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

Awhina24 Hitting a new low point
  • replies: 3

For the last few months, I'm so anxious that I can barely remember to eat, I have nightmares almost every single night, wake up drenched in sweat and my digestive system is a mess. I feel absolutely frozen in fear, have constant knots in my stomach a... View more

For the last few months, I'm so anxious that I can barely remember to eat, I have nightmares almost every single night, wake up drenched in sweat and my digestive system is a mess. I feel absolutely frozen in fear, have constant knots in my stomach and burst into tears near daily. A few years ago I accidentally fell pregnant and now have a 4 year old despite never really wanting children. Now I'm scared constantly for my child's future. I didn't realize how bad climate change would get in my lifetime, every day seems to bring a new disaster or bleak looking report on how bad things will get. My husband does not share my concerns, nor do most my family. I have no idea how to talk to any of them about it. I go to therapy and while my therapist does not dismiss my concerns she says I need to find ways to accept uncertainty and my beliefs about the future. I'm terrified that there is no liveable future, that myself my child and family will die in a famine or be killed in some violent manner, or die of heatstroke or in a fire in just a few years time. We live in Melbourne and I'm dreading the coming summers. Even if I try to distract myself with gardening, hiking, craft, playing with my child, reading, housework or volunteering I'm constantly thinking about ecological collapse and feeling like humanity is doomed. I struggle to maintain any sanity throughout the day. Right now I'm shaking and want to throw up. I want some kind of hope. I want my family nearby (they all live in another country). Often I want to go to sleep and not wake up. I'm on medication but I don't think it's really helping much beyond numbing some feelings at times.

Minxy Long term social anxiety and series of events
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone,Recently came back onto the forums after a hiatus and being focused on uni and irl things. And due to finally finding the password, though I have been using Beyond Blue and MIND recently.Primarily focusing on my anxiety and dealing with H... View more

Hi everyone,Recently came back onto the forums after a hiatus and being focused on uni and irl things. And due to finally finding the password, though I have been using Beyond Blue and MIND recently.Primarily focusing on my anxiety and dealing with HF Autism (Formally Asperger's Syndrome) I have also been dealing with depression and helplessness due to myself often refusing to ask for help due to experiences with social workers. I'm also have social anxiety as well has having issues understanding people. And my experiences below didn't help.Basically I recently moved out of my old place due to dealing with the toxicity from my father due to financial and mental abuse, the former primarily due to heavily relying on me repeating units in order to rely on DSP to help pay off the bills. I was paying off mostly his and my bills, including a few electricity bills reaching the thousands due to the place being daisy-chained by a local electrician. As a result lead to constant power cuts that lasted for months, which has also affected my ability to study with already poor reception in the area being remote. On top of constant burnout and thinking I was never going to go anywhere in life. I reached out for Beyond Blue for help, which then later referred me to MIND, they gave me advice to move out and provided some support during and post-moving. Eventually I moved out in early 2021, with a help of a friend I met online, though I had very limited funds due to having tough time saving up what I can. Stayed at their place until their landlord wanted to evict me due to "not allowing couples", which both the friend and myself were not. I eventually moved into another place, with issues with the landlord there due to not allowing those on rent assist/DSP. I also had dealt with a toxic housemate being overly aggressive about everything I was doing, despite literately minding my own business and focusing on studies, which I tried to communicate but it turns out there was none to begin with. I asked for advice to one of the MIND social workers I was talking with for a while (which ended due to contract), and they also advised me to find a place. I looked around my area via Flatmates, Domain, Facebook and Gumtree. Many places do not accept those on rent assist and some disabled-friendly places don't see me as disabled. I'm basically in a tight situation, especially that I'll be finishing my course soon but also unsure how I able to find a job.

Okberty Full Circle
  • replies: 1

I have posted before, got better and now I find myself back with depression and anxiety similar to my previous postI had sought counselling through a psychologist and while things improved I don't think I took full advantage of the opportunity.I feel... View more

I have posted before, got better and now I find myself back with depression and anxiety similar to my previous postI had sought counselling through a psychologist and while things improved I don't think I took full advantage of the opportunity.I feel alone, isolated and unable to break my feelings of helplessness. Work is my only activity which gives me social contact. Most of my feelings are caused by my procrastination habit which impacts my work and triggers anxiety when I get called out for not taking actions or completing projects I catastrophise being fired which is a possibility as I work in roles that put liability on the workplace. I regularly repeat the same mistakes.I have no one too turn too to ask for help or to provide encouragement or sense of purpose. All my life I have struggled with maintaining friendships I was labelled as shy at a young age and have lived with that label since. I do not consider myself shy. I have no problem approaching people I do struggle to share interests with many though.I enjoy time alone but find I isolate myself too much and when I need friendship have no one.Procrastination too has been a lifelong battle. Things got worse some 6 year's ago. I moved here from NZ because my now ex wife wanted too. I gave up employment I was experiencing success and ambition in. The marriage fell apart almost the instant we moved. Wife's controlling behaviour, and her affair which lead to discovery.of additional lies and deception became to much to bear. I was at fault too. I had become more withdrawn and was very passive in the relationship.I was recently contacted by the ex and suspect too this has been a trigger for my feelings now. Her life is going well in comparison.Since moving I have struggled to re-establish my career and have no motivation to do so. The role is the same just at a lower level. I get no enjoyment from it and feel taken advantage in the workplace having been passed over for promotion only to end up doing the higher duties anyway.I can't talk to my remaining family as in the past all I get told is to snap out of it and to stop the self pity.I know one of the ways out of the situation I am in is too change careers I don't do so out of fear. A fear of taking risk has also held me back in life.Need to make some changes but don't know what to do.Thank you.

