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

Cameron005 Struggling with Pure O...
  • replies: 7

Hi all. I am 44 divorced father of a lovely 10 year old girl. About 3 years ago i woke up with what can only be described as the worst thought ever about my family members...i had no idea where it came from nor had it happened before. It scared me a ... View more

Hi all. I am 44 divorced father of a lovely 10 year old girl. About 3 years ago i woke up with what can only be described as the worst thought ever about my family members...i had no idea where it came from nor had it happened before. It scared me a great deal which led to depression about why this had happened and where it was headed, especially at 41 years of age. So began my last 3 years, these thoughts vary from harm, sexual, etc etc and obviously horrible. My strategies ranged from panic / why me / 'trigger' removal/ isolation / fighting or blocking them. This was obviously very tiring and caused me to be depressed as i just wanted to go back to my usual happy go lucky self. Funny thing this always happens when i am on holiday or not busy and have lots of down time. As soon as i am busy they go away and i love those times as i am my usual self. I dont wash my hands 10 times nor lock doors, nor have physical compulsions. I do all my fighting internally which as you can imagine is quite tiring. the overriding emotion is guilt, and fighting these thoughts and impulses and trying to be happy again. The worst is that when they come back, it usually around spending time with my family, which causes me to say to myself 'right, if i get through this weekend and get back home, everything will be fine'....This is no way to live a life as its like i am wishing my life away... I spoke to a psychologist last week and she was nice, gave me advice reinforcing that i am not that person that the thoughts are focused on and the more you fight them, the more they stay around. If i was to write down some of the worst thoughts (which i never will) you would and could only laugh but when you have them over and over and you try to come up with dealing with them it is no fun at all. The worst i guess is the depression that comes with you remembering what you were like when you didnt have them and the days that you are 'happy and like you once were' make you so happy. I have tried st johns wort but even the psychologist had not heard of it. So that's whats happening. I can tell what type of day i am going to have as soon as i wake up. If its not an intrusive ridiculous and horrendous thought, then i can look forward to the day. Not sure what happens from here but its just good to get it off my chest! Thanks

Benjamin85 Change of meds
  • replies: 6

Hello. I just started my first day on a new medication, after coming off another over the last 5 weeks. Its been probably the worst few weeks of my life i havent been able to go to work for the last three weeks and was just wondering how long does it... View more

Hello. I just started my first day on a new medication, after coming off another over the last 5 weeks. Its been probably the worst few weeks of my life i havent been able to go to work for the last three weeks and was just wondering how long does it usually take to feel the effects of the new meds. I also to take an antidepressant which i am also reducing and coming off of, plus other medications. Im having trouble sleeping and cant really afford to miss anymore work after this week. Im just abit lost at the moment

Kyra13 Is it anxiety or depression?
  • replies: 3

Hi All I'm a newbie to the site and seeking some clarification from those who have real life experience of anxiety and/or depression. I have been to my GP and a psych for what they believe is depression and stress but I feel it is more an anxiety iss... View more

Hi All I'm a newbie to the site and seeking some clarification from those who have real life experience of anxiety and/or depression. I have been to my GP and a psych for what they believe is depression and stress but I feel it is more an anxiety issue. It's not that I get a racing heart or classic panic attacks which is what they seem to look for as indicators of anxiety. Instead my anxiety causes a physical/mental/emotional shut down. I know I am an overthinker and a perfectionist (without EVER getting things perfect.. Lol). I place high expectations on myself especially academically and at work. I always feel like I'm underachieving and should be doing things better. Simple things like sorting paperwork and tidying up create so much angst that I have to walk away from it as I feel like I'm going to be consumed by fear. I dread going out and meeting new people. I feel like I have no life experience worth sharing with others. I even question myself about being on the Autism spectrum or ADD because I am familiar with these conditions through my work. Does anxiety always have to be associated with a racing heart and panic attacks or can it be a fear based? I want to improve my life but I feel trapped by this stupid fear! Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Shebs Anxiety and Depression
  • replies: 2

Hi I have had Depression and Anxiety for 27 years. I was able to handle it ok for most of that time on antidepressants but after caring for my elderly parents for 15 years and losing my dad 10 years ago. Now my mum is in an aged care home and I am se... View more

