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
  • 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. Remeber, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anixiety 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 you 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 worthile 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

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Guest7765 anxiety,panic attack, psychosis, depression
  • replies: 1

Well let me begin late last year I was smoking weed in my room just late every night i would have weed before i go to sleep to make myself feel good then all of a sudden I got a panic attack and thought i was going to die and it kept on happening eve... View more

Well let me begin late last year I was smoking weed in my room just late every night i would have weed before i go to sleep to make myself feel good then all of a sudden I got a panic attack and thought i was going to die and it kept on happening everyday all day and night.So i then started to drink lots my mission was to try and kill some brain cells i know sounds stupid and i did that for about 1 month I also had quit weed completely then all of a sudden i decided I had to tell someone so i told my dad and he called the doctors and i went in for an appointment he prescribed me a benzodiazepine and booked me in to see the mental health nurse.So i kept taking the medication, it helped me relax but i still felt like crap and i was getting these weird trips like I was looking through a tunnel and hearing a cat meow, stuff like that anyway i finally got to see the mental health nurse and I told him everything from when i used to steal cars and get into fights when i was drinking to myself getting bashed and robbed (btw i was hanging around the wrong people at that time) he then thought the panic attacks was from psychosis and put me on an antipsychotic and booked me an appointment to see a professional psychiatrist for a second opinion.Anyway I went home feeling like crap and went through all the bad thoughts and just before bed i took 1 of the antipsychotic pills and it made me freak out, I finally got to sleep and when i woke up i felt dizzy and tired really bad i then got a lift to the psychiatrist which cost me $250 and we spoke pretty much about the same stuff as what i told the mental health nurse and they then had a talk with each other over the phone and the psychiatrist said he doesn't have psychosis and that I was just having psychotic episodes and some sort of anxiety disorder at the same time so he put me on an SNRI for the anxiey and a different antipyschotic for the racing thought and psychotic episodes and after about 3 weeks I started to feel awesome i then saw the mental health nurse again and he made me start Karate and he also told me to never smoke weed ever again, ever! and said I'm one of the lucky ones if i had continued that habit and didn't get the help that i got I would have ended up with schizophrenia but he want to be continue taking the medicationto prevent it and to stop the racing thought and now I'm here 1 year later

One_million_pieces Ideas on what I should do??
  • replies: 11

So in the cinema today I saw the beyond blue Anxiety ad and it really struck home. All of it. I previously knew I had highly probable depression and anxiety, so I came here and took that k10 test or whatever it's called, and apparently I'm getting be... View more

So in the cinema today I saw the beyond blue Anxiety ad and it really struck home. All of it. I previously knew I had highly probable depression and anxiety, so I came here and took that k10 test or whatever it's called, and apparently I'm getting between 29 and 30 on that. I have no Monet at all, don't work and live with parents and study. I also don't think I could handle talking to someone face to face. Any ideas would be appreciated.

frustrated44 Frustrated and wanting change
  • replies: 14

Hello, At 30 years old I have finally realised that I need to acknowledge some of the things I constantly think in my head are not what most people would consider ‘normal’. I am writing this on here as I have just read a lot of other peoples thoughts... View more

