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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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unsureaboutallofthis My First Anxiety Attack
  • replies: 2

I guess I've been battling mild anxiety for years. I'm just too stubborn to ask for help. And my family has such a huge history of mental illness, and over the past 12 months so many awful things have happened - I just could never justify putting my ... View more

I guess I've been battling mild anxiety for years. I'm just too stubborn to ask for help. And my family has such a huge history of mental illness, and over the past 12 months so many awful things have happened - I just could never justify putting my own hand up for help while others clearly suffered so much more. Lately, I've felt it growing. I've had freak outs and panics about seemingly pointless things, I've had that horrendous tight feeling in my chest, all for years but lately (maybe the last 4-6 months) it's been so much more frequent and severe. It's like there is no reasons, no causes, it just sits with me all day. It is that nagging, ball in my throat feeling that yesterday manifested in a full blown anxiety attack. I could feel it getting heavier, and eventually that tightness was so painful I just couldn't breathe anymore. I was at work and for two hours sat in silence and struggled through. As soon as I got onto my usual train home, I lost it. I was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably and I don't know how more people didn't notice the girl in the corner losing herself... I've never ever felt anything like this. It was uncontrollable, exhausting, all the while being a wake up call too... I need help. I've needed it for a long time, and it's ok for me to ask. Today I'm left reeling. I'm sleepy, and I feel like I'm just going through the motions at work. My chest is still so tight, and it's working it's way up again and it scares me. I want to keep it under control but I feel so lost. I forced myself out the door and have just been zoned out quietly at my desk. I'm writing this to get it off my chest and hopefully maybe to get some advice on how to handle myself, or where to go from here. I've watched my sisters go through so much worse, but I myself don't know where to start. I'm so lost!

Nadselise anxiety is hard
  • replies: 2

Hi, I'm new. I have general and social anxiety. I like to tell people about my anxiety as I have learnt so much, and still it continues. My anxiety was diagnosed in 2010, my son had just turned 1. I'm currently seeing my counsellor for the 2nd time, ... View more

Hi, I'm new. I have general and social anxiety. I like to tell people about my anxiety as I have learnt so much, and still it continues. My anxiety was diagnosed in 2010, my son had just turned 1. I'm currently seeing my counsellor for the 2nd time, first in 2010, started again last yr. New routines are hard, and I'm currently going through my son starting school. Today I'm not going so well, but I got him there and that's important to me. I don't like crowds of people. To me living with anxiety means I can and have learnt so much about me. I understand my thoughts and whether they are helpful or unhelpful. A lot of the time I feel scared, but I put myself out there. Last year I volunteered on the Kinder committee as Treasurer, did fruit duty, and I attended both out of Kinder excursions. In December I had 7 Christmas parties in a week! Massive effort, and I did a lot of daytime napping, simply from overstimulation. When I was first diagnosed in 2010, I barely left the house once a week. Today I simply sat and read a book for 2 hrs. Diffusion is not working today, most of the time it does. I also like mindfulness and have done CBT. I'm slowly reading through The Happiness trap, slow going is required. I wish I could put my finger on it and squash anxiety out of my life, but it's here and I'm working on it and I'm a better parent for it.

Nebula OCD/Depression sufferer with weight issues.
  • replies: 2

I am a longtime sufferer of OCD and severe depression (almost in my mid 30s now). I have been on so many different medicines that I can barely remember them all. I have gained a massive amount of weight since my initial breakdown over 12 years ago. I... View more

