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

ellec Infertility & Depression
  • replies: 1

Hello, my name’s Elle and I guess I’m just looking for a little bit of extra support. I’m quite involved in my local church and lead a group of adults 25-35. My husband and I have been trying for a baby for 7 years. There’s been a lot of set backs in... View more

Hello, my name’s Elle and I guess I’m just looking for a little bit of extra support. I’m quite involved in my local church and lead a group of adults 25-35. My husband and I have been trying for a baby for 7 years. There’s been a lot of set backs in this process, particularly during Covid. During the past few years of this process I think I’ve been quite resilient. Smiling as people share their pregnancy news with me, going to baby showers being ok because my faith has been high and surely it will be my turn soon. I guess this has really changed in the last 12 months. A lot of the group that we lead are our friends and in the last 12 months - more and more are becoming pregnant after not a lot of trying. This last month though, has broken me completely. A very good friend opened up to me about how she had been trying for 6 months, and while her journey isn’t necessarily classified as infertility, it started to feeling like maybe she gets it even just a little bit. Anyway she bought up in conversation how a friend of hers broke the news to her that she was pregnant and how she didn’t take it too well and we started talking about how we’d both want to share the news. Anyway silly ignorant me, because a month later - guess who comes over to let me know she’s pregnant. This was 4 weeks ago, when she left I completely broke. She then said something which I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt of not actually realising what she said which was - “you guys plan to split to small group, if you guys take the married/young families group it’s going to be a bunch of guys cause all the ladies are mums so they’ll be in the mum’s group.” I had already felt like I’m so completely behind in life, and this was such an insecurity of mine. It took everything in me not break.I was starting to come out of the hole last week, to then see her pregnancy announcement on social media.Which again completely triggered and broke me. I am so happy for her but so so sad for me. On top of this I’ve been thinking of cutting back my hours at work and had someone in mind to take over my role. Fast forward to yesterday, and lo and behold, another pregnancy announcement. I’m in counselling and she very much wants me to remove myself from situations but it’s also so hard, as I see all these people multiple times a week. I’m also overthinking is this teary state I’ve been in for the past four weeks is passing or something more serious.Anyway if you read this thanks for getting this far and being a safe place to vent without judgement. I’m sure when I read back on this in a better headspace, I’ll probably sound like a jerk

Elephant86 On the beautiful and wonderful pathway of healing and compassion
  • replies: 0

Everyone on earth is on there different pathways in life and we all learn from our own experience and in life we all face different but great challengers in life. We have to try to figure out how do I heal how do I recover . What steps do I need to t... View more

Everyone on earth is on there different pathways in life and we all learn from our own experience and in life we all face different but great challengers in life. We have to try to figure out how do I heal how do I recover . What steps do I need to take on my healing pathway? There are different things that help each of us heal because no two people are exactly the same not even twins. So we have to work out what helps you to heal. I could be a myriad of different things it could be like me listening to Mariah Carey to relax and stay calm.You could choose to watch a comedian on TV and laugh. Laughter and joy are simply the best medicine.It could be taking the dog for a walk or going for a run in the park. It is totally up to you what you feel helps you to heal with the guidance of your family and your doctor bud patch adams. You might love to cook a wonderful meal for the family. I love cooking and helping my mum to prepare meals for the family. With my mum I am learning to cook curries which is bringing love and joy to my home. You could like to do a DIY project like build a table or a book case to help you recover. All these activities are unique and different and all connect and help us in different ways. there are some people who love pop music but others who love ACADACA these are all different. We must always love and respect peoples differences and never treat people differently because they are different.Every one is wonderful powerful and unique in there own way. For me I love meditation , cooking reading and cycling. This is what they call your cup of tea or what you like to do. You must find things that bring you peace calm and bring your body and mind back to harmony. You must not change who you are because you are beautiful you find out what activities work for you and find out what makes you happy. Sit down with your mum, partner and support and figure out the right activities for you . Call it my happy list You must never feel defeated by your disability because the most important word in the word in your ability to acheive the impossible. You look at the mountain and you don't say how high is it and Im scared You say what steps do I take and who is there to support me up the mountain. You are never alone you have your mum, dad, family, doctor a whole myriad of people who want and wish to support and love you through the difficulties. Despite the fact of me having 4 disabilities I choose to stay positive and looking towards what I can acheive and not what I can. I will tell you I will never have my divers licence because of my epilepsy but I choose to focus on what I can control. The main thing is to find your passion find your skill and harness that ability and focus on what you can do and not what you can't. Everyone has there own super power and own ability Mine is cooking and looking after others. Look deep into your heart and find your inner strength to stand up to your challengers and say. I will stand agianst adversity and never let it defeat me I am powerful beyond measure Light a candle and give your family a hug and tell them you love them. Showing love to everyone is such a powerful superpower. Everyone is a super hero with all there special powers to share.

