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

I1C2D3T4A5 My head hurts
  • replies: 1

Hi, I’ve been feeling really alone lately and get tea anxious and stressed about little things constantly and my head hurt from always being anxious and stressed. I get episodes where I can’t do anything and my head just throbs. Every time I’ve asked... View more

Hi, I’ve been feeling really alone lately and get tea anxious and stressed about little things constantly and my head hurt from always being anxious and stressed. I get episodes where I can’t do anything and my head just throbs. Every time I’ve asked someone for help they just say oh me too! Or you’ll get over it. I just don’t know how to cope or what to do and I feel really lost and alone and I don’t have anyone to help me. If anyone has any strategies or advice I would really appreciate it

Anxiety_is_who_I_am Health Anxiety about Teeth
  • replies: 15

Hi, I've always had anxiety but in the last 2 years have also developed health anxiety and am constantly worried I have something wrong. Today though has been exceptionally horrible with concern that my teeth will fall out. Now i do need some filling... View more

Hi, I've always had anxiety but in the last 2 years have also developed health anxiety and am constantly worried I have something wrong. Today though has been exceptionally horrible with concern that my teeth will fall out. Now i do need some fillings and some redness in my gums due to illness during pregnancy but if i try to wobble my teeth with my finger, I can't see any movement in my teeth. However, anytime I move my mouth it feels like the tooth is about to fall out. I think the sensation when I move my mouth is more anxiety than an actual movement of a loose tooth. I've been trying really hard all day to stop focusing on it but I can't. I have a dentist appointment next week but until then how does anyone recommend moving past this worry? I don't even want to eat or drink due to this worry.

K_Ley not sure how to feel
  • replies: 6

So this is a weird post in that I am not sure if anyone will reply or if anyone will be able to offer any advice. A close friend of mine discovered a injury on my leg from two weeks ago and immediately asked if I had done it myself. She knew that I h... View more

So this is a weird post in that I am not sure if anyone will reply or if anyone will be able to offer any advice. A close friend of mine discovered a injury on my leg from two weeks ago and immediately asked if I had done it myself. She knew that I had been struggling recently but I didn't think I had given her any reason to think that this was a possibility. I actually ended up lying to her and telling her it was an accident but not sure she believed me. I am now on 9 days of not having those thoughts, so I don't want anything thinking that. Is that wrong?

emem0 depersonalisation
  • replies: 1

hey, thank you for the replies on my last discussion. I think they will be really helpful.I just wanted to come on here and ask if anyone else has experienced this symptom. does anyone else suddenly forget where they are, who they are, what they are ... View more

hey, thank you for the replies on my last discussion. I think they will be really helpful.I just wanted to come on here and ask if anyone else has experienced this symptom. does anyone else suddenly forget where they are, who they are, what they are doing just randomly? sometimes I forget I even exist, or that I am human or real. and im just kind of floating around. but suddenly you realise you have forgotten everything about life and panic sets in. almost like a numbing pain in your body. this I think is one of the scariest symptoms I’ve had. forgetting reality and feeling like im just a soul floating around in space without a thought in my head. it kinda feels like zoning out but much more intense, and you’re brain is empty, you forget the space around you and you can’t really snap back into reality?

mordecai My Grades are bad. I am too sad to study. What do I do?
  • replies: 2

Last year I was doing well in school and even got some awards. I could tell that I was happier then and my grades definitely reflected that. At the beginning of this year I had my first few assessments and I did not do as well as I thought ~ 70 for e... View more

Last year I was doing well in school and even got some awards. I could tell that I was happier then and my grades definitely reflected that. At the beginning of this year I had my first few assessments and I did not do as well as I thought ~ 70 for each unit. As the year progressed I started seeing my grades plummet to the 60s and 50s. And for the first time, I failed a few aswell. I still fail to study more in my room and instead resort to video games because I am too sad to write something or solve anything. I don’t know how to get back on track.

Jo_____anne Some days are a struggle
  • replies: 1

Today I must admit I am struggling and have been for a while. I read some statements of affirmation I had written last year and it really helped. Just being here and being honest has also helped me as well. But, gee it’s hard work. The anxiety just e... View more

Today I must admit I am struggling and have been for a while. I read some statements of affirmation I had written last year and it really helped. Just being here and being honest has also helped me as well. But, gee it’s hard work. The anxiety just ebbs and flows.

Losttwentysomething_ Retail job rant
  • replies: 2

I work a retail job and I am quite frankly I am sick of it. I have been there for over 5 years now and I am getting tired of having to ask to be moved and changed up constantly. Yes I know we are short staffed and need to give the new staff a chance ... View more

