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. 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

Hayleyp Severe health anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hello i have been suffering from health anxiety for the past few years. I now however am unable to keep these thoughts under control. I am finding it really hard to make plans for the next year or 2 because I believe I will no longer be around. It se... View more

Hello i have been suffering from health anxiety for the past few years. I now however am unable to keep these thoughts under control. I am finding it really hard to make plans for the next year or 2 because I believe I will no longer be around. It seems to have started a few years ago following the loss of 2 pregnancies mid term...one at 19 weeks at one at 24 weeks. I then went on to have a successful pregnancy although the stress and anxiety throughout the whole pregnancy was extremely high! my first health related anxiety attack had me convinced I had MS. A few dr and ed visits and finally an MRI proved finally that I was ok. Since then I have convinced myself I have breast cancer, skin cancer, HIV, bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer and the most recent ovarian cancer. I am 38 years old and a registered nurse so constantly am exposed to people with all of the above conditions. it is all getting too much but now I cannot face my dr because I am too embarrassed to be turning up with yet another complaint. Has anyone found an effective treatment method for severe health anxiety?

BlueSunrise First time here....waking with anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, (haven't used a forum for years so hope I'm doing this right?)I chose the name BlueSunrise cos' that's pretty much how it is. If I wake up during the night I'm fine but when I open my eyes and the sun is up the panic hits me. It's like a sudden a... View more

Hi, (haven't used a forum for years so hope I'm doing this right?)I chose the name BlueSunrise cos' that's pretty much how it is. If I wake up during the night I'm fine but when I open my eyes and the sun is up the panic hits me. It's like a sudden adrenalin rush to my stomach, that feeling of dread hits me, the thoughts start racing around my head and I do my best to stay in bed as long as possible (as I feel safe in bed) but when the alarm goes off to tell me it's time to get up and start the day it gets even worse. I do what I have to, I get my son ready for school (he's 6yrs old) but it's such an effort, I sort of feel paralyzed and just want to sit and do nothing but I feel being a mother is my only success so for him, I get thru it. As the day goes on it becomes less of a panic feeling to just anxiety, unless something happens during the day to cause a panic attack, it generally eases by night but then I have the dread of going to sleep knowing that it's going to start all over again when I wake. I'm on a lot of medications which obviously aren't working but am having troubles coming off them as the withdrawals are 'hell' for me. I've started seeing a psychologist which I'm finding really good, he's helping me work through it. I do see a psychiatrist but all he seems to do is talk about my medications, I have had to stop benzodiazepines because it brought back my addiction problems (that's a whole other story for another time,) am currently trying to come off antidepressants as in the 6months I've been on it I have put on about 20kilos which is causing me to feel very depressed and not wanting my partner to come near me. He is very understanding which is great but he has his own problems with depression.Sorry if I have rambled on, I tend to do that. Thanks for listening.BlueSunrise

Capibara How to deal with a highly anxious state?
  • replies: 3

Hi. Any recommndations as to how to manage when you feel higly anxious? Any tips will be really welcome. I am just having a very difficult time trying to control my anxiety. Many thanks

Hi. Any recommndations as to how to manage when you feel higly anxious? Any tips will be really welcome. I am just having a very difficult time trying to control my anxiety. Many thanks

Perkin Tired of the struggle and want to talk with people that understand
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone. I've suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is being at primary school and thinking about suicide. But at the same time realising that it could be my toxic home environment that was making me fee... View more

Hi everyone. I've suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is being at primary school and thinking about suicide. But at the same time realising that it could be my toxic home environment that was making me feel this way. I decided that I owed it to myself to try and live a good life but couldn't see that happening until I reached adulthood and moved out of home so I just had to bear things as well as I could. By the time I moved out of home the physical symptoms brought on by the anxiety were pretty bad. Chronic pain and insomnia were the worst so although I was right and I could take more control of my life and happiness I spent a lot of time nursing myself back to health and could only just manage a part time job. On the positive side I've come a long way since then. Getting over the chronic pain was the biggest thing. I'm actually very proud of myself, I've had two children and the migranes I had on a fourtnightely basis were actually not that far off the pain of being in labor. Plus I was in some sort of pain constantly and couldn't sleep. So instead of berating myself for having trouble holding down a job or for not doing very well at school I now think well done to me for just putting one foot in front of the other for so long. I'm now at a point in my life where I feel like I'm emerging from a fog. I can see people interacting all around me when I leave the house but it makes me feel very anxious and isolated because I don't know how to talk to them even though I feel strong enough to give it a try. I also had my second child three weeks ago so I'm feeling quite tired, emotional and fragile. I realize this is normal. I've come to this forum because I'd like to reach out to people that understand how crippling and draining anxiety can be because I feel that most people either don't understand or have trouble acknowledging it which makes me feel very alone. My partner is a lovely guy but just doesn't understand and after much effort I have some people I can call friends, but they are not close friends who I feel I can talk to or who I feel understand me.