white knight Homelessness
  • replies: 6

Some of us older members have worked hard for decades and are now secure. Some of us also have been in the situation years ago whereby we were homeless. There is various degrees of "homelessness" though from sleeping on the street, to inside an old c... View more

Some of us older members have worked hard for decades and are now secure. Some of us also have been in the situation years ago whereby we were homeless. There is various degrees of "homelessness" though from sleeping on the street, to inside an old caravan the latter a castle compared to the former. So the differences can be vast and is often income based. So at 40yo following a huge crisis I had enough money to buy a 3 metre 40yo caravan and moved into a caravan park. Yes, I was lucky and not technically homeless but I was getting a taste of what it could be like as I'd left behind my home, neighbours, town, my inlaws and even my dog. A huge upheaval. So recently in our country we've seen a spike in homelessness and shortage of accommodation in rentals leaving some in a desperate position. During this period anxiety and other illnesses peak, doctors charges, meds etc are now unaffordable, its a real crisis. I dont have all the answers. If you are working you could benefit from having two goals at a time, one financial goal and one personal challenge. The personal challenge could be - giving up an addiction like smoking/gambling/drinking. The financial goal could be to buy a campervan (if single) or a caravan. Once youve made your purchase you now have some form of nomadic ability which has its advantages. Following that make another two goals and so on. So I did that. Ended up with a block of land in the country, erected a shed, put the caravan in it, used a home brew kit as a shower and eventually built my own home. I recalled my first bath in my house that then had no plaster. I'd succeeded, an incredible feeling, then even before I got out I had decided my two next goals one step at a time All comments appreciated. Let's help the less fortunate. TonyWK

k_0891 Break up anxiety triggered
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I’m 31 & have suffered severe anxiety in the past where I have had ambulances come to the house and numerous hospital trips. My anxiety is based on a warm rush through my heart & body leading me to think I’m leading up to a heart attack. This... View more

Hi all, I’m 31 & have suffered severe anxiety in the past where I have had ambulances come to the house and numerous hospital trips. My anxiety is based on a warm rush through my heart & body leading me to think I’m leading up to a heart attack. This all disappeared when I had met my recent partner, we had been together a year and 2 months, it has suddenly ended and all of a sudden I feel myself heading straight back into that anxious place - I am mortified as I didn’t cope very well. Has anyone gone through the same thing?

Elizabeth Louise How do you tell your loved one to seek help
  • replies: 8

How do you influence your loved one to seek help without offending them? It's been a rollercoaster since my husband stopped his medication of 20 years end 2019. I believe he was misdiagnosed with Generalised Epilepsy in his teens (he never had a sezu... View more

How do you influence your loved one to seek help without offending them? It's been a rollercoaster since my husband stopped his medication of 20 years end 2019. I believe he was misdiagnosed with Generalised Epilepsy in his teens (he never had a sezuire) by a neurologist. The drug Is a psychiatric drug, a mood stabilizer or anticonvulsant. Even though he never had a seizure, i think the medication was actually helping him as it does also treat anxiety. But he decided to come off it. The problem was he wasn't monitored and I think he might have tapered off it too quickly. Also it was the worst timing as it was just before Covid hit. His behaviour, sleep and mood impacted. He has pushed me away blaming his issues on "our relationship" when I think it's the other way around. His declining health caused problems in our relationship. I think he burnt out or had a nervous breakdown end 2020 ( after not sleeping for months). I tried to ask him to seek help. I know my delivery wasn't great and could have been better. His GP prescribed meatonin as he wasn't sleeping, had nerve pain and tingling in his arms & legs. That didn't work. He was prescribed antidepressants and didn't take that either. I believe he has severe anxiety & has developed PTSD. He's paranoia has increased and still says he is trying to just survive. He is in survival mode. How do I make him realise that he really should seek help without offending him? I believe he needs to see a Psychiatrist and go back on some sort of medication to help with the anxiety & PTSD. Maybe an antidepressant. He doesn't necessarily have to go back onto the anticonvulsant. His sleep has somewhat improved but he still says he is in survival mode. I am really worried about him. We were married and lived together for almost 16 years and I just know in my heart something isn't right, there has been an underlying issue. I think his declining mental health created so much drama and new issues between us but he just blame our "relationship". How can I help him? Whenever i have tried to speak with him about his health he just shuts me out. He has no insight or awareness. EL

