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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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Tinks_1 Finding help
  • replies: 2

I recently had an anxiety episode that began late on a Friday. It was still intense on Saturday morning so I decided to go to the doctor. No doctor available so I went to the ER at my local hospital. I had a 6 hour wait and was only seen when I persi... View more

I recently had an anxiety episode that began late on a Friday. It was still intense on Saturday morning so I decided to go to the doctor. No doctor available so I went to the ER at my local hospital. I had a 6 hour wait and was only seen when I persisted in getting attention. There was only one doctor available who did not seem to see ER patients for 4 hours. The stress of waiting made it worse. My question is: what could I have done instead?

criz Anxiety with depression --jeeez when does it stop.
  • replies: 1

Hi I'm new here I'm 46 married with 2 kids. When I was 15-16 years I started to notice i used to get very nervous around new friends or large groups. Over the years it has not got much better it has led me into depression which escalated when my brot... View more

Hi I'm new here I'm 46 married with 2 kids. When I was 15-16 years I started to notice i used to get very nervous around new friends or large groups. Over the years it has not got much better it has led me into depression which escalated when my brother died in 2003. I have only started taking anti depressants 2 days ago can you believe. It was either start medication and see if it helps, or follow through on the thoughts I've been having. Ive come to a point in my life where I have lost two off my best friends , that I have not seen now for nearly 4 years and cannot seam to get enjoyment out of anything anymore, I hate being around people. I worry about every little thing and the big things send me into a deep depression. Ive been off work for a week (work in the building industry) now and don't want to go back. Im beginning to think pretty dark things, as this is no way to live. Ive got through the past 4-5 years just worrying about my kids I don't really know where I'm going

Angellove123 Is this anxiety I feel?
  • replies: 7

Hi there, I am 35 yrs old and think I've experienced anxiety for the first time a few months ago. Let me start by saying I have had a great life and am a very laid back, calm and collected person. i have been experiencing a racing heart that feels li... View more

Hi there, I am 35 yrs old and think I've experienced anxiety for the first time a few months ago. Let me start by saying I have had a great life and am a very laid back, calm and collected person. i have been experiencing a racing heart that feels like my heart is gonna bust out of my throat. It usually comes at night and steadily gets worse as the night goes on. It is something I have never experienced before. I've not had many other symptoms with the exception of loss of breath every now and then. I try and breathe my way thru the intense beats of my heart but it doesn't seem to work. This past year I have gone thru a loss of a job, a breakup of a 10 yr long marriage and am dealing with intense financial struggles. Not to mention Ive had chronic back and neck pain that has seemed to intensify this past year. Nobody would know because I deal with things quietly and calmly on the inside. I've been told I seem quite cold and emotionless sometimes with the way I deal with life's struggles. But regardless, could these issues be what has brought this on? And is what I'm feeling anxiety? Cause I believe it is. Even as I type this, I can feel my heart starting to beat strongly in my throat. My doctor said medication could help but I have yet to go there. I appreciate anyone else sharing their experience and trying to figure out what this is I am feeling.

Mishka Derealisation
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I have had panic disorder for about a year now which has quickly gotten worse as I didn`t know how to deal with it. 3 months ago I signed up to Mind spot. I highly recommend it, it has been a huge help for me. You will learn so much and ... View more

Hi everyone, I have had panic disorder for about a year now which has quickly gotten worse as I didn`t know how to deal with it. 3 months ago I signed up to Mind spot. I highly recommend it, it has been a huge help for me. You will learn so much and everything will start to make sense.The only symptoms that bother me now are feeling light headed which I know is to do with your breathing so I do deep breathing whenever I think of it. The other symptom is derealisation. When I was working I would feel like this all day 8 hours everyday! It was horrible. Has anyone had experiences with derealisation and if so how do you deal with it?

Hopefull_ Why do some of us deny ourselves "Happiness"
  • replies: 10

Hey Everyone, I ask this question because it's something I Have been doing for a long time, but, I know why I have been doing it. I questioned it and had to ask myself "Why" Why am I doing this, did I do something wrong? Do I feel I have to deny myse... View more

Hey Everyone, I ask this question because it's something I Have been doing for a long time, but, I know why I have been doing it. I questioned it and had to ask myself "Why" Why am I doing this, did I do something wrong? Do I feel I have to deny myself happiness as some sort of punishment. NO! I didn't do anything wrong I was however made to feel like I had and I guess it became ingrained, deeply ingrained so any form of happiness felt strange and I would start to look for ways to diminish it. Sure there are things that make me happy like spending time with my children, I do feel happy when I'm with them. What I'm referring to is being able to enjoy socialising and getting back into my hobbies etc. How many times have you put something off, something that you know deep down would have given you some happiness ? I guess I'm curious to hear other peoples thoughts on this and maybe even some insight as to how to overcome this problem. James.