iamsotired Trusting people
  • replies: 4

For as long as I can remember there have been people in my life who let me down were not there for me. Next week I have to return to work( high school teacher) where there are people from principal to fellow teachers who have clearly demonstrated to ... View more

For as long as I can remember there have been people in my life who let me down were not there for me. Next week I have to return to work( high school teacher) where there are people from principal to fellow teachers who have clearly demonstrated to me that I am no to be believed, trusted or supported. I have asked my few friends left at work ( the rest of my friends have retired) why they think I am consistently treated so badly. They do not know why. so now I am soooo anxious about returning. last year I had a conversation with a fellow staff member ( directed by my head of department) concerning something she had done contrary to direction from our head of department. She went to the principal an complained that I had spoken aggressively to her, I now have an official warning letter. Even though I calmly explained that I may have spoken with an aggressive tone because I have what is called muscle dysphonia and therefore I often cannot control my voice and it can come out forced... I don't know. all I do know is that I do not want to return to work but fiscally I must. a few years ago when fellow teachers complained that they found it hard being around me struggling to speak my principal said that if I was struggling I should walk out the school gates. I nearly did into the traffic when the 2013HSC results came out I went to see how my students went ( all band 5 and 6s) unfortunately my principal saw me, she said Hi I respond hi but as soon as I left the building I burst into uncontrollable flooding tears. i am so tired of being scared and out of control anyone got any suggestions...please

efm2302 I'm over it
  • replies: 5

I'm 30 years old and I'm over it all! I have been battling with anxiety and depression for a long time - depression probably most of my life (at least from the age of 12). Anxiety hit me badly 7 years ago, and it got worse over the past year. 1 year ... View more

I'm 30 years old and I'm over it all! I have been battling with anxiety and depression for a long time - depression probably most of my life (at least from the age of 12). Anxiety hit me badly 7 years ago, and it got worse over the past year. 1 year ago (almost to the day) my husband and I separated. My anxiety has been pretty horrible in the past year, coping with all the emotional stuff that goes hand in hand with separation, as well as a hyperactive 2 year old. I'm sick of the anxiety. I'm sick of the fear I live in on a day to day basis. I'm sick of fearing being home alone and something seriously wrong happening to me. I'm sick of it. Yes, I have a psychologist. Yes, I have a couple of really trusted friends who know me inside out. Yes, I have a safety plan in place. But I'm at the stage where I feel like I'm just a burden on people - in particular one friend of mine. I don't want to call him to tell him I'm struggling. I have another friend I can call, but I don't want to bother her with my stuff. She has enough going on. I also just don't want to be questioned. I so much want to be around people, yet, I wish the world would suck me up so I could escape these feelings. Sorry for my rant.

iamsotired Trusting people 2
  • replies: 0

I meant to add to my last post how can I ever trust the fellow teacher who went and complained about me. We are meant to be able to have discussions as we are in the same department, but I am too anxious that if I say something she does not like she ... View more

I meant to add to my last post how can I ever trust the fellow teacher who went and complained about me. We are meant to be able to have discussions as we are in the same department, but I am too anxious that if I say something she does not like she will once again go to the principal and complain help advice please

Dexter2748 Anxiety and Depression + Trust Issues
  • replies: 2

Yesterday afternoon I attended my first appointment with a psychologist. She was really amazing and talked a lot about my issues with anxiety and depression. I felt a little numb at the time, almost like I couldn’t believe how much I’ve been through ... View more

Yesterday afternoon I attended my first appointment with a psychologist. She was really amazing and talked a lot about my issues with anxiety and depression. I felt a little numb at the time, almost like I couldn’t believe how much I’ve been through and slightly in denial about my recent (though always been in the back of my mind) suicidal thoughts. I’m 23 years old and my social fears and anxiety controls my life. I’m nervous all the time, feel like I’m always being judged and never really feel worthy of peoples time, this is why I find it hard to sustain friendships. I’ve realised I’m a great actor though, if you were to meet me you wouldn’t have a clue I’m unhappy with my life. It seems to be a trend with people who experience the same issues though. After my appointment yesterday I felt happy until a bus driver yelled at me for having insufficient funds on my GoCard. I ended up walking the hour home and just reflected on how lonely I am. At the time I couldn’t think of anyone to call and cheer me up or drive me home. I just walked along a main highway crying my eyes out, once I got home I cried for hours trying to fight off a panic attack. I know I’m trying really hard to get better but at the same time I know it will be a long rough road till I reach my goal. I’m most anxious when dating, I’ve had some bad experiences and find it hard to trust guys now. I’m in a long distance relationship and even though he is very trustworthy and caring I still feel so paranoid all the time. I need to learn to relax and take each day as it comes. Does anyone have any advice? I would love to hear stories of long distance relationships that have worked or if anyone has overcome trust issues when it comes to relationships/friendships. I’m fairly new to the beyondblue forum so I hope this all makes some sense.

