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

ResilientBear Catastrophising OCD: Tips & Question
  • replies: 4

Struggling immensely. I'm going to just touch on the topic because I'd like to dive straight in but will likely prevent anyone from sharing some helpful words. Question below.Let's start with the following: (IF you're not feeling like doing any of th... View more

Struggling immensely. I'm going to just touch on the topic because I'd like to dive straight in but will likely prevent anyone from sharing some helpful words. Question below.Let's start with the following: (IF you're not feeling like doing any of the below then start small, trust that it helps as this has helped me from what my psychologist terms "a really severe dose of OCD"):Think "protect my energy" where you feel burnt out or overwhelmed or interacting with people who cannot empathise. Then, where possible, go and take the 20 minutes doing something "selfish" like having a cup of tea in silence and try to build up to regularlyThese are all going to sound hard, it's definitely not easy but one small start is better to be 5% closer to feeling better than not e.g. journal for 10 minutes.allowing yourself space and time from various stressors such as the above with the cup of tea. Either way, I'm not sure the above made sense.Question: I'd really like to know how someone with severe catastrophising anxiety/OCD and someone whose catastrophised & critiqued nearly each step recently under high anxiety setting has gotten by? e.g. It's been tense unravelling childhood traumas, then experiencing a psychotic break and now moving straight to another place after returning home and on new medications.Things that have helped: space from stress, taking time to meditate & protecting my energy from family etc. ~ Thank you where possible for caring ~

Jonspencer12 Experiencing Extreme Anxiety for two weeks
  • replies: 16

Hi There, I’m scared. For two weeks I have had horrible anxiety and can’t sleep and find it hard to eat. I’m a head of a department at my job. I have brain fog so bad I can barely remember things. I’m now on medication for the last two weeks but it’s... View more

Hi There, I’m scared. For two weeks I have had horrible anxiety and can’t sleep and find it hard to eat. I’m a head of a department at my job. I have brain fog so bad I can barely remember things. I’m now on medication for the last two weeks but it’s not working yet. I have a daughter part time and I’m a single parent. I keep scraping through each day trying to just keep making it. I’m frightened and I catastrophise daily. My parents are supportive but not close by. The doctor gave me some sleeping tablets which help a bit. Each day I wake up is the same though. I wanted to reach out to others for support as I could just use it right now. I have dealt with GAD for 25 years, mostly with meds. I cycled down appropriately over many months and was feeling great for 8 months. Then it it just all of a sudden hit me two weeks ago. I will never go off again.

Jbitossi Income insurance
  • replies: 5

Has any access income insurance for anxiety and panic disorder and have any information. Was your claim successful, if not do you know why.

Has any access income insurance for anxiety and panic disorder and have any information. Was your claim successful, if not do you know why.

Jodielianne Has anyone had a bad experience with a psychiatrist?
  • replies: 5

He refused me as a patient after our second session. Definitely not like in the movies. He told me I couldn’t speak I had to listen to him. Corrected my pronunciation of words. Prescribed me medication for blood pressure to maybe help with anxiety. I... View more

He refused me as a patient after our second session. Definitely not like in the movies. He told me I couldn’t speak I had to listen to him. Corrected my pronunciation of words. Prescribed me medication for blood pressure to maybe help with anxiety. I followed the directions as per the chemist. He claimed he told me to increase the dose after so many days. Shouldn’t a doctor write that down? Really want help with correct antidepressants to combat anxiety. Also sick with an autoimmune disease. Have a lot to deal with. This is going to sound really bad but why is it only male Indian doctors that treat me bad?

Sunnyy Anxiety and panic attacks
  • replies: 3

Hi, I am new to this forum I’m 37 yo female. I’ve recently been diagnosed with GAD and have started medication, however I feel like it’s not managing my symptoms well. I am still finding it very difficult to manage day to day life. I work from home, ... View more

Hi, I am new to this forum I’m 37 yo female. I’ve recently been diagnosed with GAD and have started medication, however I feel like it’s not managing my symptoms well. I am still finding it very difficult to manage day to day life. I work from home, have two kids and even the littlest of tasks seem too difficult to manage. I practice meditation everyday, I’m using headspace and Nerva for meditation. I try to do yoga every few days, try to walk but nothing seems to be setting in a routine. I feel like I’m not able to stick to any routine and all I do everyday is try to regulate my breathing and not go into a panic mode. I really need help and some encouragement, I want to know that I can get out of this and can hopefully one day get back to the life I lived pre covid.

