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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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Anxietyridden Anxiety Ridden again
  • replies: 3

Hello Everyone. Long time no talk. I am struggling with anxiety again. I currently work 3 days a week. The pay is good but I have this feeling in me that I should be working 5 days a week as I feel bad for my husband. I know in my heart that I can't ... View more

Hello Everyone. Long time no talk. I am struggling with anxiety again. I currently work 3 days a week. The pay is good but I have this feeling in me that I should be working 5 days a week as I feel bad for my husband. I know in my heart that I can't handle 5 days a week but my mind is not helping. My middle daughter left her stable job as she wasn't happy and now cannot find another job. She has less then $100 left in her bank account and she is struggling mentally as well and I don't know how to help her. My youngest daughter who has a medical condition is not well at the moment and can't seem to get better so things are pretty tense at the moment. I had a bit of a light bulb moment the other night in regards to my mother living with us (which I am not happy with). I realised that I don't understand why I am obligated to take her in and care for her when she didn't look after me when I was younger.I just honestly feel like everyone would be better if I wasn't here with my issues but I don't know how to fix them. Sorry, I know it might not make sense I just needed to get it off my chest.

Guest_51556395 Constant anxiety and overwhelm
  • replies: 1

I have this constant feeling of overwhelm and anxiety. Currently recovering from influenza A. I just want to feel normal again

I have this constant feeling of overwhelm and anxiety. Currently recovering from influenza A. I just want to feel normal again

Guest_48639112 Feeling empty
  • replies: 2

For years, I have been feeling empty when I am by myself. I hate this feeling. I often try to have people around me by spending money on them, taking them out for dinners. While I am generous, I don’t want to use this behavior to cover my empty feeli... View more

For years, I have been feeling empty when I am by myself. I hate this feeling. I often try to have people around me by spending money on them, taking them out for dinners. While I am generous, I don’t want to use this behavior to cover my empty feeling. I want to feel cheered up without needing to be around people. I want to feel motivated to do things for myself. I want to live for myself, not just because I have to live and do my best for my young daughter. I am unable to leave the house if I don’t have someone with me. For instance, I force myself to go to the grocery store for groceries. I see psychologist every fortnight but I go back to the empty feeling as I walk out the counseling sessions. How can I stop this madness?

Jessksch I feel so overwhelmed and guilty
  • replies: 2

I have been doing so well for a couple of years on my old medication and now suddenly I am so much worse again. I feel jittery about little things, my mind is going crazy from just thinking if I have to do some housework and my mind gets overwhelmed ... View more

I have been doing so well for a couple of years on my old medication and now suddenly I am so much worse again. I feel jittery about little things, my mind is going crazy from just thinking if I have to do some housework and my mind gets overwhelmed that I get physically sick. This morning I had to call in sick again and usually I was able to push myself to just one sick day a month! I feel physically week and run down, just no energy to do anything but lie in bed, but have to push myself today to go and get my new medication... I am so angry at myself, nobody will put up with this for long and I am trying to do the right thing but feel more and more frustrated with things around me. If I leave out something in housework or to do, it all piles up and making me more and more overwhelmed

Leslie Started all over again..
  • replies: 12

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?

Lilacbeetle I don't know if I should quit my job
  • replies: 5

Work place gossip is getting on top of me right now. I'm currently struggling with a lot of things in my personal life and I've still been doing my job but I haven't been as motivated and I have had to take days off. I know taking time off can cause ... View more

