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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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Copgirl379 Anti-Anxiety Medication and Applying For WA Police
  • replies: 1

Hello! I've been on Anti Anxiety medication for a few months now but I'm looking at applying for the WA police force. I'm wanting to know if this would hinder my chances of being accepted?

Hello! I've been on Anti Anxiety medication for a few months now but I'm looking at applying for the WA police force. I'm wanting to know if this would hinder my chances of being accepted?

soph33 Body swelling from anxiety? Anyone else?
  • replies: 1

Hi guys, for years I’ve been battling severe anxiety/borderline agoraphobia. But my main complaint besides that is body swelling. Does anyone else experience this? Constantly swollen.

Hi guys, for years I’ve been battling severe anxiety/borderline agoraphobia. But my main complaint besides that is body swelling. Does anyone else experience this? Constantly swollen.

Johan71 Moving home.
  • replies: 16

I’m incredibly anxious about moving house. I’m retired. We live in a large home and moving to an apartment. Typical downsizing. The process of selling one home and moving into another is stressful and unsettling. I can’t help but think of the things ... View more

I’m incredibly anxious about moving house. I’m retired. We live in a large home and moving to an apartment. Typical downsizing. The process of selling one home and moving into another is stressful and unsettling. I can’t help but think of the things that could go wrong. Will we sell? Will I like the apartment etc etc.

Maisy Nina Paralysing anxiety
  • replies: 7

Morning guys, I am still fairly new to the site, so I haven't read all relevant posts yet I have had nerves/anxiety since my parents split when I was around 7 (40 years), and bouts of severe anxiety for the last 29 years. No matter how many therapist... View more

Morning guys, I am still fairly new to the site, so I haven't read all relevant posts yet I have had nerves/anxiety since my parents split when I was around 7 (40 years), and bouts of severe anxiety for the last 29 years. No matter how many therapists/psychologists/psychiatrists or medications I have tried over this time, I still get bouts (sometimes months) of paralysing physical anxiety whether my thoughts are negative or fearful or if my day is going fine. I have had to take an extended amount of time out of the workforce since the end of May as I had just hit rock bottom with this issue (and less often, bouts of depression) and to work on coming off the 2 substances I medicated myself with just to get some relief from the crippling symptoms and seek further help for it all. I would SO appreciate hearing other people's stories and suggestions for turning off the seemingly constant fight/flight response that is setting off in my brain. Thanks heaps and have a great day.

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 !