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.

All discussions

heidisalone so it begins again
  • replies: 1

Endless nights no sleep I try so hard to srop. Switch off I cant. My world is collapsed and I cant breathe. I struggle day in day out feeling like im dying drowing in fears to which I cant explain. Help

Endless nights no sleep I try so hard to srop. Switch off I cant. My world is collapsed and I cant breathe. I struggle day in day out feeling like im dying drowing in fears to which I cant explain. Help

myfears59 I am Lost
  • replies: 2

I have lost myself and do not know how to get me back. This has been for three years now, I had a normal life up until then. two major incidents happening contributed to turning my life turning upside down. My sister passed away with cancer which was... View more

I have lost myself and do not know how to get me back. This has been for three years now, I had a normal life up until then. two major incidents happening contributed to turning my life turning upside down. My sister passed away with cancer which was a major struggle and then a year later my manager decided she wanted her girlfriend to take over my role as Team Leader at work and she just stripped the position out from underneath me making out my doing two roles of student supervisor and Team Leader was too much work as the job description was going to increase. There was no warning and I felt like a complete failure, this is where it all started and just got worse from there. I am seeing a psychologist but it doesn't seem to help. Writing, breathing, shifting my thoughts, paper bag breathing, packing and unpacking my thought closet, anxiety just sits there. I get so worked up that I faint, I've been hospitalised on many occasions then when I'm released and see my Dr he says it's something you just have to learn to deal with. I have a lot of allergies to medications so I am even anxious about trying meds due to side effects. A little bit about what I'm experiencing, my heart thumps so hard it feels like it will jump out of my chest, shaking hands, dizziness and light hardheadedness to the point of fainting, I can't catch my breathe, feeling like I am going to fall over. I work as a support worker for people with mainly intellectual and physical disabilities, I am a student supervisor/trainer and assessor, while at work I feel like I have a happy mask on, as soon as I reach home everything sets in. I've missed countless days off work due to this. Weekends are the worst, I'll cry all weekend feeling sick and just lay on the bed, I have laid on the bed crying and sleeping for a week, there have been two occasions I didn't sleep for four days to the point of exhaustion. I've stopped going out apart from getting to and from work, I've tried to start doing activities again but I just can't do it. I keep asking myself "what am I here for, what's the point of it" I wouldn't do anything to harm myself but I can see and understand why people do. I wouldn't do that to my mum, two daughters, grand kids or brothers. I don't know what to do to help myself when nothing seems to work. If I could lock myself away and become a recluse I would, I hate going outside my front door, if I could give my work up I'd do that too but I need an income. I hate my life right now

inneedofadvice84 Anxiety & Relaxation
  • replies: 3

Although I have read a large number of posts on this forum, I have always been nervous to post....until now. For most of my life, I have had symptoms of anxiety, however I have always been too embarassed to admit there was something not right with me... View more

Although I have read a large number of posts on this forum, I have always been nervous to post....until now. For most of my life, I have had symptoms of anxiety, however I have always been too embarassed to admit there was something not right with me. Recently I have started seeing a Psychologist and have been told that I suffer from severe obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, general anxiety & an eating disorder. While I have started on a low dose of medication, I am still waiting to see a Psychiatrist to determine if I am taking the right medication. Although I do a lot of walking, I want to start some form of Relaxation / Mindfulness classes or sessions - is there anyone in Adelaide who can make any recommendations on good places to go? Or if you have tried a good online / audio program - I would be willing to try this as well. Any ideas with regards to relaxation would be greatly appreciated!.

