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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.

Guest_36175028 Worried About My Cat’s Health
  • replies: 0

It’s been two weeks since we brought home a new kitten to join our family. Our older cat, our world, still hasn’t fully accepted her, and, it’s been a tough time. The cat has stopped eating and barely drinks water now. I’m worried because she’s getti... View more

It’s been two weeks since we brought home a new kitten to join our family. Our older cat, our world, still hasn’t fully accepted her, and, it’s been a tough time. The cat has stopped eating and barely drinks water now. I’m worried because she’s getting weak,,, and I’m not sure what to do. We love her so much, but seeing her like this is breaking my heart. Please anyone suggest me some healthy cat food options that might help bring back her energy and appetite. Maybe something soft, nutritious, or homemade that your cats have liked?

lhr- Leadership Anxiety
  • replies: 0

Hey there,I have inadvertently become the spokesperson for my entire student body, and I'm deathly afraid of the outcome. I launched a small scale investigation on some of the discrepancies occurring throughout leadership at my school, had a meeting ... View more

Hey there,I have inadvertently become the spokesperson for my entire student body, and I'm deathly afraid of the outcome. I launched a small scale investigation on some of the discrepancies occurring throughout leadership at my school, had a meeting with the principal to discuss my thoughts and findings, and found myself dissatisfied with the outcome. They deflected, shifted blame onto me, and overall did not answer any of my questions nor make any effort to take any action. I was livid and then found out more upsetting news which ended up snapping my final straw. I decided I wanted peaceful protest, and started planning for a walkout. I now have dozens of kids come up to me asking questions I don't have answers for, and it seems in the short amount of time it's been decided for, the news is spreading must faster than I intended. Most of them are on board, but the planned date is not for a while, and I know things will spread more. These people trust me to speak on behalf of them, to lead our cause, but I can't lie, I'm terrified. I don't mind being reprimanded for doing what I'm doing, but I am so worried others are going to get in trouble for something they didn't plan. I am sought out for guidance, answers and comfort, and I have to sit there and say words I don't believe. I know what I'm doing is right. I know what I'm doing will create the voice needed to cause the admin to take action, but damn it I'm terrified and have no idea how to manage it all. How do I manage all the stress? It has to happen I can't avoid it, but I'm so afraid of all the "what if's" in such an unusual situation.

mathsgod Nervous Voice
  • replies: 4

hi, when I speak to people (close family and work colleagues), i suffer from what i call 'nervous voice'. this manifests itself as an inability to say 'hello' or 'how are you' and a broken nervous initial conversation. sometimes it settles down but a... View more

hi, when I speak to people (close family and work colleagues), i suffer from what i call 'nervous voice'. this manifests itself as an inability to say 'hello' or 'how are you' and a broken nervous initial conversation. sometimes it settles down but as i get older, 63, it seems to be getting worse. surprisingly, i get it when speaking to my loved ones! i can't say, 'i hope you have a nice day at school' (example only). i have had it all my life to some extent but i am only just looking at treatments! i am on an SSRI. i wondered if anyone else suffers from this and whether an SSRI has helped? i have only been on a small dose 4 weeks and moved up yesterday. thanks.

Depression

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

Jamie-75 Hey :)
  • replies: 1

Not really sure where to start,this will be the very first time ive ever reached out looking for help,i'm nearly 50 and up until now i've kept everything bottled up most of my life,the face i show people outside of my house is totally different from ... View more

Not really sure where to start,this will be the very first time ive ever reached out looking for help,i'm nearly 50 and up until now i've kept everything bottled up most of my life,the face i show people outside of my house is totally different from the one i have behind a closed door,sometimes everything just starts to spill over and my head feels like there's to much noise happening and i start crashing and my emotions go haywire,working in a highly stressful environment doesn't help either,think it just adds fuel to the fire a lot of times but sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place where work is concerned. I probably know i have some sort of depression but can't get enough courage to actually talk to someone in person,even doing this is hard for me but i'm trying,i know if i don't try, things are just going to keep getting worse,hoping down the track i might be able to talk to someone face to face but for now just sort of vent through here,thx for listening

Jojo100 Poppy Angel - the importance of pets
  • replies: 0

My name is Mel-Ann Collie,though friends just call me Mel,so listen up to the talethat I’m about to tell.I’d reached rock bottom,was in deep despair,there was no warmth orcolour anywhere.Each day had become somewhat colder,the world weighed heavily o... View more

