What anxiety feels like for me

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a common mental health condition that makes it hard to function in daily life. Unlike stress, which usually passes when a stressful event is over, anxiety sticks around and can happen for no clear reason.

What anxiety can feel like

Jan, aged 52, teacher

“I get the palpitations first and as soon as I sense those, I notice my breathing gets faster. I hate this feeling. Then my palms are sweaty and I think ‘I can’t do this – I don’t want to do this’.

“But I push myself and I walk out on stage and welcome the new parents to the school. I keep thinking ‘please don’t stuff it up, please let them think you are going to be a good teacher to their children.’

“And then it is all over and I can calm down again, until next year!”

Jane, aged 30, personal assistant

“I hate being late. As the clock gets close to the time to start work, I start to feel it. I’m going to be late.

“My heart starts racing, ‘Why didn’t I get up earlier, I am an idiot’, then I can feel it in my stomach and I start to feel sick. ‘What if the boss notices and calls me in and says that I am fired?’

“I find myself predicting all these horrible things that could happen and then I just want to turn around, go home and call in sick. It’s crazy, particularly because I am hardly ever late!”

Michelle, aged 38

“I can’t fly. I will not walk through those plane doors. The feelings of panic are so intense when I even think of taking a holiday somewhere far away, I will not do it.

“What if I have a panic attack on the plane? I might die and no one will be able to help me and I won’t be able to get out.”

Robyn, aged 54

“It has got to the stage that I can’t even drive to the shops. I am so frightened that something bad will happen. For every bump I think I have hit something. I turn the car around and go back and check and then start off again.

“I might get 5 metres down the road and think I hear something and then I have to stop and check again. Once I have checked, I calm down and tell myself it is okay. I start driving and the panic just rises.

“Imagine if I hit someone, or a little animal. I would rather not drive.”

Do these stories sound familiar?

If you have similar experiences, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, support is available and there are ways to manage anxiety.

If you’re not sure whether you have anxiety, this test can help you understand your feelings.

Where to go for mental health support

A good first step is to talk to your doctor. They can point you to the different services available and may give you a referral to speak to a mental health professional. A referral can help reduce the cost of your appointments.

You can also visit Beyond Blue to talk or chat online to a counsellor. There is also Beyond Blue Forums, a supportive online community where you can read about other’s experiences and share your own.

For more information about anxiety and to find support, head to Beyond Blue. Call 000 in an emergency or Lifeline on 13 11 14. To speak with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter, call 13YARN (13 92 76).