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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Cate194 Anxiety and work
  • replies: 1

Hi all i need some advice. I have been struggling with severe anxiety and depression for about 10 years currently 25 i have just started taking medication for my anxiety and at the moment i am currently job hunting. i have worked retail before and wa... View more

Hi all i need some advice. I have been struggling with severe anxiety and depression for about 10 years currently 25 i have just started taking medication for my anxiety and at the moment i am currently job hunting. i have worked retail before and was good at it i am able to put up a front and do my job well so i want to work in retail (currently studying cert 4 retail management) i still get anxious working in retail but can overcome it. My current issue is i am unemployed and not able to even get an interview with a retail store atm even with 2 years retail experience but a family member's friend was looking for someone to work in their conveyancing office in the city i am unclear on the exact job but to my understanding it is office duties, i am not good at talking over the phone at all i had to leave a call centre job because of this but i feel pressured because it is a family members friend offering the job. I would much rather stick to retail and places that i am able to walk to. this place is in the city and would require me to take a bus which i struggle with. any tips or advice people have would be helpful, i know i am being too picky for someone who is unemployed but i am very prone to panic attacks and my anxiety and depression can be debilitating and i dont want to go for this job get it and than leave it immediately and waste everyone's time and upset this family member as it is a close friend of theirs. thank you in advance for any advice/tips you are able to give me.

kaityo1 exacerbated anxiety
  • replies: 2

To cut a long story short.. I have previously suffered from anxiety that contributed to a lack of self worth and confidence. At this time last year I considered myself to be at a 'high point' where I felt I was in a good place with my overall mental ... View more

To cut a long story short.. I have previously suffered from anxiety that contributed to a lack of self worth and confidence. At this time last year I considered myself to be at a 'high point' where I felt I was in a good place with my overall mental health. I was particularly happy and motivated as I had just been accepted into university (which was a huge step and deal for me). Although I had the usual stresses of studying I felt as though I was coping well. At the end of last year I bought a house with my partner which I was happy about because I had achieved something great and felt it was a much needed step. Since moving in and dealing with change, my mental health has declined greatly and the symptoms of anxiety have come back worse than before. I suddenly felt a sense of unexplained loneliness, purposelessness, frequent crying and no matter how hard I try I just can't feel any enjoyment or motivation. This has been bothering me for the past 3 months and hasn't improved at all.. and I just want it to get better. I'm lucky I have a patient partner who I can discuss this with but it makes me feel more alone because he can't relate to my situation.

H-c Breakdowns
  • replies: 2

Hey everyone, right now I’m having all these breakdowns occasionally and I don’t know what to do. I get easily irritated at everyone and its slowly getting to me.I cant focus and I’m starting to find the things that i could do easily starting to get ... View more

Hey everyone, right now I’m having all these breakdowns occasionally and I don’t know what to do. I get easily irritated at everyone and its slowly getting to me.I cant focus and I’m starting to find the things that i could do easily starting to get harder and harder for no reason. My heartbeat is at 100 or more every time i measure it and i did go to the doctor to get that checked out they did not say anything about anxiety and they said its fine. But why do i have trouble breathing sometimes and get all shaky as well? Whenever a teacher picks on me to answer in front of the class it feels as if either all the blood in my face drained out or all the blood is rushing to my face. I also worry too much and get paranoid easily. I took beyond blue’s checklist for anxiety and depression and the results shows that its in the high range and I honestly don’t know what to do. I’m starting to get palpitations more often and honestly, I’m scared and I have no idea what to do.

NonXen Anxiety causing me to feel worthless
  • replies: 4

Hello, nice to meet all of you. I'm only 18 (turning 19 in a couple of weeks) and I've been coping with anxiety for years. My anxiety is so horrible that I physically can't get myself to leave the house without someone inviting me to go outside (eg. ... View more

Hello, nice to meet all of you. I'm only 18 (turning 19 in a couple of weeks) and I've been coping with anxiety for years. My anxiety is so horrible that I physically can't get myself to leave the house without someone inviting me to go outside (eg. parents or friends). Even then, I still tend to refuse to go outside. I am also unemployed, I had a job before but I was just working for my family's business. I don't wish to go back to working with my family because they emotionally and verbally abuse me. I still live with my mum but she's out for most days so I don't see her often. I've seen a professional in the past but going to one is very uncomfortable for me and I tend to have small panic attacks when I'm around them. I feel very useless, and the feeling is just getting worse. This feeling makes it hard for me to do anything for myself, the only thing so far I've been doing is playing games online and neglecting to take care of myself. I don't know what to do. I can't get a job because I just can't deal with the stress, the anxiety. I don't want to get help from my parents or a professional because my parents abuse me and the professional makes me uncomfortable. I don't want to burden my friend with even more of my baggage as she's going through things herself. I can't deal with this anymore. I don't know what to do that'll make me feel better about my life.

cakeboss Anxiety Panic Disorder over finances
  • replies: 1

Hi i have recently had what i would call extemely bad luck with things breaking down.I hold a mortgage and on top of that then my car breaks down not once but twice all repaired.Get over that then i accidently back into a car in a car park .No damage... View more

