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
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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

The_Real_David_Charles Does anxiety attract other forms of anxiety ? Is it contagious ?
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You don't have to seek being anxious. It just appears. Is this because anxiety attracts other forms of anxiety ? Or are anxious people more aware of other anxious triggers ? Kind of like one of those comical movies "Stop the world I want to get off".... View more

You don't have to seek being anxious. It just appears. Is this because anxiety attracts other forms of anxiety ? Or are anxious people more aware of other anxious triggers ? Kind of like one of those comical movies "Stop the world I want to get off". Recently I've nearly been almost run over walking my dog whilst crossing lights legally, been abused by another dog owner for keeping his animal safe from severe mistreatment, lost it with the Post Office for not photocopying my Birth Certificate when applying for a Passport (which led to multiple delays), shouted at a dental assistant for arranging dental work for me through my wife and not confirming my appointment with me but trying to invoice me for not turning up (even though I had no idea about the appt), cursed my demanding mother in law for wanting me to drop everything and come over to shift a fridge when I was halfway through composing a big band chart for work that night and even had a 4 month ongoing battle with Medicare because they seem unable to renew my card and sometimes send the right card to the wrong address (and old place). Or am I just a cranky bastard having recently turned 50 ? Actually reading this thread back, maybe I'm quite normal. Adios, David. PS I heard that, mods. Lol.

Blackecho Need some information.............
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I was diagnosed over two years ago with anxiety/post traumatic stress after a close call with death. I had a few panic attacks but with the help of a great GP nipped it in the bud pretty quickly with some anti depressants/psychologist. I was able to ... View more

I was diagnosed over two years ago with anxiety/post traumatic stress after a close call with death. I had a few panic attacks but with the help of a great GP nipped it in the bud pretty quickly with some anti depressants/psychologist. I was able to get off the antis and coped pretty well but have developed a fear of ageing or more so become incapacated in some way. Anyways about a year ago I started feeling faint/weak/dizzy/off balance feelings on and off but became nearly 24/7 feeling like I had just come off a merry go round. I was tested for BVVP ..ear stuff but this all seemed ok although I did get tinnitus Was also tested for heart stuff and all good too. I was actually told this is all caused by anxiety. I managed to beat it again but seems in the last few months to have come back. I don't have any heart pounding....tight chest etc.....I also have been told I have the fight/flight response. Do these sound like symptoms of anxiety?

thaolam Homesick at home?
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Really often in the week, I get these chest stricken feeling that I need to get home or I desperately need to be home. The thing is that I get these feelings when I AM at home. Sometimes I get it so strongly, that I get teary, stumble around and find... View more

Really often in the week, I get these chest stricken feeling that I need to get home or I desperately need to be home. The thing is that I get these feelings when I AM at home. Sometimes I get it so strongly, that I get teary, stumble around and find it hard to breathe. Thoughts that 'I'm getting this feeling because something bad's going to happen' pass through my mind. I never get homesick when I am overseas or anything, so it's really weird. When I get it in the mornings, I feel so shitty for the rest of the day. My problems become more worrying to me and I can't concentrate on anything. I've tried googling this, and many people say its a panic attack, or an anxiety attack, or possibly a heartburn? I really don't want to go to a GP or anything, because I don't want to make this a big deal for family and friends. I have school and work as well.. I don't know what to do

Shannon1 Confused
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I am anxious about so much, my work, my relation with my partner (even though we're fine, great actually) how much I want to change my mother because she is where all this anxiety has built up from. 21 years of total anxiety. But now that anxiety has... View more

I am anxious about so much, my work, my relation with my partner (even though we're fine, great actually) how much I want to change my mother because she is where all this anxiety has built up from. 21 years of total anxiety. But now that anxiety has turned to me just getting angry, I'm furious about stupid things these days. For example, when I'm eating and the cat reaches its paw close to my food, I flip out, screaming and get so desperate to kill the cat. All because he put his paw near my food. It's cant be normal. I don't know what going on, I'm so confused. I feel angry all the time and anxious that everything will fall to pieces if I don't have control. what do you think?

