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

Susan2227 Being yelled at by my partners family member
  • replies: 2

My partners friend of the family yelled at my one day when we went over her place it had been raining and we walked in her house and dirtied the floor so I grabbed the mop and cleaned the floor I opened the glass sliding door to let air in to help dr... View more

My partners friend of the family yelled at my one day when we went over her place it had been raining and we walked in her house and dirtied the floor so I grabbed the mop and cleaned the floor I opened the glass sliding door to let air in to help dry the floor for safety she yelled at me because she didn't want the door open I don't feel like going back to her house.

TMaree7 Anxiety and Sadness when family leave me at home for holiday
  • replies: 4

Hi everyone, Never used this before but thought it might help give me some advice! I am 21 and for over 5 years I have suffered with anxiety. It comes on when I go away from my family or when they leave me at home for a holiday for an extended period... View more

Hi everyone, Never used this before but thought it might help give me some advice! I am 21 and for over 5 years I have suffered with anxiety. It comes on when I go away from my family or when they leave me at home for a holiday for an extended period of time. My younger sister has also just moved back to America for college and it has been hard. I eventually get used to her being away and it eventually doesn't become an issue. In the few days before they leave and a few days after they leave, I get anxious and cry a lot. Usually at night when I think about it. I do meditation and it doesn't always work and I do breathing exercises but they don't completely help. The night they leave is always the worst. I get very little sleep and wake up in panics and cry a lot. I have an urge to get out of bed and wake my mum up each time (I resist waking her up most of the time). Once they are gone I can just start crying randomly when in the quite house and I really try and be positive and enjoy the time alone but I get too anxious and don't enjoy it. I am not afraid of anything happening to them or me, I think I have placed the anxiety around the fear of missing out and being alone in the house that usually has my mum in it every day. I have been distracting myself by going to stay at a close family friend house a few nights here and there and making a calendar and trying to fill it with as many activities as possible. I suppose I am just after someone who goes through the same thing or has any solutions to calming the anxiety at peak time (during the night) and how to reduce crying. I am someone who always speaks my mind and I tell my mum everything that I feel. My father suffered from a similar thing as a child and I was also wondering if that is why I do? Thanks in advance

Angelite78 Misophonia & Intermittent Explosive Disorder - we're not alone!
  • replies: 23

Hello world! I have started this thread to connect with other people who suffer Misophonia and IED. I used to think I was the most intolerant person and the way I saw myself was depressing (and embarrassing!) but now that I know that it's not somethi... View more

Hello world! I have started this thread to connect with other people who suffer Misophonia and IED. I used to think I was the most intolerant person and the way I saw myself was depressing (and embarrassing!) but now that I know that it's not something that is just limited to me, it's not an "evil" trait and that there are others who feel similarly - this is where I would like us to come together to feel safe and hopefully a little comforted. I would love to hear from anyone out there who can relate.....

OCD Health Anxiety
  • replies: 7

Hi there,I am a 29 year old female and have had health anxiety for as long as I can remember. About 2 months ago, I started to pay attention to a spot in my mid back. It hurt when I touched my spine in this area. I was worried that this spot may be a... View more

Hi there,I am a 29 year old female and have had health anxiety for as long as I can remember. About 2 months ago, I started to pay attention to a spot in my mid back. It hurt when I touched my spine in this area. I was worried that this spot may be a spinal tumour. I went to a physio who assured me it was nothing, probably just tender from the way I do certain exercises. Two weeks passed and I was convinced I could feel my mid back pain in the gym. I went to a GP who also assured me it was not a tumour but ordered an X-ray to check for mild scoliosis as well as bloods to check for arthritis etc. When I left from getting my X-ray, I was flooded with anxiety when the thought that I had only just had an X-ray last year popped into my mind. I started to panic that I had too many X-rays too close together and this would affect my body in some way. The next day I woke up with shooting pains all over my body and random aches and pains in my joints. My scan and bloods came back clear but with the onset of all this pain I demanded an MRI of my spine. By this stage I started to get muscle twitches all over my body (particularly in my calves and feet). My MRI showed that I had a minor disc bulge at the L5/S1 level and this made me feel both relieved and despair, as I'm in the gym 6 days a week and felt I needed to pause my membership and take it easy. Then came the tingly and burning sensations in my legs. This is a constant pins and needles feeling. My GP had enough of me and said "just go to the ER", so I did. I had a neurologist give me an examination checking sensation, reflexes, strength etc. I was honest about my health anxiety and shared my concerns about my disc bulge and possible neurological disorder. He ordered another blood test. The doctor came back and said that neurology team said that my symptoms did not align with any neurological disorder and that they had looked at my MRI and even if my disc bulge was pinching a nerve it wouldn't be causing the symptoms I was explaining. They were simply stumped as to what my symptoms could be caused by but said they were confident it was MS or anything like that and did not need to refer me to a neurologist or for an MRI. They said that if I had MS or anything similar my inflammatory marker would be up, which would suggest possible lesions. Despite this, my anxiety is horrendous and my symptoms are relentless. Could the constant burning, pins and needles and twitching be anxiety?