I work a retail job and I am quite frankly I am sick of it. I have been there for over 5 years now and I am getting tired of having to ask to be moved and changed up constantly. Yes I know we are short staffed and need to give the new staff a chance to learn various departments. I was moved into the checkout/ self serve department from night fill (I asked to be moved to another department - merchandise, which management at the time said that they could put me in the department, but then a few weeks later without my knowledge, they go and put me in checkouts/ self serve. A department that lacks variety, which is something I despise. I voiced them this but anyway, here we are. Since then I have managed to land a part-time job at another place so it breaks up my week and I am not constantly at this retail job, but I am still not happy with that job either, but I keep looking for other opportunities with my skill set. I had a shift on the weekend where I was working and a customer seemed they disappointed in my service (I don't even know what I did to be honest) so again I shouldn't just assume and should just ask the customer why she seemed upset, she asked for my name at the end of the transaction and when I said goodbye she looked disappointed and just shrugged and walked of. It wouldn't surprise me if she put a complaint in. After that interaction I started to feel myself get emotional and wanted to cry but I couldn't since I had a line up of customers to serve that constantly put things on my till to ring through and my script of 'how are you today, need a bag?, have a loyalty card?', of course I have to keep constantly repeat myself as we have a safety screen and it makes it hard for people to hear. I was rostered on to work another checkout shift on the Sunday but I ended up walking out as soon as I started, I wasn't in the mood to work plus I am unwell and I have an overseas trip that I am leaving for very soon so I was already feeling anxious and emotional as it is. Yes I know I should be grateful to be rostered on to work on the weekend and get penalty rates and being a casual is good money. Yes I am aware that that wasn't the right thing to do and that I should've called in sick instead to allow them to find someone else to cover. One of the managers followed me as I left and I basically told her that I was sick of working here, how there is no growth and no variety and that I wanted to resign. She told me the process to resign so now it is up to

tlinn26 Anxiety or Fibro - Very Scared
  • replies: 1

I’ve been experiencing leg aches, neck hotness, back pain, blurry vision, muscle twitches and a tight diaphragm. I am terrified I have fibro. All my tests have come back clean, but of course fibro doesn’t show on such tests. I have always had extreme... View more

I’ve been experiencing leg aches, neck hotness, back pain, blurry vision, muscle twitches and a tight diaphragm. I am terrified I have fibro. All my tests have come back clean, but of course fibro doesn’t show on such tests. I have always had extreme anxiety, depression, panic etc, and over the last 6 months its gotten worse. Through this journey I discovered I have a bulged disc in my neck and lower back, as well as scoliosis and kyphosis. Regardless, I am still so scared I have fibro, as so many of my symptoms line up. I hope it’s just health anxiety and physical manifestations of that.

Elephant86 Aboriganal and Torres strait Islander Blue Flame
  • replies: 1

There is a candle in our community burning pwerful beautiful and bright that is the unity we have as a community to make a difference for aborigganal and Torres strait islanders. We must stand as one nation under the banner of peace and harmony to bu... View more

There is a candle in our community burning pwerful beautiful and bright that is the unity we have as a community to make a difference for aborigganal and Torres strait islanders. We must stand as one nation under the banner of peace and harmony to build a better more prosperous future for those in our community that are disadvantaged and underprivaleged who are struggle to close the gap they also need to better health care and stronger education outcome we can stand agianst the tidel wave and face adversity we have the power and fortitude to change Australia for the better to open the door to new possibilities not close the door on future allies which are the proud Aboriganal nation . This community has beautiful artists with beautiful paintings. There langauges are so diverse that there is more than 150 tribes that exists with in this proud culture. They have different kind of bush foods we can learn and grow many that don't exist on any other continent. We have flora and fauna that don't exist in any other country australian cooking has changed for the better with the introductions of these foods It is important to stand with the down trodden and against predjiduce. This is our 1 chance to change australia for the better and stand against injustice. We can only change tide one stone at a time one grain of rice at a time. People think we don't have the power to change things in life we have a chioce to change derection towards a powerful prosperous future lets stand and walk towards forgivness and peace not towards more difficulty and struggle this is our chance to stand up for injustice and find the strength in our selves to turn the scales. There is a run around Australia that is being done to show the power and derversity of our nation. It is important to know which derection to run in life which path is more powerful and prosperous in life I choose to stand with my brothers and sisters around the country to give them a vioce and an opportunity to rise to there adversity to help them in there time of need and heart break. We must choose to forgive and not look to the past but look at the change we can make for the future to change to a more powerful prosperous future with clean energy possibilities and an opportunity for every person that walks through the door we are all humans with feeling and emotions . I have been discriminated against I am a person of a disability. Hold out your hand and walk with those who need you most and be brave and help

James2018 Not sure if FIBROMYALGIA or ANXIETY....please HELP?
  • replies: 9

Hi everyone New member here - my first day actually. I too suffer health anxiety. people always ask what's bothering you? what causes the anxiety? I know very well it's health issues. Apart from how i feel health wise I have a pretty good life and no... View more

Hi everyone New member here - my first day actually. I too suffer health anxiety. people always ask what's bothering you? what causes the anxiety? I know very well it's health issues. Apart from how i feel health wise I have a pretty good life and nothing I should feel fearful about. I've had Health Anxiety for at least 10 years. Im wondering if its mainly or all anxiety or if it may be FIBORMYALGIA? My symptoms are: * Sore/aching legs, feet * Sore/aching lower back * Sore/aching stomach/pelvis area * Sore/aching and sometimes stinging bladder area * Sore/aching rectum area? THIS CONCERNS ME THE MOST I have had two cystoscopys and a colonoscopy and they found nothing of real interest. Ive had about 10 blood tests recently, urine tests, bone density scans, x rays, ultrasounds etc and nothing is ever found. I do have scoliosis but besides that nothing that can really warrant constant aching day and night. I worry and obsess about it all day and everyday. Does this sound like health anxiety? Does anyone have any tips that WORK....and/or want to talk to me about it via email? Feeling pretty down and hopeless J