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

Fuzzy80 New to the Group but not New to aniexty!
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone , I'm new to this forum. I've suffered from anxiety from a young age. And it has been a trigger on and off for years . So over it. Is there a way to truly ever overcome it , like forever?

Hi everyone , I'm new to this forum. I've suffered from anxiety from a young age. And it has been a trigger on and off for years . So over it. Is there a way to truly ever overcome it , like forever?

leo232 Does it ever stop?
  • replies: 5

I'm proud of myself for how far I've come in regards to battling anxiety. I am tenacious and I wont ever give up...but they always said it would get easier. That I'd learn to live with it. but its not easier, I'm just stronger. I just want a break. I... View more

I'm proud of myself for how far I've come in regards to battling anxiety. I am tenacious and I wont ever give up...but they always said it would get easier. That I'd learn to live with it. but its not easier, I'm just stronger. I just want a break. I just want one day, just one, where I can relax. Where I can put my feet up and say "ahh what a lovely relaxing day". But i can't. I can't relax. It's so draining. I have no energy, no peace, no sleep, I cant' eat because I'm constantly nauseous, I can't be in social settings without using every bit of my energy to keep me from throwing up. I can't get on buses or trains and yet I can't pass my driving test because I get horrible test anxiety. I have no job because every time i get one I end up having a massive panic attack in the backroom and then Im told I need to take some "personal time". Im sleep deprived, bored, house ridden and broke. I just want it to stop. just ONE day then i promise I'll keep going. Like I always have, just let me have one day. I feel like there's no one else in the world who knows this, but there has to be. Is there anyone that can tell me theyve been here and eventually you get your day of rest?!

Riss Anxiety and dating
  • replies: 3

Hi every one I hsve had anxiety for years now and im on meds for it. I got out of a relationship that tough me appart about 4 years ago and have just started to curiously date a guy again. And my Anxiety about it all is so high im going to distroy th... View more

Hi every one I hsve had anxiety for years now and im on meds for it. I got out of a relationship that tough me appart about 4 years ago and have just started to curiously date a guy again. And my Anxiety about it all is so high im going to distroy the relationship befoe it starts. Hes very ill atm. And has gon quieton me , and though I know he is unwell the fact I have heard nothing from him is making me feel terrible. Has any one ells had this kind of problem before with anxiety and a new relationship???

Mel... The Vicious Cycle
  • replies: 3

Where do I start...? I have depression, anxiety and PTSD. I have been on anti depressants for approx. 5 years now and have had to change them once before. The process was treacherous; dizziness, withdrawals, fevers. I couldn't go to work. I haven't h... View more

Where do I start...? I have depression, anxiety and PTSD. I have been on anti depressants for approx. 5 years now and have had to change them once before. The process was treacherous; dizziness, withdrawals, fevers. I couldn't go to work. I haven't had a panic attack in years until this week. They seem to last for days. I cant eat properly due to the nausea, I feel like I am constantly shaking. Perfectly rational situations make me a sobbing mess and I cant seem to get out of my head. I get anxious that I might have a panic attack which then causes a panic attack and I can't tell if it was because I was actually anxious or not - the vicious cycle. Im seeing a uni counsellor and my doctor, they both seem to think my medication has stopped working. This upsets me as I felt like I was getting better and now I feel like I am back where I started. I don't want to have to go through the process of changing my medication again and I don't understand why they just stop working. Im so tired, I just want to feel normal. I just want my normal life back.

Shan41 too scared
  • replies: 2

Every month or so I seem to be getting worse and worse, and I'm really worried my schooling is going to be affected by it all. Every time I talk myself into going to talk to someone, I then get too scared and back out. What should I do?

Every month or so I seem to be getting worse and worse, and I'm really worried my schooling is going to be affected by it all. Every time I talk myself into going to talk to someone, I then get too scared and back out. What should I do?

Ellie86 Hello, new here.
  • replies: 9

Hi, I have been tinkering around this forum and have been reading posts endlessly. And from everyone's personal and inspiring words, I feel ready to reach out, share bits and pieces about me and perhaps gain some insights from others. So a bit about ... View more

Hi, I have been tinkering around this forum and have been reading posts endlessly. And from everyone's personal and inspiring words, I feel ready to reach out, share bits and pieces about me and perhaps gain some insights from others. So a bit about me, I have had anxiety for what seems like forever (since 13 yrs old), have battled depression but have overcome that aspect slowly. I do suffer OCD and negative body image. I have seeked various treatments for my conditions, but always end up back to the start especially with anxiety. I'm now 27, mother of 3 and also a full time uni student. I left my "baby daddy", who heightened everything with depression, anxiety and OCD (not a nice human) but have been more than blessed and lucky to have met 'my person'. I feel my life is in a positive place, I got accepted into a highly academic and difficult course to get into at uni, my children are happy and healthy, my fiancé' is just so beautiful and has so much patience with my mental health issues. But I just feel my anxiety is becoming out of control and consuming me, I don't know why. There is only so many times I can vent to my dearest friends who are simply gorgeous but they have their own lives. I'm trying so hard to be "normal", it's so exhausting. I have finally accepted the fact that I have mental health issues that I need to address now, for me firstly, my person and my children. I have reached out to local anxiety and OCD support groups, which is so terrifying for me to go to, but I must, I want to start healing and manage that part of my life. After over a decade, I feel ready to address mental health illness in my world. I want to feel mentally sound and not alone. The hardest part for me when I have a "moment", I feel so alone, out of control with being irrational and question myself with anxiety. I don't want to be a shell of myself any more, I want to start living, I feel so awkward with having a few issues especially body image which fuels anxiety hugely for me, it consumes me so much, I feel like a 14 year old girl always comparing all aspects of herself to others. I wish I could put a sign up for my life saying back in 10 minutes, so I can have the time to work through all that I need to, without the pressures of motherhood and uni. (Perhaps I could just slip out the back door for a while and nobody notices.) Does anyone go to support groups? If so, how was that experience? Thank you kindly, sending all love and light. x

