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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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Niki9 Nervousness
  • replies: 5

Hi, I'm new to this, but I thought I'd come on this platform to see if anyone has felt like this or if anyone has tips to share with me. Recently, a family friend from overseas came to stay with us before she could get a plane back to her country. We... View more

Hi, I'm new to this, but I thought I'd come on this platform to see if anyone has felt like this or if anyone has tips to share with me. Recently, a family friend from overseas came to stay with us before she could get a plane back to her country. We always have dinner as a family at the table, and I have always enjoyed this time of day where we can chat together. Two weeks ago, I wanted to read out a post from the internet on my phone regarding the coronvirus, at the dinner table, so I read it out to my family and ofcourse to the guest we had. I felt perfectly fine reading the paragraph out loud and wanted them to hear what I was reading. However, just as I finished reading the post, they all began to say that a red rash had appeared on my chest as I was reading. I went to check in the mirror and saw the rash clearly, but it started to fade away soon after I had read the paragraph. Everyone was confused, including me, about how this rash came about, as I wasn't nervous or anything - It was my family for godsake, why would I be nervous?? A week or so later, I found myself in a similar situation where I had to read out an email from my work to my family at the dinner table. And the rash appeared yet again! They pointed it out halfway through me reading, and this made my heart start racing, and I could feel my skin getting hotter. Ever since then, it's like I've developed an anxiety every night at the dinner table, and I don't want to speak for too long as I will start to get hot and feel 'nervous' with everyone's eyes on me. Every time I get asked a question about myself or if one of my family members directs the conversation to me, my heart starts racing and I almost cut them off to avoid speaking, or if I do have to respond, this horrible feeling overcomes me again, and it's like I can feel their eyes watching me get nervous. It was never like this, and I've always felt comfortable around my family and I consider myself a confident person, so this feeling is terrible and it feels like it's taking over my life! It's not just at the dinner table at this point - it's almost any time they confront me and I have to speak in depth about myself. I don't know if it's because this girl we had staying over made me nervous, but to me that's such a stupid thing, as she's a nice girl and I don't have a problem with her. Has anyone felt this? I desperately need some tips! Thank you

Teah12 Seasonal Anxiety & Anxiety while Eating???
  • replies: 1

I was just wondering if anyone else suffers from seasonal anxiety? I know seasonal depression is a thing but I am not sure about anxiety. Also, I seem to get panic attacks while I'm eating, I have no idea why. I've never had any anxiety surrounding b... View more

I was just wondering if anyone else suffers from seasonal anxiety? I know seasonal depression is a thing but I am not sure about anxiety. Also, I seem to get panic attacks while I'm eating, I have no idea why. I've never had any anxiety surrounding body image etc. Thanks!

Sky73 Night time anxiety
  • replies: 5

I'm waking up in the night with anxiety . Heart racing, unable to go back to sleep properly. Residue headache day and exhausted. How can I control this when my subconcious is ultimately controlling this ? Thankyou

I'm waking up in the night with anxiety . Heart racing, unable to go back to sleep properly. Residue headache day and exhausted. How can I control this when my subconcious is ultimately controlling this ? Thankyou

Tillyp123 Coping with loneliness
  • replies: 12

Hi, I am finding it very difficult to cope with the current covid situation and feel more isolated than I should. I live alone & all of my family live overseas. I have friends however due to the self isolation rules am not seeing them. I have not had... View more

Hi, I am finding it very difficult to cope with the current covid situation and feel more isolated than I should. I live alone & all of my family live overseas. I have friends however due to the self isolation rules am not seeing them. I have not had any other interaction for over 2 weeks now and am finding it hard to find the motivation to get out of bed each day to follow the same routine and be on my own again. i am looking for some help with how to manage this loneliness when I usually am a very social and busy person

anxiousdude What has worked successfully?
  • replies: 7

Hi I'm new to posting in a forum about anxiety, didn't even know it was a thing tbh, but it's great to have this available. I was wondering what people have found to be successful in managing their anxiety? Whether it's therapy or a book? Are there a... View more

Hi I'm new to posting in a forum about anxiety, didn't even know it was a thing tbh, but it's great to have this available. I was wondering what people have found to be successful in managing their anxiety? Whether it's therapy or a book? Are there any online programmes that people are part of? Would just like a push in the right direction. Thanks