TedCatTed I Feel Out of control!
  • replies: 3

I have Generalised Anxiety and Panic Disorder. For the last 3 weeks I have been going through a really bad period anxiety wise and I just don't feel like it will ever end. I have been through longer periods of anxiety than this, but this feels differ... View more

I have Generalised Anxiety and Panic Disorder. For the last 3 weeks I have been going through a really bad period anxiety wise and I just don't feel like it will ever end. I have been through longer periods of anxiety than this, but this feels different.The underlying issue that started this period was that my best mate stopped speaking to me and cut me off completely. We work closely together, so it has turned my workplace into somewhat of a minefield and I just can't calm down.I wake up anxious and I spend the day panicking and feeling awful. Whenever start to feel remotely calm, it's as if my brain can't handle the downtime and searches for something to panic about. Recently it has been about my parents dying. I am 28 and still live with my parents due to my anxiety, and if something were to happen to them, I don't know what I would do. This is like my brains favorite go-to thing to panic about at the moment cause I keep thinking it can happen anytime.I take medication daily, but I don't really like taking it as I am scared of the addiction factor.I know I should go and see someone about it, but the last Psychologist she was useless and pretty much told me to suck it up and just stop stressing. So I'm not keen on going back. I am just so stuck in this cycle of anxiety, I feel like it's never going to end. I need some guidance as to what to do to 'snap out of it' and calm down.I' m scared I'll be stuck like this forever. Does anyone else feel like this? What do you do to stop the cycle?

Searcher So very tired of anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi, just wondering if anyone else is tired. Tired of taking medication.. Tired of hearing about relaxation. Tired of hearing about slowing down and spending more time with being aware and developing 'mindfulness'. These are all worthy exercises, but ... View more

Hi, just wondering if anyone else is tired. Tired of taking medication.. Tired of hearing about relaxation. Tired of hearing about slowing down and spending more time with being aware and developing 'mindfulness'. These are all worthy exercises, but in reality, very difficult to maintain. People depend on us so much. Children need us mentally and physically healthy. Husbands need us to 'suck it up' and stay strong. t's just not possible. I'm tired. Don't want to whinge, but maybe there is another strategy to dealing with this stupid, debilitating and demanding diagnosis.

CathyMay Bad Anxiety With Public Speaking
  • replies: 4

Hey Everyone, I have really bad anxiety with Public Speaking. I get hot, sweaty, dizzy and almost to the point where I need to be sick. Does anyone have any tips that can help me through this?

Hey Everyone, I have really bad anxiety with Public Speaking. I get hot, sweaty, dizzy and almost to the point where I need to be sick. Does anyone have any tips that can help me through this?

AGrace Fear of Flushing : The unspeakable
  • replies: 3

If statistics are right, 2/3 of you will get a laugh out of a topic that got headlines in the paper today, and 1/3 of us will feel a sense of relief that we are not the only ones who get anxiety about the unspeakable act of having to flush. The artic... View more

If statistics are right, 2/3 of you will get a laugh out of a topic that got headlines in the paper today, and 1/3 of us will feel a sense of relief that we are not the only ones who get anxiety about the unspeakable act of having to flush. The article "Toilet Anxiety: fear of the unmentionable" raises the point that just over 30% of Australians are affected by toilet anxiety. Many of us are aware of 'shy bladder syndrome' but what is less talked about is 'shy bowel syndrome'. This phobia of using the bathroom in public can lead people to avoid going out, going to work, and in extreme cases not going to the bathroom at all,resulting in severe physical discomfort. One of the contributing factors of 'shy bowel syndrome' is the fact that such a delicate topic is often not spoken about in public, so I thought I'd open up the discussion around this condition, not to hear of all the horrific bathroom blunders, but to bring awareness and hopefully a sense of relief to sufferers. In times like these, it's helpful to know we are not alone. AGrace

mtessa Anxiety: yes for sure but not sure how to go through it this time.
  • replies: 4

Good morning, I always suffered of anxiety, almost for 25 years. I am a mum of two young children. I had a very bad episode in June. I put everything in place: meds, psychologist, GPs, sport coach, naturopath. I thought I was pretty good until three ... View more

Good morning, I always suffered of anxiety, almost for 25 years. I am a mum of two young children. I had a very bad episode in June. I put everything in place: meds, psychologist, GPs, sport coach, naturopath. I thought I was pretty good until three weeks ago. I started to feel pin and needles on my face and I started to freak out. The following day I went to see my GP (not mine but her colleague), a really nice and understanding one. He told me not to worry that it can be allergies. But for people like me experiencing high anxiety, I did not believe it. And the vicious circle started: I googled and I started to experience pin and needles in my hands and feet. Of course, I came back to see him and he told me it was anxiety. I tried to believe him but it is like reassuring me one minute and to need to get your "dose" like a junkie. I am pretty sure you know the feeling. I have seen of course my psych in between. I continue to run and to function the best that I can. I am now experiencing headaches. I am feeling very hopeless and I don't understand where this anxiety is coming from. I just hoped I can go through this "wave" but not sure how to. I am always asking for help but the only help can only come from me. Thanks you for reading my comment.