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Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

Annie_G Anxiety Help- never ending cycle
  • replies: 1

Hey everyone! Don’t know if this is going out to the void but been struggling with extreme anxiety and regular patterns of avoidance. Has been a repeat cycle of getting better and feeling like an actual human being and then talking two steps back. It... View more

Hey everyone! Don’t know if this is going out to the void but been struggling with extreme anxiety and regular patterns of avoidance. Has been a repeat cycle of getting better and feeling like an actual human being and then talking two steps back. It has been very isolating seeing other friends my age all socialising and enjoying the holiday season while I am struggling to get out of the house most days. Also feeling a bit left out when some common friends made plans without me. Have also started having extreme phone anxiety and avoidance- been sitting on some text messages and lunch plans for 3 weeks now and can’t stop thinking about wanting to reach back out but can’t bring myself to respond back to the messages. I don’t know where this avoidance is coming from. The whiplash from wanting to go out and continue these relationships (I really do care about them) but also unable to do anything makes me feel like I am just sabotaging and ruining my own life. I also have no social activities or regular activities to look forward to so this holidays was a very low point. I don’t know if anyone feels the same, especially feeling anxiety spike when there is no clear plan or routine. Will be starting a new job soon so feeling more anxious leading up to that as well. Overall just a melting ball of loneliness and anxiety but we persist! Just hoping for things to start feeling a bit better and to get over this but would appreciate any advice on strategies that helped anyone with extreme avoidance behaviour especially when living alone. Thanks!

Haylzz Young adult trauma and anxiety stopping me from living my life
  • replies: 3

So I’m a 23 year old female who has always hade anxiety especially separation but be extremely heightened now due to various trauma over the past five years and is bad now. 5 years ago I was an 18 year old cramming my last bit of study before my last... View more

So I’m a 23 year old female who has always hade anxiety especially separation but be extremely heightened now due to various trauma over the past five years and is bad now. 5 years ago I was an 18 year old cramming my last bit of study before my last exam and getting excited to graduate after what was a crappy highschool experience. That night my mum had a stage 5 aneurysm (very lucky she survived as it the worst stage to have). So my world got turned upside down in an instant. So when everyone was enjoying holidays I was in and out of hospital visits not just for my mum but for myself (as I was having several anxiety attacks a week that no one knew what to do in these situations) including myself. Fast foward 5 years my mum was diagnosed with aphasia due to her stroke. Luckily she has learnt how to do stuff like clean, cook, shop, drive. But struggles to read and understand conversations. I have found out like not even a week ago that after over 25 years of marriage my parents have decided to seperate. We are still staying in the same house while mum continue with her recovery but hope that we can help her be independent but it’s a long road ahead 4 years ago I got a boyfriend who I love. And shared great memories with. We always talked about moving to his home town which is 2 and a half hours away. Because he always played to I love the idea of a fresh start and hoping that it would give me better job opportunities. But every time we go to visit or a stay anywhere away (holidays or even staying at someone’s house) from home my anxiety gets triggered because of my home issues. We have been together a long time and have sturggled to see a lot of each other even before this happened. And I feel like it’s developed to a lack of effort on both parts. Right before I was going to have a conversation with him about where we were at as I felt my mental health as been already struggling, my parents announced their separation. So as you can see this has now made me spiralled a bit. I decided to put a break on mine and my boyfriend’s relationship until I decided what’s next and everything dies down. The problem I don’t know when that is and I’m extremely scared for what comes next. He has always been supportive of me and understood this decision as I thought it was best not just for me but for him. Anyways enough blabbering how can I overcome such bad separation anxiety that is causing me to self sabotage relationships and live my life like every 20 something is doing?

jj123 mother issues
  • replies: 3

hi,im currently struggling,i cant talk to my mum anymore, she doesnt listen, or care, she saw my sister twice over xmas and didnt even call me at all,its been like this for years and years,and if i talk to her on phone it takes a week of anxiety and ... View more

hi,im currently struggling,i cant talk to my mum anymore, she doesnt listen, or care, she saw my sister twice over xmas and didnt even call me at all,its been like this for years and years,and if i talk to her on phone it takes a week of anxiety and anger to get over it,i cant do it anymore, i think i need to go no contact...its been like this ever since parents divorced at a young age,,i need to break ties,,i just try to be nice to keep the piece ,but im so angry with her all the time...its affecting my anxiety, we spoke this morning, ive done alot of exercise to help it today,but nothing fixes the anxiety and anger,it takes a week to subside then it starts again next time we speak. anyone else in this situation,i dont have anyone else to talk to,i havent spoken to a human person since beginnong of december,thank you

Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

Guest_17618497 I don't know what to do
  • replies: 0

I'm currently in my last year of school, and i should be happy as everything's going well, but I can't be its like nothing I do makes me feel happy anymore, apart from small times with my family, as sometimes I can't even be bothered to leave my room... View more

I'm currently in my last year of school, and i should be happy as everything's going well, but I can't be its like nothing I do makes me feel happy anymore, apart from small times with my family, as sometimes I can't even be bothered to leave my room to talk to them, even though it makes me happy. I struggle with simple needs, and its really getting annoying as i have all these plans i wanna do but when they come around, I'm not able to. And the truth is i have no reason to be unhappy i have a loving family alot of friends, and I'm in a relationship with someone who loves me, but it's hard to keep these relationships up. I don't know what to do, I can't reach out to them as they have worried over me since year six and now they believe i am better but im not, i really dont know what to do, i feel kinda pathetic being one here lol. If I tell them, they’ll probably send me back to therapy with the same family friend. They trust her completely, talk about how much she helped me, and I don’t know how to explain that she didn't i acted like she did so i could get out of it and i'm starting to regret it but she truly made me uncomfortable back then i didn't i could talk to my parents about this and i feel like i still cant. Sorry, any advice will be helpful sorry for venting lol.

Nitz Social anxiety stops me exercising
  • replies: 9

I can’t begin to go exercise. I’m obese and in my 50’s but can’t stand being by myself because it exacerbates self consciousness (people are staring and judging me because I’m fat single, old, and female).what might I do? Any advice getting past this... View more

I can’t begin to go exercise. I’m obese and in my 50’s but can’t stand being by myself because it exacerbates self consciousness (people are staring and judging me because I’m fat single, old, and female).what might I do? Any advice getting past this road block would be welcome (Ialso have long term Depression, no longer suicidal thanks to meds)…..

audiology Lost
  • replies: 2

Hey all! Figured I'd give the whole 'opening up' thing a go and see how it makes me feel. Anyway I feel completely and unequivocally lost in life. I am 39 y/o, no partner, no kids, no assets, and what feels like no prospects. I've dealt with Major De... View more

Hey all! Figured I'd give the whole 'opening up' thing a go and see how it makes me feel. Anyway I feel completely and unequivocally lost in life. I am 39 y/o, no partner, no kids, no assets, and what feels like no prospects. I've dealt with Major Depressive Disorder and Panic Disorder and GAD for the past 15 years - ever since I came down with a horrible case of chronic fatigue syndrome which stemmed from a bout of Ross River Fever. It truly feels like everything has been on a constant slide downhill ever since then. I was unable to work for a couple years upon first contracting it and since then it has impacted me one more time where I was off work for another 3 years - thankfully after each 'attack' I've bounced back enough to resume some form of full time or part time work. I've got an associates degree in psychology and work in the field as a mental health professional - only have about $60k in my super though unfortunately due to all the years I've missed off work while sick. I guess what I'm most depressed about atm is my future? I've already accepted that I'll never be a homeowner - certainly not in the absolute shitshow of our current market created by greedy corporate investors and corrup government. I currently live at home with my mum (as a matter of circumstance - I moved home initially a few years ago to help take care of my father as he was diagnosed with cancer and has since passed) so having a place to live atm is no issue - but when my mum inevitably passes in the next few years as well and my siblings choose to sell the property I will be without a place to live. Thankfully I'll receive 1/3rd of the proceeds - the town I live in though unfortunately is an example of the worst of the current housing crisis though and very rarely has any available rental properties - let alone affordable ones. Should I just invest in a fully decked out campervan with all the amenities I'd need to live? I've seen many posters in this forum openly discuss this very option before which is kind of what has caused the idea to pop into my head as of late. Anyway sorry for ranting and raving, just not sure of where else to turn atm.

PTSD and trauma

A space for discussing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), domestic abuse, sexual abuse and other trauma. Please note some content may be distressing.