Hello, At 30 years old I have finally realised that I need to acknowledge some of the things I constantly think in my head are not what most people would consider ‘normal’. I am writing this on here as I have just read a lot of other peoples thoughts and it has given me the confidence to post some of my feelings in the hope that maybe someone can help shed some light on what it is that cause me to spend so much of my waking hours thinking the way I do, and maybe what I should do about it. There are some things I have always done as long as I can remember which I want to share with you; I have this bad habit of over analysing social situations of any kind after the event and reliving them in exact detail. I can go over and over every word that was said in a conversation from every possible angle and get annoyed with myself for a ‘bad’ answer or a ‘stupid’ question convinced that the other person would only remember that and perceive me as an idiot. Whats worse is that its not only strangers but family members and close friends too that I do this to but can even be pizza delivery guys, call centre operators etc. etc. Also I forever relive past conversations even if they happened a few years ago and still get frustrated with particular actions I took or things I said convinced that these things have left the impression that I feel of me in their eyes, even if it was just the way I said “goodbye”. I will avoid places I have to go, such as a shop for work like the butchers (Im a chef) because I worry for hours before hand about the 3 or so minutes of ‘banter’ I will have to have with them whilst waiting for my order, convinced when I leave they will say all these negative things about me like I'm an idiot or boring etc. Also I have started to avoid seeing some of my best friends and my goddaughter as I think I will run out of things to say and look foolish. Im so bored of this! Recently I cant leave my house and walk down the street without thinking everybody I pass is somehow looking at me and judging me. If I'm going to a cafe I will go over and over the words I need to use and what I will say in my head before I walk in and order a coffee. To most people this would sound completely ridiculous and I too know that it is completely irrational and that the server in the coffee shop wont remember the guy that said ‘hello, can I have a latte’ in a strange way that morning but I cant help it. I consider myself to be reasonably intelligent so I don’t suffer too much from intellectual self-esteem issues, but I cant help constantly thinking that my hair must look stupid or im walking funny or im drinking from my water bottle too loudly when I'm somewhere. Always convinced that the look a shop assistant gives me is because I look strange. It is so frustrating as I know it doesn't make sense and yet I can never stop the repeating thoughts and its driving me crazy! Also no matter how much sleep I get I very rarely feel normal and ‘awake’, it does happen sometimes but I often feel almost dizzy or just slightly out of touch like I'm not quite there almost like a little cloudy? or slightly dreamy? Its hard to find the words to describe this adequately does anyone know what I mean? I have always drunk a lot of alcohol, often more than a bottle of red wine or equivalent most nights for pretty much the last ten years. Recently because of study I have cut that down and even managed to stop for a week. I had always thought that this had added to my feelings but it turns out that they were still there, I even gave up cigarettes too and they still are, and so I guess I have no more excuses other than to try and work out what is really the problem and do something about it. Despite all these negative thoughts I honestly think most people who know me would say I'm almost always happy and quite confident. No one including my girlfriend of two years knows quite how frequent and on rotation the thoughts are, and generally i cope alright, well outwardly anyway, I'm sure some of you know what I mean but it is tiring. I know these problems aren't as debilitating as some peoples on here but I guess I would love to know if anyone who has similar thoughts what has worked for you and perhaps what you think my next step should be. When I started writing this I thought a GP would probably send me home and tell me its nothing if I told them but putting it down on paper, and there are so many more examples, I kind of just realised how much I bend my life and put up with stuff because of this and I'm sure there is something I can do. Often it is all consuming and I can't think about anything else, a feeling I'm sure a lot of people will be familiar with. If I look back into my past I can find times right back to high school when I have felt I have struggled socially and so I don't know whether much has changed or whether I'm just more aware of them recently. I hate the idea of medication in almost any form and have probably only taken a handful of nurofen in the past ten years so I'm hoping there is some other option. Anyway I feel happier having made this step. Thanks for reading

joey Anxiety anxiety so much anxiety
  • replies: 3

I guess I have always been an 'anxious person' although I didn't realise this for a long time. Anyway sometimes I think where's the line between just being and anxious person and an anxiety disorder. I have never formally been diagnosed with an anxie... View more

I guess I have always been an 'anxious person' although I didn't realise this for a long time. Anyway sometimes I think where's the line between just being and anxious person and an anxiety disorder. I have never formally been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (perhaps because I had so many other things going on there was no need for another diagnosis!). It's been acknowledged that I have OCD traits but again I don't know that I have specifically been diagnosed with OCD - though probably could of been. Anyway I have now recovered from BPD and depression but am still very anxious. It's kind of a problem - I have some idea on how to manage it. But last night was so bad that this morning I wondered if I need medication!! Basically on a day to day basis I have to go back and check the door every time I leave. I have to check I unplugged the appliances. I feel like my house will be burnt down by an appliance left charging or broken into because the door is unlocked. I know I am meant to not go back and not check but this is too hard so I just go back - every time. So that's day to day. And I guess I figure at the end of the day it doesn't matter if I have to leave 5 minutes early to allow time to go back and check the door. But last night I was awake all night because I was worried I was going to miss a flight in 2 months time!! SO in the middle of the night was googling fare rules and insurance to work out what to do when I miss this flight. And it was like I was there at he airport and so distressed having missed the whole holiday! I woke up feeling so disorientated and terrible. I still feel exhausted and am realising that it might be a problem. I want to take out insurance on my insurance. Then I was worried that I had to have an operation and my heath insurance didn't cover it and wanted to get the item numbers to check but given I don't need an operation this is impossible. Hmm yes I guess it is a bit of an issue isn't it! So I try to exercise when I can (sometimes limited by injury and tiredness), I tried to focus on my breathing. But I guess I realised I need to do more! More exercise. More mindfulness. I need to stop ignoring it.