Jenjen86 Need to be positive help!
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I'm recently going thru a stressful time medically. I've had to have surgery. And of course it takes time to heal! My anxiety and depression has gone. Thru the roof ! I'm stressing and freaking out I have stressful thoughtsvthat it won't heal althoug... View more

I'm recently going thru a stressful time medically. I've had to have surgery. And of course it takes time to heal! My anxiety and depression has gone. Thru the roof ! I'm stressing and freaking out I have stressful thoughtsvthat it won't heal although my doctors have reassured me that the tissue will take time! But I'm suffering from all this anxiety I'm having trouble trying to control it I just dnt know what to do where to turn to help me thru this' on top of ll this my bf has decided he needs a break and isn't hear to support me! How so I stop my mind from all these negative thoughts? I've ha depression for 8 years or so on and off

ImScared1 Anxiety is taking over my life
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I'm 16 years old and I'm scared. Of what, I have no idea. The anxiety started in around October last year. The panic attacks and depression came later. I don't know what started it, the whole thing was sudden. I remember waking up one morning and fee... View more

I'm 16 years old and I'm scared. Of what, I have no idea. The anxiety started in around October last year. The panic attacks and depression came later. I don't know what started it, the whole thing was sudden. I remember waking up one morning and feeling like I could barely breathe. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack and that I was dying. This didn't stop for another two weeks and during that time I think I made around 4 or 5 trips to the doctor and I went home from school early twice. I was so scared, especially since I'd heard that a 15 year old boy had died from a random breathing problem just a week before. The next two week period was better but I still had trouble breathing. The symptoms of barely being able to breathe came back for another two week after that. Ever since then, I've had a constant 'heavy' feeling in my chest. I started getting panic attacks in around February this year, and that's also when I started becoming depressed, mainly about school. I hate feeling depressed, I know there are so many other people out there that have nothing and yet they still smile, but I can't help it. A few of my teachers started to notice me getting distressed in class (when I'd have panic attacks) and told me to go see the councilor but I only get to see her once every 2 or 3 weeks because there's other girls that need to see her and she's only in on Mondays. Because my stress levels rise as it gets later at night, I find it really difficult to do my homework. I'm starting to fall behind in my VCE and I wish I could just leave, I hate it. If anything, I just want to be home schooled so I can get away from the people that go to my school. I feel invisible there and like I'm worthless. I just want my old life back. I used to be so carefree and now I feel like I'm trapped in my own body. Sorry, I know I write a lot but I really just needed to get this out.

cubicalpanic Are personal space issues part of anxiety?
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I have always had personal space issues, even with my partner and daughter. I tend to get panicky if someone is in close or holds me and won't let go straight away....I don't go out of my way to touch people affectionately, unless I have had a few dr... View more

I have always had personal space issues, even with my partner and daughter. I tend to get panicky if someone is in close or holds me and won't let go straight away....I don't go out of my way to touch people affectionately, unless I have had a few drinks. I worry about my daughter all the time and worry about who my partner talks to...insecurity at its best!

1963 Puzzling timing of anxiety symptoms
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At Easter, I finally came off an antidepressant after a number of years treatment of depression. I have a history of anxiety & depression. Felt fine for over 2 months [I'd been reducing my dose from 3 mths previous to stopping], then, in late July , ... View more

At Easter, I finally came off an antidepressant after a number of years treatment of depression. I have a history of anxiety & depression. Felt fine for over 2 months [I'd been reducing my dose from 3 mths previous to stopping], then, in late July , 2 weeks of a few abnormal stresses & I feel like I've crashed. My symptoms are much more from Anxiety than depression, but what absolutely puzzles me is how I wake up with anxiety symptoms, struggle through the morning, but by early/mid afternoon they DISAPPEAR completely?!?!? Overnight, when waking up in the middle of the night and from 6/7am to about 2/3pm daily, the tiniest thought will set off horrible anxiety for me. I also have the general buzz of anxiety going on constantly during this time too. After that time,eg; from 3 -11/12 pm I'm fine; I couldnt trigger any anxiety then if I tried. I know some people will read this & think, 'wow, I wish I could guarantee an anxiety-free part of the day for me.' I have been there before myself, but my nights & mornings are hell at the moment. Does anyone else suffer anxiety in this way/ or know [any links?] what the best way is to treat this type of anxiety?

