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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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CJJ Anxiety and Health
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone, Does anyone else feel that their anxiety contributes to their health issues? I have become so anxious (and perhaps paranoid) about covid that I don’t know if my anxiety is causing my body to be symptomatic at times. I’m going for covid t... View more

Hi everyone, Does anyone else feel that their anxiety contributes to their health issues? I have become so anxious (and perhaps paranoid) about covid that I don’t know if my anxiety is causing my body to be symptomatic at times. I’m going for covid test #15 tomorrow and can feel everyone’s eyes roll that I’m going again I hate that anxiety makes me feel so bad. It feeds my depression and is best friends with my ocd. This roller coaster sucks!

Ashley1994 Health Anxiety - Tingling
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I am in the process of waiting to see someone regarding health related anxiety. For the past 2 weeks I have had a tingling/bubbly feeling (similar to a piece of cotton rubbing on my leg) in the outer side of my left calf. I do not know if t... View more

Hi there, I am in the process of waiting to see someone regarding health related anxiety. For the past 2 weeks I have had a tingling/bubbly feeling (similar to a piece of cotton rubbing on my leg) in the outer side of my left calf. I do not know if this is anxiety related, it happens 10+ times a day randomly. Obviously I have gone to the google route and think I have MS. I am hoping this is not true. Has anyone experienced this feeling, in 1 specific area for longer than a few days? I’ve read about anxiety tingling but I’m not sure if they mean a full limb and only while they are having an anxiety attack, mine is even when I’m not feeling anxious. Thank you!

D Walsh No known trigger
  • replies: 4

Hi, I have been on and off with anxiety and depression for about the last 15 years. Initially it was triggered by stress with uni exams and people pleasing. Once that phase of my life was done I have found myself in and out of the cycle to the point ... View more

Hi, I have been on and off with anxiety and depression for about the last 15 years. Initially it was triggered by stress with uni exams and people pleasing. Once that phase of my life was done I have found myself in and out of the cycle to the point I sometimes now don’t even know what is triggering me? I find it so difficult when I can’t attribute this feeling to a cause. just wondering if anyone else is this way?

gracielou22 Struggling through my notice period at work! Advice?
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm hoping for some advice. I resigned from my job two weeks ago, but due to my contract terms I have to see out 6 weeks of notice before I can finally be free of the place! I'm finding it really difficult to get through the notice period. It... View more

Hi all, I'm hoping for some advice. I resigned from my job two weeks ago, but due to my contract terms I have to see out 6 weeks of notice before I can finally be free of the place! I'm finding it really difficult to get through the notice period. It's a small office environment and the only other employee who is in office for the same hours I am is being quite passive-aggressive and hostile towards me, and it's making me extremely anxious and miserable. Has anyone had any experience re-negotiating notice periods due to mental health issues? If so do you have any advice for how I could approach my situation? My boss is also pretty inflexible and stubborn sometimes so I'm wondering if I need to go to my GP for a medical certificate or something official to help me escape this corporate nightmare! They're yet to find a replacement for my role so I imagine that will also factor in. Additionally, I have no capacity to work from home so I'm really feeling stuck in the situation! Thanks!

that_one_quieter_kid Does anyone know how to describe this..?
  • replies: 3

Hey so, I'm new around here so mind me if I'm intruding. Does anyone know how to describe the feeling that everyone you know hates you, whether it be family, friends, it could be anyone. Am I just paranoid or is it related to how other people have tr... View more

Hey so, I'm new around here so mind me if I'm intruding. Does anyone know how to describe the feeling that everyone you know hates you, whether it be family, friends, it could be anyone. Am I just paranoid or is it related to how other people have treated/treat me? Honestly I feel as though I intrude on every possible thing, I feel as though I don't belong anywhere. It's not even just that, I feel as though some of those people want to take their anger out in specific ways towards me, no matter what it be. I don't know how to describe it really. Whenever I try to talk to a friend about it they brush it off or ignore me completely, it gets to a point where I am constantly asking myself "do they hate me?" and when I ask them that same question, they get frustrated at me for saying it. I don't really ask it anymore. I'm half coming on here for advice and half coming on here to look for a way to explain how I feel. Not one of my friends understands how mental health works, not that they're dumb, they're really sweet, I guess. I just can't express how I feel without being laughed at or being made to feel insecure about my own feelings. I guess that's it for this 2am forum post. I'm really sorry if I'm disturbing you guys on this forum, it's not my intention at all, I just really need some help figuring this stuff out.

