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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.

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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.

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Veronica 23yr Bad Anxiety
  • replies: 1

Hi I’m new to this platform. I’m 23 years old suffering from bad anxiety and this year had been particularly hard for me and everything seems to be going downhill. I went to college and studied biotechnology with biopharma as I loved science but drop... View more

Hi I’m new to this platform. I’m 23 years old suffering from bad anxiety and this year had been particularly hard for me and everything seems to be going downhill. I went to college and studied biotechnology with biopharma as I loved science but dropped out this year while only having a few months left to complete my degree due to severe burnout and anxiety and also realizing I didn’t enjoy it after placement at a corporate company. I decided I’m going to work anywhere just to earn some money. Went into an accounting admin job in February and only lasted two weeks the people were rude and didn’t want to train me properly I felt stupid and anxious cried everyday going home. But thought maybe this wasn’t the fit. My dog of 15 years also passed away shortly after which made matter worse. Shortly after I was lucky enough to get a position at a food company my mom works at as a food safety officer. Realized that a big part of my role will be to make sure people are doing everything correctly and give out to them (nicely) if they are not. My nature didn’t allow this my anxiety didn’t allow this the leads where rude and always turned me down when trying to talk to them or walked away. Everytime I had to go on the production floor I would fall into a panic attack everyone was looking and and three looks which made my heart race. Another part of my job was admin. But I couldn’t take it and my anxiety made me resign yesterday after three weeks I feel like a failure. My mom text me saying that the manager offered me to strictly just stick with admin work but I don’t think I can face going back. I don’t want to dissapoint her and my guilt is telling me to go back even thought I feel severely anxious about it I feel so stupid and unemployed but yet again I feel like I may have jumped to fast into the world of work after dropping out of college and just need time to get professional help and time to heal. I work weekends as a gymnastics coach and have for the last 7 years love it and I love working with the children. I also started doing nails on the side which I also enjoy I’m thinking of starting a childcare course from September but feel like I’ll be wasting a year not earning much and I’m also afraid that my anxiety will still be as bad and won’t allow me to work. It gets so bad sometimes that I can make myself believe I have something.I also don’t want to disappoint my mom not going back to that job but I really can’t face going there after everything.

Whatsinaname Horrible week
  • replies: 64

Hi everyone, I'm having a horrible week, so just thought I would post to see how everyone else is going? I'm having a hard time getting out of the shame spiral this week, but trying to remember this is only temporary. Anyway, hope others are well, ha... View more

Hi everyone, I'm having a horrible week, so just thought I would post to see how everyone else is going? I'm having a hard time getting out of the shame spiral this week, but trying to remember this is only temporary. Anyway, hope others are well, happy to chat about anything.

dwade3 Can't get over my trauma
  • replies: 1

Ive had struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts for years on and off, caused by strong feelings of loneliness and worthlessness. And as a result of that , Im also scared to meet people and interact , because I fear that I'm just going to keep... View more

Ive had struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts for years on and off, caused by strong feelings of loneliness and worthlessness. And as a result of that , Im also scared to meet people and interact , because I fear that I'm just going to keep feeling alone no matter who I meet. And because of that I just can't not be closed off and push everyone away. And as soon as I'm a little bit attached, I catastrophize whenever something is perfect

jacky78 workplace harrassment / bullying maybe??
  • replies: 10

Hey legend need some trusty advise please, I have a work colleague that continuously make comment about my career prospect saying im underpaid why I'm working so hard. This stress me out, I like my job and don't care with the pay. He also doubt the i... View more

Hey legend need some trusty advise please, I have a work colleague that continuously make comment about my career prospect saying im underpaid why I'm working so hard. This stress me out, I like my job and don't care with the pay. He also doubt the importance the role of my job, he's a higher up and I'm a technician. He does all the calling and I did all the background and paperwork. Does this mean my job is of lower importance than his. His communication often highlight this as the case Do you guys consider this bullying or harrasment as its impacting my daily life as I'm stressed due to this Any advise would be appreciated Thanks

Merete First post: Lacking sense of meaning/purpose in life in Australia
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, Greatly appreciate anyone reading this. It feels surreal writing my first post here, but I realised lately I really need professional help with my mental health which I struggled with on/off for the past years. I moved to Australia from ... View more

