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

AnxiousExistance Anxious, on the Autism spectrum and lost in the system of workcover....
  • replies: 2

I have a pretty extreme anxiety disorder as well as alot of other issues and Ive been experiencing 12 months of issues from workcover that has caused so much drama that its making my condition worse and my son and I will be homeless soon because of t... View more

I have a pretty extreme anxiety disorder as well as alot of other issues and Ive been experiencing 12 months of issues from workcover that has caused so much drama that its making my condition worse and my son and I will be homeless soon because of the insurer EML bullying me by stalling my payments by up to a month at a time till all up I was late with rent 11 times over 6 months and this caused my landlord to freak out on me, I had never, ever been late with rent before this, i prided myself on my rental history but EML have crushed it......now as a result I have no rental reference due to the conflict with my landlord and EML are still bullying me despite them literally causing me to be homeless and telling me they cant help me fix the issue they caused....I turned up to an IME today on time going by the details EML gave me...I wasted an 80km drive because they cancelled the appointment 2 weeks ago without telling me...my anxiety makes it so hard to leave my house because of serious physical symptoms so this wasted trip has just made me feel like they are going to continue messing with me till I fully snap....I'm so close to just giving up because of how much they've wrecked my life...wrecking my landlords reference is essentially like burning my house down...I have no support network and can only rely on EML who dont have my best interest at heart....I even caught them out colluding with a rehab firm to lessen my compo after 3 doctors said the condition is likely permanent, luckily I had sms proof they lied and its kept them at bay but I dont know where to start as far as getting help to fix the damage they caused, I put in a complaint to work cover thats been ignored and the firms like slater and gordon arent interested unless there is a big payday involved....I have mental and physical issues that require a specific type of home and I'd never had an issue getting a house before this but now no real estate will even look at me because of rent issues caused by EML....I have proof they are messing with me to the point of damaging my life but I'm at a loss as to where to get real help that wont take years....I need help now.....I'm homeless after 12/11...While EML mess me around I cant even get housing assistance ..any advice?

Mrscoasty Out of control
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone! I am a 41 year old woman who had my first panic attack when my daughter was 1 (I was 27). I’ve been on medication since then. My anxiety and panic has been up and down in all that time but right now it’s flared up again. My job is fairly... View more

Hi everyone! I am a 41 year old woman who had my first panic attack when my daughter was 1 (I was 27). I’ve been on medication since then. My anxiety and panic has been up and down in all that time but right now it’s flared up again. My job is fairly stressful but it hasn’t ever been an issue for me, I thrive on that sort of stress. Right now we are about to buy a house, and I can’t get this thought out of my head that something bad is going to happen to me before then and I’ll never get to enjoy it. Then I get sad because I haven’t seen my Mum in ages, she lives 2 1/2 hours away, and in my current state of mind driving to see her is out of the question. I’ve done the drive before but the thought of it right now makes me feel sick with nerves. My thoughts are ‘I’m having a heart attack’ so I hate being alone. We went out for tea the other night for my husbands birthday and I needed to go to the loo....I freaked out having to be in there by myself. I did it, and didn’t die, but it scared me. It feels like I am just waiting for something to happen. An impending sense of doom. I usually make myself say the alphabet backwards. It’s goid in making me concentrate on something else. Everyone says that exercise is great, but I can’t do that. One, I’m by myself, and Two, it raises my heart rate which triggers a panic attack. I love going to sleep at night. I get a break. But I hate going to sleep last. I have to be asleep before my husband. I don’t know how to get better. I feel like I’m totally out of control spinning around in a vortex and just going through the motions each day, waiting for something terrible to happen. Thank you for reading.

Guest_523 Worried about being judged, being misunderstood and not taken seriously.
  • replies: 26

I get medication that I take every now and then for panic attacks/sleep. I work extra hard to do the right thing and only take this if absolutely necessary. I am very responsible as I only get a small prescription every 3 or 4 months. I saw on the ne... View more

I get medication that I take every now and then for panic attacks/sleep. I work extra hard to do the right thing and only take this if absolutely necessary. I am very responsible as I only get a small prescription every 3 or 4 months. I saw on the news where they are going to make it harder to get this due to some people being uncool with it. Great, now I am worried that I will be judged in the wrong way. However my record does show that over the long haul that I have been responsible but you know me! I have to worry about something so now I am going over in my mind how I will be given the fish eye whenever I get my prescription filled. Jeez I worry a lot.

