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
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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

SwansandSharksMan Did anyone's parents often call you stupid
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When I was growing up, my parents would often call me stupid. I just seem to remember it so often. They were very angry people. They said it so much. It has affected my adult life quite a bit. I have problems making decisions. I often over think thin... View more

When I was growing up, my parents would often call me stupid. I just seem to remember it so often. They were very angry people. They said it so much. It has affected my adult life quite a bit. I have problems making decisions. I often over think things. I can still hear my parents calling me stupid.

bummed_brunette how do you deal with/overcome social anxiety?
  • replies: 3

my social anxiety has become worse during covid, being isolated and being anxious in general seems to have made me feel incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving the house, and i even feel like keeping up relationships with friends and family... View more

my social anxiety has become worse during covid, being isolated and being anxious in general seems to have made me feel incredibly overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving the house, and i even feel like keeping up relationships with friends and family a daunting task. i can tell the withdrawal is also exacerbating depression/suicidal thoughts. does anyone have any tips? meds? coping mechanisms? would love some help.

tesla88 Anxiety control
  • replies: 5

I have anxiety and panic disorder I just got transferred in my job and im having almost all day panic attacks My panic anxiety comes in form of severe nausea and to try and avoid it by creating pain such as digging fingernails into other fingrrnails ... View more

I have anxiety and panic disorder I just got transferred in my job and im having almost all day panic attacks My panic anxiety comes in form of severe nausea and to try and avoid it by creating pain such as digging fingernails into other fingrrnails and into gums I feel this provides distraction but I think it also feeds the anxiety as fighting it Do others have similar reactions?

R_A Self-confidence
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Hello, I have been struggling a bit lately with catastrophising my future. I am half way through my studies and I constantly am thinking that I will never get a job or that other students are way better than me (which I know I am probably on the same... View more

Hello, I have been struggling a bit lately with catastrophising my future. I am half way through my studies and I constantly am thinking that I will never get a job or that other students are way better than me (which I know I am probably on the same level as everyone else). I have thought about alternatives to if I never get a job after uni and wonder if I will ever be able to get a house or get a job that will support me well enough. Every time my friends joke and stuff about getting married and having kids, I always just think that that is never going to happen to me and that no one would want to be with me. I also feel as though my friends are only friends with me for the sake of it and that it is just because I am there and they don't actually want to be my friend but they don't know how to cut me off. I know that these thoughts are irrational but they just flood my mind and its all I can think about and I always turn situations into negatives. Has anyone else ever thought like this, and if so how did you combat these thoughts? Thank you!

qarasuv Apocalyptic Anxiety (trigger warning: space)
  • replies: 58

Hi, I'm new here. I am terrified of asteroids, comets, and anything else space can throw at us. Currently I have been in a slow-burn freakout for weeks, checking the news every hour, feeling like I'm about to die. I've had lifelong OCD but it's only ... View more

Hi, I'm new here. I am terrified of asteroids, comets, and anything else space can throw at us. Currently I have been in a slow-burn freakout for weeks, checking the news every hour, feeling like I'm about to die. I've had lifelong OCD but it's only in the past month that my obsessions have become this intense and this apocalyptic, and I am really struggling and don't know what to do. I'm in a rural area so my options are very limited. I've seen a GP who agrees I need to see a psychologist pretty urgently, but she said there is absolutely no chance of getting in to see anybody - urgently or not - for at least 6-8 weeks. These invasive thoughts are constant, unrelenting, and extremely vivid; nothing can distract me from them, and I am in lockdown, so no option of taking a day trip or seeing friends to take my mind off it. I've been trying and trying and trying to find information online about what to do, but nothing seems applicable to my particular situation. Information on panic attacks all seems to assume that the main cause of distress is the panic attack symptoms; I don't care about my racing heart or shortness of breath, I care about what I'm scared is about to happen. Anxiety information is tailored to stuff like "what if my house gets broken into?" or "what if I say something embarrassing in public?", not obsessions on this terrifying level. Stuff online about dealing with intrusive thoughts gives me conflicting opinions - do I challenge the thought, or try to ignore it? Is it best to push it away, or it that repression that will make it come back stronger? Do I try to distract myself with mental exercises, or is that a compulsion? Breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation used to work, but they don't anymore. I exercise daily and eat well and don't drink. Any help or support would be much appreciated. I don't think I can take 6-8 weeks more of this with no help whatsoever.

fred2018 frequent urination
  • replies: 1

Hi guys fun topic for a Sunday but I wanna get this problem under control probably will talk to my doctor about it at some point but thought i'd come here first. I seem to have it and off, pretty sure its stress/anxiety related. Who here has dealt wi... View more