I am a longtime sufferer of OCD and severe depression (almost in my mid 30s now). I have been on so many different medicines that I can barely remember them all. I have gained a massive amount of weight since my initial breakdown over 12 years ago. I am now about 150kg at 180cm tall, which is morbidly obese. When I started medication all that time ago I was 70kg. My diet over the years has certainly degraded as have my activity levels, which has also contributed to my current state. I have gained some level of control over the ritualistic behavior associated with my illness but have never really been able to stop the intrusive thoughts. The last few years I actually feel that depression is taking more of a toll on me than the OCD and that this depression itself largely stems from feeling like I am, for want of a better word, grotesque. I really have no self-confidence and am very worried about how people perceive me because of the way I look. I often get the sense that people are looking at me with disdain. I feel that I am reaching a critical juncture with my weight and depression at the moment, as with a strong family history of diabetes and heart disease I am pretty much skating on thin ice health-wise. I want to do something about all this and reclaim my life, but don't really have much motivation and even less energy. I see a psychologist who is also overweight and maybe because of this he never seems to take my weight issues seriously. I need a plan of action, some advice or guidance to tackle this obesity problem, but he doesn't seem to get this and usually changes the subject or makes light of it. I am seriously considering changing to someone else, although my GP and and psychiatrist seem to think this guy is great. Has anybody else had similar problems and managed to address them in a positive way? I have all the good intentions in the world, but they really don't get me very far. I am due to meet with my psychiatrist again soon and was thinking of asking for alternative medicine options, but am worried if I change again I will stack on more weight as always seems to happen. Are there any medicines for my illness that would even have weight loss as a side effect? I get so confused as to what I should do and feel like I have very little guidance. If anyone has any advice about this I would love to hear it

sadLex Depressed about my anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi - I've been experiencing depression and anxiety since the birth of my first child 11 years ago. I get better but I relapse and I find it such a struggle to get well again. I push myself to exercise and try to socialise but all I really feel like d... View more

Hi - I've been experiencing depression and anxiety since the birth of my first child 11 years ago. I get better but I relapse and I find it such a struggle to get well again. I push myself to exercise and try to socialise but all I really feel like doing is curling up in a ball and hiding away from the world. At the moment I'm finding it a real struggle to go to work and put on a happy face. I find it so hard to concentrate. I usually just make it home at the end of the day before I burst into tears. My husband can't understand why I'm so down. He thinks I should look at the positive things that are happening in my life. At the moment I can only find things wrong with my life. I'm struggling to challenge my thoughts because I don't think they are wrong. I went to the GP yesterday because I have been so teary. My usual GP is on leave and this one suggested that I take some medication and two days off work. I feel so lost and alone.

Trini Needing to release
  • replies: 1

This is the first time I have written on any of these forums. I will often have a read and move on but this is a first. ☺️It is midnight and I can't sleep. I had a couple of rolling panic attacks tonight the first full on ones where I have felt mysel... View more

This is the first time I have written on any of these forums. I will often have a read and move on but this is a first. ☺️It is midnight and I can't sleep. I had a couple of rolling panic attacks tonight the first full on ones where I have felt myself losing control for about 3 years. That in itself is fantastic. What I hate is having panic attacks at all. They make me feel weak, useless, stupid, dramatic, over the top .... ... I am sure we could all put in words here but I think you understand what I am trying to say. I am not sure what brought these on tonight as nothing 'bad' has happened, no bad news, I have nothing to fear etc. On saying all that I have been sick with a viral upper respiratory infection for nearly a month and it has worn me down. I feel sick on the antibiotics and sick with the infection. I was all set for making myself help out at my son's school tomorrow. I had told my son too so he was prepared (my son has high functioning autism). Then I was told I wasn't needed and that they would be fine and to enjoy my day. Giggles I should be happy but I feel depressed. I feel unwanted. I feel left out. Stupid really as I do so much at my son's school and I am pleased I don't need to go in as such (even if I think they are undervaluing the amount of hands they will need).I feel lost and I feel pushed away but I shouldn't logically feel this way. So now I have taken some medication to take the edge off my agitation and panic. Which has helped the physical symptoms but not my mental thoughts. I just want to get a good night's sleep.

