Immediate support
Immediate support

Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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.

All discussions

Start a discussion

Frosty66 Nothing seems to help!
  • replies: 13

Hi all I have spent ages trying to figure out which forum to post in; as I seem to fit most. I guess my main issue is anxiety (and depression, ptsd and ocd...). I have been off work for over a year due to an injury and in this time my life has become... View more

Hi all I have spent ages trying to figure out which forum to post in; as I seem to fit most. I guess my main issue is anxiety (and depression, ptsd and ocd...). I have been off work for over a year due to an injury and in this time my life has become a horrid cycle of isolation, loneliness, massive health anxiety issues and basically feeling I have nothing to live for. I have to live though for my child. I am in constant pain from the work injury and scheduled for surgery very soon. I put it off as long as I could due to being a single mother with no help from any quarter; being in a cast for six weeks was simply not tenable. It is now apparent the surgery is required and I will be receiving some assistance through the insurer. My child also has matured a lot since the initial injury (May 2018) and understands he will have to spend some time at his father's whilst I have the surgery; and that he will have to help me a lot more when I get home. Throughout this awful time I then developed mysterious pains in other areas of my body and I believe I suffer from health anxiety. I have been to doctors over and over about various symptoms. I have had scans and MRI's (at great expense to me) and all were clear. That was all because I was convinced I had throat cancer. I then decided I had tongue cancer; went through same regime to be told all clear. Now I have decided I have lung cancer and am just living day by day until I have the surgery for the work injury and meantime expect to have a scan to see if I am correct in the lung cancer idea. I saw a doctor last week and told her my concerns. She listened to my heart/chest and could not hear anything untoward. I did used to smoke and I told her that. She said she is not concerned that I have anything like that and she thinks it is anxiety...again. I also have pains around my liver and in my hips and I am convinced that all of my bad habits in the past have caught up with me. I used to drink and smoke a lot. Because I have suffered depression and anxiety since my earliest memories. I did not have a happy childhood and I had a major trauma at age 14 which set me off on this path of self destruction. Therefore if I do have something terminal it is my own stupid fault. I do not care about me at all I just care about my child. I have to live another 3 years to get him to adulthood. That is my only concern.

Ally95 Struggling through a rough patch
  • replies: 2

Hi, My partner of 4 years is starting his own Business, I am helping him a little financially which I am totally ok with and can afford, however I can't stop thinking about the "what if" and all the negatives that could happen. We had an argument lik... View more

Hi, My partner of 4 years is starting his own Business, I am helping him a little financially which I am totally ok with and can afford, however I can't stop thinking about the "what if" and all the negatives that could happen. We had an argument like any couple would, since then then my anxiety/panic disorder has been triggered and I am suffering with constant feelings of nervousness, panic and severe anxiety which affects me getting up in the morning and going to work. When my anxiety gets triggered, it takes a week or 2 to get back to normal. I know this is only a short term thing amd things will work out, but I fall apart when the thought of something goes wrong and won't be able to find a solution. How can I be more of a support to my partner during this time rather than becoming a broken mess myself? We are both 24 and he has high functioning autism, has struggled to pass his university course and running his business is the only way he can do his one and only passion.

44Max44 Nausea & Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi, One thing I've been struggling with consistently due to my anxiety is nausea, and it's taking a toll on my life. In the mornings, I can't eat breakfast for the life of me, I have 0 appetite whatsoever and if I try to force myself to eat something... View more