Hannahmk Driving anxiety
  • replies: 2

OK so there's something that is genuinely bothering me and not too sure where else to post it . I really don't know if again it's girls who just feel threatened/intimidated by me I went in the other day and had a really open conversation with these p... View more

OK so there's something that is genuinely bothering me and not too sure where else to post it . I really don't know if again it's girls who just feel threatened/intimidated by me I went in the other day and had a really open conversation with these people anyway it my job agency I was getting assigned a new job agent with the boss and we had am appointment the 3 of us. I swear this always happens to me too especially when like I'm happy and in a good mood. But anyway fast forward I was talking about how I have driving anxiety and couldn't do specific drives and I'd also wanted to move into state . Girl was so rude she was like ' I did it it was easy ' but it was like she just kept repeating it bit like she was just trying to rub it in my face.. just the fact it's a disability job agency (des) let along organisation just annoys me that's job role is supposed to be supporting people ... really pissed me off. Like another incident few weeks ago went into the gtm too I'm just nice and friendly and honestly just try to get along with everyone yeah . But there's always that one person that has to act up on me and causing fkn drama seriously I've just about hit my threshold and I just feel like next time I'm going to lose it and go absolutely off I'm at my absolute bl**dy wits end . But went into three gym and these workers just were laughing at me and giving me a really smug /rude look... just annoys me

Reinaa Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I've migrated to Sydney for about three years. It's hard for me to make friends at my school. I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, OCD and other things that I don't remember. And sorry for my horrible grammar and tenses, I just want... View more

Hi everyone, I've migrated to Sydney for about three years. It's hard for me to make friends at my school. I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, OCD and other things that I don't remember. And sorry for my horrible grammar and tenses, I just want to share my experiences. I was really shy at school and I hardly make any friends. I feel scared talking to people, even at rolecall when the teacher say my name. I'm having issues at home. My parents are arguing because of me all the time. They fight infront of me and my sister and it feels very bad. My father was a very traditional men who was sometimes selfish. I feel that my father don't like me since I was young, I don't know what should I do.

Aeneides Need advice dealing with anxiet/severe trust issue
  • replies: 1

With getting lied to by consecutive previous relationships, I now find it incredibly difficult to trust people to the point where I didn't want romantic relationships anymore. Recently though, I started liking someone again and we talk everyday, but ... View more

With getting lied to by consecutive previous relationships, I now find it incredibly difficult to trust people to the point where I didn't want romantic relationships anymore. Recently though, I started liking someone again and we talk everyday, but since he's not ready for a relationship yet, I decided to sort of wait for him and just be a good friend right now. However, when someone starts acting sweet and flirty around him, I just start sort of breaking down internally because it feels like I'm going to get replaced again, for lack of a better word for it. I don't bother him about it because I know it's a pain to deal with this and since we're not a thing, having him also deal with this feels unfair to him..? Would anyone happen to have any advice how to deal with this trust issue/anxiety? I want to stop being this obsessive distrustful person who constantly checks if there are any signs I'm about to get replaced, ready to run away.

lila222222 How I’m feeling
  • replies: 2

Hello, i feel as though no one cares and I don’t know where it’s coming from. I’m not normally like this but recently I’ve been picking up on times where people don’t care about my feelings and I just loose it and tell them to f--- off. At first it w... View more

Hello, i feel as though no one cares and I don’t know where it’s coming from. I’m not normally like this but recently I’ve been picking up on times where people don’t care about my feelings and I just loose it and tell them to f--- off. At first it was with my friends but now I see it with my family. I keep pushing people away but the one thing I want is someone to genuinely care and be there for me. Does anyone have any advice?

Pinkthomo Keeps it together
  • replies: 1

I've been dealing with this anxiety for the first time in my life and really struggling to keep it to a minimum or get rid of it. The core of the problem is a neighbour who occasionally has music on aggressively loud. I don't know why this effects me... View more

I've been dealing with this anxiety for the first time in my life and really struggling to keep it to a minimum or get rid of it. The core of the problem is a neighbour who occasionally has music on aggressively loud. I don't know why this effects me so much. The rest of my family don't care too much, but for some reason, I feel it's the end of the world.I've seen my gp and she's given me a script if it gets all too much. How does everyone deal with their anxiety. I can only talk myself out of it so much.