Befree Feeling lost
  • replies: 1

Hi,I'm a mum that works full time and usually I try to stay positive but the last few weeks have got me so far down that if it weren't for my children, I'd prefer to go to sleep and never wake up.Work used to be good, but lately its been stressful an... View more

Hi,I'm a mum that works full time and usually I try to stay positive but the last few weeks have got me so far down that if it weren't for my children, I'd prefer to go to sleep and never wake up.Work used to be good, but lately its been stressful and usually I can shake it off, but its getting harder to and I don't know if its because I have a few things coming up next year and maybe its the aftermath of Covidmania finally catching up with me.One of my kids almost died from an autoimmune disease last year and now needs hospital intervention regularly. I feel so helpless.I want to start getting out and join groups because the kids are older now, but I've isolated myself so much in the the 6 years, that I don't like being around people anymore. I've always had an issue with authority and my supervisor is ok, but I always feel like she thinks the worst of me and when she gives other people attention, I feel somewhat jealous and withdrawn.Sometimes I feel like I make stuff up that people may be thinking of me (worst case scenario) and I act toward them like its true, when they have no reason to feel badly about me, its just my mind jumping to conclusions. I think it stems back to a boss I had where I thought everything was ok and then one day she sacked me.I also wasn't emotionally supported as a child and my parents didn't believe in us, even when someone accused us of doing something we didn't do.We were just hindrances to my parents and I was always told off for expressing myself. I'm sure this all stems from my unresolved past, but I just don't know how to deal with it now so that I don't carry this dead feeling in my chest anymore.I've been to see councillors before and didn't feel like they gave me any direction and that I could only help me. So I've done a lot of should searching and read a tonne of books seeking peace, but every now and then, this big dark cloud hangs over me and overwhelms me with depression and anxiety and I wish it would just go away. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it. thank you

taylah_zoubek Panic Attack Inquiry
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I have been experiencing panic attacks recently. I was wondering if it was normal to lose control in your arms whilst its occurring? I lost control in my right arm and it began to rapidly bang against my chest for around 2 minutes.

I have been experiencing panic attacks recently. I was wondering if it was normal to lose control in your arms whilst its occurring? I lost control in my right arm and it began to rapidly bang against my chest for around 2 minutes.

KFPDW Can't think of the right thing to say
  • replies: 1

There are times where people wind me up or have a go and I can never think of the right thing to say in the moment. It's only long after it happens when I think of something and by then it's too late. The convo finished with them having the upper han... View more

There are times where people wind me up or have a go and I can never think of the right thing to say in the moment. It's only long after it happens when I think of something and by then it's too late. The convo finished with them having the upper hand and I'm kicking myself that I couldn't think of anything quicker. I feel weak when that happens. What do I? And can I move past it when I miss the mark which feels like most of the time? These people who have a go don't care what effect they have on others. I try to do what I can to be pleasant with others and make a effort, it feels like a slap in the face when people just wind me up or have go for cheap kicks and I feel like there's nothing I can do to stop it.

KFPDW Trying to enjoy myself but it's Hard!!
  • replies: 5

Ok, I've been trying to do things that help me relax more so I'm not constantly worked up all the time with my anxiety. Like I have been playing this game where there's a racing mini game which I won the first round for going back to play the rest of... View more

Ok, I've been trying to do things that help me relax more so I'm not constantly worked up all the time with my anxiety. Like I have been playing this game where there's a racing mini game which I won the first round for going back to play the rest of the game. When I finished the rest of it I went back to the racing part, I told myself that I wasn't bothered if I lost because I already beaten it. So I played the mini game again and I lost and I still got annoyed about it. And I don't know why because I feel like I shouldn't be annoyed but I am. And the thing is I'm able to win the mini-game over and over afterwards. But my mind is still stuck on the fact I lost. I want to be able to enjoy playing games and do other things without having to worry about winning or losing all the time. Why is this happening? Even when I give myself permission saying it's ok if I do lose?

gloria10 Help with Insomnia
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm hoping to get advice with Insomnia today, which has been bothering me for a good couple of weeks. I think I have had one good sleep. I know some of the issue is noise from the neighbour's and I have ordered some ear plugs to block noise. ... View more

Hi all, I'm hoping to get advice with Insomnia today, which has been bothering me for a good couple of weeks. I think I have had one good sleep. I know some of the issue is noise from the neighbour's and I have ordered some ear plugs to block noise. I have also tried using calming music, which does help, but sometimes I just want peace and quiet, and this rarely happens. Any advice would be appreciated. I am taking time over the next few days to try and unwind, but if something has worked for you it would be great to know! Gloria10

KG_1975 Home alone for the first time in 10 weeks
  • replies: 1

I have had a recent bout of severe depression and anxiety. I have had a 4 week stay in a mental health unit and I am doing better, but my husband does FIFO and has to return to work after 10 weeks off. I am really anxious about being home by myself f... View more

I have had a recent bout of severe depression and anxiety. I have had a 4 week stay in a mental health unit and I am doing better, but my husband does FIFO and has to return to work after 10 weeks off. I am really anxious about being home by myself for the first time in so long. He has been doing all the cooking and housework and I’m worried with how I’m going to cope. I am still struggling with motivation and get really tired easily. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this transition easier?