Work place gossip is getting on top of me right now. I'm currently struggling with a lot of things in my personal life and I've still been doing my job but I haven't been as motivated and I have had to take days off. I know taking time off can cause coworkers to respect me less but i can't handle work when I'm having panic attacks or need to sort out appointments and my living situation. There are lots of office politics and I'm a supervisor at work and I've had another co-worker tell me things bosses have said about me that they're trying to "catch me out" and they dont want to critise me incase it effects my mental health. I also worry this co-worker is repeating things I say to the boss as well and she has bragged about being the bosses "spy" and I thought I was friends with this person. The bosses talking about me like that has lead to other issues with undermining and talking about other staff members and calling them useless. I tried to talk to my boss about it but I don't think they handled it very well and said my coworker is "getting too big for their boots" and immediately brought them into the office after, i wasnt trying to start drama i wanted to know how to handle the situation and stop any bullying of other team members. She tried to blame shift onto another manager though and she either is in the dark or pretends to be. Every aspect of my life is crumbling right now and my mental health is suffering. I don't want to quit my job if it's just paranoia. I try my best to focus on my work and avoid drama but it got the best of me and my confidence is gone. I want to talk to the boss about taking time off but I know that's going to cause more gossip. I have wanted a new job for a long time but if I leave I know they will be short staffed and pissed off. I know I'm not the type of co-worker people might want to be around because of my anxiety. They have done a lot for me but I don't feel like I can keep working like this and I don't want to be that person that is just complaining and worrying all the time. This is my first good job and I've been there 3 years with no issues like this until recently. I really struggle with social interactions and the boss said they trust me and I'm important to them but then they're possibly talking about me behind my back. Rather than talking to me they'll probably cut my shifts for a while. Has anyone else's stress and anxiety caused them to quit a job? Is this normal workplace gossip or potentionally toxic?

NAM3-- Sooo I went to the doctor today...
  • replies: 3

And got diagnosed with severe anxiety. I didn't know it was this bad. Like, obviously I knew it was bad....but severe?? I should add that I've has anxiety for a while just as a general handbrake on my life. But now it's...yea. It was, I suppose the f... View more

And got diagnosed with severe anxiety. I didn't know it was this bad. Like, obviously I knew it was bad....but severe?? I should add that I've has anxiety for a while just as a general handbrake on my life. But now it's...yea. It was, I suppose the first time I was truly honest with what was happening. The doctor I had was great too, it wasn't a tick and flick exercise for her - I felt truly listened too. How the hell did I get here? I look after myself, sleep, eat, volunteer, work etc I don't know what more I can do. I can't change my past.

Ellyn Anxiety Medication Symptoms
  • replies: 1

Hi. My daughter suffers from bad night sweats as a symptom of taking Anxiety medication. They appear to be hormonal as they occur when she is either ovulating or menstruating. I'm wondering if anyone else suffers from this symptom and if so, do they ... View more

Hi. My daughter suffers from bad night sweats as a symptom of taking Anxiety medication. They appear to be hormonal as they occur when she is either ovulating or menstruating. I'm wondering if anyone else suffers from this symptom and if so, do they have any tips or remedies to ease these? It seems unreal for her to have to deal with this, for a week at a time, every month - broken sleeps and having to change her bedding during the night, every night, during those weeks. TIA

RJ_D Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, it’s already a month, the company dismissed me. It is unfair because they can't reprimand one of our co-workers. My co-worker is my senior, I thought he would help me to learn but he is bothering me even more in my work. I was being yelled a... View more

Hi guys, it’s already a month, the company dismissed me. It is unfair because they can't reprimand one of our co-workers. My co-worker is my senior, I thought he would help me to learn but he is bothering me even more in my work. I was being yelled at, all my output was wrong as if I was stupid, and I also questioned myself. I can't sleep well, I can't eat, I don't feel hungry, I just lie down all day, I try to get up but my body doesn't want to. I have lost weight, I don't even know how to start.I have also been told by people about what is happening to me, that I thought they would understand me, in fact they judged me more.My heart hurts so much, I can't stop crying, I feel useless. how do I start getting up again?

Mahraja1979 Parenting
  • replies: 3

Hey GuysI am a single parent who is struggling to get my son interested in his school work. In a recent parent teacher interview, his teachers told me he is a polite child but is not interested in his studies. The teachers told me that he shows no in... View more

Hey GuysI am a single parent who is struggling to get my son interested in his school work. In a recent parent teacher interview, his teachers told me he is a polite child but is not interested in his studies. The teachers told me that he shows no interest in his subjects. Not sure what to do. I spoke to him and he promises that he will do better. I find it hard as he has been promising me this for last few years. I don’t know how to get him interested in his subject.