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

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

Start a discussion

Beaser Im feeling overwhelmed.Loneliness and guilt.Dont want to lose friends.
  • replies: 76

Hi and best wishes. I am starting to feel myself slide again . I have long been involved in my local football club and having been single for so long so it has been like my family and my support network. I have a partner now and she isnt that interes... View more

Hi and best wishes. I am starting to feel myself slide again . I have long been involved in my local football club and having been single for so long so it has been like my family and my support network. I have a partner now and she isnt that interested i dont know how to go about things as far as continuing my involvement. I dont want to lose her over it but i need my friends and my social network. I have had a huge battle with depression and anxiety for my most of my life. I have leant on people for support too much at times and im scared that i may not have that support anymore because they may be tired of it. I have sruggled with work for so long as a result. I just want to be happy again .I feel like im on this horrible treadmill and never get anywhere. I would appreciate any feedback and thoughts from anyone i hope i have described my situation ok as it is hard to do . Thanks for reading and best wishes . Brett.

Grrrr Is this anxiety?
  • replies: 1

I recently went to the dentist, which by the way I'm terrified of so had worked myself up over it, I took 2 days off work, the evening of the derist visit, I had a weird ache in my left arm that went from my forearm into my shoulder & up the side of ... View more

I recently went to the dentist, which by the way I'm terrified of so had worked myself up over it, I took 2 days off work, the evening of the derist visit, I had a weird ache in my left arm that went from my forearm into my shoulder & up the side of my neck, it got sharper into the night & I ended up getting checked at a hospital, I had a high heart rate when I arrived & a bit high BP, they did some tests nothing really showed up, sent me home around 3am, I didn't sleep that night at all due to the pain, I woke the next morning & vomited 3 times, I went for a check up at a Drs clinic & still vomited a lot whole I was there. She gave me some anti inflammatory tablets and nausea medication, sent me home. She rang me about an hour later & said she would feel better if I went to the hospital & be monitored for a while, the hospital was that busy I spent over 4 hrs sitting in the waiting room, ecg was ok, only showed a longer than normal heart beat on either the in or out beat, & something showed up on my left lung, either remnants of Covid which I had 3 weeks ago or a small infection just sitting there, they weren't overly worried about it. I had an ultrasound of my arm, heart and lungs all were ok except that small thing on the lung, which they said shouldn't be causing me issues like this....I am also about to leave a job I've been in for 6 months due to me not liking the management & returning to my old job which I love, so I have about 9 shifts left of the old job, which I feel ok to handle, but definitely looking forward to leaving! It's been 5 days since the dentist & getting the other symptoms & I've got no energy at all, still nauseous, not eating much at all due to not feeling hungry, tired but sleeping good, feeling alright mentally....Could this be anxiety??I just wonder because my sister had anxiety not that long ago & some similar symptoms, although I don't think she had vomiting, she was going through a really rough time with some issues, but with me I'm just unsure if it would be anxiety or maybe it's something else..... I've had deep depression 2 times in my life but doesn't feel anything like that & it's been about 13 years since I've had that......

hazelly Drug Induced Daily Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • replies: 1

Hi , I’m not usually one to do anything like this. ( My BF put me into these forums which are super helpful and make me feel like I’m not alone ) I am 21 and very rarely do drugs and on the VERY odd occasion I do them. I was super sceptical this one ... View more

Hi , I’m not usually one to do anything like this. ( My BF put me into these forums which are super helpful and make me feel like I’m not alone ) I am 21 and very rarely do drugs and on the VERY odd occasion I do them. I was super sceptical this one particular time in May .. something felt off and I stupidly decided to do it anyway and had a really traumatic experience that set off major anxieties during the high. A week passes and I have an episode of light headedness , whole left arm numb and in pain and cramping in my body, body shakes, palpitations and like a huge uncomfortable tingling sensation. It basically replicated the huge anxieties I was having during the high. I took myself to the ER only to find out I was completely fine. These episodes from that date have been happening daily. I’ve seen my GP who did heart and blood checks and everything was completely normal. I have never had any sort of history with anxiety or anything. I constantly feel disassociated and it’s so uncontrollable. It’s been months and it hasn’t settled. I’m super frustrated and constantly getting upset over it because it has taken over my life as it happens daily and it’s something I’m constantly thinking about. I’m just wondering where to go from here because my doctor refused to give me medication and I just need some sort of help because I’m feeling super helpless. I have been completely sober to this day and the thought of it completely traumatises me. Has anyone experienced something similar ? thanks so much

James-nick2022 Im done with life
  • replies: 6

Hey everyone, recently i'm struggling with self-harm and i was struggling alot to cope i still am i was told that i wouldnt make it to 12 im 14 but im just done with life pls help

Hey everyone, recently i'm struggling with self-harm and i was struggling alot to cope i still am i was told that i wouldnt make it to 12 im 14 but im just done with life pls help

Rupes79 Anxiety and alcohol
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I’ve been struggling mental health issues for about 18 months now. Anxiety has been a real problem for me in the last few months and I’ve fallen into a trap of drinking alcohol most nights as a way to deal with it. I’ve been given some t... View more

Hi Everyone, I’ve been struggling mental health issues for about 18 months now. Anxiety has been a real problem for me in the last few months and I’ve fallen into a trap of drinking alcohol most nights as a way to deal with it. I’ve been given some techniques to try and help it and sometimes they have an effect but most often it’s over powering and I turn to alcohol. I’m generally a social drinker and prior to this bout rarely drunk at home but I can’t recall the last alcohol free day I had. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and how did you deal with it? I haven’t seen my GP for a little while but not really sure what he’s going to be able to do about it anyway? Thanks

