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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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

All discussions

Itsjustnotme A few symptoms but debilitating fear
  • replies: 5

Hi,I am just not sure with my emotional brain what to take seriously and what not to. My logical brain tells me I am panicking about minor things but I don't want to be that person who ignored things and then died!I have little collections of symptom... View more

Hi,I am just not sure with my emotional brain what to take seriously and what not to. My logical brain tells me I am panicking about minor things but I don't want to be that person who ignored things and then died!I have little collections of symptoms, leg swelling, low back ache, hip ache tiredness, occasional palpitations and itching skin. I am 49 and it has been suggested that many of these things can happen in the peri-menopausal woman. However, the main problem now is the obsession that something is wrong. I can't sleep for the anxiety and fear of illness or death coming for me. It is not rational and I cannot talk myself out of it. The worse my anxiety gets, the worse my sleep is. My lovely GP pays attention and orders tests etc as things occur but to date there is nothing much to find. She thinks however that it is an unusual presentation for perimenopause. Therefore is it all in my head? How do I control this feeling of teariness and terrible emotional lability? I try to be self actualised and have read resources but has anyone experienced this? What has worked because this is just not who I am as a person and can be very distressing?

unicorn2580 Feeling Trapped
  • replies: 1

I have been in unhealthy relationship with a work colleague for 7 years that I can’t seem to get out of because of my fears of the unknown and my lack of self worth. Whenever we fight we dont talk for weeks and I get really bad anxiety. During this t... View more

I have been in unhealthy relationship with a work colleague for 7 years that I can’t seem to get out of because of my fears of the unknown and my lack of self worth. Whenever we fight we dont talk for weeks and I get really bad anxiety. During this time I try to keep my mind busy but I don’t feel like doing anything although I try to push myself ie. gym, being social, eating, sleeping.I try to keep my boundaries from him, because im always the one who reaches out, but because I can’t handle the anxiety I do end up reaching out to try sort it so I can make the feelings stop. Because we have to work closely together I have found it difficult to distance myself .I feel so obligated to work as I have a lot of responsibility with people relying on me and have so much to do. I actually like my job but I feel like I have to leave it if the relationship stops- which I don’t want to do. It feels like no matter where I turn there is something I can’t/don’t want to do because im either too scared or feel lost and I can’t stick to decisions I made. With all of that, would like to ask: - How do you manage your anxiety if you have no motivation to look after yourself? - How do you make life changes when you are too scared?- is trying to sort things out to ease feelings a good thing to do? I have been seeking counselling but thought to this forum. Thank you

chippy_ insomnia
  • replies: 9

Hi Guys New to this site, can anyone please help me I am having a lot of trouble sleeping generally getting about 2 to3 hours broken sleep per night unless i take a sleeping pill then I can get between 4 and 6 hours pretty good sleep I used sleeping ... View more

Hi Guys New to this site, can anyone please help me I am having a lot of trouble sleeping generally getting about 2 to3 hours broken sleep per night unless i take a sleeping pill then I can get between 4 and 6 hours pretty good sleep I used sleeping pills on and of for a few weeks but I don’t want to take it regularly as I hear it can be very addictive, (I had a very stressful family breakdown and court case which is where the initial insomnia started because of anxiety and depression. I am still on an antidepressant but I think the anxiety has eased a lot but my sleeping will not return. I have tried regular bed times and waking times, no coffee or coke, dark room, reading for 15 minutes before bed (after watching TV etc

Benny_21 Boss is trying to get rid of me
  • replies: 4

I've got a boss who is trying to get rid of me. I'm an apprentice 4th year. In my first 3 years I never had any issues other then some criticism which is fine. But I had just started my 4th year and my boss as been given me two written warnings in 2 ... View more

I've got a boss who is trying to get rid of me. I'm an apprentice 4th year. In my first 3 years I never had any issues other then some criticism which is fine. But I had just started my 4th year and my boss as been given me two written warnings in 2 weeks and I've never been rude to my boss and always polite and my warnings have been for poor reasons. He's said hurtful things to me and abused me on the phone if I do something he doesn't like. I never bite back at all and say okay I'm sorry and he still keeps swearing at me. I get bad anxiety now and going to work makes me feel sick, especially now I know he wants me gone. I feel myself getting depressed due to this situation.. I'm at a dead end right now and needed to let it all out. Some advice would be awesome. Thank you

...Gekota A rant about anxiety and ASD
  • replies: 2

Lately I have been doing okay, I haven’t been sh often and I’ve been feeling okay in general I guess. But I have been thinking a lot about a lot of things and it’s been getting me a bit down I guess. I’ve had multiple doctors and professionals tell m... View more

Lately I have been doing okay, I haven’t been sh often and I’ve been feeling okay in general I guess. But I have been thinking a lot about a lot of things and it’s been getting me a bit down I guess. I’ve had multiple doctors and professionals tell me they believe I am autistic and was told to get an ADOS assessment which I did but later found out that is not a very effective way to diagnose my demographic and anyone’s other then a AMAB person under the age of 9. My psychologist who I really like and am so glad I have now gave me an online assessment test for autism after I brought up my confusion after the ADOS came back inconclusive. She believed I was autistic and told me so as she is Neurodiverse herself but the test results came back confirming I am not autistic however I have many autistic traits (probably due to my anxiety) I was unsure how to feel. I don’t want to be autistic it’s not like that at all. When I first heard the suggestion of autism it didn’t make sense to me in relation to myself but after more understanding i finally thought I understand why I am the way I am. So when it turned out I’m not actually autistic I just feel really confused. I feel like an alien, that I don’t belong in this world and everyone around me is normal, I just wanted a sense of belonging. I asked my psychologist what that means for me then and what does that make me and she told me “your a really anxious little guy” it might not sound like much but it helped me a bit I guess. I know I have anxiety but why do I feel so inhuman? It doesn’t feel like that’s all that’s going on. And it’s not there’s other things but I’m just having a hard time excepting it for the past 3 years I haven’t admitted I’m depressed I’ve been diagnosed and for some reason I still can’t wrap my head around it, I don’t want to admit it because I don’t want to except it. I feel so isolated in myself and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just want an answer to why I’m like this but no one can give me one. I just want to know myself I just want to feel like I’m not so out of place. I just want some comfort.

