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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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Nedkelly990 End of the world, or not...
  • replies: 4

I'm very new to this and like i previously said to another guy I'm not even sure if what I'm dealing with can be called anxiety or whether I'm just a nut. Im thinking I can trace this back to my time as an infantry soldier in the army when I deployed... View more

I'm very new to this and like i previously said to another guy I'm not even sure if what I'm dealing with can be called anxiety or whether I'm just a nut. Im thinking I can trace this back to my time as an infantry soldier in the army when I deployed to Afghanistan. I haven't suffered from PTSD or anything but now that I'm out of the army I'm constantly concerned about how my own personal actions will effect these things that I stress about. Namely the end of the world! I'm constantly stressed about how much power I use or how much petrol I use or how much water I use, this stresses me out because I feel so strongly as if the world is going to end sometime in my lifetime. Or just around the corner. That we'll run out of oil and our society will crumble or something ridiculous like that. It affects me every day in a lot of things that I do. I can't talk to my wife about it she just thinks I'm a nut when I talk about the world ending. But it's something I legitimately worry about every day. There is always horrible stuff all over the media and the news and it's impossible to get away from and it just fuels my reasoning. I guess what I'm looking for out of this post is maybe someone who can relate, and a bit or clarity about whether what I'm feeling is in fact anxiety. Thanks

Chloekat84 Really bad anxiety hits me today :(
  • replies: 2

Ive been doing fairly alrite lately but today hasnt been a good day. Ive got nothing to be anxious about i dont understand. My daughter is at childcare so i have the day to myself. I slept for a bit this morning after i dropped her off which helped b... View more

Ive been doing fairly alrite lately but today hasnt been a good day. Ive got nothing to be anxious about i dont understand. My daughter is at childcare so i have the day to myself. I slept for a bit this morning after i dropped her off which helped but since i got up i have been feeling anxious ever since. I had to go down the street which i really didnt want to do but did anyway. I found it hard to deal with when i was out in public i just had to keep moving all the time. Do any of u have any strategies when out in public and u have this horrible feeling like theres too much adrenaline in my system. Thats the only way i can describe it. Home now and still feeling anxious but not quite as bad. Thats it for now. Take care guys x

binjyb "After The fall" recovering and anxiety after falling over .
  • replies: 1

Hi- wondering if anyone has ideas - or experiences to share? Almost 3 mths ago I tripped , fell, landed heavily on the ground and bounced my head off a large lump of wood. Concussion, broken rib, whiplash and injured shoulder . I am still on a number... View more

Hi- wondering if anyone has ideas - or experiences to share? Almost 3 mths ago I tripped , fell, landed heavily on the ground and bounced my head off a large lump of wood. Concussion, broken rib, whiplash and injured shoulder . I am still on a number of pain meds daily ...so that is MUCH better However , I am so scared of falling over again We live rural - and everywhere I walk is uneven/strewn with things that a bumblefoot such as I can trip on . I use a walking stick all the time - have done for years , and yes, that helps ! How does one get rid of the constant worry - the "wotifs" ? Any tricks /plans ? The whiplash pain was so bad , I am petrified of doing it again ... ( and am also hoping that it IS finally healing) thankyou .

EmmaP Girlfriend Hospitalised into Mental Health Unit- My Anxiety Worse
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, I finished an 11 hour shift at work last night and checked my phone to see a dozen messages and missed calls from my girlfriend saying she had been involuntarily admitted to the Mental Health unit at our local hospital last night (its no... View more

