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

Gt Confused
  • replies: 5

Hi, lately i have been having trouble sleeping, nervous, anxious, i have had chest pain, and heart beat that feels like someone just hit me from inside out for days. Previously as person, i've always been calm, in control, and fairly cheerful. Though... View more

Hi, lately i have been having trouble sleeping, nervous, anxious, i have had chest pain, and heart beat that feels like someone just hit me from inside out for days. Previously as person, i've always been calm, in control, and fairly cheerful. Though lately i have been nothing like that, i feel confused, out of control, out of reach and just in general in panic. I am not depressed or down, i still exercise as i do, but and carry on with work as i do, but i find it hard to concentrate, to focus and i find everything irritating. I ready about the symptoms in the facts log..but is this really anxiety? As im writting this, i feel nervous, i feel like my mind is skipping from one word to another.. I am seeing a doctor tomorrow, but i'd like an input or hear about what other thinks also if this is infact normal?

a_long_time_lost Irrationality... :(
  • replies: 7

It is 2 am and I am sitting here with my mind racing and ridiculous levels of anxiety ... What would normally be a non controversial topic for most normal people has sent my husband, son and I into a total state of chaos and frustration tonight. My h... View more

It is 2 am and I am sitting here with my mind racing and ridiculous levels of anxiety ... What would normally be a non controversial topic for most normal people has sent my husband, son and I into a total state of chaos and frustration tonight. My husband made some off the cuff remarks and I tried to explain to my son how I felt. Now my son is a trained negotiator within his field of work and is a very good one at that. My husband is to the point as I have mentioned in previous posts finding it hard to cope with me anymore, so of course my son talked me through every possibility of the topic we were discussing. He too finds the situation difficult and told me he is totally unable to understand how I feel but can relate to what I am saying and he in turn makes a lot of sense so I listen to him and try to create the picture of what is happening to me inside. Tonight irrational thoughts in my head have run rampant.. I always have this terrible core feeling of dread, which then leads to panic and all of a sudden I have lost control and once this occurs I am unable to cope. I become unreasonable, irrational and basically just wish I could run away. I hate this place... I hate feeling like this, the despair, the complete hopelessness. What if I never get better, what if I am still like this in a years time, yes I am afraid of the unknown and cannot contend with that thought, however I have a big problem just taking life day by day. There are so many what ifs... I am discouraged greatly that the road ahead will suddenly fall off the edge of the straight and narrow and I am going to fall long and hard with it....

Pep89 Anxiety Help
  • replies: 2

Hello Everyone. I’m not 100% what to say or how to explain what I’m feeling but I will try my best. I recently met this girl awhile ago, we exchanged numbers. We have been talking nonstop for a few day before meeting. After meeting her for the first ... View more

Hello Everyone. I’m not 100% what to say or how to explain what I’m feeling but I will try my best. I recently met this girl awhile ago, we exchanged numbers. We have been talking nonstop for a few day before meeting. After meeting her for the first time after we had exchanging numbers, we have continued to text. I noticed that I find myself just staring at my phone waiting for a reply and basically thinking negative thoughts about mistake I might have said or have done, until I get a reply but then it starts over until I get another text. The worst part is when I’m waiting for a reply I feel sick in my stomach and I feel like I’m going to vomit. I sometime break down into tears with fear of mistakes I haven’t made. It has gotten so bad that I had to leave my phone at home when I go to work and I find have to stop myself from driving home just to see if she has texted me or not. I can’t stop thinking about her and what she thinks about me, also every little thing I have said to her I go thought my head and turn it into a negative thing. I know from the texting that she likes me and I just can’t seem to stop going into a negative mindset and it is affecting my work, life and the relationship I’m trying to build. I want to explain to her why I have been acting weird but I don’t want to scare her off and that makes me feel more upset and I just break down because i feel like i might lose her. I just don’t know what to do anymore. Even writing this is making me break down into tears.

Joan_Smith Anxiety Survivor
  • replies: 16

Hi Everyone, I go by the name of Joan and I am a recovered Panic disorder sufferer. I experienced chronic Anxiety for over 10 years and sometimes felt like I would never see the end, but I have recovered and have since trained as a counsellor to help... View more

Hi Everyone, I go by the name of Joan and I am a recovered Panic disorder sufferer. I experienced chronic Anxiety for over 10 years and sometimes felt like I would never see the end, but I have recovered and have since trained as a counsellor to help others find their path to recovery. I've joined the forum in the hope that by sharing my experience and journey to recovery I can help others here. Questions are welcome, Joan

Dylan94 Fighting anxiety
  • replies: 8

I want to no what everyone else has done and felt works when suffering an anxiety attack. My life with anxiety is a living hell. All the things I use to do day in day out I can't do now. I'm 18 I want to go out with friends meet new people live my li... View more

I want to no what everyone else has done and felt works when suffering an anxiety attack. My life with anxiety is a living hell. All the things I use to do day in day out I can't do now. I'm 18 I want to go out with friends meet new people live my life not hide away everyday. Any replies would be helpful. Thanks.