Hi I have had Depression and Anxiety for 27 years. I was able to handle it ok for most of that time on antidepressants but after caring for my elderly parents for 15 years and losing my dad 10 years ago. Now my mum is in an aged care home and I am severely anxious and depressed! I wake up feeling nauseous, cold, shaking and stressed. I try to visit mum every day a feel deep depression when I leave her. I have no family support or friends to talk to. I have an understanding GP who is very good with mental health and he has been great! But even extra medication has failed to stop my anxiety! I cant get out of bed and avoid social situations most of the time. is mum the reason I’m so bad?

justskips My story – Am I Normal or Abnormal.
  • replies: 3

I was diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer when in 2013 … I had 2 years of intensive chemotherapy. and I elected to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction, given the severity and grade of cancer. I also had 7 years of medication – total h... View more

I was diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer when in 2013 … I had 2 years of intensive chemotherapy. and I elected to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction, given the severity and grade of cancer. I also had 7 years of medication – total hormone blocking treatment. It was a hard slog. I lost my job and moved in with my mother, as I had recently broken up with my life long partner and had nowhere else to go. She cleaned up my vomit and lifted me up to take sips of water etc. I then decided to be my mums full time carer until she died, for 7 years. I did for her what she did for me. and what no one else would do. After all that I had to find my way again in a hard and unforgiving world. I had been out of the workforce for between 5 – 7 years. I have been trying to get back into the workforce. Pre-cancer I was a very successful Software Engineer and IT manager, who had never been short of work in my life. After knock back after knock back and a million reasons why I was unemployable, I went back to university to update my skills. I’m halfway through a Post Graduate degree in Cyber Security and getting distinctions. However, I have had to do it part-time because of the unrecognised and unspoken about side effects and long-lasting effects of cancer and cancer treatment. I still suffer extreme fatigue, illness due to a compromised immune system and grief for the loss of my old superwoman self. This is compounded by the expectations of the society around me, who do not understand and who refuse to acknowledge that side effects exist. There is an overwhelming societal voice that says to you after you’ve survived cancer, which says ‘well what’s the problem, you’ve beaten cancer. Your one of the luck ones ..get on with it..!!’ Whereas cancer specialists say ‘ you have to slow down, stop being a perfectionist and smell the roses….. REDUCE STRESS’. Why is reducing stress SO IMPORTANT to a cancer survivor …. STRESS changes the cell structures creating an environment for cancer to thrive. I am on Newstart allowance. I was never granted a disability allowance, because cancer is not recognised as a disability. I apply for approximate 40 jobs per month on top of my university degree, just trying to get a job and satisfy the Centrelink requirements. I want a job, but I don’t know if I can handle a job. My fragile physical strength and susceptibility to Stress create a pressure capsule which I get trapped in. I can’t explain this to my Centrelink provider – they have limited knowledge of cancer and the same with the average GP. Once you have exited the Cancer Specialists realm – you are tossed back into the ignorant mainstream. I suffer from anxiety – sometimes extreme anxiety and stress, because I can’t do what people want and expect me to do. I can’t fit back into the square anymore. I get called ‘lazy’ and a ‘slob’ because I don’t and can’t do what a ‘normal’ person can do. I am now vomiting the weekend before every Centrelink appointments because I haven’t found a job. I have had some interviews which appear to me to go well, but I am always overlooked. I don’t have the answers to everyone questions ….???? Am I ‘Normal’ or am I ‘abnormal’…??? Do I have a mental condition.?? Or am I just a ‘victim’, like everyone says I am. I can’t do what everyone wants me to be able to do. I’m 56 years old and a cancer survivor, but I feel like society wants me to be 25 and a super athlete.

