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.

All discussions

Lyn_from_the_bush Lyn from the bush
  • replies: 2

Ho i have suffered severe anxiety and depression for years and now with professional support and meds i cope pretty well that is untill family gatherings and holidays my family is everything to me and i have always felt that they define who i am but ... View more

Ho i have suffered severe anxiety and depression for years and now with professional support and meds i cope pretty well that is untill family gatherings and holidays my family is everything to me and i have always felt that they define who i am but when they leave to go home im a wreck i feel abandoned and desolate i get worked up hours or even the day before they leave and despite using all the tools i have the sense of loss when they leave os completely overwhelmingly it’s getting harder and harder and i cant enjoy my time with them because i know it will end

Simonecs89 This breathing pattern sucks.
  • replies: 5

Is anyone else not able to breath properly? It’s like it’s my new normal now. It’s been weeks where I’m aware of my breath, I’m shallow breathing, I can’t take a full breath, feels tight in my chest. I feel lightheaded and scared from it. I can’t fun... View more

Is anyone else not able to breath properly? It’s like it’s my new normal now. It’s been weeks where I’m aware of my breath, I’m shallow breathing, I can’t take a full breath, feels tight in my chest. I feel lightheaded and scared from it. I can’t function properly being like this. It would be comforting to know if other people have this happen for a long period of time. Also breathing exercises don’t snap me out of it. I don’t have a trigger, I wake up like this and am like this all day, every day.

DannyG Unable to control emotions
  • replies: 1

Does anyone else experience uncontrollable emotions? For eg crying and you can’t stop ? this is happening to me and I can’t stop crying when something minor happens. I see it as a sign that bigger badder things are on the way. does anyone else experi... View more

Does anyone else experience uncontrollable emotions? For eg crying and you can’t stop ? this is happening to me and I can’t stop crying when something minor happens. I see it as a sign that bigger badder things are on the way. does anyone else experience this? Have you found any way to cope? Thank you

Hamada Does anyone else have this type of "Anxiety"
  • replies: 3

I don't know where to turn anymore, Im seeing multiple therapists, psychologist, and psychiatrist, I'm on medication that is being tapered up slowly but none of it seems to help, my anxiety is constant, I can't stop thinking about my thoughts 24/7, a... View more

I don't know where to turn anymore, Im seeing multiple therapists, psychologist, and psychiatrist, I'm on medication that is being tapered up slowly but none of it seems to help, my anxiety is constant, I can't stop thinking about my thoughts 24/7, am unable to enjoy or do anything without thinking about the anxiety or being aware of my thoughts that I'm thinking, I can do things for hours straight and have no changes but the "anxiety" is still there, I'm not even sure it is anxiety anymore, I was having panic attacks 4 months ago after an overdose of stimulants, but before that, I never felt anxiety, now like I said above, it's just constant, I'm always thinking about the anxiety even while doing things and everything and nothing seems to "Trigger" it, there isn't a single activity I can do that I'm not thinking about it or how the anxiety can be there. I don't even know what my thoughts are really about anymore since all I think about is anxiety and when a non anxiety related thoughts pops into my head I immediately take notice of it and realize i'm distracted from thinking about it, I just don't see exactly how I get out of this after 4 months of it, it just seems like this is my life now and no amount of medication or therapy is working, the only thing that seems to of worked is that I can use my computer and watch TV sometimes it's just constant from the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep. Has anyone else had this type of "anxiety", is the damage already done at this point where I won't be normal again and never be able to switch it off to be absorbed by anything else other than the anxiety cause I really just don't see a light at the end of the tunnel, I don't even see the tunnel anymore this "anxiety" is just all-consuming all day every day and there's not even any physical symptoms apart from a slightly elevated heart rate that is probably just my normal heart rate at this point. I just want to see if there's anyone out there that has had this and got better or at least learned to enjoy life with it cause I just don't see a future for myself anymore apart from this. Thanks.

Anxious_Annie Separation Anxiety - Can anyone help me?
  • replies: 3

Hello everyone, irst time poster here! I have GAD, always have, but I have been in a relationship for just over a year with a wonderful partner - he is supportive, kind and makes me feel at ease. The catch is, he works away a lot, up to 6 weeks away ... View more

Hello everyone, irst time poster here! I have GAD, always have, but I have been in a relationship for just over a year with a wonderful partner - he is supportive, kind and makes me feel at ease. The catch is, he works away a lot, up to 6 weeks away at a time. When he goes, I have huge feelings that he wont come back or will fall out of love with me if he doesn't see me. Logically I know this isn't how he is, but I cant shift the feelings. I am in my 30's and this feels childish to feel this way. an anyone relate or help?