My name is Mel-Ann Collie,though friends just call me Mel,so listen up to the talethat I’m about to tell.I’d reached rock bottom,was in deep despair,there was no warmth orcolour anywhere.Each day had become somewhat colder,the world weighed heavily on my shoulder. I felt broken, lost,devoid of feeling lying in bedstaring at the ceiling,wondering howto continue onthrough the bleak,oppressive dawn.In the midst of this painful sorrow I could see no future or a tomorrow.My saving grace was Poppy Angel:a faithful pet who was more than ableto get me through the desolation and help overcome the isolation.She would nuzzle in to my neck,not caring one bitthat I was a wreck,pulling me through many a day,keeping my negative thoughts at bay,while licking my face,wagging her tail,lifting my spirits without fail.This was better than any doctor’s pill,healing my soul,healing the chillof a thousand winters held inside,letting me cross the great divide from dark tolight to live again,and all because of my furry friend.

OneStepAtATime Emotionally exhausted
  • replies: 3

Hi, I’ve avoided reaching out to mental health lines till now. I’m not in a great place this is the worst it’s ever been. I’ll feel good again in a week or so but I know it’ll hit me again soon and seeing how this time is worse I’m scared how much wo... View more

Hi, I’ve avoided reaching out to mental health lines till now. I’m not in a great place this is the worst it’s ever been. I’ll feel good again in a week or so but I know it’ll hit me again soon and seeing how this time is worse I’m scared how much worse these phases will get. Anxiety/depression runs in the family, I’ve suffered through phases all my life. Most of the time I feel I don’t belong, like I’m stuck, tired of trying to keep up with life. Even small things like messaging people or getting through the day can feel overwhelming. The thought of the word “effort” or “life” feels heavy. I’m not suicidal I would never but I’d be lying if I said I never picture it. I wonder what it would be like to not feel so heavy all the time. I want to feel peace, like I belong somewhere but why do I feel anxious no matter where I am, I want to be anywhere else but I know I’ll still feel discomfort. I hope I made the right choice reaching out here.

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.

Halecia PTSD alone and I have No life
  • replies: 5

Hey it’s been a while since I posted on here. I’m extremely distressed and I’m moving house too in the next week.  Everytime I have a clear heart and mind I call my mother. Or people who I reach out too who i usually block. It’s like my body heart a... View more

Hey it’s been a while since I posted on here. I’m extremely distressed and I’m moving house too in the next week. 🙂 Everytime I have a clear heart and mind I call my mother. Or people who I reach out too who i usually block. It’s like my body heart and mind wants closure so I reach out but these people are narcissistic. Having put me in that moment of distress in the first place. my Mother looks at conversations towards her as a competition. Instead of LISTENING To the words I’m expressing and conveying to her she listens to what she can get out of it and how it affects her. She thinks she’s being attacked so she has her guard up all the time. I could be expressing how much I loved my Country coastal trip and how I was abit worried about my cars Gears, but I had a good trip away, AND SHE’LL FOCUS ON MY NEGATIVE EVENTS. Which is NOT WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. im 38 I’ve gone through a few domestic violence incidents one which was very traumatically VIOLENT. Then the other phycological more after he went to the remand centre. writing to people is hard when SO MANY NASTY NARCISSISTIC PEOPLE Have tried to make me react and say things to take from me. What I generally mean by that is that growing up in a single parent house hold even though my dad wanted to be with my mum. I Would always be told to do things I didn’t want to do my Other sister ran off one day when she was 14. And she didn’t come back. She hasn’t spoken to my mother since. shes 39. if I mistaked something I would get punished usually hit. im stressed right now due to strangers like plumbing technicians coming around to my place of rental to fix a plumbing Issue only to forcefully demanding and Outrageous. This happened yesterday. I’m moving out of this property. But it was disgusting. only word I can think of is Apporant. Behaviour. It’s time to go away. It’s time to focus on my own self and thoughts. It’s difficult when I’ve got horrible things my mother has said in the back of my mind. She needs to go away and let me be happy. I’ve always dreamt she’ll go away to live somewhere and let me us be happy. my sister has moved to Canada. She did when she was 28. I had a strong bond with my other little sister but she hasn’t spoken to me since me and my ex finished (she’s 27) I have another sibling who likes to control me. She’s 44. She my halfsister. my mother deposits small amounts into my bank account without me asking. So now I’ve had to block her recipient. I hope things do work for me