Hi i have recently had what i would call extemely bad luck with things breaking down.I hold a mortgage and on top of that then my car breaks down not once but twice all repaired.Get over that then i accidently back into a car in a car park .No damage to my car but a little damage to the other car .I had to pay excess thats organised few weeks go by then my washing machine broke down which i now have another .I am now having panic attacks that somthing else will break down or will this bad luck stop .Does anyone else have Anxiety panic disorder im under a gp counciler and psychrtrist .I was under them for anxiety panic disorder but lately these issues above have set it off .Great to hear if im not the only one worrying over somthing breaking down

viennablue I'm a compulsive liar. I need help before I turn into my mother.
  • replies: 1

I'm a compulsive liar and i need to change. I've managed to lose the trust of everyone around me; my mum, sisters, best friend and i'm only 18. i have no one an it's all my fault. I have no one to blame but me. I lie consistently, about things that i... View more

I'm a compulsive liar and i need to change. I've managed to lose the trust of everyone around me; my mum, sisters, best friend and i'm only 18. i have no one an it's all my fault. I have no one to blame but me. I lie consistently, about things that i don't need to lie about and despite knowing telling the truth would make me feel better I still lie. I'm so confused by my own actions and i hating hurting those around me. i honestly don't know what to do. I've recently lost my job due to moving houses and i just feel like crawling into a hole and never coming out. I know i cant do that. i want to change. i want to be a good person, be kind and honest. i just don't know what to do or where to start. i know my mother is a compulsive liar its the reason she and my dad divorced. i really don't want to be my mum. i love her just not that part of her. i see so much of her in me and i hate it. i want to be honest and good.

Ash_Atlantic Job Anxiety & Interviews
  • replies: 2

I have had anxiety my whole life but it’s gotten worse as an adult. I’ve always been very shy and quiet so it’s very hard for me to meet new people and speak up. I finished school 10 years ago and have worked at McDonald’s ever since. I really want t... View more

I have had anxiety my whole life but it’s gotten worse as an adult. I’ve always been very shy and quiet so it’s very hard for me to meet new people and speak up. I finished school 10 years ago and have worked at McDonald’s ever since. I really want to get a better job but I’m so incredibly terrified of even just going to an interview that whenever I apply for a job I just end up not doing the interview. Recently, I had the chance to do an online video interview where the questions would come up on the screen and then it filmed my answers. Within 20 seconds of the first question I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t speak or think and I just panicked. I don’t want to be so terrified anymore, no one will hire me if I can’t even speak during an interview. I don’t know who to talk to. Any suggestions would be helpful?

Nyny94 Anxiety turning into Panic Disorder
  • replies: 3

I don't know if anyone else out there is in the same mental space as me ? It's putting a strain on my relationship and my sanity. Lately I've developed a crippling anxiety in relation to my health and it's suddenly turned into a anxiety around having... View more

I don't know if anyone else out there is in the same mental space as me ? It's putting a strain on my relationship and my sanity. Lately I've developed a crippling anxiety in relation to my health and it's suddenly turned into a anxiety around having to follow instructions to the dot or thinking I'm going to cause sickness to me or my partner. Like lately ... I've been extra hard on myself and feeling overly responsible , like I recently had some Maggi Fusa Noodles and there was no instructions on the cup so i added hot water the ingredients and proceeded to eat them like normal noodles , then I read the site and it says you have to drain the water , let it sit for 3 mins then add ingredients and now I'm having panic attacks convinced it's all my fault I should have read the website and that now I'll get sick something. I can't help my thoughts and it's getting worse 🥺 This is really interupting my life because I've stopped cooking all together and just when I got my confidence back to make something as easy as that this happens ! I feel so stupid FUSIAN Mi Goreng Soy & Mild Spice Noodle Cup to be precise , and other cup noodles I had made in the fusion range said nothing about draining them . So now I can't sleep and I'm having panic attacks and freaking out while feeling responsible and like I'm stupid

Earth_Mama Anxiety over animal welfare
  • replies: 2

Hi. I'm only new to this, but I wanted to ask if anyone else gets anxious or emotional over animals that don't get cared for properly? I have neighbours that have a caged Bird on their front porch that they never pay any attention to. It's cage has n... View more

Hi. I'm only new to this, but I wanted to ask if anyone else gets anxious or emotional over animals that don't get cared for properly? I have neighbours that have a caged Bird on their front porch that they never pay any attention to. It's cage has never been cleaned out, it has no cover for if the weather turns bad or during the cold. I know they fed it but I couldn't say how often. I have (gently) talked to them before and offered help but she just sort of shrugs it off with "oh I just don't think about it". And it keeps me up at night worrying about the poor little bugger and how bored he must be and if he's sleeping ok during the night etc etc. It probably sounds silly, but I just wish I could snatch him away and keep him myself. Where I know he'd get the love and attention he deserves. Does anyone else get like this? And if so, how do you cope?

Gellical_Cat High anxiety over new job, not feeling centred
  • replies: 10

Hi all, Recently, I started a role in a company of about 20 people and my emotions are all over the place, mainly because I’m still learning the role at a snail’s pace and I’m super worried about what my colleagues think about me. They have jested a ... View more

Hi all, Recently, I started a role in a company of about 20 people and my emotions are all over the place, mainly because I’m still learning the role at a snail’s pace and I’m super worried about what my colleagues think about me. They have jested a little and made a few jibes from the whispers I hear, and this normally would not bug me, but I’m feeling quite vulnerable at the moment as I’ve lost my centredness. The flux has led to wild inflections in my speech and moods, which hasn’t helped the situation. Is there any way to regain my wits about me?