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

abluejay i don't know what other choice i have
  • replies: 1

my life is a mess. it's over. there is no way out for me anymore. i have severe agoraphobia and can barely leave the house and i've been like this for years. i have zero support and spend 90 percent of the time completely on my own locked in the hous... View more

my life is a mess. it's over. there is no way out for me anymore. i have severe agoraphobia and can barely leave the house and i've been like this for years. i have zero support and spend 90 percent of the time completely on my own locked in the house staring at four walls and listening to my own thoughts. i have nobody that loves me or cares or checks in. i had so many dreams and they are all without reach. i can barely look after myself and i am 37!!!!!! and i have the capacity of a toddler for self care right now. There is something so terribly wrong with my brain, i can feel it and i feel like i am dying all the time. I want to be strong enough to put myself out of my misery. but i am scared.

Marley How to cope with stress?
  • replies: 1

Hi there i haven't been here in a while, things were going ok for a while. I just need some advice. Does anyone have any strategies of coping with everyday 'life' stress? i suffer from 3 autoimmune conditions which make me tired, give me aches & pain... View more

Hi there i haven't been here in a while, things were going ok for a while. I just need some advice. Does anyone have any strategies of coping with everyday 'life' stress? i suffer from 3 autoimmune conditions which make me tired, give me aches & pains among many other things. I also suffer GAD and have HAD depression. I also have two annoying kids aged 11 & 13 who just annoy me because they can. My husband works night so I have to deal with them, dinner etc on my own, plus running around. i am not working but I want to go back to work but I get stressed easily and I just want to know how I can cope? I'm sick of these things controlling me, "I" want to control me. I want to travel in a few years and so need the money. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to see my psychologist next week who got an ear bashing last week because I was sooooo wound up and he tells me it's just stress. Yeah derr I figure that.

del forgotten who I am
  • replies: 3

lately I can't shake off the feeling that everyone is judging me. I become so anxious and nervous around people, even my closest friends and family, all I think about when talking to them is wondering what they are thinking about me. It is almost lik... View more

lately I can't shake off the feeling that everyone is judging me. I become so anxious and nervous around people, even my closest friends and family, all I think about when talking to them is wondering what they are thinking about me. It is almost like I have forgotten who I am, and how I use to act? I use to be such an outgoing and confident person.. I don't know how to go back to that?! I constantly feel like I need to drink in order to relax and often take it too far and just embarrass myself, which leads to me being even more anxious. I can't look people in the eye anymore and if there is even the shortest silence between conversations I start to freak out. How do I fix this? Is this anxiety? I just want to be back to my normal self again

jess334 Back to the begining
  • replies: 5

Anyone have those days where you feel like your right back where you started all those years ago before the medication and therapy? Today is one of those days. Woke up, had breakfast and then when it was time to go to work I had a huge panic attack. ... View more

Anyone have those days where you feel like your right back where you started all those years ago before the medication and therapy? Today is one of those days. Woke up, had breakfast and then when it was time to go to work I had a huge panic attack. One of those that seem to go on forever, when in reality it was about 3 minutes. All those awful symptoms; heart racing, nausea, fear, hot & cold runs. I gave in, took some meds and went back to bed. It took 40 minutes of meditation before I could relax my muscles and brain. Luckily my boss is amazing and when I told her I couldn't come in this morning she understood. Now its 3 hours later and I'm trying to think of excuses why I shouldn't go to work this afternoon. Truth is I don't want to feel the panic again. This is the worst thing about anxiety. When we are scared to death of feeling panic again, and all I want to do is sit on my couch where it is safe, but instead I have to get up, be strong and push through. And remind myself that one slip does not mean I'm back where I started. Tomorrow is a new day

LeedsUnited21 Anxiety Help
  • replies: 3

Feel anxious all the time jump at everything so scared. any way to overcome or help or natural thing to take or something.. i get neck pain back pain cant relax headaches tired jumpy and feel on edge all the time its so hard to be normal these days.

Feel anxious all the time jump at everything so scared. any way to overcome or help or natural thing to take or something.. i get neck pain back pain cant relax headaches tired jumpy and feel on edge all the time its so hard to be normal these days.

MaryG Anxiety meltdown
  • replies: 1

So I have posted here for my feelings of depression and my alcohol use and move this thread if you think it belongs elsewhere, but I had a serious incident that really scared me and made me finally realise that its ok to ask for help and get some. I ... View more

So I have posted here for my feelings of depression and my alcohol use and move this thread if you think it belongs elsewhere, but I had a serious incident that really scared me and made me finally realise that its ok to ask for help and get some. I was so desperate and totally convinced I was going to die. I tried lying down but my heart was pounding and seemed to stop when I lay down then my breathing would slow and I was sure i was dying. I thought i was having a stroke or a heart attack. The feelings of panic were so strong and scary. I ended up calling a friend and made it to a doctor. He gave me some pills which almost immdiately took the worst of the symptoms away. The shaking and sweating and pounding heart. It left the craving emptiness in my guts though. I couldnt seem to relieve it with anything at all. In the back of my mind I think I was craving a drink as I recently came off a "bender" maybe that's what triggered this whole thing. I resisted and stuck with the meds only and I feel tired but OK today and actually able to work. Going to see my own GP when I get back to finally come clean about the whole picture. It feels OK to let people in to help. Thanks for listening. MaryG

sare_anxiety Cannot Crack It
  • replies: 6

HI, I have had two weeks now of anxiety, harm OCD intrusive thoughts and disorientation. I don't know whether i am up down or sideways. I have had my medication reviewed; seen my g.p.; been to the psychologist; got a referral for a Psychiatrist (scar... View more

HI, I have had two weeks now of anxiety, harm OCD intrusive thoughts and disorientation. I don't know whether i am up down or sideways. I have had my medication reviewed; seen my g.p.; been to the psychologist; got a referral for a Psychiatrist (scared of them); slept more; taken time off work; tried to get uni work done. Nothing is helping. I am overwhelmed and fear loosing my mind. The thoughts i recognize as anxiety fueled intrusions but they are horrible and getting more out of control. I just want to find myself again and cope. But my anxiety never listens to what want, and it's bossing me around. Any help welcomed. sare

amjeck Anxiety or a death wish?
  • replies: 4

I am wondering if i am suicidal if i dont want to live like i am anymore but i dont want to kill myself. Weird i know. I am so tired of fighting my anxiety so tired. i just think that if i could close my eyes and dissapear i would not feel anything a... View more

I am wondering if i am suicidal if i dont want to live like i am anymore but i dont want to kill myself. Weird i know. I am so tired of fighting my anxiety so tired. i just think that if i could close my eyes and dissapear i would not feel anything anymore. i am so tired. i am going to see my doctor tomorrow cause i jsut did the test on this web site and it said 41. i can even write andymore.

Social_phobe Social Anxiety Groups
  • replies: 2

If anybody knows any social anxiety groups or group therapies in Melbourne, Please let me know! O anybody that has over come severe social anxiety, please give me links, or any help you can! Thanks

If anybody knows any social anxiety groups or group therapies in Melbourne, Please let me know! O anybody that has over come severe social anxiety, please give me links, or any help you can! Thanks

LeedsUnited21 Anxiety causing Dandruff?
  • replies: 3

Hair been really flaking and nasty last year since I got anxiety could it be a cause?

Hair been really flaking and nasty last year since I got anxiety could it be a cause?