Hi everyone, I finished an 11 hour shift at work last night and checked my phone to see a dozen messages and missed calls from my girlfriend saying she had been involuntarily admitted to the Mental Health unit at our local hospital last night (its not the first time that this has happened, but the first time since we have been dating, for 7 months now). She has borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression. She was admitted because long story short her new medication wasn't working, she couldn't get into her doctor for two weeks to review the medication, so she told her therapist at her appointment yesterday that she was going to "neck herself if the voices in my head don't stop" so her therapist drove her to the hospital and admitted her. She told me she said it "jokingly" and that she knew it would get her into the ward so her medication could be reviewed earlier because she couldn't last two weeks until her next appointment. I struggle with my own demons- severe anxiety and depression. I am on medication but I am getting it reviewed because I don't feel its working, and I also have seen a therapist twice now, and have another appointment this week. I have been struggling of late and I guess I have been self centred. I feel guilty that I didn't see that she was struggling. However on the other hand she doesn't tell me that she is feeling bad so I can help her. I feel like my mental health is a burden on her, especially yesterday when I had a breakdown at lunch time when I saw her because everything had overwhelmed me in life. I am now worried that I have contributed to her hospitalisation even though she said I haven't. She isn't allowed her phone, and I feel so disconnected from her. One of my huge anxieties is separation from the people closest to me, so I'm really struggling not being able to text her and see how she is. My boss will only let me ring her twice today quickly and I can't see her until I go in after work this afternoon. She will be in there for at least 48 hours. I'm glad that hopefully her medication will hopefully get sorted out. But I can't help but feel more overwhelmed in life now. Is this being self centred and selfish? I just feel exhausted all the time and this is another thing to add to my uncontrollable anxieties. I feel guilty that that's how I feel. I dearly love her and want her to feel better and this is her time of need. Sorry I just needed to get it off my chest. EmmaP

Chloekat84 Not really knowing where to start! Im new to this board as well.
  • replies: 33

Hello my name is Chloe and im 29 years old with 2 children. One girl who i have full custody of and the father isn't involved and a son who spends most of his time with his dad. I have been diagnosed with anxiety/depression since my late teens and be... View more

Hello my name is Chloe and im 29 years old with 2 children. One girl who i have full custody of and the father isn't involved and a son who spends most of his time with his dad. I have been diagnosed with anxiety/depression since my late teens and been on and off various anti depressants for years. i have had a few bad times in my past but nothing compared to what i have been going through recently. Around 6 monthes ago i decided to come off my antidepressant which up until then was working very well for me, i just started to get some more bad days then good so my doctor decided to put me on a different drug so i tried another antidepressant but that didnt work either so we then started another and slowly increased the dose. I now wish i never went off my first antidepressant until recently with all the drug changes a started to feel unwell physically and emotionally. One day i was fine and the next i woke up like i had a really bad hangover but without the fun of drinkin the night before. I wasa mess that day and was hopin it was a one day thing and would go away the next day. Unfortunetly it didnt and every day got worse that i had seen doctors many times and even went to the emerency clinic as i couldnt stop shaking, was neausus and vomiting and had really bad restless legs. I have had restless legs in the past but nothin like this. It got to a point where i was crying 24/7 and even the most simplist thing like dressing/bathing/feeding and looking after my daughter was a struggle. This went on for a week when i had enough and couldnt cope. Previously the drugs didnt even work on me i was that anxious. Finally i went to the emergency with a referal from my GP and i stayed in hospital a few days as i needed sleep so badly as up until my bad attack started a week earlier i was having broken sleep for 2 or 3 hrs a night and hallucinating. My daughter had to stay with me as no1 could look after her so i couldnt have anything 2 strong to help me sleep. The next few nights my family helped and looked after her so i could get some much needed rest. I felt more positive when i left hospital. I am on an anti-pychotic drug which has helped a lot.

Lisa_C constant anxiety
  • replies: 4

I feel so hopeless and worthless. This constant anxiety is eating me alive. It feels like it's with me all day, everyday. The anxiety isn't always that severe but to carry just that little bit around me with me all the time is so uncomfortable and pa... View more

I feel so hopeless and worthless. This constant anxiety is eating me alive. It feels like it's with me all day, everyday. The anxiety isn't always that severe but to carry just that little bit around me with me all the time is so uncomfortable and painful. I'm 20 years old and I have felt like this for years to the point I have lost hope and feel like I have no purpose in life. To just leave the house to go and do something is such an effort, its like I really want to go out and do something today but my anxiety talks me out of it and then I feel even more anxious for not leaving the house and if I do I'll come back feeling like I can't relax as though I've had a panic attack or something. I don't know who I am and I will never find myself being the useless person I am. Seriously what is the point? I'd rather die than live like this. If I didn't have family who cared about me, I'd be happy to end my life now because I'm only living life for their sake. Yes- I have been on meds and done counseling and tried medication and that mindfulness stuff but its honestly never going to take away that anxious feeling. I guess I'm posting this to see if there are many other people who feel this way?

