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
Categories
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. 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

Start a discussion

Maxwell Feeling very angry
  • replies: 2

I have just read that Jeff Kennett thinks that people like me who take medication to deal with chronic anxiety are taking 'the easy way out'. Really needed to hear your opinion Jeff. Who the hell do you think you are to make a judgement on me and the... View more

I have just read that Jeff Kennett thinks that people like me who take medication to deal with chronic anxiety are taking 'the easy way out'. Really needed to hear your opinion Jeff. Who the hell do you think you are to make a judgement on me and the thousands like me who rely on medication to live a relatively normal life? I thought Beyond Blue was interested in assisting people like me. Clearly not. You can take your feel good organisation and shove it.

madevil_beans constant state of panic with daily panic attacks
  • replies: 1

Hi there,Im Madison. I’ve been struggling with anxiety since i was 11 and am 20 now. I moved to australia 7 months ago and my anxiety is back.Most people give me the “oh you just moved here, you just need to settle” but i’m where i should be and am s... View more

Hi there,Im Madison. I’ve been struggling with anxiety since i was 11 and am 20 now. I moved to australia 7 months ago and my anxiety is back.Most people give me the “oh you just moved here, you just need to settle” but i’m where i should be and am stable now. I have panic attacks with really bad neurological symptoms that mimic heart attacks as well as physical symptoms that cause my heart to race. I got prescribed sertra and proprananlol but won’t take it because i’m scared that i will have more panic attacks in the adjustment period. I’m really struggling and I don’t know what to do. I’m not used to GPs giving out meds because only psychiatrists do that in south africa and i’m not sure i trust my GPs judgment as much as i would a psychiatrist.

nurse-in-need Don’t know where to start but here it goes
  • replies: 9

Hi, I feel the last 6-12 months have really taken a toll on my mental health. I’ve recently noticed I am easily irritable, resentful, struggling to maintain or form new relationships, socially withdrawn and very self-critical. It doesn’t help I am go... View more

Hi, I feel the last 6-12 months have really taken a toll on my mental health. I’ve recently noticed I am easily irritable, resentful, struggling to maintain or form new relationships, socially withdrawn and very self-critical. It doesn’t help I am going through a career change and currently a mature nursing student. Due to a mixture of visa purposes and personal circumstances, a lot of close friends I have made have left to go home or moved interstate. My partner’s social circle on the other hand keeps expanding and I can’t help but feel jealously around this. I have to tried to connect with likeminded people but it’s a struggle. I’m not the outgoing, sociable person I once was when I got here. I feel so alone all of a sudden and with my studies on top, I’m fatigued and the last thing I want to do is try again and make new friends. A lot of my uni cohort are very young too. As a result, I experience sadness and loneliness. I also have a habit of negative thinking that I struggle to shift. I am just finding life tough lately and never had this before.

Elephant86 Walking towards a place of healing and peace of mind
  • replies: 0

I have struggled with my condition for long time and it is sometimes a challenge to find out how do I heal? Everybodies pathway to healing is different people don't all like to do the same activities. You have to find out what makes you happy and mos... View more

I have struggled with my condition for long time and it is sometimes a challenge to find out how do I heal? Everybodies pathway to healing is different people don't all like to do the same activities. You have to find out what makes you happy and most importantly what brings me peace and calm. There are many activities you can do to help you relax and keep on a positive pathway. You must find what your passionate about is it cooking a meal for the whole family. It could also be working with tools to build a table. It could be playing sport like soccer or rugby. There are so many wonderful things you can do you just do what your passionate about don't worry about what others think of you. Remember there is only 1 you and we all have our wonderful special gifts that we must harness to the best of our ability so we can shine like a diamond for all to see how special you are. There will be time you will lose confidence in your ability beleive me there where times were I would second guess myself and lack confidence to step out of my shell and face the world and be a powerful positive influence on the world. If you beleive in your heart that you are powerful and you want to change the world no one has the right to be negative and make you feel bad you need to have powerful positive influences in your life that make you feel positive in yout own ability.

Hail Need help
  • replies: 8

I'm someone who self helps. Been through alot. Yet I'm still here. I don't now where to turn for answers yet I'm not one to seek them for myself or my own well being. Always there for others more then myself. I'm just lost always have been. I'm just ... View more

I'm someone who self helps. Been through alot. Yet I'm still here. I don't now where to turn for answers yet I'm not one to seek them for myself or my own well being. Always there for others more then myself. I'm just lost always have been. I'm just lost bored & hurting. Always have been. Good or bad it's always the same . I don't talk to anyone as to how I'm feeling as it's my own problems. I don't like to weigh people especially family with my problems. Keep a good face. Also I'd like to believe I'm ok. Thought I'm not I know I'm not. But why I ask. But I'm not one who asks for help.

Guest_5925 I feel ugly all the time and I compare myself to every single person I see
  • replies: 6

Hi i'm a 21 year old female and I don't think I am loveable by anyone? i've never had a proper boyfriend and have always had on and off things with men but I feel like I am not attractive to anyone, especially men I find attractive. I always say in m... View more

Hi i'm a 21 year old female and I don't think I am loveable by anyone? i've never had a proper boyfriend and have always had on and off things with men but I feel like I am not attractive to anyone, especially men I find attractive. I always say in my head as soon as I see a man that I find attractive they probably think I am a disgusting slob and could never imagine themselves with a girl like me. Every single person I either pass on the street or see, I start pin pointing every thing I see on them that I don't have. "perfect hair, the ideal figure, a nice fashion sense" the qualities I believe I lack are the ones I see in everyone that passes me. I wish I had that I wish I looked like that I wish I wish, I walk pass a stranger and notice these things so why can I never see them in myself. I know this sounds ridiculous and I understand there are worse things in the world that are going on but thought id see if anyone can help or might even relate to these thoughts and feelings.

Nadine_Davis Anxiety linked to sleepless nights or insomnia
  • replies: 3

I was wondering if anxiety is triggered by sleepless nights or the way around. Since I haven’t been sleeping i have had anxiety! Now I have anxiety as I’m scared I won’t sleep at night. I have to take medication to sleep

I was wondering if anxiety is triggered by sleepless nights or the way around. Since I haven’t been sleeping i have had anxiety! Now I have anxiety as I’m scared I won’t sleep at night. I have to take medication to sleep

AC57 Big problem
  • replies: 1

Some times i bite off more than I can chew I have a disability and it's a challenge, I can't handle it Please advise me I bully my self and have no faith in my self.

Some times i bite off more than I can chew I have a disability and it's a challenge, I can't handle it Please advise me I bully my self and have no faith in my self.

TLD1968 Finding my worth
  • replies: 3

Struggling again with employment and being understood and accepted by mainstream people.

Struggling again with employment and being understood and accepted by mainstream people.

Lil_b Phobia when home alone over night
  • replies: 1

Since I was 18, I had an anxiety develop around a deep fear of being home alone at night. 8 years on and it still prevails my life. I recently moved from a share house to alone, knowing this anxiety would be a tough one to beat. However, I am just fi... View more

Since I was 18, I had an anxiety develop around a deep fear of being home alone at night. 8 years on and it still prevails my life. I recently moved from a share house to alone, knowing this anxiety would be a tough one to beat. However, I am just finding it so exhausting. I am convinced with every bone in my body that something is going to happen to me the minute it goes past 11 o clock or I am trying to sleep. Any noise I hear, I think it is a person, despite usually just being the fridge or whatever, constant intrusive thoughts of someone scarying me, or waiting for me behind the door. I am so so tired of it, I don't recognise the person I become. Does anyone else relate to phobias in general or night time stuff? I feel so alone.