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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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jimsto hello - new to forum - need advise
  • replies: 1

I am male older then 40 years I have started to be aware that I have been depressed almost all my adult life as I have always been bullied since childhood and I have lived a life in fear. I have had jaw pain for more then 10 years now but recently I ... View more

I am male older then 40 years I have started to be aware that I have been depressed almost all my adult life as I have always been bullied since childhood and I have lived a life in fear. I have had jaw pain for more then 10 years now but recently I realised that I am straining my face muscles.The pain has increased a lot. any advise on how to relive the pain

JacintaMarie Second post anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi again This is my second post, my anxiety and negative thoughts are getting to me again and I'm so tired of having them, At work, I feel as though I annoy everyone, I constantly say the wrong thing! Writing this down makes me feel better and my hea... View more

Hi again This is my second post, my anxiety and negative thoughts are getting to me again and I'm so tired of having them, At work, I feel as though I annoy everyone, I constantly say the wrong thing! Writing this down makes me feel better and my head aches a little, thank you to all the threads, for showing that I'm not the only one. I'm not seeing a psychologist, I feel pathetic and I should be feeling grateful for what I have. I haven't had anything bad happen to me, I'm afraid people will think I'm making if up. Thank you for reading, this has made me feel better.

JacintaMarie Intrusive thoughts
  • replies: 2

Hi, I can't sleep and my brain is thinking negative thoughts again, this time it's all the stupid things I've done at work, for example even though I know what I can lift and what I can't, I keep on lifting stuff or doing things a different way (thin... View more

Hi, I can't sleep and my brain is thinking negative thoughts again, this time it's all the stupid things I've done at work, for example even though I know what I can lift and what I can't, I keep on lifting stuff or doing things a different way (things that don't have a procedure, of course) and people "go off" at me for lifting (due to osh) Then I get annoyed at myself for doing it, why, why! I try to say something positive about it but they just look at me as if I have two heads. This is what my brain is saying. No one at work seems to make any mistakes and even when I interpret something my brain seems to not get it and gets it wrong. I feel as if my common sense has gone and I can't do anything right and they think I'm stupid. And I'm being too self asorbed and this is wasting my life by worrying about it and I'm not enjoying my life or being grateful for what I have, And there are terrible things happening in the world and I'm still worrying about trivial things. Though it's 4:14am and the thoughts always come around this time. Thank you for allowing me to rant. It is frustrating, I want this to go, and when I am having an anxiety attack, I have to go through it, I can't seem to calm myself down, once I exhaust myself than I feel better and it finally leaves. Thank you

TTorna Fear of Dying - Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I have general anxiety about a lot of things but it is manageable usually. I have relationship/social anxiety which has induced minor anxiety attacks like the occasional vomit. However, I had an anxiety attack two days ago which was the ... View more

Hi everyone, I have general anxiety about a lot of things but it is manageable usually. I have relationship/social anxiety which has induced minor anxiety attacks like the occasional vomit. However, I had an anxiety attack two days ago which was the most intense I've ever felt. It went for 12-18 hours in total. I was vomitting, shaking, unable to think about anything else but my fear, had a tight chest, etc. It is all to do with health. I had a scare a few months back about my eye, and potential cancer. Doctors convinced me I had it and then I spent the next 3 months waiting for the next appointment thinking every day I was dying etc, and then it turned out they made a mistake and I was perfectly healthy. Ever since then any symptom of my body feels extreme and I notice it like it is the only thing happening, and I google the symptoms (ive tried to stop this since) and find all these links to cancer, etc. I become overwhelmed with the idea that I am definitely dying and nobody will really care that I will be gone. It was so overwhelming, I tried meditation of all kinds, breathing exercises, and focusing on the present but nothing could help me escape those dark thoughts. I went to a GP about my back. 1st doctor didn't even examine me just said it is muscle pain. 2nd doctor was great, did a full back examination, was 100 percent sure it was muscle related, but then also got me to do a chest x-ray just to calm my nerves and prescribed me a small amount of valium due to my anxiety attack. He has since rung me up and told me the xray showed nothing and that I am fine, and if the pain continues just see a psysiotherapist. But I still feel that feeling of not being able to be present and escape those thoughts of dying, even though everything that has been checked around these symptoms is checked. I am quite fearful of this anxiety attack happening again, because honestly I don't know how to escape it. I do have valium from the dr, but it didn't seem to do much for me.

Yvaine Self-destructive emotional pain (First/past relationship)
  • replies: 2

Hi fam, So my first relationship ended about 5 years ago when I was 19. Ever since then I've been getting "triggered" by anything that reminds me of my ex. Anything from a car the same colour, the same place we've been to together, any memory (physic... View more

Hi fam, So my first relationship ended about 5 years ago when I was 19. Ever since then I've been getting "triggered" by anything that reminds me of my ex. Anything from a car the same colour, the same place we've been to together, any memory (physical or mental) causes pain in my chest and twists my stomach. I haven't seen him since we broke up five years ago, haven't had any communication at all. I just keep replaying everything in my head and living in the past. Only ever been in one other relationship since and that has also ended (amicably too), but I'm feeling so stressed about feeling worthy for a life partner. Does anyone else have experience with this kind of obsessive, self-destructive thought pattern? How do you try to surrender the same thing (s) ever day? I always feel like I've moved on and then I'll get triggered again.. Thinking out loud..might not make sense

