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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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Guest_1055 Anxiety airport
  • replies: 4

Weird question perhaps, but I am unsure who to ask. I have read some of the info on the airport website but only understand bits of it. I have issues speaking on phones, so I don't want to ring anyone up. Can anyone advise? Once you land from domesti... View more

Weird question perhaps, but I am unsure who to ask. I have read some of the info on the airport website but only understand bits of it. I have issues speaking on phones, so I don't want to ring anyone up. Can anyone advise? Once you land from domestic, walk of the plane. Then where do you go? I want to know in clear steps what happens then?? And also the flight and return has been booked and paid for online. And once I get to my airport which is so much smaller. Walk in the doors there, what happens then?

SleepyPillow How to stop feeling sad and find meaning in life.
  • replies: 5

I've been feeling sad and can't stop crying for over a week now. I keep having negative thoughts about my family and myself eventually passing away. I have now started to feel like my life has not much meaning (I am not suicidal). I don't find my hob... View more

I've been feeling sad and can't stop crying for over a week now. I keep having negative thoughts about my family and myself eventually passing away. I have now started to feel like my life has not much meaning (I am not suicidal). I don't find my hobbies as fun anymore because I just think everything is pointless in a way that we are just going to die in the end. Can anyone help me with these feelings? I can't get them out of my head.

jps_01 Seeking Support
  • replies: 4

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and am looking for a bit of information on medication. I've been dealing with anxiety for about 3 years now, more specifically anxiety around my health. I'm only 21 and it sometimes feels hard getting through each day. I fee... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm new here and am looking for a bit of information on medication. I've been dealing with anxiety for about 3 years now, more specifically anxiety around my health. I'm only 21 and it sometimes feels hard getting through each day. I feel as though certain things shouldn't be so difficult (such as simply going to the shops or eating at a restaurant). My boyfriend is so supportive but feel awful constantly relying on him and honestly feel like such a burden. I try to remain as positive as possible, but as most of you probably can relate, it can be really difficult always seeing the bright side. I have a friend of mine who currently takes anxiety medication and has found it worked well for her so I was just seeking more advice on others who may have decided to try medication. Thanks so much!

Emma77 Hoarding
  • replies: 4

Hi all, Not sure where to post this, but we'll start with anxiety and see what happens. As a child and younger adult, I was always very clean and organised. As I got older, I would sometimes let things slip, and it would feel somewhat freeing, maybe ... View more

Hi all, Not sure where to post this, but we'll start with anxiety and see what happens. As a child and younger adult, I was always very clean and organised. As I got older, I would sometimes let things slip, and it would feel somewhat freeing, maybe feel a little bit creative? I'm now mid 40s and wonder if I've gotten a bit too free and creative. And then silly me watches those hoarding programs and feel like maybe I can relate. I don't think I have attachment to things. I'm happy to see things get thrown out, I'm just not sure how to do it. As an example, when the toilet paper runs out, I change the roll and the old empty roll goes on the floor until there's a collection. Then someone is coming to the house (not very often) and they all get shoved into a drawer somewhere. Then one day I want to throw them out but there are thirty of them and it just feels ludicrous to be throwing out thirty toilet rolls at once, so I'll just get rid of a couple every week, but I forget or can't be bothered. OMG this sounds insane now that I'm typing it out. It's actually quite hard to admit. I feel like that 'I'll get to it tomorrow' is just getting further and further away and there is stuff everywhere. I moved 6 months ago and still have so many boxes. I can do the mad dash and clean and tidy the house if I have to, but I just feel like I have so many bad habits and routines. The idea of it getting so bad that I would need someone to come in TERRIFIES me. I don't want anyone to see the clutter. But I don't want to look at it either, and feel like I need to admit that I'm not fixing it on my own. Not necessarily looking for help or advice. Maybe just people who can relate, convince me I'm normal. Or maybe even convince me that it's really not normal and I need help.

