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Mental health conditions

Anxiety and depression aren’t the only mental health conditions. Share what’s affecting you and learn more about managing your mental health.

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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.

Dirox Anxiety because I have been sick.
  • replies: 1

Hi all, I have been sick since December. The doctors are not quite sure what it is. I have had every test you can think of. They think I have gastroparesis ( which is my stomach is emptying too slowly) I have nausea, pain in the stomach and loss of a... View more

Hi all, I have been sick since December. The doctors are not quite sure what it is. I have had every test you can think of. They think I have gastroparesis ( which is my stomach is emptying too slowly) I have nausea, pain in the stomach and loss of appetite. Since then I have become very anxious about anything. Has anyone been through this. Please let me know. Wishing you all a great day. 🥰

Guest_65297329 I feel like I can’t talk to anyone
  • replies: 2

I feel like I can talk to anyone about anything I told one of my friends about my stuff that being going on and then someone told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone and now I feel like I can’t talk to anyone and I don’t want to be here

I feel like I can talk to anyone about anything I told one of my friends about my stuff that being going on and then someone told me that I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone and now I feel like I can’t talk to anyone and I don’t want to be here

Guest_76012991 panic attacks
  • replies: 2

I have been having panic attacks more recently and when that happens I overthink loads and have loads of negative thoughts. Like I think i’m not smart enough, I’m not pretty enough, I am useless, nobody’s cares about me. I feel awful and I can do not... View more

I have been having panic attacks more recently and when that happens I overthink loads and have loads of negative thoughts. Like I think i’m not smart enough, I’m not pretty enough, I am useless, nobody’s cares about me. I feel awful and I can do nothing when this happens except try to breathe and wait it out. I would love suggestions about how I can try to relax when this is happening. I am already taking medicine and seeing a therapist and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, I feel so alone.

Depression

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

lovablelemon Depressed Partner - treatment resistant
  • replies: 1

Hi Everyone, I'm the partner of my girlfriend of 6 years (who is also my best friend) who has been diagnosed with treament-resistant major depression. We recently moved out of home together, thinking we were both able to support a life together, afte... View more

Hi Everyone, I'm the partner of my girlfriend of 6 years (who is also my best friend) who has been diagnosed with treament-resistant major depression. We recently moved out of home together, thinking we were both able to support a life together, after having endured living apart and with difficult family home situations for 4+ years of our relationship. Unfortunately not long after moving out my partner started suffering what she says is the worst mental health downswing she's had in her adult life. She's mentioned having some before as a teenager, but this time has been so long (been majorly depressed for more than 2 years) and more difficult than ever.She had a decent chunk of savings (over 15k) before getting unwell, but almost all of this has gone toward medical expenses and rent/unpaid leave at her work which she now works at remote 2 days a week. I've really struggled watching her suffer, and feeling her push me away over these two years. During this time she's almost succeeded in ending her life twice, with also having a severe medical reaction to one of her depression medications which was also life threatening. I can't imagine how hard it's been on her. I've been feeling anxiety and hypervigilance as to me it feels like my decisions have saved her life multiple times and it's too much pressure for my conscience to bear that if something had gone even a little differently and I hadn't been hypervigilant she might be dead now. I've also been working and studying at the same time, with 50-60hr a week commitment to hopefully improve our lives. During this period I've just been feeling more and more burnt out in every sense trying to force our lives to function. Some of this was from difficult work, and also in trying to do house tasks, but most of this has shown up in me as deep emotional fatigue, trying to empathise and support her while struggling through my own immense workload. And feeling like I have no real support for this that makes a difference (even though I've started seeing a psychologist and have family for emotional support). I suppose the question I want to ask to everyone is, now that my partner has drained her emergency funds, how on earth is she supposed to look after herself, and how should I be looking after her to also protect my own/our financial futures. The amount of psychologist, dental (oh god the dental costs we can't afford), and psychiatrist bills on top of all the other mounting issues with affording general adult life seem impossible to overcome. With it being a treatment resistant (she's tried over 5 ADs at this point some of which were in an inpatient stay) there doesn't seem to be any hope on the horizon. I don't know how we're supposed to manage, especially at the start of our adult lives.So much of the time I feel like giving up, I can't imagine how she feels being the one to experience these issues in her own body and mind. I feel like I am captor to someone that doesn't want to be here (alive) or to try anymore. I've gone through so many waves of grief at her mortality and attitude toward life, it's a getting harder to still stand and try to push forward, this being even harder now that her financial resources have dwindled.I could probably fund everything she needs for her care, but she's also made clear she doesn't want to place that burden on me. I also don't know (I know this is unjustified and I feel like a horrible human being writing it) that if it came to me doing this for all her expenses, that I wouldn't resent her for the opportunity cost of our lives and financial futures. I don't want to break up with her as I care about her immensely and she would realistically have nobody to turn to. Such a large part of me is absolutely shattered that these are the decisions we've come to with all of our life potential - that we are forced indefinitely to pay into a system that admits so far it cannot help her (treatment resistant) and that I am somehow supposed to sacrifice so much of my/our financial futures for something that feels like a hopeless battle. I don't know what to do, writing this is in some ways a last resort. How are we expected to upfront these costs and live through these difficulties.I feel like it's just a waiting game before we have nothing left to return to and we both have no choice but to give up. Treatment resistant depression is horrible.

