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.

All discussions

Rum Adrenaline dump when I start to fall asleep/10mins after i have fallen asleep
  • replies: 4

Hi I have been diagnosed with GAD/mild depression for 7 years and have gone through peaks and troughs dealing with it for that period. However, the last 8 months or so I have begun having these weird adrenaline dumps at night, when I drift off to sle... View more

Hi I have been diagnosed with GAD/mild depression for 7 years and have gone through peaks and troughs dealing with it for that period. However, the last 8 months or so I have begun having these weird adrenaline dumps at night, when I drift off to sleep. It gets worse as the night progresses and I end up not getting much sleep, if any at all. I don't have any racing thoughts, just the sensation of waking up and what feels like adrenaline being released into my brain. After particularly bad nights I have quite bad anxiety (physical symptoms like nervous energy in the chest, irritability, no focus etc which then turns into low mood/depression) I am not on any SSRI's, I have been taking ashwaganda and magnesium glycinate/glycine for the past 10 days which initially seemed to work but the adrenaline dumps seems to have come back. It's like I can feel it in my brain/body at night when im about to go to bed. I can't seem to figure out the triggers. I am concerned that my previous drug use may have been the cause. I am now not drinking or doing any drugs. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts?

Guest_31014065 Moving out home
  • replies: 1

hi all I am 25 years old and I really need help to move out home please help me.

hi all I am 25 years old and I really need help to move out home please help me.

ChristineS Lost
  • replies: 1

I haven't really done this before, but I'm feeling a bit lost at the moment, feeling like I've lost touch with close friends and don't have that one best friend I can turn to. I have work friends and friends from previous jobs, but the amount of time... View more

I haven't really done this before, but I'm feeling a bit lost at the moment, feeling like I've lost touch with close friends and don't have that one best friend I can turn to. I have work friends and friends from previous jobs, but the amount of times we hang out is becoming less and less. I'm 32, almost 33, stable job, mostly good health, and a good supportive family, but also single and want to be in a serious relationship but I am also mentally exhausted by the dating scene and the majority of guys on there only wanting to fool around which is the opposite of what I want. Need some advice on how to shake the lost feeling as life feels a bit mundane at the moment, work, gym, home, sleep and repeat.

blondguy My Sister is getting worse..Using GOD to make her point
  • replies: 6

hello hardworking moderators my posts usually go through quickly. i am not new here...just politely asking if you/ have a problem with my input at this time thankyou for you help paul x

hello hardworking moderators my posts usually go through quickly. i am not new here...just politely asking if you/ have a problem with my input at this time thankyou for you help paul x

blues23 Why is it so hard to make decisions
  • replies: 1

Hi ive been having difficulties making decisions , I’ve returned to work from a absence of work cover lots of bullying ect in my previous role . I have a new job been in it for about 1 year the job unfortunately is very inconsistent with hours ,jobs ... View more

Hi ive been having difficulties making decisions , I’ve returned to work from a absence of work cover lots of bullying ect in my previous role . I have a new job been in it for about 1 year the job unfortunately is very inconsistent with hours ,jobs on offer sometimes I go to work for 2 hours then nothing until the next day , I increased my availability to 4 days because I was hardly breaking even working 3 days , I’ve lost a few clients ) it’s aged care community work and my work never ( not often anyway fills up those gaps in I’ve had one 2 hours gap for almost 5 months and now lost another client for don’t know how long lost another 2 hours 2 days a week and it’s so inconsistent with the roster it’s hard to know what my wage will be every fortnight, centerlink puts pressure on me to work 30 hours a fortnight or I have to go to these job providers (which they never help they are useless no training no nothing, I’m thinking of converting over to the disability side of job seeking or get a mutual obligation reduction i have In theory been offered another job it’s temp to perm , part time 3 days a week solid hours ( 8,30 -3:30 ) it’s not exactly the hours I want as I have a child who is having some assessments for educational disability’s and it’s like 30 /40 mins from home , I’ve personally got some disability’s as well that are needing help mine are more physical disability’s and really not sure I’m well enough to be working anymore but have to cause I can’t afford not to so I deal with my pain by ignoring it there’s negatives to both sides of this work situation what gives me anxiety is the new offer is temp to permthere no guarantee that if I leave my solid job right now that this new job will be offering the perm role … if it was a solid offer I’d take it no problem probably but I just feel there’s no security in a temp to potentially perm role where they can fire u in an instant and it’s hard as my child has assessments on days im meant to be at work in the new job whereas my current role is quite flexible and don’t care if i have to have time off .. it’s a sticky situation.

smallwolf Nervous about biopsy
  • replies: 8

Those here would know I'm a champion, but that does not make me special in any way. Like anyone or everyone here, I still have moments where anxiety sneaks in. Lately, I've had a lot on my mind, especially as Thursday approaches. So... In two days, I... View more

Those here would know I'm a champion, but that does not make me special in any way. Like anyone or everyone here, I still have moments where anxiety sneaks in. Lately, I've had a lot on my mind, especially as Thursday approaches. So... In two days, I'm heading to the hospital for a biopsy. While my MRI results were okay, my blood tests showed slightly elevated levels, which my doctor wants to investigate further. Prostate cancer runs in my family, so this adds to my concerns. I do take comfort in knowing that those in my family who faced it have come through it successfully. This feels a bit more serious than what I’ve dealt with before—outside of an eye surgery a few years ago—but I’m trying to stay grounded. I just wanted to share this, not for pity or sympathy, but because it’s been on my mind and if you have been wondering why I have not been around ... tiredness, nervous, not sleeping. I hope you can forgive me.

