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

swimming_duck Shoplifting and impulse control
  • replies: 2

any suggestions or advice welcome. I consider myself a swimming duck.Cool, calm and collected on the surface with legs struggling under the water where no one can see. I have a good job, a great bunch of friends and supportive partner but underneath ... View more

any suggestions or advice welcome. I consider myself a swimming duck.Cool, calm and collected on the surface with legs struggling under the water where no one can see. I have a good job, a great bunch of friends and supportive partner but underneath I get anxious episodes and have impulse control issues. While I don’t have depression I have anxious episodes which can last up to 2 weeks and can drive me to shop lift - I was once caught about 10 years ago and received a documented official warning from police (one of the worst days of my life). I spent many years free from the urge to shoplift but the Covid lockdowns re-triggered this behavior - 2 years ago. I have managed to keep my binge eating under control which is something I am proud of. When in an anxious spiral I am driven to shoplift and then reflect on my shoplifting - which turns into paranoia (or possibly a genuine fear) that the police are building a case against me. I am then driven to often return the items and either put them back or pay for them - seemingly without anyone knowing. Items can range from a drink at coles, to a diary or candle from a shopping centre. I spend many nights sleepless thinking about how I have been given so many opportunities and am on the verge of destroying it all with my stealing impulse control. while I see a psychologist, appointments are so hard to get and not as frequent as I probably need during an anxious spiral. Questionsdoes anyone know of any podcasts, audiobooks or resources that can specifically support impulse control? has anyone else successfully overcome something like this? To end the paranoia is this something I should call the police about? Considering I have had a warning in the past this could result in serious consequences.

raq Not feeling real and panic attacks
  • replies: 7

Hi, I’ve suffered from multiple things that include depersonalisation and they can’t seem to pin point what. I wake up every day not feeling real and go to sleep that way too. I’m constantly battling my Brain into deciding what’s real and what’s not ... View more

Hi, I’ve suffered from multiple things that include depersonalisation and they can’t seem to pin point what. I wake up every day not feeling real and go to sleep that way too. I’m constantly battling my Brain into deciding what’s real and what’s not and if I’m truly alive. I get constant panic attacks and even when I learn to deal with it it starts again but more severe. I’m tired of constantly being. Scared and feeling like I’m dying and having fears over things I can’t control and especially getting scared over the future which I haven’t lived yet. Would be amazing if someone could help me get rid of it or cope I’m feeling like I’m on my last strings it’s getting more scary everyday. Also I’ve had this since I was in year 5 I’m currently out of school and 21 so I’ve had it for a while!

Speechless Having a nervous breakdown
  • replies: 7

I cant stop this terror inside me, i am constantly having anxiety attacks throughout the day and night and cannot relax at all. if im able to function, its because ive taken L Trytophan powder with some soy milk but i still have lingering panic insti... View more

I cant stop this terror inside me, i am constantly having anxiety attacks throughout the day and night and cannot relax at all. if im able to function, its because ive taken L Trytophan powder with some soy milk but i still have lingering panic instilled in me.i cannot function, i cant not stop crying and feeling extreme anxiety and upset. Its non stop.i have GAD and depression and was finding things really hard this year due to my only friend and his schizophrenia and substance abuse and also having to drive my parents everywhere due to my dads car actually catching on fire in the driveway on our acerage. His car was not insured. I havent been well for years but last year and the year before was panic things that happened but resolved but i kinda got burnt out. i have written on here before about things. I live on 5 acres of land which i love and i have my chickens, i live with my parents and our neighbours are so far away. Great views of the valley and a house facing north to catch the sun. All these values have been here in this family. Its been part of my identity, my home and ive lived here since 1997. its semi- rural. ive been trying to cope this last year and since, always tied up in bed if i wasnt driving my parents or lending my car to my dad. I have my little pet dog with me everywhere i go in the car and i have loved feeding wild birds at home. But i havent socialised except for my friend with schizophrenia. Ive basically been a recluse all my life and im 40 years old female. ive been trying to get on my feet when my dad out of nowhere brought in a real estate agent into the house to value it ( we did a clean of the house) and then whilst the agent was here my dad said that we were going to sell this place soon, first i knew of that same with my mum. But dads like that, installing fear into me and grief literally. To make it worse, he told me that mum and i have to find a house for us all within 2 months because he wants to sell this place ( my cherished sanctuary) within 2 months so he can have money left over to play with essentially.so our block of land is worth a bit, and he wants us to find a medium - cheap priced house so that he can invest the rest in silver to try and raise money for my sister so she can have a house because he had alot of money invested in some shares which has been in shutdown for a year due to court cases and corruption. That was his way of raising revenue to get my older sister who is a single mum and a bit of a narcissist i may add a house too, but i think dads tired of waiting. So hes instilled tremendous fear into me. I am in a nervous breakdown, i think i have agoraphobia and have for some time. I have never lived close to people like an urban thing. The move is from a rural place which is incredibly private into a house somewhere in the same tourist town but not rural. I have to give up my chickens and say goodbye within 2 months all of a sudden when i cant cope or function and have to have this looming fear over me. Just to even think about neighbours and fences next to me ive always detested and part of my identity has been where i live. Just even thinking about it breaks me down. Just to even look at realestate online i have to go thru anxiety attacks really bad and then put myself back together. I cannot function and feel incredibly the worst ive ever felt. Just sheer terror, my home is being ripped from under me at a time when ive been really ill and im supposed to look for a place within 2 months? I feel incredibly ill with my stomach and anxiety. i see a counselor but shes $$ and i cant see her regularly shes not on the medicare yet. But i have a gov scheme i maybe able to bump some free sessions wih another counselor. But how am i expected to cope with all this because i really need assurance and someone to help me tell me everything be ok etc. my parents don’t understand a bit, my mum is partly deaf and my dad might be on the spectrum slightly. Mum doesn’t understand why im like this. I don’t understand how they can just go about their day without breaking down because of the fear of this situation.