Jess13 Chronic anxiety
  • replies: 2

I have been struggling with anxiety & depression since I had my first child. He's nearly 22 now. I've recently come off medication (6 weeks ago). I was so proud I successfully came off as it's a hard drug to stop. I've had a lot of stress ever since ... View more

I have been struggling with anxiety & depression since I had my first child. He's nearly 22 now. I've recently come off medication (6 weeks ago). I was so proud I successfully came off as it's a hard drug to stop. I've had a lot of stress ever since which has now triggered both anxiety & depression again. Every day I can't get motivated & im so very tired!! Can't function. I feel I've lost the zest for life & wont be happy again. The things I would normally love to do just aren't enjoyable anymore. I have an amazing partner who is such a positive person but I feel like I'm just bringing him down with my negativity & sadness. I never want to do anything. I just want to look forward to something & not be so tired all the time.

Awhina24 Hitting a new low point
  • replies: 3

For the last few months, I'm so anxious that I can barely remember to eat, I have nightmares almost every single night, wake up drenched in sweat and my digestive system is a mess. I feel absolutely frozen in fear, have constant knots in my stomach a... View more

For the last few months, I'm so anxious that I can barely remember to eat, I have nightmares almost every single night, wake up drenched in sweat and my digestive system is a mess. I feel absolutely frozen in fear, have constant knots in my stomach and burst into tears near daily. A few years ago I accidentally fell pregnant and now have a 4 year old despite never really wanting children. Now I'm scared constantly for my child's future. I didn't realize how bad climate change would get in my lifetime, every day seems to bring a new disaster or bleak looking report on how bad things will get. My husband does not share my concerns, nor do most my family. I have no idea how to talk to any of them about it. I go to therapy and while my therapist does not dismiss my concerns she says I need to find ways to accept uncertainty and my beliefs about the future. I'm terrified that there is no liveable future, that myself my child and family will die in a famine or be killed in some violent manner, or die of heatstroke or in a fire in just a few years time. We live in Melbourne and I'm dreading the coming summers. Even if I try to distract myself with gardening, hiking, craft, playing with my child, reading, housework or volunteering I'm constantly thinking about ecological collapse and feeling like humanity is doomed. I struggle to maintain any sanity throughout the day. Right now I'm shaking and want to throw up. I want some kind of hope. I want my family nearby (they all live in another country). Often I want to go to sleep and not wake up. I'm on medication but I don't think it's really helping much beyond numbing some feelings at times.

Minxy Long term social anxiety and series of events
  • replies: 10

Hi everyone,Recently came back onto the forums after a hiatus and being focused on uni and irl things. And due to finally finding the password, though I have been using Beyond Blue and MIND recently.Primarily focusing on my anxiety and dealing with H... View more

Hi everyone,Recently came back onto the forums after a hiatus and being focused on uni and irl things. And due to finally finding the password, though I have been using Beyond Blue and MIND recently.Primarily focusing on my anxiety and dealing with HF Autism (Formally Asperger's Syndrome) I have also been dealing with depression and helplessness due to myself often refusing to ask for help due to experiences with social workers. I'm also have social anxiety as well has having issues understanding people. And my experiences below didn't help.Basically I recently moved out of my old place due to dealing with the toxicity from my father due to financial and mental abuse, the former primarily due to heavily relying on me repeating units in order to rely on DSP to help pay off the bills. I was paying off mostly his and my bills, including a few electricity bills reaching the thousands due to the place being daisy-chained by a local electrician. As a result lead to constant power cuts that lasted for months, which has also affected my ability to study with already poor reception in the area being remote. On top of constant burnout and thinking I was never going to go anywhere in life. I reached out for Beyond Blue for help, which then later referred me to MIND, they gave me advice to move out and provided some support during and post-moving. Eventually I moved out in early 2021, with a help of a friend I met online, though I had very limited funds due to having tough time saving up what I can. Stayed at their place until their landlord wanted to evict me due to "not allowing couples", which both the friend and myself were not. I eventually moved into another place, with issues with the landlord there due to not allowing those on rent assist/DSP. I also had dealt with a toxic housemate being overly aggressive about everything I was doing, despite literately minding my own business and focusing on studies, which I tried to communicate but it turns out there was none to begin with. I asked for advice to one of the MIND social workers I was talking with for a while (which ended due to contract), and they also advised me to find a place. I looked around my area via Flatmates, Domain, Facebook and Gumtree. Many places do not accept those on rent assist and some disabled-friendly places don't see me as disabled. I'm basically in a tight situation, especially that I'll be finishing my course soon but also unsure how I able to find a job.

