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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
  • 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

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Nahs Overwhelmed
  • replies: 1

Feeling overwhelmed by so much lately. Finding just completing basic tasks is difficult to do. getting dressed, sweeping the floor, doing my job… none of it’s hard, none of it makes me feel anything once I do them I just find it so hard to start. I h... View more

Feeling overwhelmed by so much lately. Finding just completing basic tasks is difficult to do. getting dressed, sweeping the floor, doing my job… none of it’s hard, none of it makes me feel anything once I do them I just find it so hard to start. I have no motivation to do them. I don’t know… I feel panicked and stressed because I know none of these tasks are difficult and it’s infuriating to not physically be able to get up and just do them. I'm so overwhelmed.

Bellanana Anxious mum is making me anxious
  • replies: 1

My mum has anxiety that is similar to mine. We both mostly get panic symptoms when it comes to showers and going out. When I go out with my mum or watch my mum take showers when I was younger, it cuased me to always freak out. Eventually causing me t... View more

My mum has anxiety that is similar to mine. We both mostly get panic symptoms when it comes to showers and going out. When I go out with my mum or watch my mum take showers when I was younger, it cuased me to always freak out. Eventually causing me to have anxiety too. I don't know what to do. She refuses to get help and I can't move out because I need assistance to do basic tasks and I don't have the money to move out. I also hate being like her. She is toxic, as is my dad. They both used to be abusive and still are verbally. I feel bad for them because they delt with alot in life. But I want to be someone different from them. I don't want to end up like them. Are there any tips?

spiralshapesun Putting My Needs First
  • replies: 3

does anyone else struggle to put their needs first? I’m always worried about how the other person will feel if i say no and worried of some terrible consequences. Even for something really simple. eg i’ve been under a lot of stress with work and I ha... View more

does anyone else struggle to put their needs first? I’m always worried about how the other person will feel if i say no and worried of some terrible consequences. Even for something really simple. eg i’ve been under a lot of stress with work and I had to take Wed off for my mental health due to not sleeping and panic attacks. I’m literally so burned out. I was supposed to focus on my own needs for the day and take it slow but i was worried about how my partner was working and probably didn’t want to clean or cook after work so instead of just relaxing and doing what i needed to do for myself, i spent most of the day just making myself more exhausted by cleaning everything. I never actually did the mindfulness and journaling i planned to do… this was all to avoid even any slight criticism from him or slight change in mood. When someone seems even slightly disappointed in something i have done, then i get a heavy scared and guilty feeling in my chest and start to feel like i’m the worst person ever and I always just assume I’m in the wrong even when i know the other person was being unreasonable about something… So yeah, I guess I’m just wondering if i’m the only one?

Zeeko Health Anxiety - Possible Neuropathy or just simple anxiety etc...
  • replies: 13

Hi all. For a month now I have been having tingling, occasional burning and muscle aches in my feet. I also feel my heart pulse in my foot if I put pressure on it for a while and even temporarily when there is no pressure at all. The symptoms feel li... View more

Hi all. For a month now I have been having tingling, occasional burning and muscle aches in my feet. I also feel my heart pulse in my foot if I put pressure on it for a while and even temporarily when there is no pressure at all. The symptoms feel like they get worse when I am wearing shoes. They also feel like they are worse when I am sitting down. I can recreate tingling in feet when I put my legs in certain positions (like hamstring stretches, sitting on the toilet seat). I have foolishly used Google to self-diagnose and I am now terrified on a daily basis that this can be small fibre peripheral neuropathy. To me it seems to match all the symptoms I have and I am constantly worried every day. Its disrupting my daily activities because its a life long condition that only gets worse over time. Now I will say that the tingling started on my left foot for a month (it then spread to my right foot) and ONLY after my doctor asked me whether I had tingling in my feet which I didnt at the time. So that seems to suggest anxiety right? But I just dont know. AIl the symptoms seem to match peripheral neuropathy!!! I am seeing a neurologist but i have to wait a month and the wait is driving me crazy. I dont know how I can live with that condition and the effect it would have on my family and my future. I cant stop thinking about it and I know things are worse the more anxious I am. I will say as well that I can still sleep. I dont get any pain that disrupts my sleep except for the anxiety which has been disrupting my sleep. But i know neuropathy starts off mild and gets worse... I am just trying to keep myself together until my appointment and needed to get this off my chest. Thank you for reading.

Bellanana What if I made myself mentally ill?
  • replies: 5

When I was younger, I used to always do research about mental health and decide which one I related to the most. Then I would spend hours or days reading about it and thinking about it. Consuming media about it. Making everything in my life about it.... View more

When I was younger, I used to always do research about mental health and decide which one I related to the most. Then I would spend hours or days reading about it and thinking about it. Consuming media about it. Making everything in my life about it. Than I'd get distracted with something else and forget about it. Then eventually go back to obsessing over mental illness and figuring out what's wrong with me. I feel like I manipulated myself into having mental illness because I was never like this when I was younger. If anything I was the opposite. What if I convinced myself I had depression when I was just a little sad and then over time it turned to depression? What if I made myself mentally ill without noticing? What if I did notice but I just can't admit it to myself? What if I just like being sick and will never be able to move on?