Christie787 Life with Anxiety and No medication
  • replies: 2

Hi all. Ill try and make my story as short as possible! Im 21 years young and had my first horrible panic attack 2 years ago. I had no idea what was going on so I googled my symptoms. Anxiety was the first thing that came up. Of course I freaked out ... View more

Hi all. Ill try and make my story as short as possible! Im 21 years young and had my first horrible panic attack 2 years ago. I had no idea what was going on so I googled my symptoms. Anxiety was the first thing that came up. Of course I freaked out because I didn't know much about it and thought i could never suffer from any kind of illness..I was wrong! I saw two GPs and they both prescibed me medication. I read all the information and was a bit hesitant to take it so I thought I'd try without. I saw a hypnotherapist and she was really great but Unfortunately didn't give me the techniques I needed to really stop the panic attacks and calm my anxiety. I saw two psychologists and the second one I really clicked with. I found out that I had severe anxiety and depression. I lost most of my friends after school, didn't have a job and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and it was the anxiety and panic attacks that made me just want to stay in my room 24/7. The psychologist was great and gave me heaps of really good techniques to help breathe and relax and how to change my thoughts which I'm happy to share with anyone. The one thing that really helped me Deal with my anxiety, which deffinatly isn't for everyone, but was believing in angels. I spoke to a psychic medium once who told me I had this young man with me and he was helping me with my anxiety, true or not I have never felt alone since. As crazy as it sounds, when I've had a bad day or start having some suicidal thoughts I talk to them and ask for help, and somehow I always feel much better and at peace. I look at life in a completely different way now, at the start I kept thinking why me? But now I've become a much better and wiser person from experiencing this. It's an on going illness that CAN be treated without medication, you just need to be strong, and I was extremely lucky to have great support. A success story with more success to come. Christie xx

Nessie12 Anxiety and Panic Attacks
  • replies: 2

Hi i am new to this site, so i'm hoping that i am writing in the correct section. i have had anxiety and panic attacks for about 14 months i am on 30mg of an antidepressant, worked well for a start - put on 10kilos with it, i have waves of being ok a... View more

Hi i am new to this site, so i'm hoping that i am writing in the correct section. i have had anxiety and panic attacks for about 14 months i am on 30mg of an antidepressant, worked well for a start - put on 10kilos with it, i have waves of being ok and not so. im going to Bali on monday and im not even looking forward to it, i don't like flying and im worried if im going to have panic attacks over there as i have been having some the last couple of days. Does anyone just get waves of where they feel like there going to pass out. i never have but want to know if this happens to anybody else? its horrible.

Andy24 Anxiety, I feel Stuck.
  • replies: 3

Hi, my name is Andy i'm new to this....terrified as all hell to write in fact. I signed up in hope to get advice or give advice about anxiety....not that i have had it for that long. Around my birthday last year i had my first panic attack. i didnt k... View more

Hi, my name is Andy i'm new to this....terrified as all hell to write in fact. I signed up in hope to get advice or give advice about anxiety....not that i have had it for that long. Around my birthday last year i had my first panic attack. i didnt know what it was, i just got dragged to the doctor in such a state of sheer panic. The G.P said that i had GAD. Im currently one two medication: one for the GAD and another to control a tremor which i now have developed due to my stress. Some days i wake up and can't get up, not for a lack trying. I get angry all the time because its my fault i let myself get this way and that im stuck this way and i'll never get better... in the end all i can do is try anything and keep routine.

Gopeel Trying to live with anxiety
  • replies: 3

Hi I'm new to this forum I've been living for years with anxiety mostly it's not too bad but occasionally it spirals out of control, I've tried talking to my family but they just sit there and say they don't understand. At the moment it just flared u... View more

Hi I'm new to this forum I've been living for years with anxiety mostly it's not too bad but occasionally it spirals out of control, I've tried talking to my family but they just sit there and say they don't understand. At the moment it just flared up with a vengeance because my much loved elderly dog is very sick. It's driving me crazy went to the doctor and he put me on benzodiazepines but I don't want to take drugs too much but in the short term I will. Just needing someone to talk to that understands, so that's why I joined this forum

Always_anxious Anxiety is taking over my life
  • replies: 2

I've suffered from anxiety since I was a little girl and have been on medication for it for the past 6 years. 16 months ago I gave birth to my first son and am due to be married later this year, I am completely happy with my little family and my husb... View more

I've suffered from anxiety since I was a little girl and have been on medication for it for the past 6 years. 16 months ago I gave birth to my first son and am due to be married later this year, I am completely happy with my little family and my husband to be. I have recently got a new job the first since having my son. Since this change my anxiety has just spiralled out of control. I can't eat, I can't sleep I constantly feel unwell it's driving me crazy. I've tried deep breathing relaxation and all of that to try and convince myself I'm not anxious but nothing works and I'm at my wits end. I have a family to raise and this anxiety is preventing me from doing that. I also have a very irrational fear of throwing up which absolutely consumes me when I'm at work or getting ready for work on top of all that when my body becomes too stressed it shuts down and I pass out, this does not help the anxiety because now I'm worrying about that too.. Please someone give me some advice I'm completely lost and feel absolutely pathetic that I can't control my own anxiety..