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

Mares73 Geoff-anxiety issues
  • replies: 1

Dear Geoff as one who has their illness managed & given my huge respect for you-would you mind reading my latest post and see if you have any suggestions re coping with disabling anxiety? It's still under my "Royal Commission" thread. Love Mary (Mare... View more

Dear Geoff as one who has their illness managed & given my huge respect for you-would you mind reading my latest post and see if you have any suggestions re coping with disabling anxiety? It's still under my "Royal Commission" thread. Love Mary (Mares) x

bug30 Too much on my mind
  • replies: 4

Recently ive been having trouble sleeping. Its likea everything going on in my life plays on my mind when im trying to sleep. Most nights I wake uo aboit 3 or 4 times. I feel like im not getting anywhere in life. Most of my friends are married and st... View more

Recently ive been having trouble sleeping. Its likea everything going on in my life plays on my mind when im trying to sleep. Most nights I wake uo aboit 3 or 4 times. I feel like im not getting anywhere in life. Most of my friends are married and starting families and are constantly asking when me and my bf will be doing the same. We have discussed it but arent ready, we want to live our lives. But I feel as though im drifting fartjer and farther away from friends ive had for years because I wont conform and have a baby and because my boyfriend hasnt asked me to marry him. Im also having trouble at Work, I dont enjoy my job anymore and want to study but cant give up my job because we will be broke and wont be able to afford anything with only one income so I feel as thought im trapped in this job until I can find something else. I have a boss who wont give me the time of day because she tries to tell me how to live my life and I wont listen. She likes the girls who are married and atarting families. She couldn't care less about what I do, which makes work unpleasant. Who wants to work in a place where you feel so unwelcome It just feels like no matter what I do, I cant make new friends. We have lived in this new town for nearly 2 years and I do not have one person who I can contact to hang out with, I spend my days off at home alone cooking and cleaning. My closest friend is 4 hours away. This puts alot of strain on my relationship as my boyfriend seems to have no trouble making friends which makes me evwn more anxious. What is wrong with me? Why dont people like me? Why do people keep telling me how to live my life? Why do I feel like im failing and everything I put my mind too?

Gm Intrusive thoughts overpowering daily life
  • replies: 4

Hi. Not sure how to do this. I have an issue with intrusive thoughts. Really awful things that I can't control or let go of. I try to find distractions to occupy my mind and keep them at bay, and sometimes it works really well. However, more often th... View more

Hi. Not sure how to do this. I have an issue with intrusive thoughts. Really awful things that I can't control or let go of. I try to find distractions to occupy my mind and keep them at bay, and sometimes it works really well. However, more often than not something will happen to trigger an intrusive thought(s) process while I'm doing whatever it is I am doing to distract myself. I feel a heavy weight in my chest, and from then on I feel like I can't do what I enjoy anymore because it now has that negative connotation with it. It feels like my mind is trying to seek out whatever I love doing and making it into something ugly; a new trigger. The last time it happened was today, which prompted me to post this. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you deal with it? I feel lost. Hope this made sense. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

guest59 New to the page… frustrated
  • replies: 3

Hi guys,My name is Ben.Ive been living with (believe i have been) depression and social anxiety since my late teens.I have noticed over the last 8-10 months that these feelings have become much stronger, i feel as though I go through low points much ... View more

Hi guys,My name is Ben.Ive been living with (believe i have been) depression and social anxiety since my late teens.I have noticed over the last 8-10 months that these feelings have become much stronger, i feel as though I go through low points much more than i ever have before, and being in social situations is nearing on unbearable for me.Tonight I finally made the move to visit a GP in the hope to speak to someone…I became extremely frustrated that this GP simply palmed me off a months worth of tablets with a "you'll be right" attitude and to visit them in 2 weeks to see how i was feeling. I asked multiple times if I could possibly book to see some form of specialist for a chat instead, to which i received the same answer over and over. Take the tablets and ill see you in 2 weeks…Have I gone into this with too high of an expectation, or is this standard procedure for an initial visit?If it isn't standard procedure then does anyone have a good GP that can actually point me in the right direction?

Jemz14 Any online support groups or chat sites for Australian's??
  • replies: 1

Hi, This is my first post I have just joined - I am suffering very bad anxiety and panic attacks, I have a panic attack everyday usually more then once. I am terrified of dying. I hate eating in case I get food poisoning or have a serious life threat... View more

Hi, This is my first post I have just joined - I am suffering very bad anxiety and panic attacks, I have a panic attack everyday usually more then once. I am terrified of dying. I hate eating in case I get food poisoning or have a serious life threatening allergy, ( i did suffer my first allergic reaction a few months ago and have a appointment with a specialist in a few months). Since then my panic attacks and anxiety is off the charts and night time is the worst!!! I am scared i will die in my sleep. I am seeing a psychiatrist now and he has increased my meds i am just wondering is there any chat sites or online groups for Australians with anxiety and other problems. Kind Regards Jemz

