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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mirrorball13 New grad and work anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, first time poster here. I’m 6 months into my first job out of uni and I’m really struggling with anxiety and depression at the moment with this job. I dread going into work everyday because I am so anxious about the amount of tasks and r... View more

Hi everyone, first time poster here. I’m 6 months into my first job out of uni and I’m really struggling with anxiety and depression at the moment with this job. I dread going into work everyday because I am so anxious about the amount of tasks and responsibility I have. I am making a lot of mistakes because I’m thrown in the deep end a lot - my degree isn’t related to my role and it’s hard to get help from my coworkers because they are all so busy. I also find it so hard to connect with them because I am the youngest in my team and I don’t really know what to talk about with them. Due to my lack of knowledge I also find myself working extra hours just to understand more and keep up. As well I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and I am a big people pleaser. I think I have a lot of performance anxiety after seeking a lot of academic validation my whole life. It also has me questioning my role as I don’t think it’s very well suited to my personality at all, I am in meetings all day and have to reach out to so many different people across the business who don’t prioritise me because I’m a grad, and I am super shy and introverted. For example I cried for hours after work today of stress because a higher up expects a project to be done by end of September, but I incorrectly gave later dates to another team which is causing delays in the project and I’ve been beating around the bush with her because I’m scared to tell her it’ll be delayed. I am seeing a therapist and try to enjoy myself outside of work but it’s hard when I have an 1hr+ commute and feel so burnt out when I get home. I also work casual shifts in retail on the weekends sometimes to save money so I don’t get much time to myself. While I feel very lucky because I am the first in my family to even go to uni and have a corporate job, I feel so out of depth at work and like I don’t fit in. I feel like I’ve wasted all my studying, money and time spent on my degree to not like my career path. It has even made me consider going back to uni for further study in a different field because I don’t like my role at all. And I become so jealous of other grads who found their perfect role out of uni or at the least tolerate their job while I am barely surviving. Thankfully I’m in a grad program and I am rotating out of this team in 6 months so I do see a light at the end of the tunnel but I don’t know if I can take it until then. I know 100% I’ll be trying to move jobs or go back to uni after my program ends because this role and company are making me miserable. Hoping there are people who can just listen and understand…

___A___ anxiety at work
  • replies: 4

hi i've never posted anything like this before and i'm really scared to do it, but i feel so anxious about making mistakes at work. some things i thought were mistakes ended up not being mistakes, but some did and now i am constantly stressed about p... View more

hi i've never posted anything like this before and i'm really scared to do it, but i feel so anxious about making mistakes at work. some things i thought were mistakes ended up not being mistakes, but some did and now i am constantly stressed about past mistakes coming back to bite me or that i'm on the verge of making another mistake. i feel useless at work which is a high stress clinical job and it has been impacting my sleep, my self-esteem, my motivation, and my apetite. i've been through a really bad breakup in the last few months too which has made my anxiety spiral because my main support person left my life very abruptly without giving a reason. i feel like if he was still around i could talk to him about it. i feel like i don't have anyone i can share my thoughts and anxieties with because i'm scared of making my friends and family sick of me and my problems like i did my ex. i'm convinced everyone is sick of my mess and that everyone will wake up and realise i'm awful and unlovable. i see a psychologist and have recently been put on meds but i'm still in a constant state of panic, dread, worry and fear. i feel like nothing is ever going to get better and my life is always going to be a mess. i don't know how to start cleaning the mess up and it's so overwhelming and scary. has anyone been through anything similar and have any advice? i'm really struggling and appreciate anyone even reading this.

Fenerbahce Health anxiety back again….
  • replies: 1

Health Anxiety Here I am again….. it’s a never ending battle.. trigger warning… 37M with Health anxiety for over 15 years. I’ve had numerous self diagnosed medical diseases that I’ve dwindled on for months on in and until some professional interventi... View more

Health Anxiety Here I am again….. it’s a never ending battle.. trigger warning… 37M with Health anxiety for over 15 years. I’ve had numerous self diagnosed medical diseases that I’ve dwindled on for months on in and until some professional intervention (scans etc) the symptoms were there everyday. My new one (and I need some help on this one) has been a mid back pain that comes around after 2pm ish and makes me bloat, alongside stomach pains and a full feeling after eating… this started Feb this year.. When this symptom started I already was going through another episode that lingered for 2 months.. so the doctor prescribed me medication.. and funnily enough 4 weeks into the meds I was symptom free. And I continued to be symptom free until early June (which is when I tapered off Lexapro) From early June until the first week of August this continued and then it finally disappeared. On the 15th of August, I went into my GP and he ordered blood work and everything came back normal besides my Ferritin which was just under the normal, and when I told him what I went through, he suggested that I see a GI doctor. So I went to see a GI doctor, and he suggested that we should do an endoscopy and colonoscopy( I had both done 3-4 years ago and was clean)… this is where it went downhill. He started saying we should do this because if it is Cancer, we would want to catch it early. I freaked out, I then asked him the likelihood (considering that I’m pain free now, and that the pain was gone when I was on medication) he brushed it off… Until yesterday my stomach pains were non existent and it is back in full force. Please talk some sense into me… I am literally freaking out.

