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

Freya1973 Sleeping problems
  • replies: 11

I want to sleep, I take a sedative to help me be calm.I am tired, but so wound up.A flood panic comes over me, I hate .I think ahead for life and wonder if I am going to be like this forever, how am I going to move on and live like this.Does anyone g... View more

I want to sleep, I take a sedative to help me be calm.I am tired, but so wound up.A flood panic comes over me, I hate .I think ahead for life and wonder if I am going to be like this forever, how am I going to move on and live like this.Does anyone get like this?

LJShield Self sabotage and separation anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi all, i am a 25 year old male and i believe i suffer heavily from some sort of anxiety,specifically to do with personal relationships and how i persieve conversations. I am currently going through alot of negativity in my relationship with my girlf... View more

Hi all, i am a 25 year old male and i believe i suffer heavily from some sort of anxiety,specifically to do with personal relationships and how i persieve conversations. I am currently going through alot of negativity in my relationship with my girlfriend. I make myself believe that she will eventually leave me. i over analise everything she says to me and twist her words, i feel like i am slowly but surely self sabotaging my relationship at no fault but my own. does anyone else deal with similar feelings?

member2023 Getting off my chest
  • replies: 3

Hey guys, I have been with my partner for just over 2 years and have recently purchased an engagement ring. Our relationship has been great and I have never doubted it at all. Since buying the ring due to everything becoming real and taking big steps... View more

Hey guys, I have been with my partner for just over 2 years and have recently purchased an engagement ring. Our relationship has been great and I have never doubted it at all. Since buying the ring due to everything becoming real and taking big steps I have had some engagement anxiety. This anxiety has started making my brain look for reasons I shouldn't be with my partner who I love very much and want to marry her. One of the reasons is that I have a friend at work that is a girl who I'm sort of close with, I have not really had man female work friends before so this is all new to me. The anxiety is telling me that I can't be with my partner due to being friends with the girl at work. I do not have any feelings with the girl at work. Why is my brain doing this?

Squirrelm Constant anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi there , it all began with some nocturnal panic attacks about 2 months ago , now I find myself with daily anxiety which seems to be worse when it’s time to relax and sleep .I have headaches mostly everyday and I feel sick , I haven’t felt normal fo... View more

Hi there , it all began with some nocturnal panic attacks about 2 months ago , now I find myself with daily anxiety which seems to be worse when it’s time to relax and sleep .I have headaches mostly everyday and I feel sick , I haven’t felt normal for a bit now , I’ve been prescribed anti-anxiety medication and it works but I can’t take it everyday I really don’t know what to do

JJ_77 Feeling like I’ve wasted 4 years on a degree for nothing
  • replies: 7

This is my first time posting here so I’ll give it a go. I have recently completed a degree that has very little job prospects and so far nothing has come of it. Today I got my date for my graduation and I am dreading it. I do not feel accomplished a... View more

This is my first time posting here so I’ll give it a go. I have recently completed a degree that has very little job prospects and so far nothing has come of it. Today I got my date for my graduation and I am dreading it. I do not feel accomplished as nothing has come of it and I believe that nothing will ever come of it. I worked unbelievably hard for 4 years to have little to no job opportunities and I just feel anxious all the time about what the future holds and what I will be doing if I truly never get a job in the field I am trained. I currently work in retail and I constantly have people asking me why I’m still there and why I don’t have a job with my degree and I just can’t take it anymore. My family say “it will work out” but I really really don’t think so. I am also worried that because I am so negative that I am just going to ruin any chances because I am so opposed to the idea that things may work out. I am anxious about not getting a job and also anxious that being negative about not getting a job will ensure I don’t get a job. I wish I could just see into the future of what will happen and not knowing keeps me up at night and makes me cry. sorry for the ramble.

Chelsea24-24 My main struggles and thoughts
  • replies: 2

Hi my name is Christina I suffer from anxiety also How self esteem I have a wonderful boyfriend I live with anxiety it's so hard alot of the time sometimes I g et really frustrated at myself my boyfriend is always trying to make me feel good about my... View more

Hi my name is Christina I suffer from anxiety also How self esteem I have a wonderful boyfriend I live with anxiety it's so hard alot of the time sometimes I g et really frustrated at myself my boyfriend is always trying to make me feel good about myself. I feel like sometimes my mental health issues g et in the way.I live with my boyfriend

darthritis Feeling like I'm not real
  • replies: 4

Hey guys, Long time anxiety sufferer here, I've been dealing with GAD for about 20 years now, and in that time had all the fun symptoms (heart palpitations, panic attacks, nausea, insomnia, stomach problems, etc) but the one I'm struggling with the m... View more

Hey guys, Long time anxiety sufferer here, I've been dealing with GAD for about 20 years now, and in that time had all the fun symptoms (heart palpitations, panic attacks, nausea, insomnia, stomach problems, etc) but the one I'm struggling with the most is depersonalization. I constantly feel disconnected from reality. Often I will be driving and look at my hands and think they aren't mine. I look around me at my surroundings and don't feel real. It's like a weird dream or that I'm not really in control and I'm looking through someone elses eyes. It's so bizarre. It makes my anxiety worse because it scares me and disorientates me when I notice it. Has anyone else experienced this? I feel like I'm going mad?

bookworm-intovert-willowtree-ivy-animallover Anxiety/panic attacks uncontrollable
  • replies: 2

I have regularly been having panic attacks and my anxiety has really been rising and I don’t know why. I would like to know if anyone has a way to decrease the anxiety, I have tried stress fidgets but they don’t help at all. I also dance which can he... View more

I have regularly been having panic attacks and my anxiety has really been rising and I don’t know why. I would like to know if anyone has a way to decrease the anxiety, I have tried stress fidgets but they don’t help at all. I also dance which can help a bit but not if I am in the middle of a panic attack. Has anyone got any strategies I could use?

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?