GreenEgg decision making
  • replies: 8

Hi everyone Often I tend to become kind of stuck on an issue. When that happens I can make rash decisions, like spending a lot of money or taking sudden actions. It’s almost always a massive overreaction, and something I have to do right then. On the... View more

Hi everyone Often I tend to become kind of stuck on an issue. When that happens I can make rash decisions, like spending a lot of money or taking sudden actions. It’s almost always a massive overreaction, and something I have to do right then. On the weekend I bought a lot of unnecessary stuff, worked myself up in a stress, and then something else happened. I basically was scammed and didn’t see it coming when I should’ve, then when I realised I was too timid to do anything about it. The rest of the weekend I was basically just so upset with myself for being so stupid, and for being such a pushover. I couldn’t stop crying. I do have some exercises to do about snapping out of ‘fight or flight’, but I often don’t realise how far I’ve spiralled until later. Or I realise but feel like I can’t stop? Does anyone else get this? What do you do about it? ThanksG

abbyrlogan anxiety/being a complete hypochondriac
  • replies: 4

hey guys, it’s so nice to feel like a new member, i only just discovered that you are able to do this and post forums! nice to meet you all and to share my experiences and story. so i have been diagnosed with anxiety but always been aware of having i... View more

hey guys, it’s so nice to feel like a new member, i only just discovered that you are able to do this and post forums! nice to meet you all and to share my experiences and story. so i have been diagnosed with anxiety but always been aware of having it. it’s never been this bad. i am also a massive hypochondriac that will worry about anything that i feel or think of etc. i am always thinking of heart related things especially when i am experiencing the physical symptoms of my anxiety i will always turn to either am i going to have a heart attack or even die!! it’s insane and utterly awful. i normally feel like this for days and sometimes weeks and can’t seem to convince myself that i am ok and that nothing is wrong not matter how many times people and my loved ones have told me i’m alright and nothings going to happen part of me always thinks or convinces myself that something is wrong. some of the other symptoms i experience from time to time are feeling completely fatigued, drowsy, sick to the stomach, pain in the stomach, loss of appetitive, chest pain to name a few. can someone reply with some advice and or guidance it would be much appreciated and could help me

Nyny94 Worried Over Nothing
  • replies: 15

I have OCD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder and up until now it has been going super well with no flare-ups, however, I bought some bond period undies and accidentally instead of putting them into a cold wash like normal hit the cycle button. Now the... View more

I have OCD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder and up until now it has been going super well with no flare-ups, however, I bought some bond period undies and accidentally instead of putting them into a cold wash like normal hit the cycle button. Now the undies say cold wash and I have my OCD urges to follow instructions and now because I didn't wash them in cold and the normal cycle us like 40 degrees I am freaking out. I binned my clothes and I am terrified something bad is going to happen, I've booked a DRs appointment as recently my stress has been causing my anxiety and OCD to become a bit less manageable. Does anyone have advice? How do you handle something this simple that should be no big deal? I am terrified I have done something wrong and now my clothes cant be worn or that the washing machine can't be used or that the undies are somehow tainted. I know this sounds silly but I think my OCD and GAD are maybe being triggered by other stresses.

Nelle__09 I’m
  • replies: 2

My anxiety is literally ruining and running my entire life. I have been out of work for roughly 7 months due to my anxiety around workplaces and people, during this time I’ve almost everything I can think of to try to help and support myself contrary... View more

My anxiety is literally ruining and running my entire life. I have been out of work for roughly 7 months due to my anxiety around workplaces and people, during this time I’ve almost everything I can think of to try to help and support myself contrary to what my family believes. I contacted Centrelink, figured out what needed to be done for my drivers license, got a mental health plan and a counsellor and even tried to go through one of those job employment agencies that help you to look for a job while dealing with injuries and mental illness. As a Non protected SCV holder in Australia I knew I wasn’t really entitled to much but I was hoping they would have services for young people struggling with mental health to find work or really provide ANY SUPPORT at all but no. So here’s my dilemma, I can’t work due to my anxiety, which means I have no income whatsoever and must rely on my boyfriend and family to support me, I can’t get financial support from Centrelink because I’m a non protected SCV holder and I can’t access job support because I’m non protected SCV holder (from the research I’ve done, I’ve been unable to find any). In my mind I’ve done almost every possible thing I can think of to try deal with my anxiety, to seek the support I need, to ask people for help and it’s made me feel like I don’t matter. Every time I’m given hope that I can get support, other then talking to a counsellor, I’m ultimately told I’m not eligible for that or I’m not entitled to that. I feel like I’m slipping through the cracks no matter how hard I try to help myself. Is there honestly nothing more I can do?