Hi everyone, Greatly appreciate anyone reading this. It feels surreal writing my first post here, but I realised lately I really need professional help with my mental health which I struggled with on/off for the past years. I moved to Australia from overseas just over 5 years ago. I am a citizen of another country and applying for permanent residence with my Australian husband soon. I lived in Australia previously when I was younger and always wanted to come and live here. I love living in Australia, but moving here has meant I have gone through some big life changes that have had a detrimental impact on my mental health, especially on my confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. I am by nature a very open and social person and come from a culture where it is culturally accepted to show vulnerability publicly, however I find this is different in Australia and struggle to feel accepted/understood by people here. I generally have good people around me to listen and support, but I do not want to overload them with my anxious and negative emotions which means I suppress my anxiety at times. My anxiety is caused from a variety of reasons but particularly from lacking a sense of deeper purpose/meaning in my life in Australia (I find my current job very mentally and socially isolating - I am in academia) and suffering from trust issues with my husband that are trigged because of past experiences in our relationship and in the difficult relationship I had at times with my dad growing up in my home country. I cannot support myself on my current wage which means I have had to rely on my husband financially for almost 3 years now. This has and continues to be challenging for me because I always financially supported myself prior to meeting him. We met just before the first Covid-19 lockdown in Australia and since we moved in together quickly because of this, it has meant I have grown emotionally co-dependent on him. We have moved around quite a bit as well we work in two different states which at times has made it hard for me to form long lasting friendships. Last year, we went through a traumatic work related experience together that really became the catalyst for my distrust in him. We have been in therapy together previously to address the issues outlined above, and while my anxiety has gotten better in the last 6 months, the catastrophising thoughts still dominate my external/internal perception. Thanks for reading and for your understanding.

SLB Social Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I’m really struggling with my social anxiety. My partner knows alllot of people, and it’s that time of the year where there’s allot of events on that we are to attend. And my anxiety is just through the roof. I can’t talk to anymore, I can’t make eye... View more

I’m really struggling with my social anxiety. My partner knows alllot of people, and it’s that time of the year where there’s allot of events on that we are to attend. And my anxiety is just through the roof. I can’t talk to anymore, I can’t make eye contact, I’m awkward, I choke on my words, and I’m so self aware of this, and I hate it! I feel weird and I don’t want to be known as that girlfriend who’s weird, awkward and can’t hold a conversation… I have no idea what I can do to get better at handling social interaction because it makes me so depressed

62442 My claustrophobia is getting to the point where I can't commute on Sydney Trains any longer
  • replies: 7

Pretty much exactly as the title says. Whenever I hear there's multiple delays on the line and trains are backed up, I go into a cold panic. If I'm in between stations and we suddenly stop I can feel the panic attack starting. My partner was once stu... View more

Pretty much exactly as the title says. Whenever I hear there's multiple delays on the line and trains are backed up, I go into a cold panic. If I'm in between stations and we suddenly stop I can feel the panic attack starting. My partner was once stuck between stations for 45 minutes and the sheer thought makes me want to break down. I've just started a new job which requires me to commute to Town Hall during peak hour and every day it makes me feel exhausted when I get off the train both before and after work. I've tried the breathing techniques and every thing else, but am more self conscious about people around me thinking I'm being dramatic or weird. Incontinence anxiety also plays a big role seeing as I have a weak bladder and my ultimate fear is having an "accident" trapped on a peak hour train surrounded by people. How can I overcome this without medication? I feel like it's controlling my life and I've had enough.