Elephant86 Unification of a nation and great leaders
  • replies: 5

There are many times as a nation we face great adversity but we as a nation must rise to the challenge and never let our difficulties defeat us. There have been times in history when our nations resolve has been test and I feel this is one of those t... View more

There are many times as a nation we face great adversity but we as a nation must rise to the challenge and never let our difficulties defeat us. There have been times in history when our nations resolve has been test and I feel this is one of those times . The decision for the voice was a going to be a great pivot in our society opening the opportunity for better outcomes in the future for Australia. I want to take you back into history where similar more profound decisions where made. There have been great leaders in history like abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King who also stood on the presopose of there powerful ever canging decision in history. Do we as a society take a step back and let others make the decision for us or do we make the powerful decision ourselves. When history looks back at the vioce decision do you think we have made the right choice. We always need to stand behind our people and always lend a hand and give strength. There are many turning points in history where we go down one path or another I feel this is one of those times. You must stand with our aboriganal brothers and sisters and give them the strength to stand and keep walking on the path of justice and rightousness. I feel that everyone has a right to the decisions they make but I feel this decision could have been a powerful support to aboriganal communities. You must always walk in another persons shoes to go through what there going through to feel the hardship and difficulties to truly know what there life is like. Always look at things from another's prespective and realise that you need to look and care about other people who are struggling through hardship and difficulties. We need to stand as one nation to stand against the tide of history to help cange our nation for the better so we can all live in a powerful prosperous land where the opportuntities are open to all who wish to have it. You mustn't pass judgment on others if you don't know there situation you must always come from a place of love and understanding and always look after the vunerable and disadvantaged. It is still with in our power to make a change and a difference to our vunerable aboriganal communities you just show you care and stand with this powerful aboriganal community. There are many beautiful artistic paintings that are part of the culture. There are more then 150 langauges that are spoken no where else on earth. There is many bush foods that are grown no where else on earth. We as a society have a decision to make and I choose to stand with my brothers and sisters and offer support and guidance in there time of hardship. There many communities that would be feeling sad at this time. I want to say to everyone light a candle to symbolise hope and renewal of our nation. We hold the light with in our hands to light the path to a more powerful future it is up to the decisions that you make that will giude out of the dark with a candle into the light. Stand together and show love and forgivness to all and remember you are never alone in the dark always walk towards the beautiful light. I stand and pray for aboriganal communities at this time and I wish you a more powerful beautiful future. Stand as one nation under god to a beautiful more powerful future Abraham Lincoln

emem0 Depersonalization and existential anxiety
  • replies: 4

hi, I’ve been struggling with dpdr, anxiety and as a result of that depression for about 3 months after a bad trip. I honestly see no way out. I’ve gotten checked everything checked physically and go to a phycologist 1-2 times a week now. It’s extrem... View more

