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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.

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Guest_53871251 Severe anxiety depression
  • replies: 2

Hi all first time poster on forum. Ive been experiencing severe depression for 20yrs now and everyday im exhausted to the point i sleep everyday im so frustrated i cant get motivated i stay in the house hate going out in public i like the peace and q... View more

Hi all first time poster on forum. Ive been experiencing severe depression for 20yrs now and everyday im exhausted to the point i sleep everyday im so frustrated i cant get motivated i stay in the house hate going out in public i like the peace and quiet of living on my own though but just want to know from others how they broke the cycle of these daily struggles

Guest_25694560 My anxiety is too hard
  • replies: 1

I have recently been diagnosed with anxiety and it is really hard. I’m usually really outgoing and it’s made me into a person that never wants to leave the house. I haven’t been able to go to work without having panick attacks and i will loose my job... View more

I have recently been diagnosed with anxiety and it is really hard. I’m usually really outgoing and it’s made me into a person that never wants to leave the house. I haven’t been able to go to work without having panick attacks and i will loose my job if i keep calling in sick because i have anxiety. How do i get through a shift at work?

sparrowhawk Getting married and not sure how to cope
  • replies: 7

Hi everyone! Little backstory to me - I’m in my 30s, have a fair bit of childhood trauma (was born with a physical condition and went through a lot of misunderstanding, discrimination and bullying, though my family is awesome). In my twenties I lived... View more

Hi everyone! Little backstory to me - I’m in my 30s, have a fair bit of childhood trauma (was born with a physical condition and went through a lot of misunderstanding, discrimination and bullying, though my family is awesome). In my twenties I lived in a religious community where I experienced emotional and psychological abuse. I left that community two years ago, very unwell with anorexia (which I now know was triggered by trauma). Since then I’ve had a lot of PTSD issues. Flashbacks, irritability, nightmares, heightened anxiety, self-blame for what happened, and social/situational avoidance. I’ve not really been treated consistently for the PTSD. I met my fiancé last year and we are getting married in October. My fiancé is wonderful, honestly the kindest person I’ve ever met, and he has been so accepting of me and my issues. I really want to marry him and I know we are meant to be together. But I just can’t cope. I can’t cope with the fact that someone wants to be with me because all I hear are the messages from my trauma. I don’t feel good enough, I don’t feel deserving of goodness, and being loved and wanted just feels like too much. I’ve been having a lot more crying episodes (picture full-on sobbing) and triggers lately and I wonder if it’s connected to that. Talking about this makes me feel a bit dumb, because who would be upset or anxious about being loved??? My natural instinct tells me it’s much better for me to be alone, because then I can’t be hurt and I can’t hurt other people, but I can’t really do that in this instance. I think the crux of it is that I feel so incredibly undeserving of all the good things I have, I just can’t cope with goodness, and it just feels like way too much. I’ve talked to my fiancé about this a little and he always tells me I am deserving and he loves me, but I don’t want to overwhelm him with this. I’ve felt very happy planning our wedding day, but now thinking about it makes me feel a little apprehensive - not that I don’t want to marry him, just that having such a day celebrating us feels like way too much for my brain, because I don’t deserve it.

Guest_31823482 Feeling lost
  • replies: 1

I am really struggling right now.... My mum has metastatic lung cancer, terminal cancer. I'm devastated. I have a small business and have a large tax bill coming up, as well as BAS bills for the next financial year... I am trying to work out how to p... View more

I am really struggling right now.... My mum has metastatic lung cancer, terminal cancer. I'm devastated. I have a small business and have a large tax bill coming up, as well as BAS bills for the next financial year... I am trying to work out how to pay this but reduce my earnings so I don't qualify for BAS which will reduce my bills.... I suffer from chronic migraines, and have fainted 2x times... and saw mt doxtor today, and have just been told I may not be able to drive for 6 months... which means I cant pay my bills!!!!! I am so lost, I dont know how to get through this ....

Wiltingdaisy Looking For Tips To Help Overcome Social Anxiety & Shame
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I'm reaching out as something that has been coming up for me a lot lately has been social anxiety, mostly stemming from my deep issues with shame. I am aware my unhelpful thinking style makes me jump to conclusions and assume people thin... View more

Hi everyone, I'm reaching out as something that has been coming up for me a lot lately has been social anxiety, mostly stemming from my deep issues with shame. I am aware my unhelpful thinking style makes me jump to conclusions and assume people think I'm stupid, pathetic, weak & useless. And I know it isn't true, but in the moments that I talk to people, I find I lack the confidence to think differently. I don't have a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD, and I actually have a good amount of friends which one might not think of someone with social anxiety. But I can only be myself around 'my people' or only certain kinds of people. I'm an introvert that can sometimes pass as an extrovert but I'm always extremely drained after social events/work. Here are some examples for context:-At work, I struggle to have conversation & make eye contact with my boss. I am afraid they will discover I am not cut out for the job. I'm also hyper aware that they are an 'extremely business-minded' person, and I sometimes feel my interactions with them are not genuine...People that are in authoritative positions, especially older men, I find extremely difficult to talk to. I sense that they write me off as 'a silly' girl.-I attend a writing group once a month. During the group, I am so uncomfortable in sharing my opinion about someone's work (because it involves speaking in front of people I don't really know) that I can't concentrate on the writing they are reading aloud. Everyone is able to give solid feedback, but I struggle to remember what they even said as I was panicking about speaking!-Lastly, when people ask how I'm doing, how my writing is going yatta yatta, I start rambling. Because I don't feel like I've accomplished much with my life I always feel embarrassed talking about the fact I work part time and I struggle to write because I'm feeling depressed...but I can't say these things! I'm probably rambling right now! Sorry for the long post...I'm after advice, materials and strategies to combat these issues. Does anyone else ever get moments when you disassociate in a conversation, or think about trying to make eye contact when someone is speaking that you really struggle to stay in the moment?

