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

blues23 Struggling
  • replies: 31

Having a bad time lately lots of things happening at work I went to work safe cause of Persistent bullying behaviour from co workers , and ever since I did this my anxiety is thru the roof I have so many people poking prodding making me relive the th... View more

Having a bad time lately lots of things happening at work I went to work safe cause of Persistent bullying behaviour from co workers , and ever since I did this my anxiety is thru the roof I have so many people poking prodding making me relive the things those people did to me I am so sad and scared and just want it all to stop all I want is a safe work place where I won’t be bullied threatened and assaulted is this too much to ask ? Obviously it is I’m my workplace

MummaDonna Anxiety Dealing with Young Adult
  • replies: 3

Hi Everyone - this is my first time on this site. I have bad anxiety and at the moment it’s the worst it’s every been. I have a 23 yr old son who has gone through big drug struggles over last 3 years and it has caused me turmoil. Now just being aroun... View more

Hi Everyone - this is my first time on this site. I have bad anxiety and at the moment it’s the worst it’s every been. I have a 23 yr old son who has gone through big drug struggles over last 3 years and it has caused me turmoil. Now just being around him causes me so much anxiety I’m looking for advice on ways to manage this. All the psychologist techniques haven’t helped xxx

Ponder Going Out on My Own & Challenging Day
  • replies: 1

Tomorrow I have to check my eBike into the the shop on my own. Is hard when people don't understand I can't remember my phone number and when I start to stutter but I feel I am getting less annoyed compared to those that struggle to control their own... View more

Tomorrow I have to check my eBike into the the shop on my own. Is hard when people don't understand I can't remember my phone number and when I start to stutter but I feel I am getting less annoyed compared to those that struggle to control their own responses. Whilst I also struggle with hearing words and processing them incorrectly like I do words when reading (dyslexic hearing kind of thing) + severe sensorineural hearing loss ... I at times can actually hear speech sounds more clearly when the place is quiet enough. Last time I took my bike in I could hear a technician having a joke at my expense regarding having to get things just right on my bike. More the sarcasm and energy in his voice. It kind of cut me deep at first but I am getting better at ignoring it. In the mornings when I post I might appear to be unaffected although when re-reading I can see how I slip up. When I am under stress or have exerted myself I quickly start to become a lot more impaired. Tonight I just wrote down as best I could a list of things I need fixed with my details on it in the hope that will be enough. I explain better my ailments to the manager tomorrow and tape my instructions to my bike before quietly leaving. I even have my sticky tape packed after I read off the paper why I am there. If I find I am disrespected again I will seek out another repair shop elsewhere and explain why I left the other one. I spent like 3.5K on my bike as I don't drive and my bike is everything to me. Tomorrow will be my last try with that shop. Today was challenging. I had to ring Community Mental health because after a friend of mine you stop calling me and another close friend, I checked his house where he had smashed the place up. I did not want to ring MH but was concerned about him. Thankfully they were already attending to him when I called. That was stressful because they are the last people I wanted to call. He has been entrenched in their grip for some time now. It's hard to explain the pros and cons with that, but the lady sounded nice enough. Is hard to see him having such a hard time. I think I did the right thing as I gave them extra info I know he is not telling them. [Denial] - It was not easy to reveal but I kind of got to put my own boundaries down as well. Not making much sense tonight as big day but all good. I prep for my anxious visit to the bike story in the morning.

kwi Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Good afternoonthe last few days my anxiety has resurfaced after such a long timeof it being stable. I feel like this is the biggest step backwards. And I feel so terrible my children have had to see my crying and having a panic attack. please tell me... View more

Good afternoonthe last few days my anxiety has resurfaced after such a long timeof it being stable. I feel like this is the biggest step backwards. And I feel so terrible my children have had to see my crying and having a panic attack. please tell me this is just a minor setback. As feel so low it’s come back

Baileysmells I can't be who I want to be and I hate it
  • replies: 3

I'm at the end of my first semester at uni, outside of one bigoted dude who sits next to me I have no acquaintances or friends, I have skipped the big party that happens every year, I feel like I'm generally missing out on the whole experience; aren'... View more

I'm at the end of my first semester at uni, outside of one bigoted dude who sits next to me I have no acquaintances or friends, I have skipped the big party that happens every year, I feel like I'm generally missing out on the whole experience; aren't these supposed to be the best times of my life? My anxiety has regressed a bit recently, I can't make a date anymore, talk to strangers comfortably or do phone calls again. So I sit here, lonely, the only person in the house because my sister has started dating, audibly sighing and waiting for the time to take my meds and sleep; this is my daily routine pretty much. Even playing games with my now considered 'old friends' seems daunting, I can't be social even though it hurts to be alone. This is new to me, I was usually introverted, I preferred my time alone; recently it's sucked. I'm just starting to feel real tired, of all this fighting to get nowhere with my mental health, what can I do to regain my social confidence again? You're supposed to gain confidence with rejection but it feels like one step forward two steps back for me. I just wish I was that guy that can stop caring about his image to a detrimental extent and make friends, be myself; but I just can't. I can't be who I want to be. This was mostly a vent but I am interested in any advice for university, the assessments I can keep up with but socially I'm at the end of the race

