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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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GypsyAvalon Morning Anxiety
  • replies: 10

Hello Everybody, Just wondering if anyone has trouble managing their anxiety in the morning.As soon as I wake up and my brain kicks into gear, I find my anxiety is at it's worse. I have the fear of not being able to cope with the day.I usually spray ... View more

Hello Everybody, Just wondering if anyone has trouble managing their anxiety in the morning.As soon as I wake up and my brain kicks into gear, I find my anxiety is at it's worse. I have the fear of not being able to cope with the day.I usually spray lavender oil on my pillow case and do deep breathing to calm down but it doesn't work all the time.It starts at about 6am every morning.Do any members have some tips or suggestions to help me manage it better?Thanking you.

Kfox Rock bottom.
  • replies: 3

Hi all - I cannot afford therapy and need somewhere to air out my feelings and circumstances. I've suffered from social anxiety quite severely since I was a teenager. It's only in the past few years that it's gotten in the way of work, friendships an... View more

Hi all - I cannot afford therapy and need somewhere to air out my feelings and circumstances. I've suffered from social anxiety quite severely since I was a teenager. It's only in the past few years that it's gotten in the way of work, friendships and relationships. I'm currently in a fresh relationship (7 months in roughly) with an absolute angel of a person. For such a young relationship, he has had to deal with my alcohol dependency (because of anxiety), my extreme mood swings and general depression. I've left 3 amazing jobs since the start of the year due to not being able to function in a normal social setting. Hell, I can't even go into a shopping centre without almost having a panic attack. Anyway, the main reason I'm here is because my partner has quite simply had enough of me, and told me that I've "broken him". He had a spout of anger this morning and punched one of his computer monitors, which was awful to see because he is not an angry person... but I managed to bring it out of him with the way I've been towards him. My anxiety has also led to paranoia, for example, I assume the absolute worst of him and accuse him of things he hasn't and would never do. Due to lack of work, he has been supporting me a lot financially too and he's beginning to struggle. He also caught me hiding alcohol from him after I said I had quit... which really hurt him because of the fact I lied. What I'm trying to say is that I don't know what to do. I do currently have a job but I've called in sick because of anxiety 3 times over the 3 weeks I've been employed there and I don't know how much longer they're going to tolerate that. I would absolutely appreciate any advice! I need to get my life in order and stop worrying about what other people think of me in social settings and learn to relax... I just don't know how. I can't keep relying on alcohol. The most frustrating thing is that by nature I'm very bubbly and confident, but I'm losing myself. Thank you in advance to anyone who responds and I hope you're having a wonderful day.

Rayvan Anxiety and Sleep
  • replies: 8

Hi there Im currently struggling with insomnia for 8 days now with only achieving 2 hrs, if I’m lucky, each night. My biggest issue is, I feel the sleep coming on but my anxiety kicks in and blocks that sleep from occurring. I feel as though I’m in a... View more

Hi there Im currently struggling with insomnia for 8 days now with only achieving 2 hrs, if I’m lucky, each night. My biggest issue is, I feel the sleep coming on but my anxiety kicks in and blocks that sleep from occurring. I feel as though I’m in a battle every night to the point I’m not functioning at all. I don’t like taking any medication because my anxiety goes into overdrive with any possible side effects. I’ve been taking rescue remedy, putting some lavender oil on, valerian, doing meditation and exercising but I’m at the point of having a complete breakdown as I feel defeated in managing this.

Robbo5715 Tired and nervous
  • replies: 3

I work in a dead end job that’s easy but doesn’t pay well. My son has moved to London and my wife wants us to visit. I don’t get holidays and will have to organise someone to relieve me. It’s been 6 years since I’ve had a holiday. The airfares will c... View more

I work in a dead end job that’s easy but doesn’t pay well. My son has moved to London and my wife wants us to visit. I don’t get holidays and will have to organise someone to relieve me. It’s been 6 years since I’ve had a holiday. The airfares will cost over $4k, she wants to go for 3 weeks, I’m worried my job won’t be there when I get back. She is keen to visit London and travel around Europe, I can’t see how we can afford it, also I really don’t want to go. She thinks there is something wrong with me. I’m so sad. I tried to kill my self seven years ago, nothing seems to have improved.

Bee1998 Does anyone else feel like this too?
  • replies: 6

Ever since I can remember, I have been extremely bothered by particular types of females while I'm in a relationship. For example. females who dress a certain way, or act a certain way (provocatively). Or even if they're not necessarily dressed provo... View more

Ever since I can remember, I have been extremely bothered by particular types of females while I'm in a relationship. For example. females who dress a certain way, or act a certain way (provocatively). Or even if they're not necessarily dressed provocatively, but are wearing something like tight leggings with their bum exposed through the pants, etc. I don't know if this comes from my own insecurities, or just disliking it in general, or both, but regardless, I can't stand it, and it actually makes me feel really terrible, and sometimes even angry.I am particularly anxious as Summer is approaching, because that means half naked girls everywhere, plus I hate going to the beach with my boyfriend, because it makes me uncomfortable that he is seeing all of these half naked girls in their skimpy bikinis... to me, it feels like I'm being forced to watch my boyfriend viewing porn or something. I know that may sound silly, but it's really a big problem for me, and always has been. I'm not saying my boyfriend is doing anything wrong, because he isn't, it's the females around me which irritate me. And it's not even me thinking anything is going to happen either (in regards to infidelity) because I know it's not. Does anyone else experience the same thing? I really would like some help with this.

Romy Recovering from anxiety relapse
  • replies: 4

A month ago I had a huge flare up of my GAD. I have many things coming up this year that suddenly overwhelmed me and it made my anxiety/depression worse than it has ever been before. I’ve been seeing my psychologist fortnightly and increased my medic... View more

A month ago I had a huge flare up of my GAD. I have many things coming up this year that suddenly overwhelmed me and it made my anxiety/depression worse than it has ever been before. I’ve been seeing my psychologist fortnightly and increased my medication a month ago. I’m definitely having better days where I can see hope, last week I had 5 days in a row where I felt back to my usual self and I thought “great! Everything is back to normal!” But then I had a day with slight anxiety and it spiraled out of control again. So I’m finding now I’m having good days and then really really low days where I just cry and cry and feel like I’ll never get better. I guess my question is, is it normal when recovering from such a severe relapse to have good days and then have really bad days again? Has anyone else been through this? My psychologist has said that recovery is not linear, it has many ups and downs but it’s hard to see the light when you’re in the downs.

cocness Finally admitting to myself of my Anxiety, ptsd
  • replies: 1

Hello, I am a woman in my 50's. I have 3 kids, who are adults, and 2 have moved out and have their own families. My ex died 19 yrs. ago and have been single ever since. Being on your own, and not putting all your energy on your children, forces onese... View more

Hello, I am a woman in my 50's. I have 3 kids, who are adults, and 2 have moved out and have their own families. My ex died 19 yrs. ago and have been single ever since. Being on your own, and not putting all your energy on your children, forces oneself to deal with one's own issues. wow is all i can say for i have issues, i could write a novel. but my anxiety, and ptsd is extreme now that i have finally made my appointment with psych to deal with my past. On top off that being flooded with repressed memories, once kiddies grew up, i pushed back, willfully ignorant, bad memories, due to knowing at that time if i processed everything I would of broke. This forum seems like a great place to relate, now currently i am a carer for my younger adult due to mental health, but she is nearly there. I'll sign off for now. this is overwhelming, I wish everyone the strength to open up and not be ashamed. The hardest part for me was thinking I was alone, I know different now, but i still emotionally cut off and hide away and that has to stop now.from alle

potoftea Teenage son anxiety
  • replies: 6

My 15 year old son has developed some major anxiety issues which are beginning to impact his daily life such as unable to attend school most days. My husband decided 6 months ago that he wanted to live by himself so we have separated, sold our family... View more

My 15 year old son has developed some major anxiety issues which are beginning to impact his daily life such as unable to attend school most days. My husband decided 6 months ago that he wanted to live by himself so we have separated, sold our family home and he and I purchased seperate houses. My son decided to live with me because he did not appreciate his dad’s decision to break up the family….Both my son and I were having a perfectly happy family life until my husband decided he had enough of family life. We don’t live far from each other and still see each other as somewhat friends…it’s complicated and confusing. I do feel this is a major contributor to my sons new anxiety, as a suddenly single parent I am at a loss as to how to help him, I haven’t even helped myself by talking to anyone. I realy don’t know who to turn to, there are no family members to talk to and I don’t want things to get worse…can anyone please help?

T1278910 Have been working on myself for year and I still struggle with social situations
  • replies: 2

I have been working hard to better myself for the last 4 years I’m 18. I had a period of time when I was 13 with OCD for about 6 months where it was so severe I went days without food occasionally and was unable to drink, eat and go to sleep well. Ad... View more

I have been working hard to better myself for the last 4 years I’m 18. I had a period of time when I was 13 with OCD for about 6 months where it was so severe I went days without food occasionally and was unable to drink, eat and go to sleep well. Additionally my parents were out of work partially due to my illness. We were poor and I was sleeping in a closet, not going to school, not showering, malnourished and isolated for about 6months. It was a hard fall from what was a very successful kid. I no longer suffer from OCD, but after 4 years of almost religiously trying to heal myself I still struggle with social anxiety to a point I struggle playing low level sport, socialising, eating in front of others and going to school. I realised I had ignored my problems from when I was 13 because it’s confronting. Do I need to confront these wounds to better myself. I want to get better quickly and correctly. How do I explore my past, and I find myself blaming people and myself whenever i do, is it meaningful to understand?

Miseria_Oizys misery doesnt like company.
  • replies: 2

Hi im not new to this, beyond blue had got me out of a very dark place once before due to depression from past trauma and abuse. Although I managed to avoid my mental health issues I have constant anxiety attacks. Its been a few years I capped my tho... View more

Hi im not new to this, beyond blue had got me out of a very dark place once before due to depression from past trauma and abuse. Although I managed to avoid my mental health issues I have constant anxiety attacks. Its been a few years I capped my thoughts and inner feelings inside not feeling safe enough emotionally to express whats going on inside but I recently have been having alot more anxiety attacks where I feel I cant breathe or I suddenly feel like there's a wall of glass in front of me and I feel out of breath at times. I am known to alot of people to cut connections from groups of people from time to time I will be fairly social one moment and could light up the room but then il wake up one day delete my socials block people trying to communicate who I feel are constantly overwhelming me asking me about my life I don't want to share with them. I delete photos and cut all access to anybody who questions my sudden ghost mode even if they did nothing wrong. Its not that I don't purposely do it, in the moment when im feeling down thoughts of negative voices attack me as if someone is controlling my mind not to trust people not to keep in contact. I have walked away and cut relationships if I feel they try to get more close or I feel anxious of physical intimacy I stay home I raise my son and i choose not to have friends in the same city to save my energy or with little that I have to get through the day. I just want to sleep. But thats another battle is not being able to sleep well at night. Which affects my kid and i barely talk to the ones I live with. And I use to smoke but I barely can lift a cigarette because how tired I am but restless and always need to clean. When I clean I feel a sense of accomplishment I bond well with animals I take care of. But I feel I use my pets as a way to avoid my problems and sudden disassociate myself from any human. Which is why I know seeing a professional will be of no use because I don't want to leave the house I force myself to go to the shops just to buy necessities for my child but im completely in robot mode.. in the shop then out no contact head down and thats a little difficult to cope with when my child is full of life and social. My questions is. What is the best way to deal with my anxiety when im feeling breathless and my chest feels like a weight is on it. Do I write about it? Or do I take other steps. I just don't believe a doctor can possibly help me at this point. And I dont want to join social groups or talk to anyone. I just feel alone. Even with a room full of people. They just sound like im underwater listening but not clear. I read a few posts and I think it makes my anxiety more heavier to deal with feelin sad about other peoples problems with anxiety. And I dont want to burden anybody. But I hope whoever reads this can feel some sort of comfort that they aint alone. I wouldn't want anybody to feel like what they are feeling isnt normal and that they are alone.. or just a way for a family or friend to tell you to "harden up" Maybe these are just lost thoughts and il stop questioning my sanity. Im sending love and light to those struggling right now.