Guest_60392288 environmental noise driving me insane
  • replies: 2

I'm struggling with lack of sleep due to a thumping muffled bass sound in my home. my whole body reverberates - it goes all night - I have tried council, epa sound engineers who are way too expensive for me to engage. I've walked around the neighbour... View more

I'm struggling with lack of sleep due to a thumping muffled bass sound in my home. my whole body reverberates - it goes all night - I have tried council, epa sound engineers who are way too expensive for me to engage. I've walked around the neighbourhood but can't locate. Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do? and yes I've tried earplugs but thumping gets through

Gracie_PY4 Lost
  • replies: 7

Hi there, I’ve been struggling with anxiety and mental health throughout the years for a long time. I feel like it’s getting much worse, I have no motivation to talk to friends or make plans, I have to force myself. I even feel like I’m getting trigg... View more

Hi there, I’ve been struggling with anxiety and mental health throughout the years for a long time. I feel like it’s getting much worse, I have no motivation to talk to friends or make plans, I have to force myself. I even feel like I’m getting triggered by more and more things that my parents/people say in general conversations, which feels like everything in the long run. I feel like I don’t have anyone to talk to. I feel completely lost and don’t know how to manage my life at points. Honestly I don’t know what to do.

de4d2thew0rld 27 & I can't talk about 53X 🤢
  • replies: 2

I'm weeks away from turning 27 and I am "terrified" of sensuality. Terrified might be a little dramatic.. I mean, I'm not a virgin. But I saw & heard things a child should never when I was young, and I suffer from PTSD due to it. But I also suffer in... View more

I'm weeks away from turning 27 and I am "terrified" of sensuality. Terrified might be a little dramatic.. I mean, I'm not a virgin. But I saw & heard things a child should never when I was young, and I suffer from PTSD due to it. But I also suffer in other ways. I can't talk about the S word, I can barely even say it. I get squirmy thinking about it sometimes, and I get SUPER awkward and UNCOMFORTABLE when S scenes come on in a movie or series to the point I want to rip my eyes out and my skin off. I don't understand why I have such a strong negative response to something that is "so natural". It makes me cry. I do enjoy doing to do when I decide I want to do it, but any other time, I cringe over it. I'm beginning to wonder if I have a physical trauma that I can't recall, because my reaction seems far too strong for someone that only saw & heard dirty things. Unfortunately, from my own mother. I feel so lost and stuck, and I'm a really spiritual person, and I'm trying to heal and grow and evolve, but... apparently sensuality is such a huge part of coming into my divine feminine power, and Idk how to do that when these thoughts alone still make me want to tear the skin off my body and scream until I lose my voice. Is anyone else in the same boat? I feel so alone. The first issue I typically have in a relationship, is that I'll be so "excited" in the beginning due to the dopamine rush, but when that wears off, I can't be touched without flinching, or slapping their hand away (out of reflex, not because I actually want to. I just freak out when I'm not in THE mood.) And it's a huge issue, because my partners end up feeling like I'm not attracted to them anymore, which I very much am, I'm just not attracted to the idea of IT anymore, until I'm ovulating. 🤦🏻‍ I need help here, but every therapist I've seen about it has no idea how to help me, which is mind boggling to me, because isn't it their job to know how to help people in these situations!? I just don't want to feel so alone anymore. I feel asexual 75% of the time, and like a Divine Sensual Goddess the other 25%. And I wish I felt the latter all the time. I don't at all enjoy feeling this way about something I WANT to enjoy, but I have so much fear and yucky feelings around it.

Bookgirl New Year not so good
  • replies: 4

Hi, i have chronic anxiety and my triggers are war and basically the news. So the USA election and all the fires in LA have been overwhelming to me. I try to keep myself sane by not watching news, have got rid of all the news feeds in apps etc but it... View more

Hi, i have chronic anxiety and my triggers are war and basically the news. So the USA election and all the fires in LA have been overwhelming to me. I try to keep myself sane by not watching news, have got rid of all the news feeds in apps etc but it's impossible to totally avoid. I hear something and then spiral for days. Hasn't helped that my husband lost his job just before xmas and i have to worry about paying the mortgage as well. I know i shouldn't dwell on things i can't change but i am over 50 and this is a lifelong issue for me. I want to just live for now and it just feels like i can't turn off the constant negative information in my head that tortures me. Somedays i can't get out of bed and then i feel like i am such a loser because of it.