Sarah1303 Lost in my own mind...
  • replies: 4

Hello all, my name is Sarah, I am 18 years old & a senior in high school. I have been suffering with what I think is depression, anxiety, bi-polar issues, and OCD.My daily rituals are getting worse & worse. I literally take an hour & half shower, I t... View more

Hello all, my name is Sarah, I am 18 years old & a senior in high school. I have been suffering with what I think is depression, anxiety, bi-polar issues, and OCD.My daily rituals are getting worse & worse. I literally take an hour & half shower, I take three hours to so my make-up... That is.. If I'm constantly moving. If I get side tracked which is more than often the case I take much, much longer. & I refuse to leave my house without it all on. I have pretty much dug myself to believe that I am hideous. I feel like I'm a monster & don't feel comfortable being around anyone other than family without my "face" on.Each day I awake with horrid anxiety, and debilitate myself from even getting into a shower each night because I dread the tasks that I force myself to do.When I was about 11 I would self-harm. I'd say that was due to me not having a relationship with my father. He disowns me for some odd reason, he didn't abandon me at birth or as a child or anything yet I feel that having him live with me but still hate me is kinda just as bad.I see him daily but get no love & there was an incident when I was about 9 or 10 that he fell out of our attic in the middle of the night after moving boxes up there. We think he was tired & decided to rest at the top of the attic stairs. He fell out of the attic face first onto the washing machine, then to the concrete floor. Because he doesn't remember, the doctors lead us to believe that he had to of awoken & thought he was in bed or on the couch & took a step, then he fell. He had to of then come to by the grace of God & he went into the shower to wash off the blood we guess.Now at the time my little sister & I were sleeping on a mattress on our parents bedroom floor because my uncle & grandma were staying with us so they took my sister & I's room. That night I remember falling asleep to my dad sitting in bed on the phone with his father who lives in another state. I was abruptly woken up in the middle of the night to almost a sobbing kind of laugh. So I figured my dad was still talking with his dad, just laughing about stuff. So I went back to sleep. I hear it again & wake up a second time, this time I see the shower is on & I think... Wait, he can't be on the phone & in the shower at the same time. So I shake my mom awake & say that I hear a weird noise, it sounds like someone is crying.She brushes it off & tells me it's probably just my uncle on the couch. I fall back asleep & wake up yet once more & am determined to find out what the noise is. I tell her it's coming from her bathroom & the shower is on. She got up & walked into the bathroom. She says it was the worst scene she had ever saw in her life. My dad was sitting down In the shower with severe facial injuries & his fingers & nose were broken. He went through 14 hours of surgery.My mom & sister used to say that an angel kept waking me up that night & due to my persistency, I "saved" my dad's life because the doctors said bat if he had been in there too much longer he would have bled to death. I don't think of it that I saved his life but I helped him, surely. I just don't understand why he treats me the way he does then if I helped him so grandly. Sorry I kinda got way off topic with that story but it's partially why I have felt so depressed for so long. Now, for the past couple months I think about suicide frequently. It scares me. I know that I'm not capable of committing harm to myself to that extent, but I'm afraid that one day all of my in ed struggles will eat me alive & become too much for me to deal with anymore. I think that I'd be at peace if I wasn't living, all I do is the same repetitive, useless stuff day in and day out. It's come to the point where my mother gets extremely frustrated with me. I'm late to school, I use all the hot water, etc etc etc. & my mother is my rock, it kills me to disappoint her. I can't help but think that she as well as my little sister would be better off not having to deal with me all the time. I feel like such a burden. I have told her I think I have OCD before & we researched it somewhat & she says maybe but she doesn't want to self diagnose me, as I don't want to do that either. But I just have this gut wrenching feeling that there is most definitely something wrong in my brain. I haven't been to any doctor for anything like that so now it's to the point where my mom is fed up with "the OCD excuse" she says it's just that I don't care.Being to school on time isn't a priority to me. I don't even try to change when in reality I go through a mental struggle daily to get myself to change every last daunting task that I do. She just doesn't see it because there is no progress & I feel there never will be. I'm sorry I just really feel the need to vent.beyondblue’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.

Chooka Help me!
  • replies: 7

Another sleepless night as I write this. My body shaking, so desperately tired yet unable to sleep. Cold sweats, the feeling like I'm falling jolting me before I fall asleep. It's like a form of torture. I have no patience with my kids. Don't want to... View more

Another sleepless night as I write this. My body shaking, so desperately tired yet unable to sleep. Cold sweats, the feeling like I'm falling jolting me before I fall asleep. It's like a form of torture. I have no patience with my kids. Don't want to talk to anyone, it's ruining my life, plz help!