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. 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

Amara Bouts of Anxiety
  • replies: 3

I have been struggling with (undiagnosed) anxiety. I have bouts of it. I will be feeling fine and then will do something or have something happen that triggers it and my mind catastrophises it. So for example:- I googled and printed some ben 10 pictu... View more

I have been struggling with (undiagnosed) anxiety. I have bouts of it. I will be feeling fine and then will do something or have something happen that triggers it and my mind catastrophises it. So for example:- I googled and printed some ben 10 pictures for one of my kids on the work computer during my lunch hour. Not something I normally do, and then i spent the whole afternoon silently freaking out that maybe one of those pictures could have had a virus that I have now downloaded and I will have to explain to work about the pictures. I ended up binning the pictures because they caused me so much anxiety to look at. - if I go past a mobile speed camera, even though I know I was doing under the speed limit, I will start to question myself. Maybe I wasn't under the speed limit and then spend the next two weeks checking the app for a ticket. These types of incidences and triggers seem to be happening more and more. Generally every day I have to check things are locked/ turned off like three or four times. I feel like I am spending so much time fighting myself that taking on life is exhausting. I am a mum of twin boys with behavioural/developmental issues, working full time and paying off a house. I feel like I am responsible for everything and my partner just has no responsibility. I need to tell him to do things to get them done (e.g. housework, drop offs for kids, etc). He isn't on the mortgage as he has child support/student loan debts that i wasn't aware of until after we had kids. He is concentrating on paying those off but it means he can't help paying extra off the house. Sorry for the rant. I have put in Doctor's appointments and chickened out on keeping them. I just need a break from the anxious feelings and don't know how to voice that to a doctor to get help.

stroud Fear
  • replies: 1

Hello, This is my first post. I am 55 year old male, happily married with a couple of awesome kids and financially secure. Unfortunately I have suffered from depression and anxiety badly for the last 4 years. My anxiety seems to be getting worse. I a... View more

Hello, This is my first post. I am 55 year old male, happily married with a couple of awesome kids and financially secure. Unfortunately I have suffered from depression and anxiety badly for the last 4 years. My anxiety seems to be getting worse. I am afraid of many things. I am afraid to drive on the highway, am terrified to try and teach my daughter how to drive and an very scared of an upcoming overseas trip. For some reason I am just terrified that something horrible is going to happen to one of my kids and I feel as though I may contribute to this by making a mistake or having a panic attack whilst driving with the family in the car etc. I also used to play lots of sports but am frozen with anxiety these days and really struggle with performing any sporting activities without my anxiety taking over and causing me to freeze. Not sure if anyone can relate to these feelings and or offer any advice?

Toby Struggling at the moment
  • replies: 17

Hello everyone, this is my first post, so I hope it's ok. I've suffered depression for many years, but it's now developed into, and been diagnosed as, General Anxiety Disorder, which is in my case, is having a much greater detrimental affect on me. I... View more

Hello everyone, this is my first post, so I hope it's ok. I've suffered depression for many years, but it's now developed into, and been diagnosed as, General Anxiety Disorder, which is in my case, is having a much greater detrimental affect on me. I have a loving, very supportive wife, a nice home, and so I know there are many many people worse of than me, & I'm grateful for what I have. Nevertheless, I just cannot shake the anxiety that I have, it's with me all the time, it's affecting my life, what I do, I feel frightened, afraid, have no self confidence, & I just can't get myself going. So, I'm hoping to find support & discussion on Beyond Blue, where I can discuss my issues with other people who may have the same issues.

Guest_76012991 panic attacks
  • replies: 2

I have been having panic attacks more recently and when that happens I overthink loads and have loads of negative thoughts. Like I think i’m not smart enough, I’m not pretty enough, I am useless, nobody’s cares about me. I feel awful and I can do not... View more

I have been having panic attacks more recently and when that happens I overthink loads and have loads of negative thoughts. Like I think i’m not smart enough, I’m not pretty enough, I am useless, nobody’s cares about me. I feel awful and I can do nothing when this happens except try to breathe and wait it out. I would love suggestions about how I can try to relax when this is happening. I am already taking medicine and seeing a therapist and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, I feel so alone.