Chloekat84 Anxiety returned after nearly a month of relief :(
  • replies: 2

Hello everyone. Ive written on these forums before. Ive been diagnosed with BPD and Dysthymia and recently went to an emergency refuge clinic while my parents looked after my daughter. I was doing so well while I was there for a week then when I came... View more

Hello everyone. Ive written on these forums before. Ive been diagnosed with BPD and Dysthymia and recently went to an emergency refuge clinic while my parents looked after my daughter. I was doing so well while I was there for a week then when I came out I felt fresh with a different outlook on life and also was looking forward to my grandma coming over to stay for 3 weeks with me. Shes from Darwin so means a lot that shes here. Anyways its getting near the end of her stay. She leaves in 2 days and I don't know if its subconscious but today I have had extremely bad anxiety and have felt neuseas and judt wana cry. It must be because I know im going to be completely on my own looking after my daughter. Shes not a hard child to look after but everything is hard when I feel like this. I haven't had to come on this forum for a while because ive been doing so well but now im scared im going to fall into a heap after she leaves. I just want to hide and cry :'(

madus What should I do now?
  • replies: 1

I didn't exactly know where to post this so I hope this is the right area. I had applied for DSP from centrelink and after waiting a few months I just found out it got rejected. I have no idea what to do now. I Suffer from extreme anxiety / depressio... View more

I didn't exactly know where to post this so I hope this is the right area. I had applied for DSP from centrelink and after waiting a few months I just found out it got rejected. I have no idea what to do now. I Suffer from extreme anxiety / depression from growing up in an abusive household. For the last 10 years I have been massively depressed and suicidal. I have trouble even leaving the house and my mother makes most of the calls / centrelink appointments because I will have panic attacks. I just want to know what I can do now with getting some income a week to help myself out a bit more. I am on high doses of antidepressants and have been slowly getting better over the last few months but after getting the letter about my DSP being rejected I have gone downhill again.

its-JD My Story so far...
  • replies: 1

Hi all. Over the last year or so I’ve been experiencing a whole range of weird sensations. Everything for dizzy spells, to feeling like i’m almost losing consciousness, to chest discomfort, weird pains in my gut - a pretty constant feeling of ‘unwell... View more

Hi all. Over the last year or so I’ve been experiencing a whole range of weird sensations. Everything for dizzy spells, to feeling like i’m almost losing consciousness, to chest discomfort, weird pains in my gut - a pretty constant feeling of ‘unwellness’ - that something isn’t right. I’ve been to the doctors, and been referred to a number of other health care professionals and specialists. Every test comes back negative. I’ve had my heart checked, I’ve had my head checked, loads of blood tests, monitors and the like, none show anything out of the normal. I’m not naturally one to stress over too much. But this health thing is beginning to cause me quite a lot of anxiety. I find myself becoming incredibly worried about it all, and have developed quite a fear of suddenly dying. I sometimes wake in the middle of the night, gripped by this sudden strong and intense terror, that i’m about to go - that my heart is about to stop beating and that will be that. Or at other times, perhaps sitting at work, suddenly I’ll feel a little dizzy, get incredibly nervous and feel that ol’ familiar fear grip me. That this is it. I’m a goner… and I won’t get to live out all the dreams I have - all the things that I want to do with my life. Other times I’m scared that there is just something the doctors have missed, some undiagnosed disease slowly eating away at me. It all feels a bit much sometimes. Generally I can function fine, and don’t let people know about the anxiety that is boiling away just under the surface. I mean what am I meant to do? Turn to my friend and say, “I think I might be about to die” - Even that sounds crazy to me! So far I have refused to let it stop me from doing anything that I would normally do, but that in itself can make some really enjoyable things in my life so stressful! Playing sport afraid that you might be about to collapse on the field is awful. I’m just not entirely sure what to do… or who I should talk to, or what I should even say - but I would love to be free of this constant worry, to be given a clean bill of health and just know that I’m fine - that I can go live my life without this nagging fear that calamity is waiting just around the corner. I’m having moments where I just feel exhausted by it all, and I don’t want it to begin to impact relationships in my life. Has anyone else felt like this? Experienced something similar? Beaten something like this?

pdent relief
  • replies: 4

Hi all Another Friday ...a day I looked forward to in the past but this anxiety that has arrived 10 weeks ago has made minutes seem like years and I wondering if it will ever end..I selfishly think of my own worries 24/7 ..how people go on like this ... View more