Manson-666_ What to expect wile having treatment and going on medication
  • replies: 1

Well I had a major stress induced meltdown at home last week and I forgot how to be me in all honesty I saw my doctor and I am 4 days into having medication so I think it’s helping but still getting anxious in the morning sleeping is all over the pla... View more

Well I had a major stress induced meltdown at home last week and I forgot how to be me in all honesty I saw my doctor and I am 4 days into having medication so I think it’s helping but still getting anxious in the morning sleeping is all over the place and no appetite.. just looking for advice or something at all anything

Maybe_Maybenot I can't keep any relationships
  • replies: 1

Hi all I'm a first year uni student. For the past few months I've been feeling really anxious and stressed because I feel like an absolute failure and I feel so so lost. I don't even know who I am anymore or why I do things. I feel like everyone arou... View more

Hi all I'm a first year uni student. For the past few months I've been feeling really anxious and stressed because I feel like an absolute failure and I feel so so lost. I don't even know who I am anymore or why I do things. I feel like everyone around me is fake towards me and no one actually likes me. It's always so hard to differ between people who want to be your friend and people who pretend to be your friend but would never be there for you or want to talk or meet up with you. I keep comparing myself to this girl who I used to call my best friend, but lately I realised that to her, I'm not her best friend anymore. She's changed so much and gotten so many new friends, especially these four girls. At the start I wanted to get to know them better and wanted to be a group with them but they always made false promises with me, particularly my "friend". They would always promise me to hang out but I always see them hanging out together all the time. I just want a group, I want to have a best friend or best friends or even just close friends I can confide in. I feel so alone and I feel like I have no one to talk to. I bottled everything up and eventually had a panic attack where I wouldn't stop crying and screaming and couldn't breathe. I kept doubting all my actions and myself. Why did I ask them to hang? Do I want to hang with them or is it my desperate attempt at not being alone? Why did I help that person? Do I actually care about them or did I help them so that they would be closer to me and I wouldn't be alone? Do I like being by myself? Am I an extrovert? An introvert? I used to pride myself in being an extrovert because I always smile at everyone and talk to a lot of people. I still talk to a lot of people but all of those relationships feel so shallow. I feel like I always put the effort but they never do, so I always feel like there's something wrong with me, do they sense my desperation? Do they find me annoying? Do they even like me? I feel like everything is overwhelming me and I always have to keep smiling so that people like me but they don't actually care about me. Please help.

moomool Final year nursing student stressed & anxious about job offerings
  • replies: 4

I am a final year nursing student unbelievably overwhelmed about not getting a graduate position next year. I recently was turned down from a position where I spend my placement working. I received excellent feedback from staff relating to my placeme... View more

I am a final year nursing student unbelievably overwhelmed about not getting a graduate position next year. I recently was turned down from a position where I spend my placement working. I received excellent feedback from staff relating to my placement so not receiving the job has kicked my confidence. Now I’m anxious & having thoughts I won’t get a job at all. I’m feeling so stressed and emotional trying to finish the rest of the degree thinking is this really worth it if I may not get a job. I’ve put a crazy amount of pressure on myself throughout this degree and I would like to finish, just hate being in limbo waiting to hear about job outcomes. Surely I’m not the only one who is feeling like this…

blues23 Can you create change ( toxic culture)
  • replies: 5

This is regarding workplaces; I work in one I’ve recently had a bullying investigation ( via HR and the Victorian chamber of commerce) the findings were on my side being that the claims were proven my work is doing nothing to the bully’s , I’m quite ... View more

This is regarding workplaces; I work in one I’ve recently had a bullying investigation ( via HR and the Victorian chamber of commerce) the findings were on my side being that the claims were proven my work is doing nothing to the bully’s , I’m quite upset about it cause these people still have a job and I’m still expected to return there and see these people which makes me furious that they got away with it . My work has said they may do something but won’t tell me what until I return to work . I’m suffering really bad anger and anxiety and have depression as well from all that’s happened and I really want justice my thoughts is to go to the CEO and tell her the whole thing and see if she’s happy to have abusers work for her or go to a lawyer and fight for these people to removed from the company or just quit .I have no closure and can’t even cope with returning to work . can I change toxic culture or is it a waste of time to try ?

mick112 Derealisation disorder and depression
  • replies: 1

Does anyone have any experience with derealisation depression disorder ? I'm hoping to find an expert in Sydney and any advice would be welcome.

Does anyone have any experience with derealisation depression disorder ? I'm hoping to find an expert in Sydney and any advice would be welcome.