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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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emgrass Relationship anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I have severe depression, BPD and anxiety. I have been seeing a guy for a while now, and I have realised I have anxious attachment disorder, largely due to childhood trauma. Whenever he doesn't/hasn't messaged me for a day or more, I get se... View more

Hi there, I have severe depression, BPD and anxiety. I have been seeing a guy for a while now, and I have realised I have anxious attachment disorder, largely due to childhood trauma. Whenever he doesn't/hasn't messaged me for a day or more, I get severely triggered to the point I feel debilitated and all I can do is sleep. When he goes out with his friends, I'm constantly panicked/worried that he is going to find someone more attractive than me and that I'm going to lose him. I feel like I have prioritised him over everything in my life, even above my own needs. Does anyone have any advice?

ChloeR Social Anxiety - Please help i'm losing friends.
  • replies: 3

i'm needing help on ways to deal with social anxiety asap, i've always had anxiety, but since the start of this year, i've noticed its starting to get a tight grip of me. i get so anxious when even my closest friend who i've known for years & who i l... View more

i'm needing help on ways to deal with social anxiety asap, i've always had anxiety, but since the start of this year, i've noticed its starting to get a tight grip of me. i get so anxious when even my closest friend who i've known for years & who i live with asks me to go to the shops with her because im scared or that im going to be to awkward. i've also noticed none of my last remaining friends ask me to hang out anymore. but deep down i know i'm the one to blame for as i usually pull out last minute or say im "too busy" when really im at home in my bed avoiding conversation. ive also notice im starting to get my words jumbled up or my sentences are slurred. im trying so hard to push myself to be more social with friends but i find it so damn hard and i can slowly see the friendships/relationships i have with people disintegrate in front of me. please help .

Virgo6 Anxiety and friendships
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone. I live with my best friend and she doesn’t understand my anxiety. I have explained it to her many times. Anytime I get into a panic and try and seek support from her she invalidates me because I have such a good, stable life at the momen... View more

Hi everyone. I live with my best friend and she doesn’t understand my anxiety. I have explained it to her many times. Anytime I get into a panic and try and seek support from her she invalidates me because I have such a good, stable life at the moment. Which I know that, but anxiety doesn’t discriminate haha. In a recent panic attack when I went to seek her support she told me I was being dumb and has now compared it to a toddler throwing a tantrum over not getting a lollipop. I love her to bits but don’t know how to deal with this as it is upsetting me. Any help as to whether I’m being ridiculous for being upset or any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you x

Mhe 10 months postpartum with Overwhelming thoughts
  • replies: 3

I am overly thinking of everything. A lot of housechores, pressure, looking after my son and I am about to go back to work, . I dont know how to stop thinking that I am becoming emotional, angry,

I am overly thinking of everything. A lot of housechores, pressure, looking after my son and I am about to go back to work, . I dont know how to stop thinking that I am becoming emotional, angry,

Nini9900 Navigating anxiety in a relationship
  • replies: 3

Ive been with my partner for 6.5 years. I have been an anxious person my whole life, but it was 2 years ago that I had my first panic attack, which spiralled into a period of really bad anxiety. When I first was going through this, my partner pretty ... View more

Ive been with my partner for 6.5 years. I have been an anxious person my whole life, but it was 2 years ago that I had my first panic attack, which spiralled into a period of really bad anxiety. When I first was going through this, my partner pretty much rolled his eyes and was like get over it - he never had experienced it and therefore didn’t understand it. He also had his own serious health issues to focus on (he has Crohn’s disease). Through his health journey with his Crohn he too felt anxiety and could finally see it from my perspective. Fast forward two years and he is in a much better and spot and so am I. I haven’t had a panic attack for about two years and have been able to successfully manage my daily anxiety. However yesterday I had a moment which put me on the verge of a panic attack (I managed to calm myself down). Whilst my partner was actually good in that moment, later that night he was acting whack and I found out he was on edge because I was anxious. We then moved on as I was feeling better today. I have been anxious this past week and yesterday it just came out. Whilst I was feeling better today I was a bit preoccupied and more anxious than usual and was focusing on health stuff today. My partner got annoyed and then I confronted him and asked what was up - he told me that I just need to get over it, that I’m choosing to be anxious and choosing to fixate on things which make me anxious. I replied and said I’ve actually been great lately and haven’t had an episode like that in a long time and he replied with you always say it never happens, or it’s only this once, but is that actually true...It’s like you’re back to where you were two years ago! (He said this in a tone of annoyance). He also said that I make my life harder than what it should be by being so anxious. He then proceeded to call me miserable after I got upset from what he said to me. This really hurt me, because he always Says that I want you to feel comfortable with talking to me about being anxious, anxiety etc and then I do and he is responding with this. I understand it can be frustrating, but also I don’t think those words or that attitude is particularly helpful. I realise that the thinking isn’t logical, I’m aware of when I start to get anxious - I’ve been dealing with it long enough!! I need some help / advice on how to navigate this. I feel like my anxiety is annoying him and I’m becoming a burden.