Kairos What should you do if you can’t remove the main source of stress and it might be causing health problems?
  • replies: 3

I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety and don’t want to self diagnose or self proclaim, as a disclaimer. Ive had stomach digestion problems for the past 2 years (I’m 15), and it may be IBS or another health condition, however I strongly believe it’s... View more

I’ve never been diagnosed with anxiety and don’t want to self diagnose or self proclaim, as a disclaimer. Ive had stomach digestion problems for the past 2 years (I’m 15), and it may be IBS or another health condition, however I strongly believe it’s anxiety. It flares up when I’m in stressful situations or I’m anxious. The problem is, I am always anxious for the smallest things. For example, a tennis lesson two weeks in the future or school in the mornings will give me cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, and the sorts. Sometimes I can’t sleep when all I have is just a tutor session the next day. Therefore, I’m assuming my stomach is especially sensitive to stress and anxiety. However, the main source of my stress is my dad. He gets easily angered and I’ve always been scared of him, I can’t meet his eyes and feel uncomfortable in his presence. He gets angered at me when I tell him I need to go to the toilet frequently or my stomach is hurting so I can’t eat. I feel stress when he does this to me, so my stomach gets even worse and it’s a cycle. How do I stop this? As I’m still 15, I don’t think I can remove him from my life easily, and my parents don’t bother to get medical feedback on my stomach, as they think it’s all my bad mentality and I just need to ‘fix’ it by myself. Any help would be appreciated.

Squirrel12 Daughter too anxious to get help
  • replies: 3

My 12 yr old daughter started yr 7 lasting first semester by hiding with front office ladies of her school everyday. She becomes anxious in shopping centres to the point we have to leave instantly and sleeping at night is impossible unless I am with ... View more

My 12 yr old daughter started yr 7 lasting first semester by hiding with front office ladies of her school everyday. She becomes anxious in shopping centres to the point we have to leave instantly and sleeping at night is impossible unless I am with her. She is too worried about getting help as she believes she is normal and no one can help. How do you convince your children to get help?

Jess1910 Struggling with FIFO partner and my anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi there, this is my first post on here but i really needed someone to talk to and see if any one experiences this and how they manage. Ill try and cut the story down, but my partner has always done FIFO, and most the time i dont mind it, i enjoy my ... View more

Hi there, this is my first post on here but i really needed someone to talk to and see if any one experiences this and how they manage. Ill try and cut the story down, but my partner has always done FIFO, and most the time i dont mind it, i enjoy my own time and then having him home, so it works, but the last month but anxiety has been really bad, i normally sleep wonderful, but i havnt been sleeping well, and once i have one bad night of sleep i then am so scared about going to bed again and it happening again, so then the cycle starts. he was home for 3 weeks and the last week i started sleeping amazing again, then he got a new job, 3 weeks away 1 week home. and since has has been gone i have been sleeping bad again im not scared about being alone, its more that im worried i cant sleep so i dont. Then last night he had beers with the boys and i saw a couple of girls there and freaked out Im just not coping with him being away this time, im at work today and my chest has been tight all day, i just want to cry its horrible. i just want him to come home I feel so overwhelmed with emotions and feel like im falling apart this week. i dont know what to do to calm myself and feel more myself and not be so needy towards him, any advice would be amazing. Thankyou xxx

JEF15 Is my anxiety back? Or something worse?
  • replies: 5

Hello I have suffered anxiety & OCD for years and years. I have kept it pretty well controlled with an SSRI. Lately everything with COVID and other stresses I feel my anxiety creeping up. I have had some odd symptoms and wonder if it's from anxiety o... View more

Hello I have suffered anxiety & OCD for years and years. I have kept it pretty well controlled with an SSRI. Lately everything with COVID and other stresses I feel my anxiety creeping up. I have had some odd symptoms and wonder if it's from anxiety or something more sinister. Which of course just causes me more anxiety. I have a very very tight neck, like I have strained neck muscles. I have stabbing in my chest and a burning sensation in my throat. I also have one lymph node slight bigger than than the other. That was scares me the most. My pulse also seems to be bursting out of my neck. Last week I had shocking heart beats in that ear but I had a lovely massage on my neck and that sensation has gone now. I want to see a doctor, but don't want to be a hypercondriac. Which causes me more anxiety. I am so stuck

Xavi First time for everything
  • replies: 5

Hey people I thought id start with an intro post. This is my first time ever doing anything like this im not sure how I feel about it to be honest but hopefully I can contribute to this forum and help myself at the same time . I never thought anythin... View more

Hey people I thought id start with an intro post. This is my first time ever doing anything like this im not sure how I feel about it to be honest but hopefully I can contribute to this forum and help myself at the same time . I never thought anything was wrong with me until the past couple of years. Im a plumber by trade so always tried to have that tough guy mentality .. that "gotta get on with it" attitude. But in the back of my mind ive always had these thoughts of thinking im not good enough for anything and a general uncertainty about my life. I lost my job at start of the year because the company went into liquidation. Ive been walking around for the past few months with a constant feeling of self doubt. Feeling like someone has kicked me in my chest. I find myself constantly wondering and dwelling on things. Like something bad is going to happen but I dont know what. Ive only recently come to terms that I have anxiety an ive had it all along but its just never been dealt with and i know that this is going to be one of the toughest fights of my life. I dont want to rattle on because there is probably people on here are far worse off than me. But I hope we all can find true peace eventually.