worriedrachael panic attacks 5 -6 times daily
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I didnt think it was possible to have panic attacks 5 or 6 times daily...mine have always been maybe once a week or fortnight. Dont get me wrong Im very anxious most days at some point... I have been having panic attacks where I feel like a cant brea... View more

I didnt think it was possible to have panic attacks 5 or 6 times daily...mine have always been maybe once a week or fortnight. Dont get me wrong Im very anxious most days at some point... I have been having panic attacks where I feel like a cant breath,or that its hard to breath...I take too many deep breaths as I feel like Im not getting enough oxygen ,then I start feeling dizzy or course..and then my chest starts feeling tight. I have allot going on in my life that I'm trying to work through...but these panic attacks are really scaring me. Does anyone else have troubled breathing when having panicking? It helps me knowing other people go though what I do. xxx

dan_16 How to cope with Anxiety?
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Hi, I'm Dan and I'm 16 years old. For as long as I can remember, my mum has been horrible towards me. She doesn't like me, she picks on me, she yells at me for literally no reason and blames me for everything. Basically, I cannot say anything around ... View more

Hi, I'm Dan and I'm 16 years old. For as long as I can remember, my mum has been horrible towards me. She doesn't like me, she picks on me, she yells at me for literally no reason and blames me for everything. Basically, I cannot say anything around her (good or bad) without getting a negative reaction. I think she has depression and she sometimes admits it to try and get sympathy but when we encourage her to get help she says she's fine. My younger brother has autism and it has always been hard living with that. Up until about 7 or 8 weeks ago I had been fine. I had thought about seeing a counsellor but decided against it because I was coping well. Doing fairly well in school and in sport, and enjoying life. However I got sick and had to have an extended period of time off school. We were finally able to find part of the problem, but we think another part of my sickness was me having anxiety. I have always been kind of a perfectionist, and have worked hard at school. Its in my personality to worry a lot and be constantly thinking and I have tended to get nervous often in the past but have been able to keep myself calm. I think any anxiety I have, got a lot worse during the 6 or so weeks I was away from school as I had to stay home, with my awful mother, abusing me all the time. Sometimes I randomly get nasty headaches and even become dizzy. These can last anywhere between 60 seconds to all day. I get extremely sore stomachs, sometimes my whole abdomen area and again, that can be very up and down and come when I'm least expecting it. Also, over the last 3 days, I've felt at times my chest tightening up, my heart beating harder (I could really feel it pumping in my chest) and having a feeling in my throat as if I have to vomit. Sometimes I can be sitting there and not feel stressed out, not feel nervous or anxious about anything, yet I will still experience these pains. I'm not sure if any of them have been panic or anxiety attacks, its not as if I have fainted or anything like that. I am struggling to get back to school, I have been for 2 periods at a time for 3 days last week but even that is hard. Apart from my mum, and my brother and the problems I have to deal with there, school is always stressful as I'm in year 11 and I have missed a lot of school so catching up is going to be very hard. I am booked in to see a counsellor this Friday and have also told my year coordinator at school that I need to see the school counsellor, and I believe that I will be able to. Is there anything I can do in the meantime to help? I am considering using these "rescue pastills" that my younger sister uses as she gets nervous about catching the bus. For anyone that may not know, they are similar to a lolly and you chew them. Apparently they calm you down and have worked in my sister's opinion, but I wouldn't want to become dependent on them. Does anyone have any advice on this or other things to take or treatments to have to help? Any help is much appreciated and I thank you so much if you have read all of this!