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

Vicckkii Possible PTSD from one time gummy user
  • replies: 1

Hi, I’m new here and just wanted to share my experience in the hope that I can connect with someone who’s had a similar experience to me. About 6 months ago I tried 1/2 a gummy for the first time (to put it into context - I’m a non smoker, hardly dri... View more

Hi, I’m new here and just wanted to share my experience in the hope that I can connect with someone who’s had a similar experience to me. About 6 months ago I tried 1/2 a gummy for the first time (to put it into context - I’m a non smoker, hardly drink - couple times a year maybe, I even avoid taking pandol if I don’t have to). Anyway, had a really stupid moment and tried 1/2 a gummy one night and I had the worst reaction of my life. I basically believed it was the end of my life. This lasted about 4 days, my husband had to take time off to care for me… it was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had. I feel like now I have PTSD (undiagnosed) from that and was wondering if anyone has gone through anything similar. It’s been 6 months and i still have the same sort of feelings reoccur every now and then. I would say I feel anxiety about death throughout the day and at night I get all the same feelings of thinking it’s the end of my life. I know I sound like an idiot but I just don’t want to feel like this anymore!

Ali7 Insecure about relationship: constantly thinking about breaking up
  • replies: 1

I’ve been with my boyfriend for two and half years now however for the entire relationship I’ve felt insecure about it. I’ve never been formally diagnosed but I’m sure I suffer with depression and anxiety/being insecure. Before the relationship start... View more

I’ve been with my boyfriend for two and half years now however for the entire relationship I’ve felt insecure about it. I’ve never been formally diagnosed but I’m sure I suffer with depression and anxiety/being insecure. Before the relationship started I wasn’t in the best place mentally and I don’t feel I have been for many years. I love my boyfriend dearly, there’s so many things about him that I appreciate and I’m worried I wouldn’t find that in another guy. However I feel so insecure all the time, to the point that most days I’ve thought about breaking up with him. I’ve broke up with him three times now and each time I do it hurts so much. I know that’s normal, but I instantly regret breaking up with him and worry that I’ve done the wrong thing - that I’m not going to find someone who is as caring as him, who I trust and who I have the same interests and values with. But I don’t know how to stop those thoughts and it gets me down so much. Apart from being on medicaton, I have tried online therapy (which ended up being too expensive) but when I can I plan to start counselling in person. But for now, how do I stop those intrusive thoughts about breaking up? Is it normal to think about breaking up that often or is it my mind telling me it’s for the best?

Freya1973 Sleeping issues
  • replies: 3

As I stress all day and have panic attacks and think to myself, am I going to sleep tonight?As I am about to go to sleep I have either palpations or spasms. Does this happen or is happening to anyone else?

As I stress all day and have panic attacks and think to myself, am I going to sleep tonight?As I am about to go to sleep I have either palpations or spasms. Does this happen or is happening to anyone else?

Av0cado_ I feel like I can’t talk to anyone
  • replies: 2

I need to vent somewhere but I don’t have anyone to talk to.Lately I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed and it’s like I have this weight crushing me down, it’s like I’m drowning and I can never come up for air. I need to talk about it with someone but ev... View more

I need to vent somewhere but I don’t have anyone to talk to.Lately I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed and it’s like I have this weight crushing me down, it’s like I’m drowning and I can never come up for air. I need to talk about it with someone but everyone has they’re own shit and I would rather help my friends with their problems than burden them with mine.I can’t get out of my own head, there’s so many thoughts, so much pain, and I jut want it all to stop, to go black for a second, but it won’t, the pain keeps going.I’m not okay, and it took me so long to admit that, I need help but I don’t know how to ask for it.I feel so overwhelmed and stressed and everything feels like an effort.

JacintaMarie Feelings
  • replies: 2

Hi, I haven't been on here for ages and I've been getting there, have had bad times but good times as well.Had some feelings & not sure if it's okay to feel like it,At work, people are stressed and I feel for them but realize it's their own making & ... View more

Hi, I haven't been on here for ages and I've been getting there, have had bad times but good times as well.Had some feelings & not sure if it's okay to feel like it,At work, people are stressed and I feel for them but realize it's their own making & there's nothing I can do to relieve it. I've just got to go with flow & agree with them, so arguments won't come.Is it alright to not want to be around people when their stressed. The people are higher ups and to be fair they're only new in the job, bur I have a feeling it's their personality, not the position and nothing I can do, it's for them to work it out.Hope everyone else is getting there. It's hard to keep mentally healthy and be kind to others & not take out my stress on others, I answered back to someone when I should have been quiet.