hi, I’ve been struggling with dpdr, anxiety and as a result of that depression for about 3 months after a bad trip. I honestly see no way out. I’ve gotten checked everything checked physically and go to a phycologist 1-2 times a week now. It’s extremely hard for me to live life and get out of bed. my attendance at school has dropped from almost 100% to like 30-40%. I used to be a straight A student now I’m failing almost every subject. I used to be the happiest most energetic girl ever, always going out with friends. now I can’t even get out of bed. it’s the most horrible feeling in the world. I’m missing out on the best years of my life. I’m loosing all my friends. sometimes I feel like I’m dead and everything is in my head. my family and my friends feel like fakes, I feel no connection with anyone. when I speak to people it’s like I can’t understand or process anything they are saying. like my brain is shutting down. it feels like this can’t be my real life. this must be a dream or a coma. I think I’m going insane. I get constant panic attacks. everyone is telling me it’s just anxiety, but what if this is all in my head and I’m telling them to tell me that it’s okay? that sounds crazy right? I feel like I’m psychotic or schizophrenic. I get horrible nightmares and sometimes I even hallucinate when I wake up or when I’m about to fall asleep. I’ve told my therapist all about this and I’ve been prescribed an antidepressant. but the thing is I don’t think I’m anxious or depressed I think I’m actually going insane but I can’t explain it properly? and even if this is dpdr/anxiety/depression I don’t think I can ever be me again. i can’t even remember what normal felt like. I terrified and I’m just coming on here to see if anyone has tried medication for dpdr and if it helped at all? because I can’t find anything online. sorry this is a bit long. xx

Blueberriesareyum Anxiety over upcoming surgery
  • replies: 5

Hi, I have the worst anxiety over upcoming surgery on Friday. It’s to remove collapsed bones from my right dominant wrist (proximal row carpectomy). I’m terrified of the recovery, I’ll be in a cast for 6 weeks and a splint for 4 weeks, I’ll also need... View more

Hi, I have the worst anxiety over upcoming surgery on Friday. It’s to remove collapsed bones from my right dominant wrist (proximal row carpectomy). I’m terrified of the recovery, I’ll be in a cast for 6 weeks and a splint for 4 weeks, I’ll also need physio. I’m so anxious, I’ve been awake since 2am. I guess I’m scared of the unknown, I have a phone consult with the surgeon on Wednesday, I told the office I had major anxiety about the surgery so they booked a phone consult in

PickoB Lack of Effective treatments for Anxiety
  • replies: 3

I am in my 50's and suffer from childhood onset anxiety During my life it became so severe I ceased my working life 10 years ago and fell into the grips of depression just to add to the fun. Over my journey I have tried psychological treatments such ... View more

I am in my 50's and suffer from childhood onset anxiety During my life it became so severe I ceased my working life 10 years ago and fell into the grips of depression just to add to the fun. Over my journey I have tried psychological treatments such as CBD, psychoanalysis, mindfulness etc - all of which were of no assistance with my anxiety. I have also exhausted the pharmacological avenue via multiple psychiatrists giving me every med under every relevant medication class and also off-label meds that were designed for diverse illnesses. It is pretty damning that the last class of meds specifically aimed at anxiety came out 60 years or so ago. I am left with having to accept that there is simply no meaningful help out there for treatment resistant severe anxiety. My lot in life is to endure the continual suffering for however many years I have left. It is a blight on medical research that with all the advances made in multiple areas anxiety is the poor cousin with no progress for many decades.

astraluvsrhys depressed girl loosing herself
  • replies: 2

idk what to do anymore i keep over thinking and i cant get it off my mind i need help yet i have no one to talk to

idk what to do anymore i keep over thinking and i cant get it off my mind i need help yet i have no one to talk to

mollyprice1128 Is this Bulling
  • replies: 1

I have a new manager who has the mind of a 12 year old boy I am the youngest and he’s the oldest at my work I have been given the silent treatment for over a month and I’m just feeling depressed and alone and went to my HR lady she didn’t seem to tak... View more