Hi guys fun topic for a Sunday but I wanna get this problem under control probably will talk to my doctor about it at some point but thought i'd come here first. I seem to have it and off, pretty sure its stress/anxiety related. Who here has dealt with ? Cheers

Liongirl Scared to leave house after incident
  • replies: 2

First and foremost, I have anxiety. Most of the time I can cope, but recently something happened that has made my anxiety worse than usual. A couple of days ago, I was in the city, waiting for a bus when a man pushed me, twice. The second time was ju... View more

First and foremost, I have anxiety. Most of the time I can cope, but recently something happened that has made my anxiety worse than usual. A couple of days ago, I was in the city, waiting for a bus when a man pushed me, twice. The second time was just as the bus arrived. I looked at him and started to ask what he was doing, when he informed me that he had a disability and was entitled to get on the bus first. I told him that he still needed to say excuse me and please and he wasn’t to push people. He then started yelling at me and saying words to the effect of how he didn’t have to and kept stressing at me that he had a disability. At that point, I saw red and told him he was a wanker. Everyone on the bus and at the stop started glaring at me, at which point, I apologised to the driver for making a scene, and left. Since then, my anxiety has flared up. I feel sick and scared that I’ve done something wrong and that everyone thinks I’m a bad person and that I deserved to be pushed like that. I don’t want to leave my house in case something like this happens again and my imagination keeps creating scenes where someone filmed the incident and posted it online and people are saying this just proves what a horrible, selfish person I am. I don’t even know where all this fear is coming from—the logical part of my mind knows I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but my mind keeps coming back to it. I just want to forget and move on.

Dazza73 Workplace Anxieties
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Hi guys. Just thought I'd ask anyone with experience with workplace bullying. More importantly, I want to access if this could be a form of bullying or am I being too sensitive? Company I work for, the owner is retired and his oldest son is the Gener... View more

Hi guys. Just thought I'd ask anyone with experience with workplace bullying. More importantly, I want to access if this could be a form of bullying or am I being too sensitive? Company I work for, the owner is retired and his oldest son is the General Manager. Nice bloke. Very compromising. The boss's youngest son has taken on himself to make improvements to the workplace and employees. (Micro Managing) While we can do with personal growth, there are times where you can cross the line with employees by becoming heavy handed. While I was discussing ideas about my work area, I found he talked down to me rather than being inspiring. Like everything I do is wrong and not in the interest of the company. Part of the reason I wanted to talk to him was to grow and to work with other employees with positive steps. I have various tasks and duties to do, which puts me in a position where I make decisions. The decisions are made to work (negotiate), with other people and to make me an effect part of the team. However, after my discussions today with JNR boss, I feel as though every decision I make will be scrutinised in a negative way, that I'll eventually be afraid making a decision. Instead of personal growth in the workplace, I feel like I'll go the other way. I understand that If I make an error, then I have to take the criticism. (An ass-chewing from the boss) All afternoon, all I could think about was using violence or at least abuse him. I feel as though he has taken away my personal peace and at night, my mind festers, which causes some level of anxiety and I lose sleep. I was looking online to define Workplace Bullying and wondered if what I'm experiencing come under that banner of I'm just being sensitive. In all other areas in life, I’m quite happy and positive. I believe a lot of peers will describe me as a friendly person

Poincare1136 Anxiety and Depression: Job
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The thought of spending life at work makes me depressed to the point that I just want to stay in bed all day. I feel like there are so many things to be happy about in my life yet I'm so down all the time and although I love my job, I wish I felt hap... View more

The thought of spending life at work makes me depressed to the point that I just want to stay in bed all day. I feel like there are so many things to be happy about in my life yet I'm so down all the time and although I love my job, I wish I felt happier. I feel like everyone can see I'm having problems with my mental health, but very few people ask about it. I'm not the type of person to talk openly about emotions, but my face shows it plain as day. I feel like although I can do my job to a high calibre and I have a lot to offer, I don't feel as appreciated as I should. I put in all this work, even on the weekend and I feel like this. I don't know what I should do and even though I've been taking time off work, I feel like I need more, but I've already taken so much off. More to this, a lot is due and they need me to help specifically. I don't know what to do and I'm crying at random times of the day. Any advice is appreciated.

Petal22 Happy Fathers Day .... better days are coming hold on
  • replies: 7

Strong people fall down They don’t stay down Strong people break They don’t stay broken They mend They piece themselves Back together and they Come back stronger Strong people feel like quitting.. But they don’t Strong people aren’t Free from challen... View more

Strong people fall down They don’t stay down Strong people break They don’t stay broken They mend They piece themselves Back together and they Come back stronger Strong people feel like quitting.. But they don’t Strong people aren’t Free from challenges They’ re strong because Of the challenges