Mudcakes Time moves fast but I feel stuck. I cant explain.
  • replies: 1

Oh shit. Ever since mum came across my father in the ED in march last year and then seeing on the news his company logo sponsoring his football team, then learning its their charity and involved with a well known charity that runs their program and t... View more

Oh shit. Ever since mum came across my father in the ED in march last year and then seeing on the news his company logo sponsoring his football team, then learning its their charity and involved with a well known charity that runs their program and then them doing how he gives back and highlighting just him and trying to work out what to do about this and how the ivo ends in may this year…. Time has not felt normal. How is it that I havent seen my gp since august last year? Or my other doctor for my sleep meds the consult was from feb last year? Im kinda freaked out. Time has felt frozen for me but I feel like its dragging me along with it. How do I explain this to my gp next time or the other doctor? No wonder around july I stopped doing stuff like going out as much or my board game group. I mean every-time I go outside I automatically scan and imagine him walking up to me or I see him. It’s like purgatory. I hate it. It feels like he’s everywhere. I mean he will contest my application for another IVO(avo in other states) and I cant go through that. I can’t. He is like slenderman that’s what it feels like. Im also like, freaked out by the news and stuff and dont feel safe in my state or country anymore honestly. Mum turns 60 in a few days and it just reminds me how fast time is going and Im not ready or feel stuck. Im 21 and yes I have a learning disability and like a bit developmentally delayed so I’m behind peers my age I guess but I cant get over 2018 was like 7 years ago I think? Like it freaks me out. Anyway. Sorry its so all over the place my post.See less

Picture TV Shows to distract from trauma
  • replies: 6

Please suggest some light hearted shows that help distract you from focusing on trauma. Thank you

Please suggest some light hearted shows that help distract you from focusing on trauma. Thank you

Mudcakes Feeling unsafe after conflict at home – trauma response, not coping well
  • replies: 3

Chat gpt wrote this for me, im quite distressed and needed it summarised. Hi everyone,I’m posting because I’m really shaken tonight and struggling to ground myself, and I could use some support or perspective. I live in a very small apartment with my... View more

Chat gpt wrote this for me, im quite distressed and needed it summarised. Hi everyone,I’m posting because I’m really shaken tonight and struggling to ground myself, and I could use some support or perspective. I live in a very small apartment with my mum, and both of us are currently sick with the flu. Tonight, something that was emotionally important to me broke suddenly and loudly right in front of me while I was already vulnerable and calm for the first time in a while. My body went into shock – shaking, freezing, crying – and I asked for help. What followed was an argument where things escalated quickly. I asked for space in my room multiple times, but it wasn’t respected, and voices were raised. Because of my past trauma, having my personal space invaded is extremely triggering for me. It sent me straight into a trauma response. During the conflict, I was called “abusive” because I swore while highly dysregulated. That word has hit me very deeply, as it links directly to past abuse I’ve experienced. I now feel overwhelmed with shame, fear, and confusion, and my nervous system feels completely overloaded. I want to be very clear: I did not threaten anyone, I did not try to control anyone, and I was trying to get space to feel safe. But right now my brain keeps looping on the accusation, and I’m struggling to calm down or trust myself. On top of that, the apartment is tiny, neighbours are having a loud party, and I feel trapped with nowhere quiet to regulate. I’m safe physically, but emotionally I feel shattered and on edge. I guess I’m posting because: I need reassurance that trauma responses and boundary panic aren’t the same as being an abusive personI’m struggling with shock and emotional fallout after conflict at homeI feel really alone and flooded right now If anyone has been through something similar – being triggered by family conflict, being mislabelled during dysregulation, or feeling unsafe in your own space – I’d really appreciate hearing how you got through it or what helped. Thank you for reading. Even writing this out helps a little. i even feel bad using ai

Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

This space discusses suicide and self-harm. Consider limiting the time you spend here. To use the section safely, read the pinned discussion.