I have a new manager who has the mind of a 12 year old boy I am the youngest and he’s the oldest at my work I have been given the silent treatment for over a month and I’m just feeling depressed and alone and went to my HR lady she didn’t seem to take my side and she said “ you might need to quit to show him he’s lost a good staff member”. I then got ambushed and she turned on me and wasn’t supportiveI had a break down went home for the weekend and then came back to work for a ladies lunch she was there I was so depressed I couldn’t acknowledge her. So she called me a bitch behind my back I did turn around and say really but she already had her back to me and ever since I have been applying for jobs and plotting along I had my review with the owner and he said he highly doubt she would say that and has gone and not believed me. So I’m done but I work in a small town and I can’t afford to quit I need help because I’m broken.

_Gigi_ I feel like a failure
  • replies: 3

Hi all. I've been feeling pretty lonely lately so I thought I would turn here for some advice. I'm worried almost all the time to the point of physical illness. Even leaving the house can be enough to set me on edge. Social situations make me especia... View more

Hi all. I've been feeling pretty lonely lately so I thought I would turn here for some advice. I'm worried almost all the time to the point of physical illness. Even leaving the house can be enough to set me on edge. Social situations make me especially nervous, and I tend to replay them in my head for days afterwards. The constant fear means it takes me longer than my peers to hit certain milestones, and it makes me afraid that everyone is judging me for it. There have also been a few issues at home, and my family has praised me for being so calm and collected through it, when in reality I'm far from it. There's just a lot of pressure to live up to their expectations and not add more to their plate. There's no one to talk to about it and it makes me feel like an imposter. I lie every single day and no one really knows me. I feel like a failure. And I worry about the day everyone else realises I am one as well.

MayaUyen Past issues cause Fear and Trust problems in current relationship
  • replies: 3

I am 53yo female, divorced and been in a long distant relationship for 14 months. My boyfriend is 12yr older than me.I have grown to love him and know he loves me too. We planned to have a future and build a family together with his 13yo daughter.His... View more

I am 53yo female, divorced and been in a long distant relationship for 14 months. My boyfriend is 12yr older than me.I have grown to love him and know he loves me too. We planned to have a future and build a family together with his 13yo daughter.His daughter accepted me and loves me, I love her too, I don’t have any kid of my own and been living in Aust by myself, no relative. At times I feel alone, my BF and his kid mean so much to me.Due to special circumstances, we still live apart and we have been working together to make our reunion happen as soon as possible then settling in Australia.At the early stage of this relationship, my BF noticed I got fear and trust issues, and said once being together these issues will be cleared.I introspected myself and realized my fear and trust issues came from many betrayals and disappointments from past relationships.I can tell he trusts me fully and rarely questions me about who I meet or be friend with. I normally tell him upfront about the people I am interacting with. My problem is, I often doubt, worry, feel jealous and mistrust while I am not around him in the time being. I often feel anxious when he absent for 3 or 4 days without calling or texting me.My friend says I require his time and attention more than he gives and suggests me to adjust my needs rather than requesting him to give me more time because it is likely that is how he is naturally.At first, he showed understanding, however few days ago we argued and he was very upset, he said “THIS IS THE THING HE DOES NOT WANT IN HIS LIFE, HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE WITH A WOMAN WHO DOES NOT TRUST HER MAN”. To me, his action was a wakeup call.I realize my fear and trust issues have caused severe impacts to our relationship and made him feel pressured, being controlled and uncomfortable. Worse than that I would potentially cause a break-up and lose this relationship.I gave him time to calm down then offered an apology on the yesterday, I also told him I realized the negative impacts of my issues on our relationship and will seek professional help. He responded to me which is a good sign.We have been through thick and thin between life and death together and still stand strong by each other until this day. This relationship is worth fighting for.I now seek counselling support from Next Step to help improving my fear and trust issues.Beside seeking professional help, please I also need advice and suggestions/ideas on this forum or from someone has similar issues about how to improve this. Thank you.