grumpypoppy I became the ''quiet one''.
  • replies: 4

Hi everybody, I'm a 49 yr old maori male. I have struggled with depression and anxiety since I was 15. I grew up an only child to my single parent mum. My mum gave me so much love, but I and her family knew she was sad. We lived well but solitary, wh... View more

Hi everybody, I'm a 49 yr old maori male. I have struggled with depression and anxiety since I was 15. I grew up an only child to my single parent mum. My mum gave me so much love, but I and her family knew she was sad. We lived well but solitary, which suited me because I was shy. But in my senior year of high school something inside me snapped. My GP told me I had mild depression. Life went on, but without any real professional help I lost my identity. I became the "quiet one''. I rode a sad,lonely,painful rollercoaster ride for years. I've had a few loyal friends and I've worked hard. I moved here to Australia with my beautiful wife and children through my work which was good, but after time my depression came back. I have seen a psychiartrist who treated me with behaviour therapy. I'm in a good place, with support from my family and a few friends. I've kept working at my job, which has been hard because everyday I'm at work the never ending self negative anxious fearful thoughts cripple me. Thank you for letting me share my story. At last I've find my home, my friends who understand my pain, lonliness and fears.

Curtis24 The time has come to ask for some help..
  • replies: 7

Hello!This is actually my first ever thread I have written on any forum so please bear with me.I am 24 and from since the age of 17 I have suffered with anxiety & panic attacks. This was a very tough time and took over my life in my late teens. I use... View more

Hello!This is actually my first ever thread I have written on any forum so please bear with me.I am 24 and from since the age of 17 I have suffered with anxiety & panic attacks. This was a very tough time and took over my life in my late teens. I used to have episodes of attacks at home and then my parents grew more concerned. As they didn't really understand what I was going through my dad put it down to me smoking weed (which I wasent). I moved out when I was 18 and was put on antidepressants. Thinking back now I struggle to remember how they made me feel but in 6 months I was off them. As the years went on I learnt to deal with the panic attacks and my anxiety was reduced although always there ready to pounce unexpectedly. When I was 22 I moved into my own place with my best friend, I loved the freedom and all the silly stuff we got up to, I was happy for the first time in a long time and my attacks seem to vanish and I started to go to the gym and be myself (I have always been skinny and I am very self conscious about my body). Then at the age of 23 I made a decision to travel, to date that decision is the best thing I have made. I started off in Singapore and did a loop from Malaysia through to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam. I then flew to India. Here I discovered meditation. I always wanted to do it but always found an excuse not to. I attended a week long Osho mediation in the hills of Rishikesh. It was amazing, I had never felt so at one and at peace with myself. I was a changed person and I loved how i felt. A few months after I ended up in Nepal and completed the Annapurna circuit, Incredible and I would recommend it to everyone! So after Nepal it was time to start heading to Australia, I stopped in Brisbane for a few weeks then took a spontaneous flight to Darwin, I could feel myself slowly slipping into my old ways and forgetting about the meditation i had done in India. After 6 months I flew to Perth after a few months I had found a job, but I wasent me, id become moody, anxious, tired and worst of all I was filled with horrible dread. So now here I am, The last 4 weeks has been well possibly the worst I have ever felt. No panic attacks instead has been replaced with depression. I cant begin to describe my feelings but its been very tough especially with my new job too. 4 days ago I was prescribed an antidepressant. I have come here for help so would love to hear from you. Thankyou

LittleBritt I just don't know
  • replies: 1

My panic attacks are getting more and more frequent, this is the third one I'v had today. I'm not eating or sleeping and I'm constantly worried about all the things I have to do and pay for and get done so I don't disappoint people. I just don't know... View more

My panic attacks are getting more and more frequent, this is the third one I'v had today. I'm not eating or sleeping and I'm constantly worried about all the things I have to do and pay for and get done so I don't disappoint people. I just don't know what to do. I took myself to the doctor a few weeks ago and they started me on B12 injections to get my levels up but it's not helping. It seems like there is this dark cloud over everything I do and my thoughts are becoming darker and I just can't help it. I was suppose to start seeing a pyscologist today but she called in sick and that threw me into another full blown panic attack. I was worried enough as it is about the appointment. I just don't know what to do, I have to go back to Uni in a couple weeks and I don't want to be feeling this terrible.

