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

MissJ94 Glad to be in lockdown?
  • replies: 3

Whilst i truly feel for those who are suffering with the new lockdown, i cant help but be glad we are? My social anxiety, and anxiety in general, has been through the roof the last couple weeks/months. With placement in the hospital for my course com... View more

Whilst i truly feel for those who are suffering with the new lockdown, i cant help but be glad we are? My social anxiety, and anxiety in general, has been through the roof the last couple weeks/months. With placement in the hospital for my course coming up, im kinda hoping its cancelled because of the lockdown. Just the thought of having to get up at 4am, drive, interact with people for 8.5 hours, try to learn, drive home, shower, it sends me into a panic attack already! Im really beginning to freak out about it as the day gets closer and closer! Not just that but i now actually have an excuse to stay home and be in my own world instead of interacting with people. I know im mentally unwell right now. And i cant do anything about it due to financial issues and the anxiety being that bad i just cancel any appointments i make to see a GP about it. Almost feel like im drowning with everything going on.

Littlebigdude Lonely guy
  • replies: 2

Hi boys and girls im currently facing anxiety and depression about my situation im 28 and I only have one friend that does not really talk with me much. I been working on myself but working a part-time job and picking up extra hours I still live with... View more

Hi boys and girls im currently facing anxiety and depression about my situation im 28 and I only have one friend that does not really talk with me much. I been working on myself but working a part-time job and picking up extra hours I still live with my parents but my social skills are terrible and i feel that i lack personalty I dont know what to do to bound true friends and possibly get my love life back in order I been wanting to find new a girl to date. I dont have really have any hobbies and im always keeping to myself and feel secretive I have been betrayed in my past and used by many people it hurts my soul and I feel im slowly getting older and I feel hopeless now.

that guy Anxiety after Grandmothers death.
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone. Honestly the past 2 months have literally been the worst of my life. My grandmother died on the 19th of April. She and myself were very close. It was completely unexpected, even though she had been ill on and off for the past couple of y... View more

Hi everyone. Honestly the past 2 months have literally been the worst of my life. My grandmother died on the 19th of April. She and myself were very close. It was completely unexpected, even though she had been ill on and off for the past couple of years. My heart dropped like an anvil once i was told. It brought out the worst in people. as my mum and aunt were fighting over her possessions, her neighbors literally stealing her plants and people rummaging through her garbage hoping to scalp something once we were done cleaning her unit. Its been two months now, and while my mum has been able to move on pretty well, im struggling, Its been like a domino effect, ive been fearing that i'll lose all those that I'm close to. I've been panicking alot more lately and becoming very jumpy. im barely sleeping and for a while, was barely eating. I can't concentrate and even my hobbies have not been helping in distracting me. most of the time these days i feel like i'm going to break down over these fears, and i just do not know what to do. My last appointment with the psychologist did not help, considering it was a short session as he was late, i actually think it made things worse as so many things went unresolved. I don't know hat to do or how to cope

Dylan925 Intrusive Thought - Is life worth it?
  • replies: 7

For the past 5 months I've been watching YouTube channels like Pursuit of wonder and exurb1a, their videos basically question everything related to life and why we are here. The result of watching the videos has made me think about how the majority o... View more

For the past 5 months I've been watching YouTube channels like Pursuit of wonder and exurb1a, their videos basically question everything related to life and why we are here. The result of watching the videos has made me think about how the majority of us have the same life just with small differences. The majority of us go to school, go to university or get a job, work till we're 60 and then retire. Now this may seem ideal to some, but for me this is the lowest form of life possible. Currently I am in Year 10 or sixteen and I'm planning to go to university to become an accountant, not because I want to, but because If I don't I won't be able to financially support myself. I would rather follow my dreams but that seems like a journey that I could never endure. The thing is, I know life is worth living, but to be able to live a life were you consider yourself happy in your 30s 40s and 50s seems impossible. I want to be a musician, a job that relies on preference but if you are successful and persistent with your career, you could possibly do something you love for money and enjoy your life in the periods that everyone considers themselves at their lowest. But it's risky to take the chance, and I have no skill in that craft whatsoever, I just really enjoy music and sometimes sing my own lyrics. But the safe option is to go to university and become an accountant and live the standard life. Right now I feel the pressure of determining my life and it's effecting me drastically on the inside. I'm constantly thinking about the fact that we have to train ourselves to be able to work and then work for the majority of our lives, then if we even survive to the age of 60 we have a short, crumbling, uneventful period of our lives just waiting for our demise, while people pity us because of it. I'd rather live a life where I live life doing something I enjoy. I'm scared of the future but I have confidence, if I knew how to make music and produce what I consider to be good music, (essentially relying on my taste of music) I think I could be successful, and right now I feel like I have all these great ideas but I can't put them onto paper and that eventually I will fall into the trap that is working a 9-5 job on a computer putting in meaningless numbers that mean something to someone else's meaningless life. But yeah I'm going to go have some cereal now even thought it's almost 11PM. Stay ignorant and don't think about this too much - Dylan -