hello1234 Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Has anyone got any ways that I can try to lower or get over my anxiety in relation to my job, I just find it so nerve wracking and everyday I’m stressing

Has anyone got any ways that I can try to lower or get over my anxiety in relation to my job, I just find it so nerve wracking and everyday I’m stressing

bunny99 Anxiety in the morning
  • replies: 2

I have had anxiety for years now, since i was a kid, i'm now nearly 21 and have started having panic attacks almost every morning when i wake up. I have been having panic attacks for years but never have they been so frequent.

I have had anxiety for years now, since i was a kid, i'm now nearly 21 and have started having panic attacks almost every morning when i wake up. I have been having panic attacks for years but never have they been so frequent.

Aidan33 Helping somone close to you with anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi everybody, I'm looking for help in a supporting role, my girlfriend has anxiety and depression really bad and I feel like I don't know how I can help. If some of you would be able to share or give advice to me about how people helped/helping you, ... View more

Hi everybody, I'm looking for help in a supporting role, my girlfriend has anxiety and depression really bad and I feel like I don't know how I can help. If some of you would be able to share or give advice to me about how people helped/helping you, that would be amazing. Thanks

brightpanic ocd thoughts getting stuck in head
  • replies: 6

hi !!! I have OCD, anxiety, depressive tendencies, and I'm currently going through the process of inquiring about an Asperger's diagnosis (long story). recently my girlfriend broke up with me (she said that it was because she was struggling to handle... View more

hi !!! I have OCD, anxiety, depressive tendencies, and I'm currently going through the process of inquiring about an Asperger's diagnosis (long story). recently my girlfriend broke up with me (she said that it was because she was struggling to handle a relationship and mental health issues and school), but she said that it was a mistake and she still loves me. I miss her, a lot, and I know that I'm only 18 so realistically it probably isn't what my mum deems as actual love, but I feel as if I love her and I want to give this another chance. my mum, my dad and my best friend all think that the decision is a horribly bad one to make, and my parents are berating me for it and saying that I never listen to people's advice and that getting back together with her is setting myself up for failing my hsc (i want to achieve high marks and my parents have high expectations, and they dont want the past years efforts to end in a bad mark and a breakdown). my OCD has become a problem with this tho, because I'm needing constant reassurance lately that my best friend and my parents still love me, and that they don't hate me. its become an obsession for me, and anytime my best friend sighs or doesn't reply back to my text messages, the thought that she hates me and doesn't want to talk to me and finds me annoying just repeats over and over and over and over again in my head, and I feel as if i can't escape the thought and the anxiety that it induces. does anyone have any tips on how to deal with obsessions and obtrusive thoughts in regards to relationships?

LimeGreenTea Worries make me feel silly
  • replies: 2

Hi! Recently I've been dealing with some pretty severe anxiety, which has led me to begin worrying about some things. However the things I've worried about are, well... Odd. I don't want to go into specifics because (as said by the title) I feel real... View more

Hi! Recently I've been dealing with some pretty severe anxiety, which has led me to begin worrying about some things. However the things I've worried about are, well... Odd. I don't want to go into specifics because (as said by the title) I feel really silly whenever I have to explain them to someone (I try to avoid explaining unless it's someone like my psychiatrist). This combined with worrying about only a couple of things has led me to believe that maybe I don't even have something like generalized anxiety disorder, that maybe I'm impossible to treat as I don't actually have a problem. I suppose I wrote this as I've been feeling pretty hopeless recently and I wonder if there was anyone else who maybe has dealt with something similar.