Azhure101 Anxiety over partners health. Need a break
  • replies: 3

I'm new here. Waiting till 3 so I can do chat with the counselor.... For the last 6 months my partners health has deteriorated is some ways and gotten better in others. Chronic pancreatitis has gotten better but now there are bouts of excessive tired... View more

I'm new here. Waiting till 3 so I can do chat with the counselor.... For the last 6 months my partners health has deteriorated is some ways and gotten better in others. Chronic pancreatitis has gotten better but now there are bouts of excessive tiredness, difficulty staying awake, and difficulty concentrating. I'm so tired. I've just lost my job. We have 2 young children. I feel like I'm breaking. And I dont know how to stop it. I need to keep it together for my family but all I want is to break down. I have daily anxiety attacks. I go to sleep anxious. I wake up anxious. Its stopping me from enjoying anything. No questions I can think of I just needed to get it out

k00lkat Work Freak Out
  • replies: 1

Hey I'm new here. I was just wondering if I could go to a regular doctor and get a doctors note for my anxiety? I had a panic attack at work and now my bosses want my doctor to write them a note but the last time I saw someone was years ago and they ... View more

Hey I'm new here. I was just wondering if I could go to a regular doctor and get a doctors note for my anxiety? I had a panic attack at work and now my bosses want my doctor to write them a note but the last time I saw someone was years ago and they were for children. Can I simply just get my doctor to write a note stating that I'm mentally stable or do they have to write something else? Thank you in Advance

Pixie15 High functioning anxious people.
  • replies: 78

I am not sure why I am writing this. Maybe because I am a high functioning anxious person. It is something I can do when I feel that something needs to be done. I would like to hear from other high functioning anxious people. How do you cope? How do ... View more

I am not sure why I am writing this. Maybe because I am a high functioning anxious person. It is something I can do when I feel that something needs to be done. I would like to hear from other high functioning anxious people. How do you cope? How do you deal with the need to do something when there is nothing to be done.

alby65 Worst case scenarios
  • replies: 11

Hi there i don’t think I’ve posted on a forum like this before. I have always been anxious. I have episodes of heightened anxiety where my mind can take a scenario, on the flimsiest of evidence, and immediately go to the worst case outcome, however a... View more

Hi there i don’t think I’ve posted on a forum like this before. I have always been anxious. I have episodes of heightened anxiety where my mind can take a scenario, on the flimsiest of evidence, and immediately go to the worst case outcome, however absurd. I then feel myself losing control over perspective, and the incredibly unlikely outcome becomes almost certain. I can’t shake the feeling with logic. When I think I may have reasoned myself out of the panic, my mind sabotages and tries to find fresh ways of looking at the situation which make the worst outcome more likely. When I do break free of the panic (and it could take weeks or months) and look back it’s amazing how silly it looks from a distance, but while I’m inside it I feel helpless. I’m there right now, in the middle of it. I’m having a lull at the moment as I type, but earlier this morning I was prowling, had trouble breathing, nauseous, and for a while I was howling and holding my head, rocking back and forth. I’m anticipating a lot of pressure at work soon (am on holidays at the moment, not helpful as there’s lots of spare time for my mind to mess with me), and I have been through a lot of physical trauma in the past 4-5 years with 2 different cancer diagnoses, extensive surgery, radiation and chemo. I have bowel surgery coming up in December because of Crohn’s diesease. I think I’m also just weary of the world. I’m not suicidal, I don’t think I’m depressed, but I feel really worn down and my anxiety and tendency to panic seem to have taken the opportunity to have a go at me...

Louise24 Anxiety about doing the wrong thing
  • replies: 33

Hi all, I am new to this blog but have been reading through it and have an immediate sense of relief knowing that others who suffer from severe anxiety like myself have been getting the right help and have/are finding ways to cope. I seem to have pan... View more

Hi all, I am new to this blog but have been reading through it and have an immediate sense of relief knowing that others who suffer from severe anxiety like myself have been getting the right help and have/are finding ways to cope. I seem to have panic attacks when I think I have done the wrong thing and I can't relax until I know that what I did isn't an issue or that it won't hurt anyone or hurt me. sometimes there is no way of knowing or finding out if I have done the right or wrong thing and so I overthink it for days on end until something else comes up that makes me anxious and so I forget about my other worries. I have been unable to work due to this and have started taking medication and getting professional help, but does anyone else suffer from this? Does anyone have any advice on how to manage this? much appreciated, thanks!