Dirox Anxiety because I have been sick.
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I have been sick since December. The doctors are not quite sure what it is. I have had every test you can think of. They think I have gastroparesis ( which is my stomach is emptying too slowly) I have nausea, pain in the stomach and loss of a... View more

Hi all, I have been sick since December. The doctors are not quite sure what it is. I have had every test you can think of. They think I have gastroparesis ( which is my stomach is emptying too slowly) I have nausea, pain in the stomach and loss of appetite. Since then I have become very anxious about anything. Has anyone been through this. Please let me know. Wishing you all a great day. 🥰

Guest_65297329 I feel like I can’t talk to anyone
  • replies: 2

I feel like I can talk to anyone about anything I told one of my friends about my stuff that being going on and then someone told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone and now I feel like I can’t talk to anyone and I don’t want to be here

I feel like I can talk to anyone about anything I told one of my friends about my stuff that being going on and then someone told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone and now I feel like I can’t talk to anyone and I don’t want to be here

Ail_ Peripheral Neuropathy
  • replies: 8

I have had numerous sleepless nights because of restless legs Sometimes I only have 2 hrs sleep i take medications on prescription and over the counter pain killers Have numerous showers Am desperate to find some help Doctors have given me no treatme... View more

I have had numerous sleepless nights because of restless legs Sometimes I only have 2 hrs sleep i take medications on prescription and over the counter pain killers Have numerous showers Am desperate to find some help Doctors have given me no treatments to follow or drugs for RLS I have been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy Anyone with same problem

So_ashamed I quit my job because I was getting daily panic attacks
  • replies: 2

Hello.I've always been an anxious/nervous person. I struggle with mental health as well. Recently I started a call centre job, never tried it before. The training was promising but the day we started on phones I had a very painful panic attack. I fro... View more

Hello.I've always been an anxious/nervous person. I struggle with mental health as well. Recently I started a call centre job, never tried it before. The training was promising but the day we started on phones I had a very painful panic attack. I froze, I had to leave early.I went to a doctor, first time going for anxiety, usually it's for anti depressants. I tried going into work yesterday and today, same result. I even tried to ask the team leader if I could listen in to a coworker's call for the first hour just to work myself up to it but they said no. I don't like disappointing people so when customers naturally got frustrated at me it made things worse (calling me incompetent or demanding a team leader). I apologised and said I was in training. Consecutive calls I kept failing people, my brain just kept freezing. I broke down again and spoke to a team leader to see any other options I could do my job but sadly there wasn't, they said that type of industry might not be right for me, so I made the shameful decision and resigned. I've never felt so frustrated at myself that I couldn't handle it. I live with my friend who I see as family (my real family disowned me a very long time ago) but they are also my landlord. They've said in the past if I quit a job quickly they'd be upset/disappointed in me. I don't think they'd evict me but I don't have savings, I'm hoping centrelink will be able to help in the mean time (I can assure you I'm applying to many jobs, just nothing that's call centre work. I already have a job interview for next week). My issue is that I am absolutely petrified of letting my housemate know I've resigned. Usually I'm always open and transparent to them about everything but this is the one thing I'm too ashamed to admit. So while I job hunt I have to essentially hide outside of my home (they work from home). I don't know how long I'll be able to do so. Sorry, this seems so silly.

Guest_95562658 anxiety depression
  • replies: 2

hi i am a 25 year old woman.i suffer from bad anxiety and depression. get called fat by my mum and when i was young i used of got hit by my mum dad and brother.got kick out of the house so many times made to sleep on the street .i got trick in thinki... View more

hi i am a 25 year old woman.i suffer from bad anxiety and depression. get called fat by my mum and when i was young i used of got hit by my mum dad and brother.got kick out of the house so many times made to sleep on the street .i got trick in thinking someone love me at a young teenage years and got trick to sleeping with them .i get called name off my own family near everyday and get told there rather me gone then been here .i try therapy and that seem to help for that day then the pain all come back to me the very next day.

Anna247 Long Distance relationship
  • replies: 1

Hey, honestly I don’t even know where to start but my partner and I have been in a long distance relationship for almost 3 months now after having been together for 2 years. he’s moved back home with his family 2 states away so visiting is hard on to... View more

Hey, honestly I don’t even know where to start but my partner and I have been in a long distance relationship for almost 3 months now after having been together for 2 years. he’s moved back home with his family 2 states away so visiting is hard on top of the fact that I’m not welcome at his mums place which is where he is living. We plan to have me move but money is a bit of an issue with that. I just feel incredibly lonely all the time, and am unsure on how to be on my own. Along with all of the overthinking thoughts that go along with this situation ( obviously I trust him wholeheartedly ) we have visits in place and always call at least once a day even on busy days. I just really miss him and feel stuck