Arrogantwizard I broke up with my girlfriend of 3 years and think I am a narcissist
  • replies: 1

I've never posted like this before so bare with me. Me and my ex girlfriend the other night had a big argument/discussion about me and my problems that I've been lying about for 3 years and trying to hide from her. I don't want to talk about specific... View more

I've never posted like this before so bare with me. Me and my ex girlfriend the other night had a big argument/discussion about me and my problems that I've been lying about for 3 years and trying to hide from her. I don't want to talk about specifics but she would've prefered if I had cheated on her than know what the real truth was. I don't feel anything about it, she just kept asking questions and for once I tried to answer fully sincerely and even then could not stop lying. Eventually she got the whole truth and felt utterly distraught and horrified at me. I am going to tell my only closest friend too and am so scared. I want to fix myself and in hoping this is part of that process. I am wondering if there is any narcissist or person with narcissistic tendencies who is getting active therapy that has any advice at all.

T-otts Emotions around adopting a second pet
  • replies: 2

Hi, we have had a cat for over a year now and she is our world and we love her so much. We have been thinking of getting a friend for her as we are both at work during the day. We adopted another lil kitten yesterday and our cat isn’t a fan. I know i... View more

Hi, we have had a cat for over a year now and she is our world and we love her so much. We have been thinking of getting a friend for her as we are both at work during the day. We adopted another lil kitten yesterday and our cat isn’t a fan. I know it’s not even been a day so it will take time but I have been so emotional and crying non stop since coming home. I don’t want to have to rehome the new lil kitten. I just want to know if anyone else has felt like this. I don’t know if it’s regret or feeling guilty bringing in a new animal. Any advice would be amazing. Thanks

Nickname_A6 Recurrence of sleepless anxiety
  • replies: 9

Hi everybody I’ve always had empathy for anyone who suffers from a mental health condition. I’ve been a member of Beyond Blue for a few years but rarely post. I have been hospitalised in the past for severe depression & thanks to ect I miraculously m... View more

Hi everybody I’ve always had empathy for anyone who suffers from a mental health condition. I’ve been a member of Beyond Blue for a few years but rarely post. I have been hospitalised in the past for severe depression & thanks to ect I miraculously made a healthy recovery. That was over 5 years ago. Thing is it’s come back a few times & I need to get to the root of the problem. ( I assume it stems from my childhood & has escalated from there. I’m so angry at myself this time. I can’t believe the symptoms have returned. (I can’t sleep or relax) I feel I’m letting everyone down. My negative thoughts are sabotaging my relationship with my partner. It’s not fair on her. It’s early days since this anxiety has popped back into my life & she says she is there for me. However I’m afraid I’m going to scare her away eventually if I don’t get better. She has made lots of self progress & found a job she enjoys. She has really come along way. My friends are supportive. (I don’t have siblings & my parents are elderly & live in another state. I just want to be my happy self. I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to sleep again tonight & hesitant of taking medication, although I have taken some sleep supplements. I will be seeing a hypnotherapist next week to hopefully get me back on track. Any advice or similar experiences would be appreciated. I’m more angry at myself. I don’t like being a burden on others.

EDMClub21 Been mildly anxious for one year, already set my mental objective for 2023
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone. I am a 23 year old male that has been under Mutual Obligations regarding JobSeeker payments. Throughout, my biggest worries have been being placed into forced labour, being abused by staff at compulsory appointments, and even being press... View more

Hi everyone. I am a 23 year old male that has been under Mutual Obligations regarding JobSeeker payments. Throughout, my biggest worries have been being placed into forced labour, being abused by staff at compulsory appointments, and even being pressured to find a job in the quickest time possible. I knew that finding a job isn't easy, so I undertook online courses, networked with like-minded individuals and done some volunteering and internships regarding my passion of marketing. In 2023, in order to fulfil my mental health and financial welfare, I am excited to become a freelancer, which has become a popular trend. After doing a DJ competition last year, I've realised that it's time to get into freelancing, become my own boss and overthrow those dreadful mutual obligations through earning multiple income sources. I think health and wellbeing should be considered when finding a job or starting a career, right?

Noah134 Can i get a proof of i’d without leaving my home
  • replies: 1

hey i’m noah i’m a 17 year old male who has agoraphobia due to anxiety and depression i’m looking to see if i can get a proof of age or some form of id such as a passport or a drivers licence without leaving my house. I’ve been looking into getting a... View more

hey i’m noah i’m a 17 year old male who has agoraphobia due to anxiety and depression i’m looking to see if i can get a proof of age or some form of id such as a passport or a drivers licence without leaving my house. I’ve been looking into getting a stay at home job for a while now and i’ll need a proof of age card and setup a bank account but i need i’d but i can’t go into bank is the problem and i’ve spoken to my gp and psychiatrist about getting a medical exemption for these such things and they are not sure so i was wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue or knows away for this to work