BlxrryFace No motivation. Overwhelmed. Stressed.
  • replies: 2

I’ve been overwhelmed ever since I was a kid and now as a teenager in high school it really hits hard. I have no motivation for anything anymore, I just feel so lazy and I feel that I have no energy for anything. It’s hard to focus in classes and I’m... View more

I’ve been overwhelmed ever since I was a kid and now as a teenager in high school it really hits hard. I have no motivation for anything anymore, I just feel so lazy and I feel that I have no energy for anything. It’s hard to focus in classes and I’m easily distracted now. I can’t seem to focus on one thing, and whenever things get too difficult I give up and shy away. I’m constantly stressed all the time and dreading for the worst everyday. I used to be responsible but everything gets too much and I can’t handle things anymore. I start to panic and or break down and I hate it. Anxiety attacks or whatever you call it. I really really can’t with myself. Some days I’ll be fine, but then nights like this, I feel like empty, upset, sad. I hate this feeling and it does hurt. Am I weak? I don’t have any self-motivation and waste my time on the things I shouldn’t but it can’t be helped. I’ve reached out to my counsellor at school but it was not help for me, I took their advice but nothing changes. I want to get better I really do, I want to accept myself, be confident in myself, love myself but I can’t. I can’t do that and its tiring, I’m tired of trying. I fall back into old habits and can’t get out of them. Then i’m stuck in this constant loop of feeling like this. I get real moody and aggressive whenever I feel like this and again with intrusive thoughts, I get those all the time. My anxiety is too much and I just want to cry and run away. What do I do? What can I do? To stop having anxiety? To stop overthinking? To stop criticising myself? To stop breaking myself down whenever I get better? To stop pitying myself? To just get better. Thank you all and Kudos..

SBS Feeling trapped inside my mind
  • replies: 3

My mind is my enemy.Living inside my head, I watch life pass me by.Trapped within the chaos of my mind, I am not free.Racing thoughts and urgent emotions, I cannot slow down. The thoughts are strong and emotions are stronger, they overpower me.They p... View more

My mind is my enemy.Living inside my head, I watch life pass me by.Trapped within the chaos of my mind, I am not free.Racing thoughts and urgent emotions, I cannot slow down. The thoughts are strong and emotions are stronger, they overpower me.They push their way, isolating me.A solitary confinement of my own chaos; cannot form connections, I am lonely.The occupied void is closing in on me, I cannot breathe.It am suffocating, I cannot see. I know I am different, my thoughts are not me.I'm stuck in a loop, I just can't break free.

Hopelesslee Barking dog, arrogant neighbours
  • replies: 5

I’m currently living in a house which is totally surrounded by colour bond fencing due to housing sub division and as a result, noise is amplified to an unimaginable degree.The neighbours have a German Shepherd dog. Over the past year I have done eve... View more

I’m currently living in a house which is totally surrounded by colour bond fencing due to housing sub division and as a result, noise is amplified to an unimaginable degree.The neighbours have a German Shepherd dog. Over the past year I have done everything the council recommended but to no avail, in fact the last encounter was the appointed dog catcher speaking extremely rudely and blowing me off. He closed the case without giving me the opportunity to explain that I have had extremely ill health over the past 14 months. I’m at a point where I feel suicide is the only way to make anyone take notice of my desperation. In the last month, I did make an attempt but once again.. nothing was or has been done. The Police, Animal Welfare and RSPCA don’t want to know. I am not in a financial situation to move and have no family or friends. I’ve cried more than many oceans of tears and feel there is no solution. I’ve had so much advice but at the end of the day, I’m the one living with the noise. I guess dying is what it will take to make maybe one person realise what it’s like to live in hell on earth.

CakeFace Feeling crazy
  • replies: 6

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has this at the moment but is anyone else just feeling really overwhelmed & stressed out with all the changes after COVID? I was mostly fine throughout lockdowns but this year my anxiety has been at its worst where I d... View more

Hi, I don't know if anyone else has this at the moment but is anyone else just feeling really overwhelmed & stressed out with all the changes after COVID? I was mostly fine throughout lockdowns but this year my anxiety has been at its worst where I don't even like leaving the house now as it is so stressful. Some examples, how every time you go grocery shopping half the stuff you need isn't available (especially if it is on special). The rising cost of everything & how it is blamed on COVID or inflation (it cost me almost $20 to post a card overseas for an old relatives birthday!). Another is so many things wanting personal details that I just don't want to give and give me great anxiety to do so. (Example 1 My hairdresser using a third party booking system that needs your card details to confirm bookings now even though you pay in store & not through the third party. Example 2 My real estate wanting to take pictures of my furniture set up in my home as part of rental inspections now, I understand pics of the walls, floors and ceilings but my bookcase with personal photos?! I just feel like everyone else seems so ok with these changes and personal invasions but I'm not and everyone looks at me like I'm crazy for not wanting to participate. Help? 🤯

Mike33 Anxiety and depression and boredom
  • replies: 3

Hi my name is Mikei left work 5 years ago due to my anxiety and depression. I am 67 years old. I have had anxiety and depression for over 50 years. About 2 months ago I felt the illness re-emerge. I cannot work out if it is the illness plus boredom. ... View more

Hi my name is Mikei left work 5 years ago due to my anxiety and depression. I am 67 years old. I have had anxiety and depression for over 50 years. About 2 months ago I felt the illness re-emerge. I cannot work out if it is the illness plus boredom. As I spend most of the day at home. I get terrible headaches and spend about 2-3 hours in bed as it is the only place that eases the headache. Any remedies or ideas would be appreciated.