Crystal3 I don't know what's wrong with me
  • replies: 2

so it stared when I started to use drugs I thought I couldn't swallow and thought I was vomiting and chocking on my vomit, but awhile I had a different drug and I had my first panic attack or at least I think it was, I was at a party I started pacing... View more

so it stared when I started to use drugs I thought I couldn't swallow and thought I was vomiting and chocking on my vomit, but awhile I had a different drug and I had my first panic attack or at least I think it was, I was at a party I started pacing and my heart was racing I was dizzy and felt this werid feeling in my stomach I thought I was going to die all these thoughts were just going through my head and I was freaking. But after about 30 minutes it went away but recently I have had very bad health anixety like I just think about stuff and if makes me freak out and I think I'm dying when I'm not, like in class the other day I got the same feeling in my stomach I got when I had the second drug I was dizzy and thought I was going metal and felt like I couldn't breathe and was feeling really enclosed then I spoke to my dad and It calmed down but this happened after a family friend freaked me out and said that my brain is fried and I was at these formal photos and just looking at everyone make me freak out I got light headed and the other day I was at the beach in the water and it was hard to breathe, my breathes were short and my friends got me out and my heart was racing and I felt like I was choking which most of the time I think I'm choking. I feel that all the time and the other night I went drinking with my friends and I didn't drink much and I felt like I was going to die I got the feeling In my stomach I felt enclosed on the bus and really hot and light headed and I could breathe properly it was like short breathes, the other night I make my mum drive me to the hospital cause I looked down my throats and I could see my epiglotis I didn't know what that was I thought it was a bone and I felt like It was making me choke and the hospital told me it was a swallow tonisal and if it gets bigger go to the hospital so all night I kept waking up thinking I stoped brething So the next day I went to my doctor For that and another problem and when I thought I had something I started looking up all these symptoms and I felt like I had them and she told me I didn't and then it went away she told me that I should speak to someone about my aniexty so now I am

Tryinhard Hi I’m a newbie
  • replies: 4

Feel like my life is spiraling out of control. I’ve made some very poor decisions now I might be facing a jail sentence. Diagnosed with depression at 16, older I get the more anxious I get.

Feel like my life is spiraling out of control. I’ve made some very poor decisions now I might be facing a jail sentence. Diagnosed with depression at 16, older I get the more anxious I get.

anxiousgirl97 newly anxious & need some advice.
  • replies: 4

so for the past month i've been suffering from severe bouts of anxiety and panic attacks, and believe this was triggered by a bad comedown from a substance (which occurred almost a month ago), however have seen slight improvements within the weeks go... View more

so for the past month i've been suffering from severe bouts of anxiety and panic attacks, and believe this was triggered by a bad comedown from a substance (which occurred almost a month ago), however have seen slight improvements within the weeks gone. However, a few nights ago I had a few cups of black tea before bed (unaware that black tea had caffeine in it) so was up all of the night with insomnia stressing about not being able to sleep, and didn't sleep at all that night and I have slept the past night, but have woken up yesterday and today feeling just as bad as the time of the comedown, with constant rapid heart palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, loss of appetite again. Therefore I reckon i've relapsed, I had started to feel better last week, and i've never felt this bad before and had some panic attacks prior but they never carried on, and would usually disappear. I'm 19, and am also at uni, so times have been stressful and it doesn't help when i'm feeling like death. It feels like there isn't any light at the end of the tunnel, it would be great if someone could help me out.

Kaylee13 Social Anxiety......
  • replies: 1

Today was my daughters preschool orientation and my social anxiety decided it would make an appearance as well. Within 10 minutes of being in a room crammed with parents, kids and teachers I literally couldn't handle it a second longer and politely a... View more