GemmaR please help!
  • replies: 5

Hey guys, So I've been suffering with severe anxiety, depression, & OCD since I was 15 (that I am aware of) I'm now 20. I have been to several psychologists & psychiatrists & nothing is helping! I've been on a few different medications but they all j... View more

Hey guys, So I've been suffering with severe anxiety, depression, & OCD since I was 15 (that I am aware of) I'm now 20. I have been to several psychologists & psychiatrists & nothing is helping! I've been on a few different medications but they all just make me sick, and that is my main anxiety! It's so hard for me to say this considering it is an absolutely terrifying subject for me, but I am really struggling and don't know how much longer I can live like this. I am so afraid of becoming ill, not the flu or anything, but the thought of food poisoning or a stomach virus completely debilitates me to the point where I refuse to eat because my mind will tell me I am going to be sick. And I refuse to leave my house because I am convinced I will pick up a virus. I am 20 years old I should be living a normal life but I just can't seem to find a balance! (although who says what's normal right!?) I just need some sort of help or even just some reassurance that I will be ok, that this isn't how I'm going to spend the rest of my life! Thanks guys

Man_nipple I'm scared of myself
  • replies: 2

So I have obsessive compulsive anxiety but at the time I was diagnosed they said I was a mild case and there was not much I could do unless I wanted to take medication to which I refused. Fair enough, but since then I feel like my brain is forcing it... View more

So I have obsessive compulsive anxiety but at the time I was diagnosed they said I was a mild case and there was not much I could do unless I wanted to take medication to which I refused. Fair enough, but since then I feel like my brain is forcing itself deeper into the whirlpool of anxiety. I'm scared of my brain, it's so volatile.I feel like we are two different people to the point where It will argue with me or talk to me out of the blue , I feel like I have to force myself to function properly 24/7 and it's exhausting. My brain constantly has intrusive thoughts and tells me things like "you are going to be sick (I am terrified of vomiting of late) so just do it now do it now. The smallest things can tip my mental health over for months and months. Whenever I'm alone in my thoughts I am constantly plagued by unpleasant things and fear. I'm sleep deprived and I'm scared of how far this will go. i can gain any number of phobias in a day just by thinking about it, my mind will constantly obsess about "new found phobias" and I feel out of control. I don't want this to get worse I'm terrified about the power that my brain has. I feel like I would feel much better if someone could just tell me that this will be over, I want to feel like I can win this battle, if anyone has any stories to share I would really appreciate it thankyou

jackbill Hello
  • replies: 3

Hello from Jack, I suffer from what I think is anxiety and what the doctor is calling anxiety.I work from home with is great because I never need to leave my home daytime. I will drive at night after dark when there are less cars around and gives me ... View more

Hello from Jack, I suffer from what I think is anxiety and what the doctor is calling anxiety.I work from home with is great because I never need to leave my home daytime. I will drive at night after dark when there are less cars around and gives me the chance to breath fresh air. I dread when my doorbell is rung, I mute tv or hide in bedroom and wait for them to stop (usually sales people). If my mobile or house phone rings I never answer it or I will switch off for a few days. My job allows me to never interact with people which I like.I have no friends which is great, no one can bother me, check on me or even come visit me. I don't have any family close by which is also great. I don't do anything. I get excited about watching a TV show or eating a new dish.I take my rubbish out at night so no one can talk to me (neighbours) but more so that people cannot see me. I wear jumpers in summer because I have visible tattoos that I think are horrible. I look back over the last few sentences and it seems very comical, but it's such a hard disease to have and live with. I saw a local GP who gave me over a period of 4years a number of different medications. I have been off meds now for 6 months with no side effects and I felt the tablets never worked. I know this anxiety is in my head but I cannot stop the feeling.After really getting sick of this feeling, I googled anxiety and ways to tackle it which has led me to this website. Not sure what the next step is, but at least I have taken a step

Pixie15 Help to overcome being triggered by aggressive people .
  • replies: 4

Hi, I am back at university which I am enjoying on a lot of levels but I am being worn down somewhat by having my anxiety being triggered by more aggressive people. I am having trouble concentrating and it is affecting my ability to write and take no... View more

Hi, I am back at university which I am enjoying on a lot of levels but I am being worn down somewhat by having my anxiety being triggered by more aggressive people. I am having trouble concentrating and it is affecting my ability to write and take notes and I think I look anxious and frowning. I can not always choose what group to join. It is very tiring. thanks.