Bes Severe paranoia and anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm quite new to this so forgive me if I'm not approaching it right but... I don't know what to do anymore. I have overly severe paranoia issues and its become that bad that its running my friendships and causing tension within my family.. I ... View more

Hi all, I'm quite new to this so forgive me if I'm not approaching it right but... I don't know what to do anymore. I have overly severe paranoia issues and its become that bad that its running my friendships and causing tension within my family.. I constantly believe negative thoughts with situations and can't seem to block them out. I find it hard to communicate with people face to face with my problems and have mild form of social anxiety. I want to join social groups around town but I'm too scared that people will judge me negatively so I just stay home and avoid people altogether.. I guess all I'd like to know is if anyone else is going through the same thing at the moment and how they're dealing with it? Would really appreciate some support.. Thank you. - Bes

Damien1 Struggling with anxiety symptoms?
  • replies: 4

Hello my name is Damien I'm 32 and first time poster,I just want to run this by people because I've never been really good at describing the - I guess actual experience of symptoms that I've been having but lately it's getting really debilitating and... View more

Hello my name is Damien I'm 32 and first time poster,I just want to run this by people because I've never been really good at describing the - I guess actual experience of symptoms that I've been having but lately it's getting really debilitating and I just need to know is there anybody else experiencing similar.So late November of last year I was gaming pretty excessively and I was getting off to unwind and grabbed a drink and had a weird thought process in my head that I was like "Oh am I having a stroke" Because I went really weird in the left-side of my body. Following that I started feeling like really light/weak to the point I couldn't feel my muscles in my body and it was like I was just skin and bone sensation across my entire body and I described it to my mum that it felt as if my soul was being sucked out of my body. Went to ER they did x-rays and MRI and scans came back normal yet the symptoms not to that extreme kept persisting. Over the last 5 months it has been really constant with few days being good and most days being bad to the point I have to lay in bed to try shake it off. The soul sucking experience has happened only once since then and that encounter vs the ER encounter was actually nightmarish. But like lately I've been getting unusual onsets of pain around my back, chest that come and go (the best way I describe those two is if someone hits your funny bone but instead it being the back and chest) and constant tingling on the left side of my body. An unusual sensation in the peripheral vision that looks like a grey/whiteish streak across the eyebrows but inside my head which might be floaters but I am unsure. I do have type-2 diabetes which might be flaring up a bit too much and cholesterol problems run through the family. But I've been getting all the standard symptoms of brain fog, dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, Hyperventilating (which I've sort of managed this was guided meditation to some degree) and weakness But it sucks because overall I feel like I'm actually burdening my family more so my mum with all of my problems while I know she has hers and it's just been rough in the house because I've been tempted to call triple 0 multiple times lately for reassurance that everything is alright. I have been trying to improve my overall wellbeing the best I can but when it becomes too overwhelming I just like making sure that it's all good because these symptoms are too intense to endure alone. My thing is, is it just anxiety?

Guest_32295891 Anxiety or Relationship Problems
  • replies: 3

So I have been with my partner for over a year and we have been living together for pretty well the whole time. We brought a house late last year and moved in. We both have a kid from previous relationships. We have my child (3) full time and his kid... View more

So I have been with my partner for over a year and we have been living together for pretty well the whole time. We brought a house late last year and moved in. We both have a kid from previous relationships. We have my child (3) full time and his kid every other weekend. We got a dog and from all accounts if anyone looked from the outside it’s a perfect life. I was so happy when I met him he made me feel so calm and relaxed and everything was jsut easy. It was my first healthy relationship and it was an adjustment. We have great communication and agree on a lot of the important life values and goals. When we were together for about 5 months or so I started to get anxious around him at certain times of the month. Like I wouldn’t want him kissing me or cuddling me as it made me feel sick. It didn’t last more than a few days at most then I was all good and it went back to normal. Fast forward I have had this every month almsot since then. A couple months ago I had an anxiety attack where it was extreme. It always makes me freak out around him and not be able to relax around him, and I am unable to give him any affection or intimacy of any kind when I feel like this. I ended up going to the doctors and got put on antidepressants and anti anxiety medication which sadly doesn’t seem to have helped if anything my anxiety is worse. It’s getting to the point where my partner isn’t even sure if I want to be with him because of the lack of intimacy I give him. I have been diagnosed with sever anxiety and depression but I am so scared I will destroy my relationship with him because of how I feel in these moments. When I am in these anxiety phases I wonder if maybe it’s my brain telling me I don’t want to be with him. But when I’m not anxious I am happy and love the life we are building together. Is this something others have experienced and what are some tips/tricks to get me through the bad patches or any suggestions of how to stop me imploding my relationship.