Ishbel I feel like a failure
  • replies: 4

I am a mum of 6, including 5 with mild special needs. Earlier this year 2 of my children attempted suicide within a fortnight of each other. 1 was due to depression (he has autism) & the other had been bullied at school. I spent so much time taking t... View more

I am a mum of 6, including 5 with mild special needs. Earlier this year 2 of my children attempted suicide within a fortnight of each other. 1 was due to depression (he has autism) & the other had been bullied at school. I spent so much time taking them from therapy to therapy to get them help, that I got very rundown, as I also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. I was also working as a casual contractor organising events for a company (nothing was happening due to the pandemic). Eventually, after very little support from the new boss at my work, I chose to resign and be there more for my family. I stupidly said to another person that I had no faith in the company as they’d never bothered to learn how to run the conference from me. Also, 1 of the sponsors quit as she only wanted to sponsor the conference if I was running it. Next thing I find my ex boss coming after me with a court case, as he’s panicked. I was the only one who knew how to run the conferences (he/no one else in the new company tried to learn what I was doing or showed any interest) and thinks I might jeopardise his company and take away all the sponsors. He’s wealthy and wouldn’t think twice about ruining someone for his own personal gain. But now I feel even my worthless. I said 1 stupid thing and he’s blown it all out of proportion. We have good lawyers, but I can’t help but think that I’m a failure at everything.

Sadie243 Different Friend Groups
  • replies: 5

Hi there, I have OCD and anxiety and ive had it for 10 years so I know my way around my brain. Lately I've become anxious about mixing friend groups. I belong to multiple friend groups but they are all different. My 2 oldest friends are great but the... View more

Hi there, I have OCD and anxiety and ive had it for 10 years so I know my way around my brain. Lately I've become anxious about mixing friend groups. I belong to multiple friend groups but they are all different. My 2 oldest friends are great but they have completely different interests to me. My boyfriend friends who I get along with really well and have become close friends with have similar interests to me. I always worry and get about mixing those groups together when it comes to having a birthday or social gathering. I always worry that my boyfriends friends are going to judge me on my friends and their interests. My oldest friends boyfriends are also a bit different. They have different interests like gaming and dressing emo. I'm however the complete opposite to all that but I still love my friends. I would love to know how to come about my worries and how to deal with it

misties Not good enough
  • replies: 9

I am having issues with low self esteem, as I get older I am 69. I am concerned that my husband will no longer find me attractive. He tells me I am gorgeous and beautiful holds my hand we have sex about once a month but he has pics of naked beautiful... View more

I am having issues with low self esteem, as I get older I am 69. I am concerned that my husband will no longer find me attractive. He tells me I am gorgeous and beautiful holds my hand we have sex about once a month but he has pics of naked beautiful girls should i be worried that I am not as good as them?

Snowbunny Anxiety Issue
  • replies: 3

Hi there - all of a sudden I have been feeling extremely anxious. About 10 years ago I moved into a house and had a large mortgage. After a few years I decided that perhaps I should sell 2 lovely blocks of land and pay off the mortgage which I did. N... View more

Hi there - all of a sudden I have been feeling extremely anxious. About 10 years ago I moved into a house and had a large mortgage. After a few years I decided that perhaps I should sell 2 lovely blocks of land and pay off the mortgage which I did. Now I just can't get it out of my head that I should have waited longer as prices have gone up and it is really ripping me apart. Does anyone else know what this is like?

ms108 Feeling stuck with perpetual anxiety and depression
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I really need some help. I have been struggling with anxiety and episodes of depression for the last few years, mainly having to do with living in a different country from my own since 17 y/o and needing to maintain a job I really didn't like... View more

Hi all, I really need some help. I have been struggling with anxiety and episodes of depression for the last few years, mainly having to do with living in a different country from my own since 17 y/o and needing to maintain a job I really didn't like to get my citizenship there (mainly to please my parents). I felt deep down angry, frustrated and as a victim, as I felt truly alone and isolated, not doing what i wanted to do and not having anyone to rely on (friends I've made during uni years have moved back to their home countries, as they were internationals too). In 2018 I have met my now partner and jumped into a long-distance relationship which caused a lot of anxiety, as I thought that this relationship would save me from my misery. Fast forward 1 year, I moved with him to Australia - which I really love btw, this is my dream place! I thought it will be really easy to adjust to a new country, having been through so many obstacles before, and in some ways it was. But in some, it wasn't. A lot of my demons and insecurities and fears have come up and added toxicity to our relationship. I was very angry and resentful and hurt - and I've hurt him a lot too. I've gone to Beyond Blue coach before, who was really helpful, but then I got a MHCP from my GP and talked to a number of (ineffective) psychologists, finally resorting to going to a psychiatrist who prescribed me SSRI medication. My partner tries to help me but he doesn't know how to handle my emotions and mood swings and I just really need someone who understands me. We have a community of friends here, however, I don't really click with his close friends which makes it a bit of a suffering experience to hang out with them often. I made some friends but I wouldn't say those relationships are strong enough, people just very busy with their own lives and I don't want to overburden them, even though I need a friendly soul. Importantly - I don't work since 2019, I'm a homemaker, however, I have several business projects. Yet I feel very isolated as I don't have regular social interaction with people and from my past experience seeking some random events to go to just makes me feel more empty and like I'm wasting my time... Bottom line - I feel stuck, disenchanted from all the help there could be - as I tried many different things but nothing seems to work - and desperately want my partner to be there for me in a way that he cannot be. Please help me with advice of what to do and thank you!