Hollie2097 nobody seems to notice
  • replies: 7

do they not care? do they not know? do they not want to accept it? do i not screa out for help loud enough? im drowning in my own mess i feel like im being choked or suffocated how do i make people notice im drowning!!!! im scared

do they not care? do they not know? do they not want to accept it? do i not screa out for help loud enough? im drowning in my own mess i feel like im being choked or suffocated how do i make people notice im drowning!!!! im scared

Corey anyone feeling the same?
  • replies: 3

hey all new to here im a 20yr old male been dealing with anxiety and panic disorder since i was 14 i left school at year 9 because i could deal with it anymore after i managed it a bit better i went to tafe and did my yr 10. i got on a good medicatio... View more

hey all new to here im a 20yr old male been dealing with anxiety and panic disorder since i was 14 i left school at year 9 because i could deal with it anymore after i managed it a bit better i went to tafe and did my yr 10. i got on a good medication that seemed to help alot and things were looking great then the girlfriend i was with died of a heart condition at 16 which really threw me down again, i started feeling alot severe anxiety and developed depersonalization and derealization, i still dont know how to deal with the ex girlfriends death and it and its been a 4 or so years now and im with another girl who has supported me threw everything and makes me very happy but this anxiety crap is really affecting our relationship, i cant work, i cant go out of the house and if i do i find it really hard to drive and i grew up restoring cars its my passion and i loved driving before things got really bad but now i just cant do it and if i try to drive someone from my family has to come with me i have been threw all this before and have overcome all this before and seen many health professionals and i know it cant hurt me but still its a automatic thing that just happens, i feel unreal and spaced out like im not connected to the world around me almost invisible in a way and when i do leave home i feel uneasy and insecure like im in a foreign place full of fear and dread even tho ive been there many times before, then the panic sets in ect. i get obbsessive thorts and unwanted thorts and like i will do somethign thats completely out of character ect. and i have a bit of OCD with touching things a certain number or times it is servre and i really try to avoid it, all of it is really affecting my life and i just want to be my old self again and not be a burden to everyone, i know that when im not thinking of it i feel 100% normal and i know i need to break the automatic response and change it to a more pleasant response, i know alot about anxiety and why it happens and what happens inside the brain and body and i probaly could help alot of people on here but all im asking is a bit of reassurance that all this is anxiety? i plan on using my strategies alot more like mindfulness and relaxation do plenty of exercise and quit smoking cigarettes and no i have never taken any drugs apart from my anxiety medication and cigarettes which are bad enough and i dont drink due to my anxiety im afraid of how i will be if i did drink plus alcohol dosnt mix well with the meds im on, i also plan to change my diet ect. i really want to dig deep and get control and live comfortably even if my anxiety is still there i just want to live at peace with it all. any help would be great thanks

Jeenie64 Never had Anxiety before not handling well...
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone. I have developed anxiety due to having eardrums operated on. Went pretty much deaf in an instant and within days drove me over the edge with panic attacks and lack of sleep. In a week I was put on medication to sleep. Tried anti depressi... View more

Hi everyone. I have developed anxiety due to having eardrums operated on. Went pretty much deaf in an instant and within days drove me over the edge with panic attacks and lack of sleep. In a week I was put on medication to sleep. Tried anti depression tablets for only 3 days and came off those due to excessive shaking and made me feel worse. I then went on a Herbal remedy which within a week it quietened me down. Haven't really had a panic attack since I started this 9 days ago. My hearing is slowly coming back but I am still dealing with anxiety. I am usually a fit healthy athlete and go to gym everyday. This has changed my life since operation on 11th Sept a month ago. Just want my old life back.