Guest_69381776 Reaching out
  • replies: 1

I am suffering feel very unmotivated No joy feel lonely no connection anywhere I do have a daughter grandkids But I don't want to burden her

I am suffering feel very unmotivated No joy feel lonely no connection anywhere I do have a daughter grandkids But I don't want to burden her

Guest_04987375 Stumped on what to do
  • replies: 1

I have been diagnosed with bipolar effective disorder/schizoeffective disorder bipolar type. I take my medicine daily without fail. I know I’m not experiencing psychosis. I’ve been on and off depressed for the last maybe 18 months or so. I’m not sure... View more

I have been diagnosed with bipolar effective disorder/schizoeffective disorder bipolar type. I take my medicine daily without fail. I know I’m not experiencing psychosis. I’ve been on and off depressed for the last maybe 18 months or so. I’m not sure if there’s an actual problem or not or if it’s just typical bipolar. I have no strong friends or family that I can rely on. I have family and friends but not the strongest ties. I have no real career trajectory and no real way of getting a car and license. I’m here for my cats, I don’t know what I’d do without them. I can be fine one minute and not the next. I don’t know what to do or if this is just my life now. I have a plan but no intention on acting on it. I tell everyone I’m fine but never really how I truly feel. What should I do? mindfulness and all that isn’t going to help, distractions can help but they don’t change the fact I have no friends and no career trajectory.

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.

Pyrolee Lost my job second time unexpected and deceived
  • replies: 1

I’ve recently lost my job for the second time during probation period, it was a job I was after and had no issues leading to my dismissal, the boss was friendly at the stage and came off as supportive, I’ve got two kids as well and he’s got two kids ... View more

I’ve recently lost my job for the second time during probation period, it was a job I was after and had no issues leading to my dismissal, the boss was friendly at the stage and came off as supportive, I’ve got two kids as well and he’s got two kids as well, seemed like everything was fine and on trackUnexpectedly he gave me the flick final day of my probation and asked to return everything and said it was a business decision. Now I’m unemployed with two loving kids and a wife in distress and feel like giving it all up, I can’t cause my kids need a father but everyday I feel like what’s the point, I’ve been lied to, everything in my life crushed and falling apart, nothings working out for me but it’s like this everyday, waking up and being like I’m in this same pickle everyday, get a job, get lied to, go out have a go, people put you down cause you’re of different ethnicity, it’s all getting too much, what do I do? I feel like I can’t talk and trust people anymore and feel sad and what’s the point, can’t catch a break

Guest_10266 Trauma, neglect - or?
  • replies: 1

When I was 5ish, my mum started dating a new guy. We moved in with him, but we as kids (2 girls <7) didn't move in as such, he had a bungalow out the back which was transformed into our 'bedroom'. Of a night, the back door was locked (deadbolt) we we... View more

When I was 5ish, my mum started dating a new guy. We moved in with him, but we as kids (2 girls <7) didn't move in as such, he had a bungalow out the back which was transformed into our 'bedroom'. Of a night, the back door was locked (deadbolt) we were only really allowed inside for meal times, (toilet/shower was put in in out-house laundry room) From age 8+ for myself I was expected to get myself to/from school, that was ok as it wasn't far away. Once I moved schools 9/10+, I then had to get public transport myself (to and from school) not only this, but we were reprimanded a lot from the bf. If we didn't do as told (ie water flowers before school, pick up dog poo, clean room etc) we were given PAGES, not just lines like they do in school, actual pages. 50+ if we did wrong (of lines), I barely had/allowed a social life... my father fought for quite a few years for better treatment of us, but ended up giving up (never came back and moved to Qld without a word) my mother allowed this treatment for 8+ years, 'she did her best'. We were left alone for a fair bit of time on continuous occassions. We would frequently be at a caravan park for 'holidays' a lot of the parents saw issues with this, with how we were treated. My mother only cares for social status, I have 3 kids and they have grown to learn that my mother only cares about what others thing, doesn't actually care for them as ppl (A lot more that I can't fit in to post occured) I'm now at the age of 39 and hubby is helping me see different. My mother and older sister see themselves as 'perfect' and don't do wrong. When I've in the past tried to approach the issue with my mum, I am met with 'sorry I was such a bad much' 'i did the best I could'. I don't know how to deal with/get over the trauma/issues I feel... I don't want to keep feeling broken.