Guest_11709250 eating and self harm struggles
  • replies: 1

hi there, im very new to the platform but was just hoping someone would be able to listen and make me feel like its not totally abnormal to feel this way, as the last year I've lost a lot of friends and feel quite alone. I struggled from 2022-24 and ... View more

hi there, im very new to the platform but was just hoping someone would be able to listen and make me feel like its not totally abnormal to feel this way, as the last year I've lost a lot of friends and feel quite alone. I struggled from 2022-24 and then seeked helps with medication and psychology consultation. I struggled from both very frequent self harm, anorexia nervosa, major depression and generalised anxiety disorder, however didn't seek help for a long time. 2025 while on medication the eating disorder was quietend signifcatly however the past 5 months, some unknown factor significantly triggered me and im back t the old anorexia mindset including daily purging and also extreme worthlessness stemmed from body image, causing frequent self harm again. the self harm last year was less as my parents knew and therefore they gave me very little breathing room to allow me to self harm. however, they dont know about this currents emotional turmoil and I dont want to tell them as they will take awaye my only coping mechanisms that are preventing me from ending my life (I have attempted in the past) when I couldn't use these mechanisms but they are unaware. I guess I was just seeking if anyone else has had similar struggles and what to do in my situation apart from talking to my parents. Ive tried sh prevention strategies but if I dont sh I move onto purging as it cannot be seen to my parents. Take care x

annabel111111 Is my mind fabricating sadness?
  • replies: 3

hi, to the kind souls reading this, im annabel and i am very thankful that you are reading this, sorry that its a long one im 16 turning 17 in a few weeks, and i promised myself that i would not exist past 16. Ive had this thought since i was 14. but... View more

hi, to the kind souls reading this, im annabel and i am very thankful that you are reading this, sorry that its a long one im 16 turning 17 in a few weeks, and i promised myself that i would not exist past 16. Ive had this thought since i was 14. but in between 14-16 i was happy as in i did school well, befriended my best friends and grew more confident (thankful for the people in my lfie). But for the past few months ive started to feel fatigued or ive just felt hollow, like all people view me is a shell or a mask ive put up and not the true me(if i even know who that is)? But it wasnt a mask before; its as if ive changed drastically and ive lost who i am. I heard its called an ego death? - loss of identity and truth in one self. Then i found out my parents are going to have a divorce once i become financially stable and only stayed together because i was born an accident. Thus ive been a burden. I wont get into too much detail. It just makes me feel down for some reason. But to my core i dont even know i feel it - kind of hollow feeling, as if i haven’t existed or my existence is pointless in that its ok if i dont exist? It will end my “suffering” if i leave, and will cause little pain for others, cause how can they miss a picture of myself i put up? How can they miss someone they dont know? Maybe im being overdramatic or this is all fake. Nothing ive done is successive so is my sadness amounted to physically nothing? Maybe all i want is a label for how im feeling because all im doing is spirally everynight but i feel like im begging to be diagnosed depressed and not truely it? Like its all fake? I cant do my school work, i get tired moving and i have no joy in things i like anymore. I dont have motivation to get better, or maybe i find comfort in this. My head is becoming a war and all i want to do is cry. I am a happy person, i can change this, its all fabricated versus this is who i am and i want to keep being in this sadness. My question is; is what im feeling normal? Does everyone have these thoughts? Should i go get help? (maybe im scared that doctors will say that this is normal and i will get over it.?? Whenever i open up i feel like im lying just to have soemthing medical (“a proper reason”) to justify my sadness, i sound like a really awful person sorry) im sorry

Nightstand I really feel this is going to be my last year…
  • replies: 1

Greetings to the very little people who even bother to check up on my account…. But everything hasn’t gotten any better in my love life, friendships and family mostly because for how much I’ve fought and wished for the possible future I could share m... View more

Greetings to the very little people who even bother to check up on my account…. But everything hasn’t gotten any better in my love life, friendships and family mostly because for how much I’ve fought and wished for the possible future I could share my love and passions with.. and it’s funny coming into this year I played a little game by the name of “Omori the dreamer” after the 4 plus years of isolation, dissociation, and the many scars I’d have inflicted upon myself…. all the messaging, symbolism and themes this game had to say especially for what the original had meant to me.. I can say even with all the abandonment and sexual abuse I’d had to go through the last 2 years I haven’t had a piece of media break me down like it did again 5 years ago for how much I hold to it personally.. but I feel for all my passions I hold for the things I love.. have just never been accepted and cherished by the people who I wished will love me for all I am rather then the doll they wanted.😰 I’m alone and scared for what I’ll do to myself this year I just don’t want to go out like this…..