Hi all Another Friday ...a day I looked forward to in the past but this anxiety that has arrived 10 weeks ago has made minutes seem like years and I wondering if it will ever end..I selfishly think of my own worries 24/7 ..how people go on like this for years I find amazing ..every wrong decision goes through my mind all night I am worried about wrecking my beautiful partners life with all this I hope all this ends soon for all of us that are troubled

Pinkypopz Feeling sick with guilt over something disgusting but I'm 99.9% sure i didnt do it
  • replies: 5

Hi all, I'm desperately looking for advice as I am going crazy. I am absolutely consumed with guilt, panic, anxiety, it's making me feel totally sick and I'm worried out of my brain. I'm scared to write things on the internet through fear of someone ... View more

Hi all, I'm desperately looking for advice as I am going crazy. I am absolutely consumed with guilt, panic, anxiety, it's making me feel totally sick and I'm worried out of my brain. I'm scared to write things on the internet through fear of someone seeing it and thinking i'm crazy/sick/disgusting etc. I just don't know what to do

mjncoursecar Anxiety disorder and panic attacks
  • replies: 5

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forums, so here is my story. Any advice would be appreciated, or just to discuss with other people who have been through a similar experience: A couple of years ago, I started to suffer from anxiety and depression, and for... View more

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forums, so here is my story. Any advice would be appreciated, or just to discuss with other people who have been through a similar experience: A couple of years ago, I started to suffer from anxiety and depression, and for a few months, had no idea what to do. After a while, I decided to seek help from a psychologist, from which I improved to a point in which I no longer thought I needed to see the psychologist. For about 12 months, I did have a few bad days, but nothing which concerned me. Earlier this year, the anxiety came back worse than before, which was later found to be caused by extreme stress. I also started to develop panic attacks, and at my worst, would be having one every day or two. I found this quite debilitating. Once again, I started seeing a psychologist until recently. I still have tough days (sometimes even weeks). I get really tired by the early afternoon, which has been due to the constant anxiety. I have also developed tremors in my hands, which on a good day, are very minor. On a bad day, they stop me from doing anything (writing, holding something, etc.). Also, being on edge all the time is exhausting, and I do feel very frustrated with it sometimes. I still get through every day, and have been developing my support network as I open up to more of my friends, which has been helping a lot.

SunnyMe New here and would like to talk
  • replies: 6

Hi, I'm new to the site, I'll try to keep this short. I am 26, married and have 3 kids aged 5, 4 and 2. They are the light of my life but lately I feel as though they are sucking the life out of me. I have been diagnosed with moderate to severe anxie... View more

Hi, I'm new to the site, I'll try to keep this short. I am 26, married and have 3 kids aged 5, 4 and 2. They are the light of my life but lately I feel as though they are sucking the life out of me. I have been diagnosed with moderate to severe anxiety and mild to moderate depression in the past but don't really identify with being 'depressed' apart from when my circumstances have been particularly bad. At the moment I feel as though my anxiety is getting worse and worse. I have obsessive thoughts about things that make me deeply uncomfortable. For example, I don't like my finger nails to touch anything glossy, or metal (always been uncomfortable for me but getting worse). More recently I don't like anything dry or with friction touching the inside of my mouth, wooden cutlery, paper straws, even my own fingers. When I say it makes me uncomfortable, I mean I involuntarily will flick my fingers, grit my teeth, panic rises inside and I have to fight the urge to tear at my hair/eyes to distract myself from the discomfort I'm feeling. More and more things seem to trigger me lately and I'm struggling to contain my feelings. I have times of anxiety where I feel I have a problem that I must solve right now but I can't figure out what it is. I then panic because i can't solve it. I don't tell my husband any of this because he gets so worried and helpless because he can't fix it. He just tells me to talk to someone. I do much better with writing things out though so I'm doing this in the hope that it will help me feel better. Thank you for taking the time to read