1979_lou Anxiety help
  • replies: 1

What are some strategies you use to help with anxiety? 

What are some strategies you use to help with anxiety? 

Chelsea l Anxiety getting worse
  • replies: 3

I’ve been Feeling really anxious since Friday Night, to the point where I spent Saturday and Sunday night sobbing and feeling like I was going to be sick at first I thought it was about my dentist app which happened yesterday but the feeling hasn’t g... View more

I’ve been Feeling really anxious since Friday Night, to the point where I spent Saturday and Sunday night sobbing and feeling like I was going to be sick at first I thought it was about my dentist app which happened yesterday but the feeling hasn’t gone away. I’m headachy, I’m stressing over everything. I see my psychologist next Friday and I see my doctor tomorrow, I’m hoping to discus wether I could have my Medications Adjusted

Meg_611 Heart Palpitations for 7 months straight!
  • replies: 21

Hi all Since late June 2019 I have been experience heart palpitations EVERYDAY, CONSTANTLY! By palpatations I mean a prominent heart beat- my heart rythm/pulse rate is normal. i find lying on my right side in bed uncomfortable and it brings about a d... View more

Hi all Since late June 2019 I have been experience heart palpitations EVERYDAY, CONSTANTLY! By palpatations I mean a prominent heart beat- my heart rythm/pulse rate is normal. i find lying on my right side in bed uncomfortable and it brings about a dizzy feeling. In the last week lying on my left side now leads to a really prominent heart beat in my ribs. a few months ago I got check out my a cardiologist, ultrasound, ecg, stress test on treadmill, 24hr holter monitor and everything came back fine. So they say it is anxiety. Has anyone else experienced non stop palpitations for this long??? I really am looking for some suggestions on how to stop them but obviously not my heart !

blues23 Does anxiety make your emotions more heightened & easily triggered
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I’m just wondering if this new normal this new heightened I have less tolerance for nasty behaviour is because of the anxiety , lately I feel like my world is throwing eggs at Me , and like the whole thing is gonna implode like the shattered glass ef... View more

I’m just wondering if this new normal this new heightened I have less tolerance for nasty behaviour is because of the anxiety , lately I feel like my world is throwing eggs at Me , and like the whole thing is gonna implode like the shattered glass effect and there’s only fragments of pieces holding together , I try to have positive thoughts, feelings but the eggs keep coming and it’s been like this for weeks now and it’s not getting any better. I’m trying to find restitution for my battled mind but it’s just not I have days of being flat as and maybe 1 day of calm before the next cycle comes in next cycle been down for a few days then calm and back to anxious the rest of the week. Is this the new normal or is it part of the battle of anxiety?

BigB I'm new at this.
  • replies: 1

Hi I will read others and yours too, but I thought I will introduce myself first to make you feel safe.I am not a threat, I am not the enemy, I am not Bob The Builder either! Who am I??I am a person who has and still deals with Anxiety everyday, with... View more

Hi I will read others and yours too, but I thought I will introduce myself first to make you feel safe.I am not a threat, I am not the enemy, I am not Bob The Builder either! Who am I??I am a person who has and still deals with Anxiety everyday, with lots of support now. And yet still get triggered by the most easiest thing but a learnt so much and come along way, just asked my wife and 2 adult kids. I would love to get to know you and you too, so I will be around making connections if you let me in to your world, I'll let you into my world too:)Talk soon BigB

Nkme Health Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, Is there anyone here that suffers with Health Anxiety?

Hi, Is there anyone here that suffers with Health Anxiety?

Prinair Feeling anxious
  • replies: 2

I want to know about feeling anxious even though you’re on antidepressants. I having been taking antidepressants from 5 years, actually things were good but now I’m getting anxious even after taking medication. Is it okay to feel anxious still you ar... View more

I want to know about feeling anxious even though you’re on antidepressants. I having been taking antidepressants from 5 years, actually things were good but now I’m getting anxious even after taking medication. Is it okay to feel anxious still you are on meds? Or Is medication not working? How do I know?