Depp Confused
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My partner and I just went through a breakup, had it’s good and bad times, I was voicing what’s on my mind as we do and I said “thing you do make me feel like an option” the relationship ended the next day and made me the option.. where did I go wron... View more

My partner and I just went through a breakup, had it’s good and bad times, I was voicing what’s on my mind as we do and I said “thing you do make me feel like an option” the relationship ended the next day and made me the option.. where did I go wrong?

sid_123 I was raped in a small town
  • replies: 4

Two years ago I was raped while unconscious from drinking, by a close friend. I felt in my small town I couldn't talk about it, for fear of not being believed or honestly I couldn't imagine the rift that would bring n his family (who are lovely), and... View more

Two years ago I was raped while unconscious from drinking, by a close friend. I felt in my small town I couldn't talk about it, for fear of not being believed or honestly I couldn't imagine the rift that would bring n his family (who are lovely), and he is a popular person. I had bruises and people knew he had taken me there unconscious so I should have done something. I told only a couple close friends a month after it happened, and they were unfazed and still talk to him and are friends with him. I struggle to see him around and I have to fake being polite to him even though it kills me. Even my new boyfriend (who knows what happened) will maintain conversation with him. I have so many mixed feelings about this and would love someone to take me seriously when I talk about it.

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.

WeeLassy Hi to anyone else who feels like me
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Hi. This is my first time here. I’m in my mid fifties, unemployed woman. I’ve been thinking about my future and I can’t see it going forward. My biggest concern is loneliness, compounded by unsuccessful job hunting , financial stress and alcohol abus... View more

Hi. This is my first time here. I’m in my mid fifties, unemployed woman. I’ve been thinking about my future and I can’t see it going forward. My biggest concern is loneliness, compounded by unsuccessful job hunting , financial stress and alcohol abuse. I live alone with my 2 dogs in a regional town where I don’t know anyone. I can go for days, weeks without any human contact. Worst of all, I have no idea how to link into mental health services without having to pay for a psychiatrist in my area. I’m desperate to get help with depression, anxiety, and what I would call “unusual thoughts and disturbances”.I just feel completely lost, and I often wonder if ending my life would be the kindest solution. I don’t have any friends or family to help me.Any ideas of where I can start?

Bevo ??
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Can’t cope. I’ve hit rock bottom before but not this bad. My head hurts, I’m tired, I’m sad, I think of my mum up above thinking I want to be with her so I don’t feel anymore pain.

Can’t cope. I’ve hit rock bottom before but not this bad. My head hurts, I’m tired, I’m sad, I think of my mum up above thinking I want to be with her so I don’t feel anymore pain.

orangutans3142 EXTREME HEALTH OCD MAKING LIFE UNLIVEABLE
  • replies: 1

I'm almost 19 years old (F) and I have been living with GAD and MDD for a lot of my life. Last year I was diagnosed with OCD and it has gotten unbearable and I just don't know how I will live anymore. It's like living in a constant state of torture a... View more

I'm almost 19 years old (F) and I have been living with GAD and MDD for a lot of my life. Last year I was diagnosed with OCD and it has gotten unbearable and I just don't know how I will live anymore. It's like living in a constant state of torture and I don't think anyone around me understand how suicidal it makes meI cycle through OCD thoughts/themes so once I work through one worry another one begins almost instantly. I'm on antipsychotics because of how bad it gets sometimes. One of my worst themes is health OCD. I remember a few months ago I truly thought I had cancer and was in extreme fear that I was going to die soon to the point I was living my life like I only had a month left (making impulsive decisions, not caring about how much money I spent). Right now I'm in one of the most painful spirals I have ever been in and it's about teeth and gum disease. Despite going to the dentist regularly I can't stop my compulsions of comparing my gums with pictures of healthy gums, taking photos to assess gum recession and posting on reddit and other sites for reassurance. I'm in so much pain. I keep having nightmares about my teeth falling out, I often get headaches and feel light-headed from anxiety episodes and I feel as though my life is coming to an end. I don't want to lose my teeth before I turn 30. The medication is not working anymore and I just want to end it all. I don't want this to be my life forever, being in a constant state of inflammation and exhaustion from my severe OCD and anxiety. I keep trying to hold onto hope but it's so hard