Damaged Advice on where to get help.
  • replies: 16

Hi everyone. So I have had Social Anxiety for as long as I can remember really. I have tried a lot of treatment over the years though nothing has really worked for me long term. Though for the most part I am able to live my life in my routine without... View more

Hi everyone. So I have had Social Anxiety for as long as I can remember really. I have tried a lot of treatment over the years though nothing has really worked for me long term. Though for the most part I am able to live my life in my routine without it affecting me too much. Until I have a social situation come up like a funeral for a family memberwhich I am facing this week. Since I have found out the news things have not gone well. I have not slept in 2 days, been throwing up and have found it hard to breathe. It is all I can think about. I have been through this before over the years and gotten through it. Though this time feels a lot worse. I am really worried I am going to have a panic attack on the day. I would really like to avoid going( which I know goes against what a therapist would advise) though I am at the point now where I am not really just not functioning. I have told a family member about it and they just said don't worry about it:) At this point I know this week is going to be rough. Though what kind of treatment do you advise I should be looking into. I just can't go through this again. Thanks.

Lmtkrc Help my anxiety is gotten worse
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone my anxiety is gone crazy once again! I'm going to legit have a mental breakdown I have barely had an appetite eat once a day but I get full easy had a baby 3 months ago my nurse said I had postpartum I read you do loose your appetite , I... View more

Hey everyone my anxiety is gone crazy once again! I'm going to legit have a mental breakdown I have barely had an appetite eat once a day but I get full easy had a baby 3 months ago my nurse said I had postpartum I read you do loose your appetite , I been having back pain higher back and middle back I googled and of course it says I have cancer! My anxiety will just not go away I can't talk to my family or partner cause they think I'm over reacting

Amy621 Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hello i am currently going through a lot of anxiety and I just don’t know why I had an exam today and before the exam I actually called the after hour counselling service twice because I was having troubles with calming my mind and relaxing. I finall... View more

Hello i am currently going through a lot of anxiety and I just don’t know why I had an exam today and before the exam I actually called the after hour counselling service twice because I was having troubles with calming my mind and relaxing. I finally took the decision to defer my exam and thought that just by making that decision i am definitely going to feel better and I slept for a while but again my body is up and I am feeling very very anxious and have no idea what to do I havent had a proper sleep in days, my doctor would be calling me up in like 3 hours as I was lucky to get an appointment however I don’t know what to do with this anxiety for the next three hours. How do I make it go away

Yvaine Turning 25 and feeling unprepared for future
  • replies: 16

Hi all, I've recently turned 25 and just gotten out of a toxic job that really exacerbated by severe anxiety to the point that I'd gone on medication. Now working full time, recently turned 25 and feel like I'm still 18/19 and time is always running ... View more

Hi all, I've recently turned 25 and just gotten out of a toxic job that really exacerbated by severe anxiety to the point that I'd gone on medication. Now working full time, recently turned 25 and feel like I'm still 18/19 and time is always running out on me, like I'm always trying to catch-up on adulting yet feel like I'm no longer young. Get nostalgic and depressed when I think about the "better" times. Can anyone relate/share their journey/experience? Much love to all, Yvaine

reaktion Anxiety is affecting my work life.
  • replies: 2

I had to leave my job of 11 years 2 years ago. I have now found myself in a situation were I start a new job then just don't turn up after a day or 2 because I can't handle the new company, co-workers and new procedures. I can never sleep because I'm... View more

I had to leave my job of 11 years 2 years ago. I have now found myself in a situation were I start a new job then just don't turn up after a day or 2 because I can't handle the new company, co-workers and new procedures. I can never sleep because I'm allways stressing out and worrying about what's going to happen the next day I go in. I feel really bad about what I have been doing to all these employers who have put me on but I just can't help it. I've even been put on medication and medication to help me sleep but doesn't really do anything to help. I've even tried psychologists. I really need to find a way to get pass this, Im not lazy and i want to work but this feeling makes me not want to get out of bed. Has anyone got any suggestions? Thanjs

coastgirl12 coastgirl scared to fail
  • replies: 4

I am scared to quit my job. I feel like an outsider at work. I work hard and find I am not happy. I worry about what others say about me and I never ever used to care. My boss is horrible to me saying nasty things. I am older than her and I think thi... View more

I am scared to quit my job. I feel like an outsider at work. I work hard and find I am not happy. I worry about what others say about me and I never ever used to care. My boss is horrible to me saying nasty things. I am older than her and I think this makes her rude towards me. I feel like I want to quit and dont know what to do. Would you quit if it was the first job you had in two years but you were treated like crap?