2faces Anxiety and sadness
  • replies: 2

I’m new to BB and have found just reading the forums has made me feel a little better already. Most helpful was one about what physical symptoms people experience with their anxiety. Particularly the breathing issues. I would like to hear more from p... View more

I’m new to BB and have found just reading the forums has made me feel a little better already. Most helpful was one about what physical symptoms people experience with their anxiety. Particularly the breathing issues. I would like to hear more from people with this debilitating symptom. I’ve gone down the path of looking for medical reasons for my constant shortness of breath and tight chest but with no findings. Just knowing that others share what I’m going through helps me to believe that what feels like a serious illness could in fact be anxiety. And then I want to try to understand the accompanying sadness, which I’m not sure is depression because I rarely actually shut down. Outwardly I am animated and jovial whilst internally my chest is crushed and I’m just biding my time to get to the end of the day. Even just writing that down feels like relief.

sparrowhawk Jealousy and anxiety
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone. I have come to realise that I'm really struggling with jealousy. I had a major life change back in April last year - I lived in a religious community for seven years and left (so left relationships, job, home, etc). I've come back to liv... View more

Hi everyone. I have come to realise that I'm really struggling with jealousy. I had a major life change back in April last year - I lived in a religious community for seven years and left (so left relationships, job, home, etc). I've come back to live with my parents and youngest sister - throughout those years I had little contact with them. It's been very difficult being back as I'm feeling a lot of jealousy and even rejection. I've experienced a lot of rejection in my life and have rarely had truly mutual relationships - a lot of people have taken advantage of me or used me. I felt a lot of rejection in the community. I came into the environment hoping it would be like family, which it should have been, but there were serious power imbalances and I didn't really have any mutual relationships within the community itself, so I often felt quite isolated. The closest relationships I had were with people who had authority over me and who abused their authority. I feel jealous seeing how close my sisters have become (talking every day on the phone, deep common interests, etc). I feel jealous at work when other team members have deep chats or do things without me, or seeing how light-hearted my boss is with other team members and how serious she can be with me (I have only been working there for four months, so know I can't expect to be integrated straight away). All of this makes me anxious, because I start telling myself that there's something wrong with me or that I'm never going to be good enough/never fit in. I hate feeling this way, as I really don't want to be jealous. I don't want to be resentful. I try and tell myself I'm happy my sisters are close, and I am. I have told them I struggle with jealousy (though I think it's hard for my family to really understand what went on in the community and what I'm dealing with now I've left) and one of them mentioned I'm too nice, that I shouldn't compare my relationships and try and forge my own. I'd really love advice if anyone has it!

Guest_342 Tailgated
  • replies: 4

Hello. I was badly tailgated on a busy highway today and I wondered if there are any tips regarding how I could have got out of the situation sooner and/or how I can de-stress. I am feeling a bit nervous still - about four hours later - and haven't b... View more

Hello. I was badly tailgated on a busy highway today and I wondered if there are any tips regarding how I could have got out of the situation sooner and/or how I can de-stress. I am feeling a bit nervous still - about four hours later - and haven't been able to handle any other stressful moments well since then (eg I got an email from a motel I stayed at saying they think I slept in both beds in my room so have to charge me another $15 a night - meaning they don't change sheets between guests if the 2nd bed doesn't look slept in - and I can't stop feeling yuck about that...)Anyway... back to the drive. A truck was going much slower than me so I moved to the right (overtaking) lane to overtake - at the time, there were no cars in that lane near me. Then as I almost passed the truck it started speeding up to the 100kmh limit. I was about to slow down to go back behind it but a 4wd had come up behind me and I couldn't see their headlights they were so close. I was going the speed limit and they were pushing me to go faster. I didn't. But I couldn't slow down or merge left (as the truck was now going the same speed as me). It continued for about 2 minutes. I was so scared. Then the limit changed to 110kmh so I quickly sped up to that and managed to get in front of the truck on the left. I was boxed in for that time and felt like my life was in serious danger. I am so upset by what the driver of the 4wd did - he could see I was in a situation I couldn't get out of. Further, the truck would have witnessed this too yet made the situation worse - and I couldn't help but assume he did it for kicks. I felt so distressed that a human can do this to another and feel okay about it.

Blue_Lou Therapy
  • replies: 1

Out of interest. Has anyone tried psychotherapy and hypnotherapy for GAD? I've seen a psychologist for a while but I'm finding I'm know longer improving. Although I am way more educated, my physical anxiety symptoms often come back with a vengeance. ... View more

Out of interest. Has anyone tried psychotherapy and hypnotherapy for GAD? I've seen a psychologist for a while but I'm finding I'm know longer improving. Although I am way more educated, my physical anxiety symptoms often come back with a vengeance. Just wondering what other techniques people have used, and what's worked for them. thanks

JEF15 Anxiety & depression
  • replies: 2

Hello Im having a very hard time. Im the lowest I have ever been and my anxiety is at its peak. My health anxiety is taking over. Im currently on a wait list for psychologists. I don't take ADs, I used to for 15 years but I came off them over 6 month... View more

Hello Im having a very hard time. Im the lowest I have ever been and my anxiety is at its peak. My health anxiety is taking over. Im currently on a wait list for psychologists. I don't take ADs, I used to for 15 years but I came off them over 6 months ago. My husband doesn't really understand MH so I don't speak to him much about it all. I just hid away and cry most days. Getting out of bed to just make breakfast is the hardest job. But I push myself to do it for my kids. My husband wants all of us to go away this weekend with his family and Im dreading it. I don't know how to function around people. I really don't know what to do. Some days I function ok, and I think "yay its a good day" And then by night time Im crying again. I just thought I'd post to chat with others who feel like this, because relating to someone always feels nice.