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.

bluesunday self harm urges
  • replies: 3

i’m 12 & recently i’ve been getting urges to self harm. it happens almost every other day & i can’t stop thinking about it. ive held it once but never got the guts to fully attempt it. i dont know what to do ,, the urges are getting stronger & im bec... View more

i’m 12 & recently i’ve been getting urges to self harm. it happens almost every other day & i can’t stop thinking about it. ive held it once but never got the guts to fully attempt it. i dont know what to do ,, the urges are getting stronger & im becoming weaker i need advice to stop

Guest_41029127 a way to describe this…feeling?
  • replies: 1

As the title suggests, I’m looking for a way to describe my current … state? or hoping someone else has a similar experience. FYI I am currently in year 12, and yes I am safe Since I was in about year 5 or 6, I think I hated living. Not necessarily ... View more

As the title suggests, I’m looking for a way to describe my current … state? or hoping someone else has a similar experience. FYI I am currently in year 12, and yes I am safe 🙂Since I was in about year 5 or 6, I think I hated living. Not necessarily suicidal ideation (though there were many instances of it), but I was very pessimistic about life and thought everything sucked, so even if I felt happiness (emotion) I don’t think I was truly happy with life. But around the start of this year, I stumbled upon things that had really resonated with me, and something had shifted within me. For the first time I felt like I really wanted to live, and that life was beautiful. Even when I experienced setbacks, I still had the strong feeling of wanting to live, and that I was capable of things even though I was struggling. Essentially, even though I had times where I didn’t feel happiness (the emotion), I felt like my state of being was happy (?) And I was still the same pessimistic person, but I felt like some kind of miasma (as strange as that sounds) was lifted from me. That was basically how I felt for a good many months, until maybe a month or some time ago I ended up discussing with a teacher about mental health support, and I won’t go into details, but mid conversation I was struck with an immense wave of depression/hopelessness/disillusionment that no one would ever help me and that I would never deserve help… and essentially ever since then it feels like that “state” of happiness has disappeared and I returned to my longstanding state of…some kind of hopelessness. It feels like I’m back to square one. Though I also think I’m a bit more resilient to suicidal ideation so maybe square one point five. So I want to know if theres a way to encapsulate what this experience is. Or if anyone has experienced a similar thing before?

jcrhjm Inevitable
  • replies: 2

I am safe right now, and I mostly have been for a few years now. But I am still convinced that my life is only headed one way, that it's inevitable something, someday soon, will finally push me over the edge. I know I haven't got the guts to do it 99... View more

I am safe right now, and I mostly have been for a few years now. But I am still convinced that my life is only headed one way, that it's inevitable something, someday soon, will finally push me over the edge. I know I haven't got the guts to do it 99.9% of the time. I know people love me, I know people will be devastated. Years ago there were several inpatient stays, I had TMS and ECT done. I've tried many medications and many therapists. Written more notes than I can count. Several years of addiction. But the suicidal thoughts never went away, and I don't remember life without themI'm 30 now, lived far longer than I ever expected. People around me think it's behind me and I'm doing better. I spent time living overseas, I see friends in person more regularly, I go to the gym, I talk to a therapist every week and I don't isolate in my room anymore. I can get through days easier, I credit a lot of that to DBT. But there is no real enjoyment from everyday life. It's all a necessary chore, stuff I should be doing so people don't worry about me. I'm doing a tafe course, I can't talk to people or make friends there and I've just about given up on it. Relationships and conversations are as hard and draining as ever. I still get out and try things, by myself, but I lose interest quickly. It's a chore to contact friends, and it just feels like a duty to go and see them when they contact me. I haven't had a problem with addiction for a couple years now, I lost interest in that too.Every night lying in bed I'm stuck with the noise in my head, keeping me up all night sometimes. I can't pretend to myself like I can to other people. I had people I could talk to in these situations over the years, but I managed to drive each and every one of them away. I cling on to the hope that one of these days, before too long, will finally be my last. Thank you