Ben1983 Cardiac anxiety
  • replies: 2

G'Day all, just looking for advice on cardiac anxiety from those who have suffered and pulled through to the other side. I have had all the test to rule out any issues with my heart that includes multiple blood and test ecgs, holster monitor, echocar... View more

G'Day all, just looking for advice on cardiac anxiety from those who have suffered and pulled through to the other side. I have had all the test to rule out any issues with my heart that includes multiple blood and test ecgs, holster monitor, echocardiogram and a Cardiac computed tomography Angiography all in which came back normal. So all that should be enough for me to feel reassured that my heart is perfectly fine, but for some reason it doesn't. I'm still anxious that there is an issue with my heart to the point that I am constantly checking my pulse to look for any signs that my thaughts are correct. And when I do find something that seems off I'm constantly seeking reassurance from my Dr to tell me other wise. I even tried to request an exercise stress test, however my Dr said there was no need as I have already had the gold standard of testing and every thing is fine. I have also had other physical symptoms and at the beginning it added in the anxiety, however I am starting to except the physical symptoms for what they are from anxiety and not from my heart. How do I truly get over this as it is impacting my life and tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

rossavo Anxiety about school
  • replies: 1

i'm starting school soon, since holidays end in a few days, i'm going into year 11, and my timetable just came out but the school messed up and some of my classes are missing and overbooked me so theirs no room for my diploma, i've tried talking to t... View more

i'm starting school soon, since holidays end in a few days, i'm going into year 11, and my timetable just came out but the school messed up and some of my classes are missing and overbooked me so theirs no room for my diploma, i've tried talking to the school about it they are not answering, and tried taking to my mum about it but she just tells me she's going to work it out and she'll handle it, she wont tell me anything about whats happening and she keeps dismissing me when i try and tell her how i feel, my friends from school wont answer my texts to get support. i stopped seeing my therapist about a year ago i'm prone to anxiety and take meds to reduce it but over all i'm okay, unless its something really big like this. this is really freaking me out and i don't know what to do. i feel really uncomfortable and haven't been able to sleep for a few nights. any advice would be really helpful.

black_rose Work Causing Anxiety...
  • replies: 4

Where to start, at the end of May after being long term unemployed for 4 or 5 years (studied during that time) I finally got myself a job, my mental health was suffering as finding a job was almost impossible. I thought this was great, I could finall... View more

Where to start, at the end of May after being long term unemployed for 4 or 5 years (studied during that time) I finally got myself a job, my mental health was suffering as finding a job was almost impossible. I thought this was great, I could finally gain some financial independence and stop being dependent on my partner, feel worthwhile and actually gain self esteem again, being a very independent person being financially dependent on someone was a real blow to me as a person. At first I loved my job, still do, customer service at petrol station is what I'm qualified to do, nor is my dream job or what I've spent a few years studying for, but hey, it's a job, it *cough* 'pays'. But it is coming to the stage where I feel taken advantage of. I know the only reason I was employed was because of the $6,500 wage subsidy that went with hiring me. Yeah ok I get that, not an issue. What is getting to me is I am being significantly underpaid, I don't receive the legal minimum wage, penalties, public holiday rates. However, the other lady who started at the same time as me complained and asked to be back paid for all her hours, including all the hours she worked that they refused to pay her because it was 'training'. 2 days later she lost her job, they found a way to fire her. She was also long term unemployed. I was told by another worker that she lost her job because she spoke up and advised me not to say anything about my pay if I wanted to keep my job. So I did. Just recently I have now found out that at the end of a shift if the till is down, it comes out of my pay. So not only am I now getting underpaid, I've also been informed that a highly illegal docking of wages can occur. I feel angry, I feel used and taken advantage of and feel that they deliberately employed vulnerable people so they can be taken advantage of, because they're less likely to complain because they need the job. The issue that I've faced these past few months, is if I speak up and ask to paid minimum wage and speak out about this I WILL lose my job, I've spoken to fair work and they suggested finding a new job and then when I leave pursuing it because unlawful dismissal is difficult to prove especially if they say the reason was performance based and only being there a few months it'll be really hard to prove and it's likely that although they'll have to pay me they'll get away with the unlawful dismissal. I'm stressed, I need the job but I hate being taken advantage of.

Lets_try Never ends
  • replies: 2

I just can't deal with people face to face I have been stuck in my house for about 10 years now since I was 22, I am 31or 32 I don't remember. The only reason I leave is to do shopping and I just grab whatever and rush back. I think it is because I h... View more

I just can't deal with people face to face I have been stuck in my house for about 10 years now since I was 22, I am 31or 32 I don't remember. The only reason I leave is to do shopping and I just grab whatever and rush back. I think it is because I hate myself just everything about me my looks my thinking. I mean if I can't stand myself why should anyone else have to. I was bullied my whole school life for my looks heh I guess it worked now I am nothing

JamesR Cant sleep or eat, and i feel like i cant reach out for help
  • replies: 1

I havent slept in 55 hours and i haven't eaten in 63 hours, my family is away at the moment and im home alone, and everytime my mum calls me she asks if im ok and i cant handle telling her that im not, and i lie, which leads to me breaking down even ... View more

I havent slept in 55 hours and i haven't eaten in 63 hours, my family is away at the moment and im home alone, and everytime my mum calls me she asks if im ok and i cant handle telling her that im not, and i lie, which leads to me breaking down even worse. I don't know what to do about this