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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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louies Medication
  • replies: 1

Hey allI'm RissI have Anxiety and depression. And am about to go into hospital to get my medication changed its a privet hospital and I don't know what to expect. I also have to leave my 2 and 4 year old at home with there dad whitch I'm sad about. T... View more

Hey allI'm RissI have Anxiety and depression. And am about to go into hospital to get my medication changed its a privet hospital and I don't know what to expect. I also have to leave my 2 and 4 year old at home with there dad whitch I'm sad about. There is also the fear of never feeling good again. Please any advice will be great

redpanda13 Should I question my father if he's cheating again?
  • replies: 2

So last year my father told me to help him send a file on his phone and when I had his phone I saw this app which had a bright red love heart on it. The app looks suspicious. But other than seeing the app, he hasn't displayed any other suspicious beh... View more

So last year my father told me to help him send a file on his phone and when I had his phone I saw this app which had a bright red love heart on it. The app looks suspicious. But other than seeing the app, he hasn't displayed any other suspicious behavior that he's cheating. He has cheated in the past so that's why I'm making assumptions on him at the moment. I tried letting this go but it's still in the back of my mind. Any suggestions of what I should do?Thank you!

reika falling out with a friend... and seeing them everyday
  • replies: 7

Hi, Last year I had a falling out with a friend. It was a messy, awkward and confusing falling out. Very soon after, this person deleted me from their social media accounts. Unfortunately we have the same classes so I see them frequently. Every time ... View more

Hi, Last year I had a falling out with a friend. It was a messy, awkward and confusing falling out. Very soon after, this person deleted me from their social media accounts. Unfortunately we have the same classes so I see them frequently. Every time this person, sees me, they physically turn the other way and avert their gaze. This small action hurts me to no end. Although the falling out happened last year, I find that I am constantly thinking about it, playing out what happened in my head and every time they avoid me. I can't help but feel the thing that made us fall out was very trivial, though rationally I know I should respect their decision. Emotionally I feel anxiety, guilt, anger, confusion... I feel anxiety any time I have to go to university because I know I will see them, even if it is just a brief passing at the corridor, because I know they will avoid me. I am living week by week mentally figuring out how many times I will see this person. I make elaborate plans to try to walk a longer way etc. to avoid them. The fact that I'm racking my brain over this makes me feel guilty. Although I am very embarrassed about this, I've shared this with some close friends (though I do not go to university with them) and family. They have been very supportive. However its 1 year later and I am still anxious about it. My friends and family have expressed confusion as to why I'm still so worked up about it, and I agree with that, and the fact that I still am makes me feel even more guilty. I'm trying to cope by exercising and hanging with my partner, but at the end of the day, or whenever I have a moment to think, this fills up my mind. It is so exhausting. I just hate that I'm worked up over something that really began from something so trivial, but has wallowed in my mind for a year now. This kind of situation has happened to me before (three times!) where I've had conflict with a friend and felt anxiety every time I saw them. During high school this happened too and it left me in depression for two years until high school ended and I did not have to see them anymore. So this time around, do I have to wait until I finish university for my anxiety to end? I know I need to move on, and I keep telling myself that, but I can't help but feel anxious.

Basilboy Big mistake and anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, I've made a big mistake (under tough conditions). I'm having some serious intrusive thoughts and being incredible hard on myself. My mistake is work based and could be catastrophic for my career. I also have information that could destro... View more

Hi everyone, I've made a big mistake (under tough conditions). I'm having some serious intrusive thoughts and being incredible hard on myself. My mistake is work based and could be catastrophic for my career. I also have information that could destroy a business. I'm so torn as to what to do and I don't know how to stop the racing, intrusive thoughts.Thanks everyone, I'm new to this community but must say the chat feature saved me today!

Alel Uncomfortable with feeling okay
  • replies: 2

I've recently been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression as well as agoraphobia. I've also been dealing with my fear of vomiting, fainting and sometimes weather ever since I was young. I'm only on my 2nd week of my meds and i still feel on edg... View more

I've recently been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression as well as agoraphobia. I've also been dealing with my fear of vomiting, fainting and sometimes weather ever since I was young. I'm only on my 2nd week of my meds and i still feel on edge or low sometimes. But most of the time, I feel relaxed and okay. The thing is tho, I don't know what to do with this feeling? Because when I'm anxious or depressed, I have steps and practices to do. But when I'm happy, I just have to live? Why is it so weird to me? I don't know what to do. Even tho I feel better, I don't see the appeal of going out, doing a hobby or going for a little walk even. I'm just sitting on my phone. All day. I know meds takes a while to actually work, I don't know how it feels for meds to fully work as I was never got to that point with my last mess. So I'm still quite scared of what's to come before it works or if it actually works. I'm also afraid that I'll never overcomle my fears as I can't get myself to face them. As well as accepting I have a chemical imbalance. It just makes me feel broken knowing I'll deal with anxiety and depression for the rest of my life. It just seems like such an exhausting and terrifying life. I also got alot of bad things going on in life, but luckily not too bad. I have to work on finding a life for myself and getting over my past. There's just so much, which is quite overwhelming, and being uncomfortable with feeling okay is just pushing me back. I want to make progress but now I have to get comfortable with it?