Hi, One thing I've been struggling with consistently due to my anxiety is nausea, and it's taking a toll on my life. In the mornings, I can't eat breakfast for the life of me, I have 0 appetite whatsoever and if I try to force myself to eat something I'll just get nauseous, my stomach will hurt, I'll dry heave or sometimes even vomit. I can drink stuff without a problem so I usually just have a glass of water and an Up & Go, but eating anything solid even if it's my favorite food in the world just leads to nausea which is the last thing I want to start my day off with. Not being able to eat breakfast for me isn't a major problem and I can (and have) lived with it for many years now, the main issue I want to try and get sorted is not being able to brush my teeth because it feels like my gag reflex is in overdrive. If the toothbrush goes anywhere near the back of my mouth I will get nauseated, gag, and sometimes throw up, which is super unpleasant and makes me really not want to brush my teeth and my dental hygiene has suffered a lot over the years because of it. I've found that all I can really do is floss my teeth and use mouthwash which I know isn't good enough dental hygiene but I'm at a loss of what else to do. I have to pick between having good dental hygiene or gagging several times every time I go to brush my teeth. Because of this, I only really brush my teeth when I really have to, like before going to socialize with friends or go out for dinner, etc... I'm worried that if I don't find a solution to this problem I'll be without any teeth by the age of 30... they're already in pretty bad shape now and I'm not even 21... Has anyone else experienced these issues and particularly the brushing the teeth one? If so, have you found any solution that works for you? I'd love to hear it! Thanks, guys.

Laraqua Fear of Ageing
  • replies: 5

I have a fair bit of anxiety around ageing. In some ways it's been positive in that it encourages me to make the most out of every day, but its downside is an expectation of being in a bad way by 65 (despite seeing many other healthy mid-sixties folk... View more

I have a fair bit of anxiety around ageing. In some ways it's been positive in that it encourages me to make the most out of every day, but its downside is an expectation of being in a bad way by 65 (despite seeing many other healthy mid-sixties folks) and certainly expecting to have too little superannuation (so why bother adding extra?), a bad pension and little Medicare help, if any (I'm an elder millenial and seen the whittling away of many social supports) and knowing I can't afford a house means that going into residential care will mean going to the cheapest option available that doesn't mean putting your home up. While I am the fittest I've ever been (not saying much), the most social and the most aware of how my brain works, I'm in my mid-thirties and have a real "my chance to get properly fit has been and gone" and worry that my current social networks will fritter away as I age as we'll no longer be as heavily involved in our shared hobby (which is Live Action Roleplaying, like murder mysteries but with more complex simulated events). Then there's the fact that I really need to decide if I'm going to have kids or not, and soon, as I want to be an active parent. But I also fear losing 20 years of what feels like a very limited life and semi-youth to raise them... And it's a huge additional commitment with my partner... And pregnancy may cause various health issues and permanent disabilities that will last forever.... And I will likely lose many of my current friends who due to anxieties of their own actively dislike children (namely due to their own histories as victims of bullies in school). But I need to decide soon because at 34, things will get harder as time goes on. It's just a whole morass of anxieties and I haven't had much luck with therapists as the anxiety seems to shift and morph over time and with conversation so I can never really pin it down. Does anyone else have fears / anxieties regarding ageing? Like a persistent series of worries that arise when around the elderly or hearing of issues that go on? Or just lying awake at night thinking about it? Does anything help? I know a lot of CBT techniques but I can't imagine any of them working for this. It just feels so nebulous and accurate to think of the slowly dwindling sands in my hourglass and I can almost hear the slamming doors of missed opportunities....

Monicas Does anyone else have an extreme fear of death?
  • replies: 3

Hi. I have realised that my anxiety disorder is ultimately the fear of death. Does anyone else have this fear? This could be causing your anxiety as well. For me I personally am challenging that fear of death by developing a good belief system about ... View more

Hi. I have realised that my anxiety disorder is ultimately the fear of death. Does anyone else have this fear? This could be causing your anxiety as well. For me I personally am challenging that fear of death by developing a good belief system about the after life like the many religions believe in. I also use CBD oil. It is very helpful for me. It be nice to know others are dealing with the Same thing. Let's talk

Greyhorse Is this part of anxiety or is there something else wrong
  • replies: 4

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and its really starting to annoy me but now I find occasionally I have trouble swallowing, but I know I can if I drink water but this is really scaring me. it doesn't matter if I am eating or not eaten it just ... View more