JodiP Am i suffering from anxiety or depression?
  • replies: 3

Hi everyone, This my first time posting my experiences. I will start of by saying that i know very little about mental health, so please excuse me if i seem unsure or confused about what i'm going through. Unlike many others who have posted previousl... View more

Hi everyone, This my first time posting my experiences. I will start of by saying that i know very little about mental health, so please excuse me if i seem unsure or confused about what i'm going through. Unlike many others who have posted previously, i can't recall a history of mental health issues. As such, my sudden bouts of panic attacks, irrational thoughts and a general sense of anxiety and sadness have an acute origin that i can pinpoint to a particular event. About a month ago, i was completing an intense university related placement and experienced so much anxiety and stress during this period, that i ended up failing. Now, i face the difficult task of confessing this to my parents and potentially being kicked out of my course to which i would be required to come up with a Plan B. I know that i should try to look at my 'problems' in perspective. But this is just so hard coming from the environment that i grew up in where failure (in any domain, i.e. Hsc, tertiary education, work, love life) is synonymous with shame and disgrace. My question is, 'am i suffering from anxiety or depression?' (I know that many of you are not qualified specialist) but my understanding is that both of these diagnosis usually have a long term, ongoing origin and can often occur even without a major stressor in your life. Sorry if im not explaining myself correctly, i hope someone can provide an answer to these questions.

Gypsy22 Anxiety.. Only an emotion.
  • replies: 1

Anxiety.. They say its only an emotion. What an emotion to experience. My name is Gypsy, I'm 22 and live with my partner and two daughters. My eldest girl is 3, my second is 4 months. My partner suffers from depression and anxiety and has autism. I a... View more

Anxiety.. They say its only an emotion. What an emotion to experience. My name is Gypsy, I'm 22 and live with my partner and two daughters. My eldest girl is 3, my second is 4 months. My partner suffers from depression and anxiety and has autism. I am his carer. Mostly days are good. I wont lie we do have bad days, hell we sometimes have terrible days, but who doesn't right? I'm undertaking a tafe diploma, whilst caring for my family and on the odd occasion working part time for our families business. Through out my life I have had highs and lows, some lows lower than most. My early childhood wasn't so pleasant and I guess I allowed that to shape my personality and behavior growing through my teenage years, acting out, doing wrongs. Never the less after a long time and a lot of learning curbs I seen the light and turned myself around and here i am now on the right path with my beautiful family by my side. Sounds wonderful right? yes, but I hide within a secret. I suffer from anxiety. Full blown Anxiety. I have major attacks, I cant see straight, my heart palpitates at a thousand beats per second, my body shakes and quivers, my whole entire world as i know it comes to a holt crashing down around me, smashing into tiny broken pieces. What do I do? Well, after some nasty attacks I came forward and I spoke up and sought out help. At the start it was extremely hard and talking about it made my attacks even worse but eventually it got easier and I can now prevent myself from reaching peaking point (well, most of the time.) I found talking to some one anonymously at first helped, the beyond blue counselors have been more than helpful guiding me through various techniques to except what it is and how to combat the fear. Then I mustered up enough courage to talk to family members about how i was feeling and what it was that set my emotions off. Now I have finally summoned the strength to share my thoughts with the rest of you. Each day is a new day and im taking it day by day. I try to keep my mind occupied but night times are the hardest. So here I am writting this to you all trying to keep busy. There isn't really a point to my story but I thought I'd just take a step forward in shaping my emotions and taking control of them face on by writing this tonight. If anyone has any tips on how they conquer their anxiety I would love to know. Or even if you just want to share your stories here with the rest of us that would be awesome too. Thank you for reading.