blues23 Bad few days struggling to cope / deal with depressive anxiety thoughts
  • replies: 3

Hi just a way of de escalating my anxiety to get it off my chest I had a panic attack yesterday some miscommunication @ work and my return to work plan majorly triggered my anxiety as the way I was approached/ contacted by my boss was quite stressful... View more

Hi just a way of de escalating my anxiety to get it off my chest I had a panic attack yesterday some miscommunication @ work and my return to work plan majorly triggered my anxiety as the way I was approached/ contacted by my boss was quite stressful like why aren’t u at work we were expecting u sort of thing I have contacted my RTWC work safe case manager speaking to my GP tomorrow as I’m quite triggered by it such a simple thing this phone call but has totally re triggered my anxiety and some depressed thoughts my brain went to a bad thinking space just b4 and I had a shower / started cleaning to get my mind off those thinking things but in all honesty how do we cope with these triggers? Without going backwards into that darn hole ? my sister says go back to GP get revised return to work plan due to the stress of the past few days but I feel I’ll go down a black hole if I let myself allow these things to control me as I’m trying to move forward these thoughts these advises things from my sister who’s trying to help and maybe not relise im sort of back in bad spot cause of this phone call from my boss accusing me of having wrong day off I’m also big scared to revise plan incase it bites me in the bum also scared as it might make those dark holes even bigger such a conundrum over such tiny stupid thing trigger

Traveller73 Anxiety awaiting Medical tests
  • replies: 2

Hi. I recently turned 50 and have undergone several routine medical tests and my anxiety awaiting results is through the roof. I had a mammogram for first time. My neighbour whom had breast cancer said to me ages ago she could not feel any lumps, so ... View more

Hi. I recently turned 50 and have undergone several routine medical tests and my anxiety awaiting results is through the roof. I had a mammogram for first time. My neighbour whom had breast cancer said to me ages ago she could not feel any lumps, so this is freaking me out a bit. I feel like they are going to ring me with bad news even though I have no reason. Im terrified of my phone and any calls. I have had restless nights sleeping last week, bad dreams. I panic about it about 20 times a day. I relax and then all of a sudden bang "they could ring". Silly me had booked in for 2 more health tests too, so everything is all at once. I go for a walk and exercise, but its when Im resting the thoughts come back. I have spoken to my Dr and they just said distract. I have used CBT, this helps "thanks brain", but then the thoughts always come back.I think am doing right thing getting tested, but I have three weeks to wait for the results and am a nervous wreck (though functioning) Can anyone reassure me doing right thing despite the enormous anxiety? I spoke to mammogram people and they said its pretty normal to be anxious and just get on with it

E92 Chronic Sadness...
  • replies: 3

Lately sadness and anxiety has been seeping out of me. The slightest conversations regarding family and a loss in some kind of way (real life or fictional) seem to trigger me. A friend opened up to me recently about something personal and it triggere... View more

Lately sadness and anxiety has been seeping out of me. The slightest conversations regarding family and a loss in some kind of way (real life or fictional) seem to trigger me. A friend opened up to me recently about something personal and it triggered my unresolved childhood trauma and had my throat and chest tighten up and tears flooded out and sream down my face uncontrollably. Which made me feel so guilty, guilty that I couldn't hold myself together and just be there for my friend and feeling like an absolute narcissist and made the situation about me.Today just my thoughts seem to have me in tears. Thoughts of worthlessness, feeling like people think I'm stupid when I try to articulate what I'm thinking, feeling like I'm not good enough and that maybe it would be better if I just vanished. It physically hurts. I don't feel like I have anyone to talk to. I'm lonely and feel hopeless.

GypsyAvalon ELEMENTS OF LIFE
  • replies: 0

How do you bring each of these elements into your life? take noticegivekeep learningbe activeconnectBlessed Be

How do you bring each of these elements into your life? take noticegivekeep learningbe activeconnectBlessed Be

GypsyAvalon THOUGHTFUL TUESDAY
  • replies: 0

every journey is differentone thing at a timecelebrate small winshonour your feelingsmake someone smileI hope these thoughts help

every journey is differentone thing at a timecelebrate small winshonour your feelingsmake someone smileI hope these thoughts help

flowers_ Anxiety and loneliness overseas
  • replies: 3

Lately I have been feeling so anxious its completely overwhelming. I can't sleep properly, I wake up with pounding anxiety all the time. And I notice that I'm grinding my teeth without realising. I feel so anxious sometimes I can't control it, and I ... View more

Lately I have been feeling so anxious its completely overwhelming. I can't sleep properly, I wake up with pounding anxiety all the time. And I notice that I'm grinding my teeth without realising. I feel so anxious sometimes I can't control it, and I sometimes cry all day because I feel so anxious. I'm in my mid-20s studying overseas and travelling. I just feel so alone, and like a failure because I'm such a crying mess. I try to reach out to my friends and family, but I still feel homesick and alone. I feel like everyone thinks I should be so happy because I'm young and travelling, and sometimes I am happy, but a lot of the time I just feel sad, scared and lonely. I get so worried I that will be paralysed with anxiety and something will go wrong, or something bad will happen, and I won't be able to look after myself. It will be a couple of months until I move back home and can get counselling, I don't know if anyone has advice on how to cope with the anxiety until then, or if anyone can relate to feeling this way?