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
Jump to
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. 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

All discussions

Start a discussion

tash_b Feeling overwhelmingly anxious about something that should be simple.
  • replies: 2

I have to go to the HCF Dentist this afternoon, and I have to go by myself and talk to the receptionist. My brother will be getting there later than me but is meant to have the first appointment, so I have to swap the two appointments around. I've ne... View more

I have to go to the HCF Dentist this afternoon, and I have to go by myself and talk to the receptionist. My brother will be getting there later than me but is meant to have the first appointment, so I have to swap the two appointments around. I've never had to go by myself and I know it sounds so petty but I'm really scared. Can anyone tell me what exactly you're meant to say to the receptionist when you get there, and do I need to go see the receptionist again after my appointment before I leave? I know how ridiculous this sounds and I hate that I can't just push my fears aside, but no one in my family understands how big a deal this is for me because they're all really confident and I'm just not. I also have a habit of making a complete fool of myself on a regular basis, and really want to avoid that which is why I'm feeling so nervous. Can anyone help?

messy29 Anyone out there with health anxiety?
  • replies: 3

I haven't sought help before this, but I am feeling so completely terrible that I thought it might be a good option. Long story short, I have had 5 deaths in the family in so many years and I suppose I am now very preoccupied with a fear of a termina... View more

I haven't sought help before this, but I am feeling so completely terrible that I thought it might be a good option. Long story short, I have had 5 deaths in the family in so many years and I suppose I am now very preoccupied with a fear of a terminal illness or death. Anxiety, which I have lived with for 6 years, is only starting to become 'unmanageable' now, after the death of my Nana one week ago. Has anyone else, with this kind of experience, had these kinds of episodes where you are just terrified of getting sick, or dying, or perhaps 'creating' symptoms? I keep getting these numb, tingly types of symptoms in my arms and hands, I am sure my anxiety is causing them (coupled with being a student and using a computer 10+ hours per day). Can anyone help? Need someone to talk to.

alicia I dont know what to do anymore and im worrying myself sick..
  • replies: 5

i don't understand whats happening to me, i thought i got over my anxiety and out of the blue when i was watching a movie with my husband i had a sudden panic attack that was back in May, since then i have been worried if il keep getting them. i star... View more

i don't understand whats happening to me, i thought i got over my anxiety and out of the blue when i was watching a movie with my husband i had a sudden panic attack that was back in May, since then i have been worried if il keep getting them. i started feeling better again until i landed back from the UK and felt abit sick so i took some cold and flu tablets and had an immediate allergic reaction and was taken to hospital i have never had a reaction to anything before. since then i have not been able to eat properly and i get scared of having an allergic reaction even though i had it before with meds not food and every time i go to eat i basically have a panic attack and think my throat and face is swelling up and im constantly checking in the mirror poking my tongue out to check im ok.. i get all light headed and start to space out alot more often than what i used to its like im not even real when this happens, i have now lost 6 kilos in 4/5 weeks unintentionally. its starting to take a toll on me at work as i keep freaking out over everything like if i feel something like a pain in my body or if i feel remotely sick i get obsessed with where the pain is from and think im going to die and now even my husbands calling me paranoid and says i freak out allot. I am always feeling so heavy, weak, tired and really emotional i couldn't stop crying today for no reason i am worrying myself sick with whats going on with my body, i also have been getting bad reflux when i try and eat and upset guts getting diarrhea. i have been to the doctors and had blood test done on nearly everything except hcg levels and they all came back fine stool samples to see if i have a parasitic infection ( i had one back in feb) and those test came back clear, i also told them i came off the contraceptive pill 7 weeks ago and all they have said is it may make me have mood swings, could coming off the pill make me feel like this?? like im going crazy??. im so worried that i cannot eat and recently cant really stomach water .i just want to go back to normal again and stop freaking out but i dont know how or what to do!! has anyone had symptoms like this or know of anything i can do to help??

jac__ Possbile Anxiety ?
  • replies: 4

I get really anxious over stupid little things, like when my teacher picks people to read out of the text book or when I have to get up to walk in front of the class. Even when I have to press the bell and walk off of the bus, I play it over and over... View more

I get really anxious over stupid little things, like when my teacher picks people to read out of the text book or when I have to get up to walk in front of the class. Even when I have to press the bell and walk off of the bus, I play it over and over in my head planning out what I am going to do before I actually do it and I have major butterflies and I just feel really nervous for some reason. Those are the small things but the bigger ones are if I have to speak in front of people or when I get confused or lost/stressed and upset. I get really overwhelmed, for example one day I had an exam over the phone that I hadn't studied for and I had no idea what to do and I broke down crying and I felt so overwhelmed that I couldn't stop crying, I was shaking and I felt like I was going to be sick and for the rest of the day I was just really jittery. Another time I was late for school so I was naturally really anxious about getting in trouble and some things happened and I got really confused as to where I was meant to be going and all of a sudden I started crying and I ran to the bathroom and locked myself in the cubicle. Some of the things I remember feeling were: Shaking, Cold but then hot flushes, headaches, feeling like I was going to be sick, I couldn't stop crying and I had massive butterflies in my stomach for the rest of the day. It was like I was fine one minute and the next I wasn't. After that, I researched anxiety and I thought I may have some form of anxiety but I keep telling myself that I am overexaggerating. This may sound stupid but I keep thinking that I'm just doing this for attention so that people will feel sympathy for me, but i'm not that type of person and it is driving me mad. I want to tell someone but I keep telling myself that I don't have anxiety which is kind of making me believe that I don't and if I tell someone and I don't actually have anxiety I think I would be really embarassed and I wouldn't know what to do. I know that my parents and friends would want to help me whatever happens but i can't help feeling this way. I don't know what to do, if anyone could give me some advice/help me that would be great, even just give me your opinion on this situation please???