Alel Can I get tips or advice?
  • replies: 4

Things that scare me or give me anxiety: Thinking about my past (especially) Thinking about my present Thinking about the future Urges Eating Vomiting Fainting Nausea Dizziness Feeling gassy Thinking about religion (not religious but my family is and... View more

Things that scare me or give me anxiety: Thinking about my past (especially) Thinking about my present Thinking about the future Urges Eating Vomiting Fainting Nausea Dizziness Feeling gassy Thinking about religion (not religious but my family is and I feel like I'm lying to them. Also dealing with religious trauma) Thinking about death The thought of being broken The thought of never getting better Cold or hot weather The thought of going crazy or insane Constantly feeling on edge or off Headaches The thought that I'm faking my mental illness or that I like being mentally ill Side effects of my meds and not knowing when I should be concerned Constantly being in existential dread everyday Being too conscious of my mental health, but also panic when I realise I've been too much in my head Loud sounds The thought of being a mean or toxic person Depression or depressive episodes coming back The thought of not eating on time, eating too much or too little, eating too fast (emetophobia) Change but also feeling stuck Body fatigue The thought of drinking too much ot too little (emetophobia) Living with a dysfunctional family that constantly fights Living with an anxious mom Bad family health history I'm just struggling and so many people have gone through this before and I have so much to learn and conquer and achieve. I wouldn't even have to go through all this, or have to overcome so much things or have to achieve things everyone already has or didn't even have to try for them to achieve it. If my brain was normal, the only thing on my mind would be teen things. But no, I have to have severe anxiety, depression, agoraphobia and ocd. It's so hard to deal with. I'm so afraid of my own brain. I feel so different from everyone around me. I know I'm not alone but it honestly feels like it. Don't have to help but tips for any of these things would really help please. I am trying to see a psychologist but I wanted to get a start now until I can get one.

apok90 Anxiety and advice on mental support
  • replies: 1

Hi, I’ve always struggled with social anxiety and it has been always hard for me to meet new people and make friends. It takes several times before I feel comfortable with someone and all the tasks (except for work) that involves going out my home in... View more

Hi, I’ve always struggled with social anxiety and it has been always hard for me to meet new people and make friends. It takes several times before I feel comfortable with someone and all the tasks (except for work) that involves going out my home in a social environment, often give me a stomachache and the need to go to the bathroom. I think the main issue is that I’m not feeling confident with myself and I often feel ugly and different. My situation improved the last years when I had to care for my son and my partner (that suffered from depression in a different way). Last year I moved here in Australia with my family so that we can stay closer to my partner’s parents and improve her situation, but after a few months she broke up with me and now I feel like I’m at the same point I started 9 years ago, plus the only people I know here are related to her. I spent the last five months just working and staying at home, without seeing anyone after work, except for my son when I got him the weekend. I’d like to change and find a way i can make friends and enjoy my life. I apologise for my English as is not my first language.

M_A_ Physical Anxiety fear of dying
  • replies: 2

I feel anxious most of the time and it's all used to be physical for me but now it's also emotional and as if I feel my brain is turning around or smh. Sometimes I'm feeling sad and even a little depressed. I've never felt like this weird unexplainab... View more

I feel anxious most of the time and it's all used to be physical for me but now it's also emotional and as if I feel my brain is turning around or smh. Sometimes I'm feeling sad and even a little depressed. I've never felt like this weird unexplainable sadness before as I always being the most positive person. This really scares me, sometimes I can't even talk properly, my thoughts are raising so fast and I have slurred speech, which in fact gives me even more fear and anxiety. I just don't know how to stop feeling like this, relaxation techniques only work when I'm a little anxious but when I'm in a panicky mode nothing seems to slow me down. I even take medication and even tho I feel a bit more relaxed I still feeling on the edge like if I can't relax fully my fast thoughts and body sensations. Help, even writing this making me more anxious and weak and I don't like it...

Alel Still afraid of covid
  • replies: 2

TW HEALTH ANXIETY Ive only gotten covid once or twice. But lately I've been trying to overcome really bad anxiety and I live with a really really anxious mom. She is saying that the covid vaccine is bad and that covid is really dangerous which is sca... View more

TW HEALTH ANXIETY Ive only gotten covid once or twice. But lately I've been trying to overcome really bad anxiety and I live with a really really anxious mom. She is saying that the covid vaccine is bad and that covid is really dangerous which is scaring me as well as her which then scares me more. I can't stop worrying and panicking. I already got the covid vaccine couple years back. But I'm still scared of getting really sick or dying. Whenver I explain my fears to my family, they just say believe in God. I'm not religious and they don't know that, so it just feels like I have no one that understand how scared I am. I'm too afraid to read the news about australia and covid bc I don't want to get more anxious than I already am, but I also have an urge to read on it. What do I do? Does anyone have any tips for health anxiety and covid?

beny i have no friends how do i cope with it
  • replies: 2

I've lost all my friends over conflict & no longer have the option of being friends with them again. I feel like I don't know how to make a new group of friends as I've always been comfortable with all I had and never really bothered with making more... View more

I've lost all my friends over conflict & no longer have the option of being friends with them again. I feel like I don't know how to make a new group of friends as I've always been comfortable with all I had and never really bothered with making more friends besides the ones I had. i try my best to keep my mind busy with other things but sometimes with stresses from running my business, studying fulltime combined with the feeling of loneliness can be frustrating.