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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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so_so_sad worried about sons anxiety and depression
  • replies: 2

Hey, I am worried about my son who is struggling atm with his anxiety and depression. He is 26 nearly 27 and unable to find a job, never has had one but spent years getting to a better place with his mental health. Now it has all gone up the creek wi... View more

Hey, I am worried about my son who is struggling atm with his anxiety and depression. He is 26 nearly 27 and unable to find a job, never has had one but spent years getting to a better place with his mental health. Now it has all gone up the creek with one comment made online, stupidly of course but we all make mistakes. He was doing volunteer work and there was a complaint made to the company he did that for and now after 3 years of hard and loyal work for them they wont let him come back because of one mistake. He had a mini mental breakdown today and I am at a loss of how to help as it was one of 3 things that happened today but this was the one that ended up breaking his spirit today. Can anyone help this mother who loves her son very much

Joey7 Severe Health Anxiety
  • replies: 103

I suffer from severe health anxiety and have for the past 6 years which all started after my son was seriously iill and we came very close to losing him thankfully we didn't. Since that time my anxiety has gotten a lot worse these past 2 years have b... View more

I suffer from severe health anxiety and have for the past 6 years which all started after my son was seriously iill and we came very close to losing him thankfully we didn't. Since that time my anxiety has gotten a lot worse these past 2 years have been so bad with my physical symptoms worsening to the point I'm googling my symptoms all the time constantly thinking I have some disease that relates to the symptoms I have at the time. I guess I just don't believe that even though my anxiety is so severe it can cause these weird sensations and symptoms in my body which with having health anxiety the symptoms just escalate my anxiety and I can't function at all. I'm constantly waking up anxious hoping I won't have a the symptom that day then when I do it makes me so upset and frustrated I think I must have a serious disease for it to still be there. Can anyone else relate to this and has the horrible scary physical symptoms that go along with anxiety what did you do to help I don't want to be like this anymore the Physical symptoms are horrible.

babs04 I can’t sleep
  • replies: 6

I really struggle to sleep because I get really paranoid and anxious. I have a major fear of sickness so as soon as I get anxious and feel sick I spiral into a hole of feeling awful. I’ve gotten up in the night multiple times to go into my mums room ... View more

I really struggle to sleep because I get really paranoid and anxious. I have a major fear of sickness so as soon as I get anxious and feel sick I spiral into a hole of feeling awful. I’ve gotten up in the night multiple times to go into my mums room and ask to have a shower to try and calm me down. It’s really hard for me, I really want to be put on medication to help me because i’ve been to a psychologist and the doctors and nothings working

poppy2 seeking too much reassurance??
  • replies: 1

I have this friend who has really helped me throughout my anxiety, he came into my life a couple of months ago when it started to get really bad. And even tho he has helped me with it, I was always scared of becoming reliant on telling him all my wor... View more

I have this friend who has really helped me throughout my anxiety, he came into my life a couple of months ago when it started to get really bad. And even tho he has helped me with it, I was always scared of becoming reliant on telling him all my worries etc. Well I told him this after A LOT of overthinking and we had a really good open chat like we always do. Came to the conclusion that I'm constantly seeking reassurance from him, and needing him to validate my feelings. And he said to me that maybe we should talk a bit less about this sort of stuff which I 100% agree cause I don't want him to feel like my therapist, but we agreed that we shouldn't talk about it as much but he's still going to 100% support me and will listen to me if I ever need it. And I've had a really good couple of last few days, and I've told him they've been good cause we talk pretty much everyday and he always asks how my day has been. But today had a not so good day and was crying and just sad etc, and I made myself anxious over if I reach out to him because thats what he said to but I don't want to seek reassurance from him because I haven't for a couple of days and I'm proud of me being able to validate myself, and if I talk to him about it I don't want to spiral back into feeling like I'm dependant on him for that. He's a really great friend and the last thing I want to do is stop talking to him or scare him off or make him hate me. And even if I come to him about this I'll be seeking reassurance and thats too much to ask of him. Feeling confused and anxious :///

Fearful14 Anxiety - when is avoiding a situation a valid response - am i just giving up
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone - i am a consultant and have experienced increasing anxiety when it comes to working with groups or teams. This is only part of my job. When i find that i may “win” the work i have bid for, that involves groups or teams, i start to then w... View more

Hi everyone - i am a consultant and have experienced increasing anxiety when it comes to working with groups or teams. This is only part of my job. When i find that i may “win” the work i have bid for, that involves groups or teams, i start to then wake every morning with sense of dread, sick in my stomach and the feeling of looming fear is with me all day. I start to try to flee (eg how do i get out of this work) or erratically seek other solutions (eg someone to do the work with me/co-present) but still the feelings remain. when I am doing the work, i am largely able to manage the stress/anxiety but the anticipatory aspect (which can go for weeks/months) is extremely difficult to manage and is impacting me a lot. So my question becomes, when is it “giving up” and the anxiety “winning”? Is it the right/best thing to work through the anxiety and increase our ability to manage it or are there times when we just accept it and avoid, wherever possible, the situations that trigger it? I am pressuring myself to learn through this, to be strong and successful when emotionally, all I want to do is run away and avoid ever doing this work (even though i value it and love the impact it can have for my clients). I would love to hear your insights and experiences. Thank you

Blueowl I never thought I had anxiety
  • replies: 2

But recently I've been able to count times where I was anxious about something for a day but then that feeling disappeared when I realised I was being irrational. It still pops up from time to time, where I excessively worry about something- it's hap... View more

But recently I've been able to count times where I was anxious about something for a day but then that feeling disappeared when I realised I was being irrational. It still pops up from time to time, where I excessively worry about something- it's happened three times this week alone. I got triggered today when I squeezed between a lounge couch and mattress to get to the other side and I started to worry about internal bleeding because it was a really tight squeeze across my stomach. It's been 7 hours, and now that I'm in bed my anxiety is getting worse because my stomach feels weird and hurts when I press on it- but I was full on dinner and dessert. I need reassurance that I'm just over thinking, and that there are other people like me.