Today was my daughters preschool orientation and my social anxiety decided it would make an appearance as well. Within 10 minutes of being in a room crammed with parents, kids and teachers I literally couldn't handle it a second longer and politely asked for directions to the bathroom, as I walked into the bathroom I had an anxiety attack and sat in there for 10 minutes trying to get my shit together so I could get back to my daughter and partner who I knew would be wondering where I am. I couldn't bring myself to walk back into the room so instead, I sat outside on a chair looking at the paperwork we were given pretending to read it whilst really thinking how stupid I looked sitting outside reading paperwork when I should be inside the classroom with my daughter. I was plotting a way to make a quick escape without anyone noticing, can you believe that? It was my daughters special day and here I am trying to find a way out because I can't stand being in a room with other people. A teacher came over and asked if I was ok and if I would like a glass of water, I told her I was ok. She asked why I was sitting outside and by this stage, I was completely overrun with anxiety and anxious thoughts I couldn't even think of a lie I just told her straight up I had anxiety and I needed some fresh air, she seemed apologetic and said she was sorry for asking. I feel like a failure of a parent for not being able to walk back into the room and be with my daughter and I feel like an idiot for telling her a teacher I had only just met I had anxiety. It took me years to tell my family I had anxiety and here I am telling a teacher at my daughters new preschool I have anxiety. Today confirmed I really need to get some professional help and this Monday coming I'm taking the steps required to get some help.

Tryinhard Do I have depression or anxiety
  • replies: 5

I’ve been taking anti depressants on and off since the age of 16. My counsellor has told me that she thinks I suffer from anxiety as opposed to depression. I tend to agree but the anti depressants are a big part of my life, are they really what I nee... View more

I’ve been taking anti depressants on and off since the age of 16. My counsellor has told me that she thinks I suffer from anxiety as opposed to depression. I tend to agree but the anti depressants are a big part of my life, are they really what I need though? I worry about everyone and everything. Never feel I’m good enough and yearn for other people’s approval. When things get hard I just go to bed and sleep

RainbowBird Help for high-functioning anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I'm so glad I found this little hub- I have been searching for a while for a place I can communicate and finally tell people what I am feeling. I'm 35 years old and suffer from high functioning anxiety and what I think is social anxiety also.... View more

Hi all, I'm so glad I found this little hub- I have been searching for a while for a place I can communicate and finally tell people what I am feeling. I'm 35 years old and suffer from high functioning anxiety and what I think is social anxiety also. It's really hard for me to talk about, as on paper my life looks perfect to an outsider. I work for one of the biggest tech companies in the world where I have achieved and won an award for ny performance. I have a great home, I'm putting myself through university part time, I'm travelling overseas on a dream vacation in a few weeks etc. But the truth is I'm breaking up inside. Working at a company where extraversion, being social, and building relationships is highly prized and valued, is so so hard for me- I suffer from huge bouts of anxiety being in groups, talking to clients, getting my work wrong- basically 'imposter syndrome' where I'll be found out to be a fraud and not having the skills to do my job. it's bad enough it keeps me up at night and working like at all hours to keep up. Everything is about collaboration and sharing, and I get so tired at always having to be 'On' when basically I am scared all day long. I have few friends because of my anxiety- basically because I struggle to connect with people, and don't have a boyfriend as I really struggle to even talk to a guy I really like, making me come across as aloof and not interested. I'm wondering if I'm even displaying selective mutism here as I cannot physically talk to someone I really like ( men I'm not attracted to I can talk to normally). I'm super worried at 35 I will be alone forever- I'm aware of my age and would like to have a child in the future. I have a history of domestic violence from my childhood, my parents were not emotional people, and I was bullied in both primary school and high school. I hate being in groups, especially groups of women- probably a past trauma from my high school days at an all-girls school and being bullied, which is hard as I work in an all female team. I have little support in real life except for a few friends. I force myself to socialize and network and usually drink to make it easier but it feels forced and inauthentic. I have had therapy in the past for a year, but it's all still there and I have no idea how to work through it. I can't talk about it as I fear no one that knows me would believe me or would think I am complaining about nothing due to what they see on the outside.

Mumworrier Food poisoning/germ anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hello, I am new here and just coming to terms with the fact I likely have anxiety/OCD. I am currently spinning myself out because I let my children lick the beaters when we made cookies and now am sure I have given them salmonella. It is exhausting i... View more

Hello, I am new here and just coming to terms with the fact I likely have anxiety/OCD. I am currently spinning myself out because I let my children lick the beaters when we made cookies and now am sure I have given them salmonella. It is exhausting in my head and each day I get through feels like I have just barely survived. As there always is at schools there is a vomity big going around at the moment and from the second I hear about it, I feel sick and unwell. My body cooperates with my anxiety and I do often have an upset stomach etc which compounds it. I could hardly eat at a friends house the other day because I had no idea how long the roast chicken had been sitting out for. I am planning on going for help soon because I can’t continue to live like this but can anyone give me some reassurances in the meantime?