Sandy78 I'm worried about where my life is going to end up.
  • replies: 3

I've suffered anxiety and depression for about 10 years now. Ive also suffered with anorexia and bulimia. I've been married for 13 years and my husband has stuck by me through all this time. I've tried just about every medication there is out there w... View more

I've suffered anxiety and depression for about 10 years now. Ive also suffered with anorexia and bulimia. I've been married for 13 years and my husband has stuck by me through all this time. I've tried just about every medication there is out there with no success. i think they made me worse. I've been seeing councilors for all these years and do my best to stay on top of things. I get up and go to work every day, I look after my 2 children with my husbands support. I exercise 5 days a week and I don't withdraw myself from social situations and do things that used to make me happy. But none of this works. I can't seem to find a medication that helps and lately I've come to a point where I just want to give up and sleep all the time. My husband says Ive been just like a zombie for the past year. I'm there in body but not really mind. I haven't been happy for a long time and I'm always sad. Is there really any hope. I know there are a lot of people a lot worse off than me but it doesn't make any difference knowing this. My 6 year old daughter last night asked my husband " is mummy ever going to be happy". I just don't know what to do anymore.

worriedrachael CHEST TIGHTNESS??????
  • replies: 3

Help! *a little disclaimer * i have had my heart listened to and I have been told that I have no trace of asthma. so my new anxiety symptom( I thought I had experienced thm all!) is chest tighness? please if anyone gets this let me know your experien... View more

Help! *a little disclaimer * i have had my heart listened to and I have been told that I have no trace of asthma. so my new anxiety symptom( I thought I had experienced thm all!) is chest tighness? please if anyone gets this let me know your experience and if you have overcome it. my chest tightness feels like someone is sitting on my chest and is so uncomfortable , but goes away if I can distract myself.... i feel like I'm going bonkers....yes I have started to see a pschcologist also seeing bev aisbett for a counselling session( she is the author of the "IT" series) I have been prescribed medication and am still contemplating it. Has anyone been on an anti-depressant? thanks xxxx

abluejay i don't know what other choice i have
  • replies: 1

my life is a mess. it's over. there is no way out for me anymore. i have severe agoraphobia and can barely leave the house and i've been like this for years. i have zero support and spend 90 percent of the time completely on my own locked in the hous... View more

my life is a mess. it's over. there is no way out for me anymore. i have severe agoraphobia and can barely leave the house and i've been like this for years. i have zero support and spend 90 percent of the time completely on my own locked in the house staring at four walls and listening to my own thoughts. i have nobody that loves me or cares or checks in. i had so many dreams and they are all without reach. i can barely look after myself and i am 37!!!!!! and i have the capacity of a toddler for self care right now. There is something so terribly wrong with my brain, i can feel it and i feel like i am dying all the time. I want to be strong enough to put myself out of my misery. but i am scared.

Marley How to cope with stress?
  • replies: 1

Hi there i haven't been here in a while, things were going ok for a while. I just need some advice. Does anyone have any strategies of coping with everyday 'life' stress? i suffer from 3 autoimmune conditions which make me tired, give me aches & pain... View more

Hi there i haven't been here in a while, things were going ok for a while. I just need some advice. Does anyone have any strategies of coping with everyday 'life' stress? i suffer from 3 autoimmune conditions which make me tired, give me aches & pains among many other things. I also suffer GAD and have HAD depression. I also have two annoying kids aged 11 & 13 who just annoy me because they can. My husband works night so I have to deal with them, dinner etc on my own, plus running around. i am not working but I want to go back to work but I get stressed easily and I just want to know how I can cope? I'm sick of these things controlling me, "I" want to control me. I want to travel in a few years and so need the money. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to see my psychologist next week who got an ear bashing last week because I was sooooo wound up and he tells me it's just stress. Yeah derr I figure that.

del forgotten who I am
  • replies: 3

lately I can't shake off the feeling that everyone is judging me. I become so anxious and nervous around people, even my closest friends and family, all I think about when talking to them is wondering what they are thinking about me. It is almost lik... View more

lately I can't shake off the feeling that everyone is judging me. I become so anxious and nervous around people, even my closest friends and family, all I think about when talking to them is wondering what they are thinking about me. It is almost like I have forgotten who I am, and how I use to act? I use to be such an outgoing and confident person.. I don't know how to go back to that?! I constantly feel like I need to drink in order to relax and often take it too far and just embarrass myself, which leads to me being even more anxious. I can't look people in the eye anymore and if there is even the shortest silence between conversations I start to freak out. How do I fix this? Is this anxiety? I just want to be back to my normal self again

jess334 Back to the begining
  • replies: 5

Anyone have those days where you feel like your right back where you started all those years ago before the medication and therapy? Today is one of those days. Woke up, had breakfast and then when it was time to go to work I had a huge panic attack. ... View more

Anyone have those days where you feel like your right back where you started all those years ago before the medication and therapy? Today is one of those days. Woke up, had breakfast and then when it was time to go to work I had a huge panic attack. One of those that seem to go on forever, when in reality it was about 3 minutes. All those awful symptoms; heart racing, nausea, fear, hot & cold runs. I gave in, took some meds and went back to bed. It took 40 minutes of meditation before I could relax my muscles and brain. Luckily my boss is amazing and when I told her I couldn't come in this morning she understood. Now its 3 hours later and I'm trying to think of excuses why I shouldn't go to work this afternoon. Truth is I don't want to feel the panic again. This is the worst thing about anxiety. When we are scared to death of feeling panic again, and all I want to do is sit on my couch where it is safe, but instead I have to get up, be strong and push through. And remind myself that one slip does not mean I'm back where I started. Tomorrow is a new day