I've been told that doesn't make any difference but on the internet some reports say it can. I am carrying on with my routine. But I just want to cry and I'm hyper sensitive. I feel I've got myself into a mess. I know I overdid it last week. I just don't know where I'm heading. Please can anyone give me some guidance. Helen

FindingMyWay Feeling lost & I don't know how to cope
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm new to this site & forum I am 30 years old, have an amazing husband, and family support. I have a successful career and enjoy my job. I didn't have the best childhood it wasn't your typical Mum, Dad & siblings - my siblings and I were rai... View more

Hi all, I'm new to this site & forum I am 30 years old, have an amazing husband, and family support. I have a successful career and enjoy my job. I didn't have the best childhood it wasn't your typical Mum, Dad & siblings - my siblings and I were raised by my grandparents. Growing up I was very shy and didn't like to socialise, I still don't socialise as I have a fear of not being accepted. I always feel like I'm being judged. When I was 23 years old I was diagnosed with Anxiety and have ever since struggled on a daily basis. At work or with friends I put on a smile but underneath I feel like I just want to break down and cry and say I'm not okay. At home my poor husband sees the real me and my daily struggle to be happy. I know that it hurts my husband to see me like this and he doesn't understand how I'm feeling. I have frequent panic attacks and I worry about EVERYTHING! Even the littlest thing can worry me I have my good days and my bad, but lately it has been more bad than good. The past 4-5 weeks I've been struggling to cope with my Anxiety and at present feel like I'm in a black hole and can't get out. I see a Psychologist fortnightly and do meditation & yoga to try help with the panic attacks, but I'm finding that I'm becoming so depressed I don't want to leave the house. I feel so lost and don't know where to turn? x

faeriedust88 anxiety and body dismorphia
  • replies: 1

ok - so I am going to open up here, in hope that you have some suggestions for me: when things get hard, and I am under pressure or stressed I get body dismorphia - I feel the pressure building up inside of me and I literally feel myself swelling and... View more

ok - so I am going to open up here, in hope that you have some suggestions for me: when things get hard, and I am under pressure or stressed I get body dismorphia - I feel the pressure building up inside of me and I literally feel myself swelling and get bigger - in one day I feel like I can put on 5kgs or more (1 or 2 dress sizes) I think I get fat, I feel big and then my situation gets harder - because - say I'm dealing with uni, and all of a sudden I start getting fatter I then get a voice in my head that says I'm fat and lazy and don't deserve to be at uni - blah blah blah - hmm - does anyone else experience this at all? and if yes - does anyone know how to overcome this? I actually have to measure myself to realize that I am not swelling/getting bigger.... your responses are greatly appreciated!