Leslie Started all over again..
  • replies: 1

So I have had experience with severe anxiety in the past, to the point where I can't eat, can't sleep and literally can't sit still. I have gotten through it in the past after basically just waiting it out and I thought I had overcome it. Something h... View more

So I have had experience with severe anxiety in the past, to the point where I can't eat, can't sleep and literally can't sit still. I have gotten through it in the past after basically just waiting it out and I thought I had overcome it. Something has triggered my anxiety again yesterday and I am struggling to pinpoint why. I feel like I can come up with lots of 'this could be why' explanations or maybe it's all of the things. My main symptoms is a sick churning feeling in my stomach. Sometimes it is constant but at the moment it is on and off. It stops when I am distracted by something but as soon as I let my mind think again it comes strait back. I can barely eat, I am force feeding myself just so my stomach doesn't hurt from lack of food but I have zero appetite. I wake up every day feeling nauseated for as long as I can remember, I honestly feel awful on waking but I'm not sure why. I am so tired and groggy from constant worry but I can hardly sleep. When I do fall asleep I wake up in the early hours worrying and heart pounding. I have a beautiful partner but they don't know how to help and it is not up to them anyway. I think I am stressing about my work but my work isn't THAT stressful so I think it's my personality mostly. I have tried all the techniques but I just feel like it's a case of riding it out again which sucks because I don't know how long it will be pure torture for. I hate myself for being this way, my life is not otherwise uncomfortable. I can't predict when this will happen which makes it more devastating when it does. Why can't I just get peace? It's my brain that's broken so why can't my brain fix it?

Fzyy Health anxiety!
  • replies: 4

Hello, Im sure other people suffer from health anxiety and I do too, and it’s really bad. Considering my age, I’m very young but even the tiniest throb, headache, cough worries me and it’s draining me faster and worse than my own health can. It’s ext... View more

Hello, Im sure other people suffer from health anxiety and I do too, and it’s really bad. Considering my age, I’m very young but even the tiniest throb, headache, cough worries me and it’s draining me faster and worse than my own health can. It’s extremely scary and I can’t seem to find people with similar constant Symptoms that come with their anxiety, no matter how much research I do so I’m convinced it’s something bad. Which makes me feel unmotivated to do absolutely anything, I leave things to the very last minute and I can’t even keep up with basic hygiene because I feel like there’s no use, also makes me feel awful. When I do get random boosts of motivation (rarely) or feel like I can calm down, I immediately can’t anymore, I tense up or get even slightly anxious that something bad will happen after that and that’s the only reason I was allowed to be “normal” for a bit, so I leave that and force myself to feel more down and empty, But in general everything feels meaningless at the same time. If anyone feels similar I’d love for a reply!

Guest_42887650 anxiety
  • replies: 2

When ever I start working I feel very anxious and feel like quitting. Even when I am not doing anything, my pending tasks keep bothering me. I am a mother of 11 years old, married. I don't even know how to put my feelings into words.

When ever I start working I feel very anxious and feel like quitting. Even when I am not doing anything, my pending tasks keep bothering me. I am a mother of 11 years old, married. I don't even know how to put my feelings into words.

Guest_35916291 dizzy
  • replies: 2

Does anyone else get dizzy with anxiety 

Does anyone else get dizzy with anxiety 

sparrowhawk Very conflicted
  • replies: 7

I have been doing support work for a couple of months and really love it. I’ve got three clients at the moment, which is great as it balances well with my part-time job. I came into this work after living in a very structured religious community for ... View more

I have been doing support work for a couple of months and really love it. I’ve got three clients at the moment, which is great as it balances well with my part-time job. I came into this work after living in a very structured religious community for almost ten years. Like everything being accounted for, often being supervised and criticised on performance, having very little independence. I left that life very unwell with anorexia and now live with that (I’m recovering) and PTSD, which has been dealt with on-and-off by professionals. One client is seriously unwell and has support workers round the clock. They live with family and they have set up a really clear system and routine for support workers. Support workers sign in, there’s a handbook for them, they need to record all the tasks they do, etc. My client is so lovely, but they’re also very assertive and direct. They are great qualities, and this might sound weird - I find myself a bit scared of them at times. Dealing with very direct people reminds me of my past, because directness has often turned into personal attacks, and because I was always expected to be perfect, all the time. I also find the routine and environment gives me a lot of flashbacks - being supervised as I do housework, being directed on chores to do, etc. Sometimes I actually dread going there. And it’s nothing they are doing wrong, these are all my issues, and that’s what makes me feel bad. I have thought about ending with this client, but I feel terrible doing so. I feel like I’ll let them and their family down because they need support. Part of me thinks they will understand if I explain it. I really love working with them generally, it’s just these things which have hit me unexpectedly. I guess I’m looking for a bit of perspective here….? Thanks!