Mumoflots Health anxiety, fear, scared to take medication
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone I’m hoping I’m not alone but I could do with some advice & support. anxiety has been a problem on and off all my life but I always managed to pull myself together, now days I’m anxious, nervous all day and ride the waves of panic but it’s... View more

Hi everyone I’m hoping I’m not alone but I could do with some advice & support. anxiety has been a problem on and off all my life but I always managed to pull myself together, now days I’m anxious, nervous all day and ride the waves of panic but it’s getting harder to pull myself together with natural ways, I’m calling my doctor few times a week, had blood tests and ECG that all came back normal and my doctor is wanting me to take two different medictions, I’m just too scared, scared of all the what if’s, scared it will make me worse, I don’t drink, don’t do drugs I don’t like that “out of body” feeling. I’m always on edge waiting for something bad to happen, always thinking the worse (heart attack, stroke, Brain aneurysm, cancer) I have a good support around me but they are getting tired and abit frustrated with me. I have a canceller who I was seeing regularly for more depression and I’ve just made a appointment to speak with her now with the anxiety Sorry it’s long but I guess what I’m asking is anyone else have health anxiety but scared to take medication and nothing else seems to be helping? I’m feeling alone,lost and like this will never get better I’m losing hope and feeling crazy thank you.

kaityo1 Ruminating
  • replies: 1

Hey all, I’ve been experiencing excessive ruminating lately, this topic came completely out of no where and I haven’t been able to feel somewhat content since. Long story short, I’ve had anxiety, ocd and to top it off.. a stutter since childhood. Mos... View more

Hey all, I’ve been experiencing excessive ruminating lately, this topic came completely out of no where and I haven’t been able to feel somewhat content since. Long story short, I’ve had anxiety, ocd and to top it off.. a stutter since childhood. Most of my teenage and adult life I had no confidence, was very uncertain of myself and my interests.. and just feeling very blank. In the past few years I’ve developed confidence when it comes to my job/career and a great work ethic. However, now I can not stop obsessing over ‘wasted time’ and ‘wasted years’ spent not working the amount of hours I should have after finishing high school, to the point where it affects me and distresses me in the present. I think this has developed from a fear of being perceived as lazy and comparing myself to others. I’m convinced no one else has experienced this.I know I should leave the past behind, but it has become extremely difficult. Is this a common occurrence? Do many people with anxiety related disorders experience difficulty starting in the workforce? I feel so uncertain.

Oliver2023 Pregnancy and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi All. Im currently happily married with my partner. She really wants kids and we have just found out we are pregnant. It’s been a difficult process for this eventuating for us as unfortunately I’m pedophobic (fear of children). It’s something I’ve ... View more

Hi All. Im currently happily married with my partner. She really wants kids and we have just found out we are pregnant. It’s been a difficult process for this eventuating for us as unfortunately I’m pedophobic (fear of children). It’s something I’ve had for as long as I can remember which I have comfortably managed up until this point. Originally my partner wanted three kids and honestly still does, but understands that this is something I most likely can not provide. Since we have found out my anxiety levels have gone through the roof. I’m a fit guy, train everyday, work full time and study full time. I’ve been finding myself physically sick from my levels of anxiety that I’m struggling to eat, protein shakes seem to be sustaining me at the moment. I hoping someone else has been through this very unique situation that can give some advice on methods to help me cope and improve the quality of life for my partner, future child, and myself.

Guest_6011 Feeling anxious all of the time
  • replies: 5

Hey people in anxiety forum Just feel like things are eating me up all of the time. Anxiety wise be it just worrying about how I am as a person, self doubt with the anxiety mixed in. Just not great, brilliant at all and yeah relying on certain things... View more

Hey people in anxiety forum Just feel like things are eating me up all of the time. Anxiety wise be it just worrying about how I am as a person, self doubt with the anxiety mixed in. Just not great, brilliant at all and yeah relying on certain things a lot. Whereas would've been more of an even balance trying to find other distractions for the anxiety, than my addictions trying to deal with. Anyway with a support worker here will try and cut it short, but unfortunately has hit me while they're here. This anxiety

Elephant86 To find the light of courage out of the darkness
  • replies: 0

There are times in everyones life that we face difficulties in lif but it is how we rise through adversity that prove who we become and what wwe are destined to acheive in life? Everybodies story is different and special and know two journey are the ... View more

There are times in everyones life that we face difficulties in lif but it is how we rise through adversity that prove who we become and what wwe are destined to acheive in life? Everybodies story is different and special and know two journey are the same we are all different and that is what makes you special and beautiful in your own unique way. I would like to take you on my own journey of finding my true power and resilance. Having a disability is my true gift You must realise your strength inside that you have and have resilance. Having a challenge is never easy but it it how you define your challenge and what steps you take to face your dragon in a figurative sense of course just like in the goblet of fire when harry had to pic his dragon and he picked the horn tail. The dragon symbolises facing your fear and overcoming your disability with courage and resilance we all together as one community can face this disability dragons together and defeat it with the elder wand which eventually landed in harry's hands. You have the immeasurable power within you like the power in the elder wand to face your dragon like harry potter did. We all have the power within us to face our difficulties and stay powerful and strong. We all must have hope and a little faith in our hearts and minds and say positive self talk and create positive energy around us and focus on our selves so you can heal and recover from the fear we face together. You must give your self time to heal and look after yourself your health and wellbeing always come first. Ill give some examples: I love to meditate , cycle , read and cook You must find what makes you happy and at peace in your heart and every person is different. We are all not the same for a reason if we where all the same the world wouldn't be the beautiful place that it is. It is important to find your happy place or what is also known as your passion. Everybody has a different passion it might be cooking for your family at this wonderful christmas time. It might be building houses or furniture. It could be flighing an aeroplane. You could apply for a job and santa's work shop with the elves. You could maybe look after roudoff and shine his red nose. There are so many wonderful activities and social events you can get involed in. You just need to ask in your local community how you can help your community at christmas. I would like to wish everybody a wonderful and beautiful christmas with love and joy and not enough ginger bread and pie.

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