Cookie Postnatal anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi I think I have developed postnatal anxiety and am hoping someone can share their story about how they got through it and how long it lasted. My daughter is now 9 weeks old and my husband is a shift worker so is not always around to help. My proble... View more

Hi I think I have developed postnatal anxiety and am hoping someone can share their story about how they got through it and how long it lasted. My daughter is now 9 weeks old and my husband is a shift worker so is not always around to help. My problem is that I have a constant knot in my stomach and feel so scared of how we are going to get through each day. I feel that I just don't know what to do with her all day. She is very unsettled and can become quite hysterical when she cries and I don't seem able to calm her when she is like this. I just feel terribly anxious about it all to the point where it consumes my thoughts all day and night. I'd be grateful for any advice or just to hear how others have coped? Thank you.

ronO Double cancer Anxiety whammy
  • replies: 2

Hello all. After recovering from bowel cancer at 39 , I was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago and also needed a spinal operation. Ive turned into an anxious human being . I was a confidant man . Now at 52 , Im quite anxious all the time ... View more

Hello all. After recovering from bowel cancer at 39 , I was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago and also needed a spinal operation. Ive turned into an anxious human being . I was a confidant man . Now at 52 , Im quite anxious all the time and can only work part time. Id really appreciate some advice or similar experiences Ron

hope_29 anxiety is coming back and i feel worse
  • replies: 1

I posted a couple of days ago about how I've been feeling now that I have started a new job and find myself checking everyday for a reply it's like im desperate or something. I actually left my last job because it was horrible hours and stress. I gue... View more

I posted a couple of days ago about how I've been feeling now that I have started a new job and find myself checking everyday for a reply it's like im desperate or something. I actually left my last job because it was horrible hours and stress. I guess I'm worried that I'm going to feel miserable at my new job. I have this fear that Im not going to do well even though I've worked for this company before and they were happy to have me back. It's like I feel I will let them down some way. I think my self-confidence is at a bit of a low. The role is more responsibility this time but I need the money atm. I know it all prob sounds normal but Ive battled for the last few years a long journey in depression and anxiety and was seeing a counselor about it (this was for other reasons but work was something we did talk about towards my last few sessions). I don't think Im depressed anymore but anxiety has been a battle. I haven't seen her in a few months now but I don't know if thats stopping me booking with her again. I guess I feel I had to come here just to let out what it is I'm feeling when I wake up for work or on a sat night when I know I have to go to work on a sunday. I wake up with knots in my stomach, my heart flutters, my hands feel really shakey and my lip twitches a bit too. I'm paranoid this will show at work sometimes when I feel nervous. Is this because I'm thinking too much? I know its ok to feel nervous at a new job but sometimes I just over think everything and hype myself up way too much just for one day and it drives me crazy. Whats strange is that Im actually a very positive person (well so everyone says)... even at work Im known to smile a lot but I wish I actually felt what I project myself. Please if anyone could give me some advice that would be amazing!

Iskallos This is weird
  • replies: 1

So long story short I've had anxiety for a while with a lot of physical symptoms, a lot of them going away and sometimes coming back or new ones coming into the fray. Last night though when I was trying to sleep, I heard something like a bell ringing... View more

So long story short I've had anxiety for a while with a lot of physical symptoms, a lot of them going away and sometimes coming back or new ones coming into the fray. Last night though when I was trying to sleep, I heard something like a bell ringing, like a doorbell that's an actual bell. I ignored it but it happened again and after that it stopped but then, just as I had started to doze off I jumped up and gasped for air like someone had just splashed water over my face (not actual feeling like that, of course). This proceeded to happen a couple more times until I turned my light on and fell asleep. Has something like that ever happened to any of you? It kinda reminds me of the time I thought I was going to have a heart attack and my heart would flutter every time I was about to go to sleep. This time though it came out of nowhere and it's freaking me out a bit.

mandy6 speechless
  • replies: 22

I think I have social anxiety. I have authority issues (is this a real thing or just a Grey's Anatomy thing?) when someone is my senior I can't have a conversation with them, I know exactly what I'm going to say, but i always back down last minute be... View more

I think I have social anxiety. I have authority issues (is this a real thing or just a Grey's Anatomy thing?) when someone is my senior I can't have a conversation with them, I know exactly what I'm going to say, but i always back down last minute because I get really stressed. Also if someone says something that I know is wrong I can't correct them even if I know they would want to be corrected, because as I am about to open my mouth my whole body tenses up and I physically can't say anything. I have an irrational fear of looking stupid/ idiotic, I know that I am and that everyone already knows that I am so I wouldn't be revealing anything new at all. so does anyone have any tips on overcoming anxiety? Is there a way to learn how to talk to people, approach them? be able to ask others for help and help them when needed? thanks