Baileigh I need help with anxiety. It seems to have gotten a lot worse very fast.
  • replies: 5

I am 17 now but I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember. Only recently though, have I realised that all those feelings were actually anxiety. I also suffer from hypochondria so I tend to blow things out of proportion and so I am not really s... View more

I am 17 now but I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember. Only recently though, have I realised that all those feelings were actually anxiety. I also suffer from hypochondria so I tend to blow things out of proportion and so I am not really sure if by doing that I am making my anxiety worse. In this past year I have felt that my anxiety has gotten a lot worse, and that I have developed a sort of mild depression. I mean that it is there, however the thing that gets to me the most is my anxiety. I can remember a few years ago going to friend’s houses and going to the movies and parties and now I can hardly leave the house. I have always been prone to getting homesick when sleeping at friend’s houses, however now I can’t even go over there just for the day. I get extremely overwhelmed at parties and now have completely stopped going. I went to one around this time last year. I was very anxious to go but because it was for one of my best friend’s birthdays I went. While I was there I just broke down crying and had to go home. I now find it hard to leave the house for anything other than school and work, though during this year I look off a lot of days because I couldn’t bring myself to go. I have, what seems like an endless list of symptoms, physical, mental and emotional and I find it hard most of the time to deal with them. I know mental illness doesn’t make you less of a person, but sometimes, when my anxiety is at a high peak it can be hard to believe. The worsening of my symptoms is extremely affecting my social life. I spend a lot of time in my room, I can’t have friends over, if people are over at my house, (people other than my family) I feel very overwhelmed and I feel like I am suffocating. I can’t talk to teachers at school and so I am not doing as well as I can at school and this is worrying me a lot as I am in year 12 next year and I want to do well. In addition to my anxiety making me feel crap about myself it is worsened because my friends don’t really understand that I can’t help the feelings I have, and so when I have a panic attack and have to cancel plans at the last minute they get upset which makes me feel worse about myself. I am on anti-depressants now and have been on them for about 5-6 months, though I don’t know if they are working that well. I want to try and overcome my anxiety, especially my social anxiety because it is the one that is affecting me the most, though I find it hard to because 95% of my anxiety and panic attacks have totally know cause and so it is hard to try and calm myself down. I have mum there to help me, and it is good because she knows how hard it can be as she suffers from anxiety and depression herself, however I find it very hard to talk to her sometimes. I am starting counselling at school next year though I am extremely nervous to do this because I can’t talk to people. What I really want to know is if there is anyone who knows and good tricks or things for me to do in order to calm down my nerves, especially when there is absolutely no reason for my panic attacks. Thank you, Baileigh.

Myfanwy Anyone have health anxiety ?
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Does anyone on here have health anxiety ? How do you deal with it ? How do you differentiate what is just anxiety and what is a real illness ? I've been worrying about a heart attack for a couple of months (since I noticed my bp at the GPs surgery wa... View more

Does anyone on here have health anxiety ? How do you deal with it ? How do you differentiate what is just anxiety and what is a real illness ? I've been worrying about a heart attack for a couple of months (since I noticed my bp at the GPs surgery was 182 over 127 and the GP said nothing to me about it being so high). I am on blood pressure medication. I woke up this morning with pains in the left breast which has never happened before. I am not sure whether to go to the GP today or wait until my appointment on Monday.

Danni Please tell me i'm not alone
  • replies: 5

I am doing the bare minimum to scrape through in school. I hate having to go to sleep because that's when I think the most. I feel like a burden to anyone to has to put up with me. I only like going out when I drink because that's the only thing that... View more

I am doing the bare minimum to scrape through in school. I hate having to go to sleep because that's when I think the most. I feel like a burden to anyone to has to put up with me. I only like going out when I drink because that's the only thing that helps the insane anxiety, the terrified doomed feeling I get when I'm in public. I get really depressed a lot. I am sensitive and small thing effect me way too much. I feel guilty for feeling this way because I know how much better off I am than so many people out there suffering much worse than I am. I just feel worthless, pointless, insignificant and alone. I think I wrote all this cause I just wanted to be able to talk to someone about it. I don't talk to anyone and that's probably half my problem. I just wanted to get this off my chest. As well as let anyone know who might be reading this that I am here if anyone wants to talk to me. I'm not sure how this site works yet but if you just want to talk to someone and you find a way to contact me I will do anything I can to help.