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and its really starting to annoy me but now I find occasionally I have trouble swallowing, but I know I can if I drink water but this is really scaring me. it doesn't matter if I am eating or not eaten it just happens and I panic real bad!!! It feels like my throat has a spasm I really feel like I am starting to go crazy now

R0llergirl Fear of impending Melanoma diagnosis is too much
  • replies: 13

Hi I’m new here and had to post as I’m at my limit with how bad my head is behaving right now and how tired I am of all this repetitive health anxiety that I have. Long story short, I’ve had or given myself chronic health anxiety on and off for over ... View more

Hi I’m new here and had to post as I’m at my limit with how bad my head is behaving right now and how tired I am of all this repetitive health anxiety that I have. Long story short, I’ve had or given myself chronic health anxiety on and off for over 10 yrs which now manifests in multiple anxieties...but right now I have worked myself up so much that I have diarrhoea, nervous tummy, scattered thoughts, etc. I went to the docs for my yearly skin scan Friday and there was one mole on my butt that he said he ‘thought’ was okay but after further inspection of the enlarged picture of it he said....’let’s take this one off as it has one if the signs it could be Melanoma which is some blue/white specs or ‘film’ through it and it’s quite large and asymmetrical. I asked him if others that looked like mine came back ok and he said yes so that was reassuring. The problem is I Googled what the symptoms are if a melanoma has spread and it said shortness of breath and a pain on the right side under the ribcage as the liver swells once it spreads to there. I literally went to the docs last week for BOTH of those things. He said the shortness of breath was anxiety and the back pain was from recently climbing ladders at work which was a new task for me so likely muscular. I am in a state now convinced I have melanoma that has spread. Please be kind I am very lost and scared in my thoughts right now x

willdo panic attacks
  • replies: 10

hi , its getting to a point were i feel a panic attack coming on by just thinking about going outside my comfort zone (shop for example). its a double edge sward im so bored at home feels like im going crazy , yet have not got the courage or motivati... View more

hi , its getting to a point were i feel a panic attack coming on by just thinking about going outside my comfort zone (shop for example). its a double edge sward im so bored at home feels like im going crazy , yet have not got the courage or motivation to do anything.

Crabblossom Anxious over not knowing what to do.
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone , I get anxiety over not know what to do and to be honest it’s a bit crippling. I tend to be very hard on myself and I can’t seem to get out of the habit. How do you move forward and make you failures work for you because I just can’t see... View more

Hi Everyone , I get anxiety over not know what to do and to be honest it’s a bit crippling. I tend to be very hard on myself and I can’t seem to get out of the habit. How do you move forward and make you failures work for you because I just can’t seem to get it. How do you overcome fear of striking out so that you can playing the game? I’m just a bit scared and I was hoping for some advice.

John_Maia Constant comments on clothing and appearance making me anxious at work.
  • replies: 4

So first time poster, Hi, I am a 27yo female who works in a public high school as a nurse. I've held this position for just over a year. Let me start by saying i actually love this job. Its perfect for me. But about 3 months into the job, two office ... View more

So first time poster, Hi, I am a 27yo female who works in a public high school as a nurse. I've held this position for just over a year. Let me start by saying i actually love this job. Its perfect for me. But about 3 months into the job, two office ladies began to comment on my outfits weekly, if not daily. Its usually just a snide remark like 'Aren't you cold in that little top' or 'you look like you going to the beach'. Some of the worse ones are 'Careful around the young boys in that outfit'. I have had Office dress code policies slipped under my door, policies that are for office staff and not me. On a 43 degree day I wore shorts and was made too feel like a was naked. All of this has resulted in daily panic attacks about what to wear to work. I am terrified to walk through the office and pick up my keys or print something, because i'm afraid they will say something. I haven't been eating at work, avoiding going to the staff room, and feel scared every time someone walks into my office. The thing is I am worried i'm being sensitive or overreacting. I've started wearing plain pants and t shirts to school but also being terrified of someone saying something to me. Am I overreacting or am i actually being bullied. Thanks to whoever reads this.