Purple_Horse Job loss and anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hello, I’m very new to this community and this is my first time posting on the forums. I guess I just need to get a weight off my chest as I haven’t got many people to talk to. I‘m 29 and have been suffering from anxiety on and off pretty much since ... View more

Hello, I’m very new to this community and this is my first time posting on the forums. I guess I just need to get a weight off my chest as I haven’t got many people to talk to. I‘m 29 and have been suffering from anxiety on and off pretty much since I was a teenager. I have never sort professional help as my anxiety has stopped me from reaching out, although I came very close last year. My own mental health issues have often been eclipsed by that of family members who have actual diagnosed illnesses and so mine appear lesser. I often feel I take on their issues while mine fall by the wayside. Today I was made redundant from my workplace due to COVID-19, something I could sense coming, although it still came as a shock. For the last couple of years I have absolutely hated working there, however my fear of change and anxiety to job search stopped me from moving on. I have developed severe social anxiety over these last couple of years due to the work environment, a place that favors extroversion and confidence to actual dedicated and hard working employees. I often felt ostracized and lonely due to the social cliques that formed around me. Although I can see that this is somewhat of a blessing in disguise, I am now faced with the prospect of looking for work during this time of minimal job openings. As well as the prospect of having to navigate job interviews with my social anxiety. My anxiety levels are tittering on the very edge and I feel extremely lost and alone. I’m so hurt that I’m not valued as an employee or colleague and can’t help but feeling worthless and alone. It feels as if all the niggling suspicions in my mind have been actualized. Just looking for some advice or tips on how to move forward from this in a positive light? Thank you, PH

Unsureonlife quit job due to mental health - centrelink
  • replies: 3

hi, I'm new. I'm sure this has been asked before but can I quit my job due to mental health and be able to receive payments straight away (after claim processing for jobseeker)? I have the centrelink medical certificate. Or will I need to wait due to... View more

hi, I'm new. I'm sure this has been asked before but can I quit my job due to mental health and be able to receive payments straight away (after claim processing for jobseeker)? I have the centrelink medical certificate. Or will I need to wait due to "voluntarily ceasing my job" (even though mental health is not voluntary)? Thanks in advance.

caitlin_rose Worried about my future
  • replies: 11

Hi. This is my first time posting online about anything mental health related, so this is a bit terrifying. In October this year I will be turning 18. I've recently applied to university, got my learners license, and have been applying to jobs to try... View more

Hi. This is my first time posting online about anything mental health related, so this is a bit terrifying. In October this year I will be turning 18. I've recently applied to university, got my learners license, and have been applying to jobs to try and get my life moving. I've had severe social anxiety for as long as I can remember, and becoming an adult is somewhat scary. I have been feeling a deep urge to become independent, so while it is scary is is also exciting. One thing I'm worried about is the fact that I have no friends. I do home school after having severe anxiety attacks when I was attending school. My anxiety has stopped me from making friends, and the fact that I will be spending my 18th alone physically pains me. I've always wanted a group of friends, but I feel like my social anxiety has held me back in so many ways. I got my leaners license later than everyone else in my town (everyone got theirs as soon as they turned 16) and everyone has jobs and a big group of friends. It doesn't help that I moved here in Year 7, and the town I live in is very close-knit. Everyone knows each other, and I am an outsider. I didn't get to grow up with a group of friends due to my family travelling Australia when I was in primary school, and then in high school having to move schools because we had to move closer to my grandparents when my pop got diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Unfortunately he passed away in 2016, and the grief that I felt after he died also contributed to a growing anxiety and fear of the future. Recently I also got diagnosed with anorexia, which is also terrifying because I don't know how it is going to affect my chances at university next year. I'm feeling really lost, alone, and tired. I haven't been able to sleep, and I hate hurting the people I love. My mum is worried sick all the time and I hate the affect I have on her mental health. I wish I could take that pain away from her, she's been through a lot herself and I feel like a burden when I add to her pain. Sorry for the long post...but does anyone have any advice?

Cmgal Sleep anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi I am writing this as I wake in a panic most days. lots of things have been going on for me lately. Lost job, home with 2 young children and struggling to cope, relationship issues (don’t love my myself yet alone my partner). Every day I exhaust my... View more

Hi I am writing this as I wake in a panic most days. lots of things have been going on for me lately. Lost job, home with 2 young children and struggling to cope, relationship issues (don’t love my myself yet alone my partner). Every day I exhaust myself trying to run from the anxiety in any way.. walking a lot and just trying to keep busy, have thought about ending it all however would never do that to my family. Life hurts right now .