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

Pixie15 Anxiety and Vitamin B12 Deficiency
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I have recently was diagnosed with B12 deficiency. The doctor who diagnosed the condition suggested that it may have originated when I followed a vegan diet over a decade earlier. During the time since I had been treated for social anxiety ... View more

Hi there, I have recently was diagnosed with B12 deficiency. The doctor who diagnosed the condition suggested that it may have originated when I followed a vegan diet over a decade earlier. During the time since I had been treated for social anxiety and other conditions which appeared to explain my physical difficulties. The social anxiety seemed to make sense because I had always been socially shy especially with new situations and people. I still think it is part of the problem. But some of the things that were attributed to my anxiety were symptoms of the B12 deficiency which is apparently a very much overlooked and under diagnosed problem. My health both physical and mental has improved remarkably since getting on top of my B12 deficiency. I still trying to understand what is B12 and what is anxiety. Anyway I have benefited greatly from my participation on this forum and just wanted to share in case it may help somebody else. Thank you.

blegz Wanting to ‘go home’
  • replies: 2

Hello — I’ve been experiencing this feeling of ‘wanting to go home’ and thought I’d ask if anyone else has experienced something similar. Over the last 10 years I’ve moved around quite a lot - relocating interstate several times for work. Currently I... View more

Hello — I’ve been experiencing this feeling of ‘wanting to go home’ and thought I’d ask if anyone else has experienced something similar. Over the last 10 years I’ve moved around quite a lot - relocating interstate several times for work. Currently I’m living back at home with my parents. The pandemic brought about a lot of change—end of a long term relationship, career drop off due to lockdowns, loss of loved ones, stress and anxiety—which altered my sense of feeling centred, settled, in control of my life. Some mornings I wake up and feel comfortable but out of place and this feeling rushes through my body physically and stirs my thinking of “wanting to go home”. I’m 30, fit and healthy, but live with PTSD and ongoing anxiety/depression, which is managed through self care routines. I wondered if anyone else has experienced this feeling before and how you managed to resolve the thoughts or the tension it creates? The physical feeling of being uncomfortable usually lasts 10-15 minutes, before I can completely calm myself down. The thoughts however, linger on.

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?