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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_40594058 Anxiety/Depression
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I've been dealing with anxiety/depression for more than 3 years, and just in the past few weeks, it has really gone bad to the point where sometimes I feel like I'm alone.I've been married for 18 years, have 2 boys, one 15-year-old and the ... View more

Hi there, I've been dealing with anxiety/depression for more than 3 years, and just in the past few weeks, it has really gone bad to the point where sometimes I feel like I'm alone.I've been married for 18 years, have 2 boys, one 15-year-old and the other 8-year-old, the youngest has ASD, and some days he makes it difficult to manage the day. It started when I got a bad vertigo attack 9 years ago, and ever since then, I get bad panic attacks if my head gets dizzy and I can't drive.

Jessica_Cloud Struggling after stopping SNRI - how long will this go on?
  • replies: 1

I was on antidepressants for over 2 decades and tapered off slowly and successfully. I’m F 59. It’s been just over 3 months since stopping SNRIs and I’m experiencing awful symptoms of anxiety, dread, irritability, negative thoughts, and suicidality. ... View more

I was on antidepressants for over 2 decades and tapered off slowly and successfully. I’m F 59. It’s been just over 3 months since stopping SNRIs and I’m experiencing awful symptoms of anxiety, dread, irritability, negative thoughts, and suicidality. I didn’t experience these symptoms prior to starting meds. I started with some other natural medication but I’m not convinced it’s helping. I do a lot of self care eg exercise, eating well, sleep hygiene, etc. How long will these symptoms last? Is my brain just wrecked forever and going back on medication is the solution?

Guest_00234230 Suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 1

For about a month and a half I have been in a depression and anxiety hole that I can't seem to get out of, the constant depression and intrusive thoughts are taxing and I don't see how I can maintain this. My depression and anxiety make my IBS sympto... View more

For about a month and a half I have been in a depression and anxiety hole that I can't seem to get out of, the constant depression and intrusive thoughts are taxing and I don't see how I can maintain this. My depression and anxiety make my IBS symptoms worse which gets me deeper into the hole and then they play on each other. Most days I am waking up sad and going asleep sad, I actually look forward to going to bed so I don't have to feel anything. I just broke down to my partner and told her all this and how suicide keeps creeping into my mind. My GP and therapist are away until mid January. I keep saying to myself let's just get through today but how many times is that going to work.

Depression

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

Numb No sledgehammer to break down my wall
  • replies: 2

Hello lovely people I am not new to here, however, sometimes, either I fall deep into my pity pot, or I wake to an impenetrable wall of overwhelming sense of hopelessness, and I am unable to break that wall down! I try each day, to achieve a small st... View more

Hello lovely people I am not new to here, however, sometimes, either I fall deep into my pity pot, or I wake to an impenetrable wall of overwhelming sense of hopelessness, and I am unable to break that wall down! I try each day, to achieve a small step forward or goal. I've mostly succeeded, but there are situations where life slaps me back into reality to remind me of my own ineptitude to triumph over adversity. Everyday, I am on the brink of crying. In fact, my heart aches daily. