Immediate support
Immediate support

Anxiety

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

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Jump to
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

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

Start a discussion

abbyrlogan anxiety/being a complete hypochondriac
  • replies: 4

hey guys, it’s so nice to feel like a new member, i only just discovered that you are able to do this and post forums! nice to meet you all and to share my experiences and story. so i have been diagnosed with anxiety but always been aware of having i... View more

hey guys, it’s so nice to feel like a new member, i only just discovered that you are able to do this and post forums! nice to meet you all and to share my experiences and story. so i have been diagnosed with anxiety but always been aware of having it. it’s never been this bad. i am also a massive hypochondriac that will worry about anything that i feel or think of etc. i am always thinking of heart related things especially when i am experiencing the physical symptoms of my anxiety i will always turn to either am i going to have a heart attack or even die!! it’s insane and utterly awful. i normally feel like this for days and sometimes weeks and can’t seem to convince myself that i am ok and that nothing is wrong not matter how many times people and my loved ones have told me i’m alright and nothings going to happen part of me always thinks or convinces myself that something is wrong. some of the other symptoms i experience from time to time are feeling completely fatigued, drowsy, sick to the stomach, pain in the stomach, loss of appetitive, chest pain to name a few. can someone reply with some advice and or guidance it would be much appreciated and could help me

Nyny94 Worried Over Nothing
  • replies: 15

I have OCD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder and up until now it has been going super well with no flare-ups, however, I bought some bond period undies and accidentally instead of putting them into a cold wash like normal hit the cycle button. Now the... View more

I have OCD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder and up until now it has been going super well with no flare-ups, however, I bought some bond period undies and accidentally instead of putting them into a cold wash like normal hit the cycle button. Now the undies say cold wash and I have my OCD urges to follow instructions and now because I didn't wash them in cold and the normal cycle us like 40 degrees I am freaking out. I binned my clothes and I am terrified something bad is going to happen, I've booked a DRs appointment as recently my stress has been causing my anxiety and OCD to become a bit less manageable. Does anyone have advice? How do you handle something this simple that should be no big deal? I am terrified I have done something wrong and now my clothes cant be worn or that the washing machine can't be used or that the undies are somehow tainted. I know this sounds silly but I think my OCD and GAD are maybe being triggered by other stresses.

Nelle__09 I’m
  • replies: 2

My anxiety is literally ruining and running my entire life. I have been out of work for roughly 7 months due to my anxiety around workplaces and people, during this time I’ve almost everything I can think of to try to help and support myself contrary... View more

My anxiety is literally ruining and running my entire life. I have been out of work for roughly 7 months due to my anxiety around workplaces and people, during this time I’ve almost everything I can think of to try to help and support myself contrary to what my family believes. I contacted Centrelink, figured out what needed to be done for my drivers license, got a mental health plan and a counsellor and even tried to go through one of those job employment agencies that help you to look for a job while dealing with injuries and mental illness. As a Non protected SCV holder in Australia I knew I wasn’t really entitled to much but I was hoping they would have services for young people struggling with mental health to find work or really provide ANY SUPPORT at all but no. So here’s my dilemma, I can’t work due to my anxiety, which means I have no income whatsoever and must rely on my boyfriend and family to support me, I can’t get financial support from Centrelink because I’m a non protected SCV holder and I can’t access job support because I’m non protected SCV holder (from the research I’ve done, I’ve been unable to find any). In my mind I’ve done almost every possible thing I can think of to try deal with my anxiety, to seek the support I need, to ask people for help and it’s made me feel like I don’t matter. Every time I’m given hope that I can get support, other then talking to a counsellor, I’m ultimately told I’m not eligible for that or I’m not entitled to that. I feel like I’m slipping through the cracks no matter how hard I try to help myself. Is there honestly nothing more I can do?

Jenren Extreme Social Anxiety
  • replies: 2

Hi Everyone,I am struggling with extreme social anxiety and lack of motivation (almost agoraphobic). I have just started a new job and everyone seems so confident and sure of themselves and I am finding it difficult to interact. I question everything... View more

Hi Everyone,I am struggling with extreme social anxiety and lack of motivation (almost agoraphobic). I have just started a new job and everyone seems so confident and sure of themselves and I am finding it difficult to interact. I question everything I say or do and am really unsure of myself. It has gotten to a point where I just want to hide away from the world. I suffer with severe back pain which I have seen a specialist about, however there is not a lot that can be done other than physio. This doesn't help when trying to do exercise or activities that I know will assist me with the anxiety I am experiencing. Looking for any strategies to overcome this and assist with getting my confidence back.

David35 aversion to sudden noises
  • replies: 6

I've developed an aversion to sudden noises lately. My gut feeling is that it is some emotional memory associated with glass smashing and arguments that I've had with mum over the years. Every time I hear glass knocking on granite or glass or crocker... View more

I've developed an aversion to sudden noises lately. My gut feeling is that it is some emotional memory associated with glass smashing and arguments that I've had with mum over the years. Every time I hear glass knocking on granite or glass or crockery, I cringe. It usually sets of a panic attack. As embarrassing as it is to admit, has anyone else had this problem? If so, how have they dealt with it?

Anth701 Stupid Feelings?/Anxiety?
  • replies: 3

This is going to sound ridiculous and I feel a little selfish given some of the stories, reasons and backgrounds on here. I've just turned 40 and have been having what I think is constant anxiety for a while now but it has really cranked itself up la... View more

This is going to sound ridiculous and I feel a little selfish given some of the stories, reasons and backgrounds on here. I've just turned 40 and have been having what I think is constant anxiety for a while now but it has really cranked itself up lately. I have a constant fear of getting cancer and that I'm going to die before I will see my kids grow up. I feel physically ill with a pit in my stomach my mind is constantly calculating the negatives and I rarely go an hour of sleep before waking up mind racing. I lost my Dad to cancer 9 years ago and I came down with a illness 2 years later which I had about 6 or 7 Ct scans over the course of a few months. I got really sick and was convinced I was dying before they discovered what it was and pretty much got rid of a bad internal infection. I am now convinced, at least somewhere in my conciousness that the radiation from these scans is going to give me cancer. Negative thoughts, sleeplessness and depression have increased. I feel ridiculous given what people with actual current ilnesses are going through but I can't throw it. I've even written letters to my kids. I've been to 1 psychologist but his suggestion to take a teddy bear everywhere I go and hug it when I get these feelings to placate my inner child doesn't really work for me. I don't know what I'm asking I guess i was hoping just writing it out would help.

Flapmon I feel like I’m burning.
  • replies: 7

I also feel like I’m going crazy. I’ve been having panic attacks prior to the even that set this all off and now I’m just in a constant panic, my skin is burning - there’s a lump in my throat, it’s hard to breathe. I’m getting headspins and I just do... View more

I also feel like I’m going crazy. I’ve been having panic attacks prior to the even that set this all off and now I’m just in a constant panic, my skin is burning - there’s a lump in my throat, it’s hard to breathe. I’m getting headspins and I just don’t feel right. All I want to do is sleep but I don’t have the ability to do that when I’m a single mum. I ended up ringing the ambulance lastnight, sat at the hospital for hours, my whole body on fire with hot flushes and if I looked down I felt like I was going to pass out. The doctor put it down to an anxiety disorder, gave me some phenurgen and sent me home. I’m on medication, only just on it though and am waiting for it to kick in but was told it’d get worse before it gets better. 1-2 weeks... I don’t know how to calm myself down, I can’t.. and even if I am there’s still something there like a headspins or waves of anxiety. had me thinking lastnight that maybe there was something they missed, even though the health check came back as I’m absolutely fine. I dont know what im doing anymore.

Tina_92 Looking for Re-Assurance - Extreme Anxiety From Medical tests
  • replies: 1

I have done a bariatric surgery recently (6 months ago) ... and I was so anxious something is going wrong ... I got tested a lot, everytime I go to ED they do me at least a couple of Chest X-raysLastly my bariatric GP has recommended that I do Liver ... View more

I have done a bariatric surgery recently (6 months ago) ... and I was so anxious something is going wrong ... I got tested a lot, everytime I go to ED they do me at least a couple of Chest X-raysLastly my bariatric GP has recommended that I do Liver and Abdomen 4 Phase CT Scans with contrast ... which is HEAPSSSS of radiation ... I did it and once done I felt heaps of regret, since then and I am looking to what I have done to myself .. especially that last year before my surgery I also had a CT Scan in ED When I went to my regular GP who was away for so long, she put my anxiety to another level, she told me how I have put myself at a higher risk by going through all these tests, she counted for me the times I have been to ED with chest X rays (about 10 times) and the two CTs mentioning that the last one is HEAPS of radiation ...I now cannot sleep ... thinking what have I done to myself ... I am only wishing I SAID "NO" or discussed this with the bariatric GP who referred me, or at least let the sonographer knew of my past tests that have done ... I am so upset and regretting ... she made me feel even worse by her talk .. was crying the whole visit in the clinic She asked me to stay away from radiation at least the next 10 years unless its EMERGENCY

Ruby_Duxfield My mum might have cancer
  • replies: 3

I have been feeling very overwhelmed and anxious at the moment finding out my mum could possibly have breast cancer, or even melanoma (the most serious type of skin cancer). I feel isolated and alone and I have no one to talk to. I just want someone ... View more

I have been feeling very overwhelmed and anxious at the moment finding out my mum could possibly have breast cancer, or even melanoma (the most serious type of skin cancer). I feel isolated and alone and I have no one to talk to. I just want someone to understand, I’d never wish this pain on another soul but I just wish there was someone who could relate

Ladyrose Apologies just looking for understanding
  • replies: 19

I am sorry for taking up peoples time with my problems, but I feel very alone at the moment. I am having major anxiety issues changing jobs. I am completely petrified, and the new position is a long distance from home and I am not sure I have made th... View more

I am sorry for taking up peoples time with my problems, but I feel very alone at the moment. I am having major anxiety issues changing jobs. I am completely petrified, and the new position is a long distance from home and I am not sure I have made the right decision. I have cried a river of tears, sweated, chest pains and a feeling of complete helplessness and feeling like a failure. I have booked a psychologist in a weeks time to try and deal with my issues. This is not living. Friends and family dont understand which makes it so much worse. I feel lost and alone as I cant talk to anyone about how I feel. People think by saying you will be ok that the anxiety just disappears. Thank you for listening as I know other people are going through much worse.