Lanibanani New here ;)
  • replies: 2

Hi I have been reading through some posts and it helps to know that I’m not alone. I consider myself a pretty chilled out sort of person but 3 months ago I started with major breathing issues where I and ended up twice in the ER. I felt like I couldn... View more

Hi I have been reading through some posts and it helps to know that I’m not alone. I consider myself a pretty chilled out sort of person but 3 months ago I started with major breathing issues where I and ended up twice in the ER. I felt like I couldn’t get a full breath in. This went on for about a week with the GP office doing all sorts of tests checking my heart, iron levels, I did a lung scan and all the tests and it came back fine except my heart was racing which they put down to panic attack/anxiety. I honestly thought I had an asthma attack or something. The dr prescribed me medication which I took, and that gave me relief where I haven’t needed to take it very much at all. Thinking back to where it started and have no idea what the trigger was. Fast forward to now and it’s happening again. I’m trying all sorts of breathing exercises and nothing seems to work. I try and leave the pill until the last resort, and so tonight after 2 days of not getting full breaths in, I took it and felt quite relaxed. But now 4am i feel like it’s starting. I’m just confused why it’s starting now in my life where I feel things aren’t too bad, I’m 32 and I’ve had other stuff happen in the past and never responded this way. I don’t know the trigger. I know it’s weird times at the moment, maybe it’s that. Can it just come out of the blue? Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

DreamAwake Wondering if anyone else has had this happen?
  • replies: 3

Hi, Not sure this is the right place to post this but its the closest fit. I've been struggling with what I call "dream things"- They can happen at any time during the day or at night but are more common at night. During these "dream things," I get d... View more

Hi, Not sure this is the right place to post this but its the closest fit. I've been struggling with what I call "dream things"- They can happen at any time during the day or at night but are more common at night. During these "dream things," I get dizzy, The room starts spinning, Everything feels misshapen and its almost as if my vision has a dream-like blur to it, Everything feels like its a dream. These normally happen after a stressful day and started in 2016 after someone close to me was hospitalized, recently they have been getting worse and last longer. Has anyone else experienced this?

Casper121 My anxiety symptoms
  • replies: 2

Hi I'm Casper for 7 months I've had "anxiety" I've been having symptoms such as heart palpitations " getting skinny even tho I'm not losing weight" I've had dry eyes for 5 months also I've been having random bruises on my body "my body is aching all ... View more

Hi I'm Casper for 7 months I've had "anxiety" I've been having symptoms such as heart palpitations " getting skinny even tho I'm not losing weight" I've had dry eyes for 5 months also I've been having random bruises on my body "my body is aching all the time Also it feels like the back of my head is either pushed in or pushed out, I keep feeling my pulse,and my tummy feels empty even tho I've eaten, someone please tell me are these symptoms common also please tell me what symptoms you have had, cheers Casper

Midnightsailor Are there any Business owners out there experiencing work induced anxiety
  • replies: 10

I would like to know if there are any other business owners out there who are finding it tough and suffering daily with the anxiety of the stress, responsibility and unknowns of being the boss. Its worn me down and my anxiety has grown to the point o... View more

I would like to know if there are any other business owners out there who are finding it tough and suffering daily with the anxiety of the stress, responsibility and unknowns of being the boss. Its worn me down and my anxiety has grown to the point of debilitation. I don’t enjoy going in to work in the morning. Whilst I don’t wish anyone to be in my position it would be comforting to hear from anyone else in the same situation and to know I’m not alone. Any coping strategies would be welcome from anyone who reads this as well.

Mina19 Advice physical symptoms
  • replies: 2

Hi, I haven't posted in quite a long time.. I guess I must have been coping ok for a while. Lately with the whole virus thing and having to stay home and all I've been feeling beyond stressed. I know I'm not the only one but I try to do things to get... View more

Hi, I haven't posted in quite a long time.. I guess I must have been coping ok for a while. Lately with the whole virus thing and having to stay home and all I've been feeling beyond stressed. I know I'm not the only one but I try to do things to get my mind off things like watch a movie, study online or play with pets outside but I still feel messed up. I've been having crazy nightmares, my digestive system has gone haywire, headaches, crying, muscle pain, and nausea. Then on top of that I feel I need to google my symptoms and well that really tops things off. Any suggestions of how I can make all this stop. Sorry for the rant but I really needed to get this off my chest.