Okberty Full Circle
  • replies: 1

I have posted before, got better and now I find myself back with depression and anxiety similar to my previous postI had sought counselling through a psychologist and while things improved I don't think I took full advantage of the opportunity.I feel... View more

I have posted before, got better and now I find myself back with depression and anxiety similar to my previous postI had sought counselling through a psychologist and while things improved I don't think I took full advantage of the opportunity.I feel alone, isolated and unable to break my feelings of helplessness. Work is my only activity which gives me social contact. Most of my feelings are caused by my procrastination habit which impacts my work and triggers anxiety when I get called out for not taking actions or completing projects I catastrophise being fired which is a possibility as I work in roles that put liability on the workplace. I regularly repeat the same mistakes.I have no one too turn too to ask for help or to provide encouragement or sense of purpose. All my life I have struggled with maintaining friendships I was labelled as shy at a young age and have lived with that label since. I do not consider myself shy. I have no problem approaching people I do struggle to share interests with many though.I enjoy time alone but find I isolate myself too much and when I need friendship have no one.Procrastination too has been a lifelong battle. Things got worse some 6 year's ago. I moved here from NZ because my now ex wife wanted too. I gave up employment I was experiencing success and ambition in. The marriage fell apart almost the instant we moved. Wife's controlling behaviour, and her affair which lead to discovery.of additional lies and deception became to much to bear. I was at fault too. I had become more withdrawn and was very passive in the relationship.I was recently contacted by the ex and suspect too this has been a trigger for my feelings now. Her life is going well in comparison.Since moving I have struggled to re-establish my career and have no motivation to do so. The role is the same just at a lower level. I get no enjoyment from it and feel taken advantage in the workplace having been passed over for promotion only to end up doing the higher duties anyway.I can't talk to my remaining family as in the past all I get told is to snap out of it and to stop the self pity.I know one of the ways out of the situation I am in is too change careers I don't do so out of fear. A fear of taking risk has also held me back in life.Need to make some changes but don't know what to do.Thank you.

white knight Homelessness
  • replies: 6

Some of us older members have worked hard for decades and are now secure. Some of us also have been in the situation years ago whereby we were homeless. There is various degrees of "homelessness" though from sleeping on the street, to inside an old c... View more

Some of us older members have worked hard for decades and are now secure. Some of us also have been in the situation years ago whereby we were homeless. There is various degrees of "homelessness" though from sleeping on the street, to inside an old caravan the latter a castle compared to the former. So the differences can be vast and is often income based. So at 40yo following a huge crisis I had enough money to buy a 3 metre 40yo caravan and moved into a caravan park. Yes, I was lucky and not technically homeless but I was getting a taste of what it could be like as I'd left behind my home, neighbours, town, my inlaws and even my dog. A huge upheaval. So recently in our country we've seen a spike in homelessness and shortage of accommodation in rentals leaving some in a desperate position. During this period anxiety and other illnesses peak, doctors charges, meds etc are now unaffordable, its a real crisis. I dont have all the answers. If you are working you could benefit from having two goals at a time, one financial goal and one personal challenge. The personal challenge could be - giving up an addiction like smoking/gambling/drinking. The financial goal could be to buy a campervan (if single) or a caravan. Once youve made your purchase you now have some form of nomadic ability which has its advantages. Following that make another two goals and so on. So I did that. Ended up with a block of land in the country, erected a shed, put the caravan in it, used a home brew kit as a shower and eventually built my own home. I recalled my first bath in my house that then had no plaster. I'd succeeded, an incredible feeling, then even before I got out I had decided my two next goals one step at a time All comments appreciated. Let's help the less fortunate. TonyWK

k_0891 Break up anxiety triggered
  • replies: 2

Hi all, I’m 31 & have suffered severe anxiety in the past where I have had ambulances come to the house and numerous hospital trips. My anxiety is based on a warm rush through my heart & body leading me to think I’m leading up to a heart attack. This... View more

Hi all, I’m 31 & have suffered severe anxiety in the past where I have had ambulances come to the house and numerous hospital trips. My anxiety is based on a warm rush through my heart & body leading me to think I’m leading up to a heart attack. This all disappeared when I had met my recent partner, we had been together a year and 2 months, it has suddenly ended and all of a sudden I feel myself heading straight back into that anxious place - I am mortified as I didn’t cope very well. Has anyone gone through the same thing?