Anonymousanxiety Need help with my anxiety
  • replies: 3

My anxiety is really bad and effecting my life in everyday activities. I never used to be an anxious person but now I am suffering so bad from anxiety. I get the rapid heart beat short breath hot flushes sweats nerves to see people or be in public or... View more

My anxiety is really bad and effecting my life in everyday activities. I never used to be an anxious person but now I am suffering so bad from anxiety. I get the rapid heart beat short breath hot flushes sweats nerves to see people or be in public or drive my car. I don't know what to do I guess there is a bit of stress in my life right now but I can't control it and it's getting me down. I will randomly break out in a sweat whenever I over think something and than it jus brings on a panic attack or anxiety. I need help can someone please help me beat this.

Charlie_111 Relationship anxietu
  • replies: 4

I've had anxiety for a while now but in the last 6 months I've started a relationship that started off well but in the last 3 months I have grown paranoid and forever panicking about her .is it unusual to not trust anyone at all when in reality they ... View more

I've had anxiety for a while now but in the last 6 months I've started a relationship that started off well but in the last 3 months I have grown paranoid and forever panicking about her .is it unusual to not trust anyone at all when in reality they are a very trustworthy person ?? I get these ideas of her cheating or being sneaky or spiteful out of no were ? How do I control this ?is it usual from anxiety I've necer experienced it in a relationship before

tamarak severe anxiety - reaching out.
  • replies: 3

Hello. this is my first time on these forums although i have been on this site over the years. I hope in posting within the guidelines. i have a lifetime history of anxiety with occasional depression, which i began to recognise and manage in my early... View more

Hello. this is my first time on these forums although i have been on this site over the years. I hope in posting within the guidelines. i have a lifetime history of anxiety with occasional depression, which i began to recognise and manage in my early 20s (I'm 30 now). I have found psychology helpful several times, and feel like I have some good tools at my disposal for managing it. One issue I have is that as a child i learned to present very calmly despite extremely anxiety provoking situations, and this is generally a part of who i am as an adult. I think i, and my psychologists (who were very good) have underestimated how severe the anxiety is because of that. You know i guess it's easy to think you've got a handle on it and understand, but really the process of understanding yourself is very tricky. Well myself, i have found. anyway, my reason for posting, i am in a very bad way at the moment. I had been in a vulnerable place for a year (probably postnatal dep) aware of that, managing it fairly well. Things actually started to improve after i made some key changes to our life to reduce the pressure. Aaaand then a couple of weeks ago i got slammed with just about every trigger for my anxiety that I can think of. (Umm, abusive family issues, injury and subsequent financial issues, to name a few) i have a very loving husband who would like to help but shies away from emotion, cannot communicate (we've all got our issues huh) and unwittingly makes me feel much worse in his lack of response, if i try to open up to him. I am lucky to have supportive friends but it is almost impossible for me to expose just how vulnerable i am to people i know (my failing). it is very bad right now, we cant afford the Medicare psych program even, until my injury medical bills are paid. I have 2 children who need me sane and functional but at the moment i am in such an agitated state i can barely keep it together.i feel like one more thing, the slightest thing, and i will crumble. thankyou for reading, i realise this was long. Any advice, support, appreciated.

jodes76 anxious all the time
  • replies: 3

My anxiety is really high. I'm also having panic attacks as well. The kids fight alot which brings me down. My hubby puts me down and always telling me what to do. I feel like my meds are not working very well as I have had quite a few dark moments View more

My anxiety is really high. I'm also having panic attacks as well. The kids fight alot which brings me down. My hubby puts me down and always telling me what to do. I feel like my meds are not working very well as I have had quite a few dark moments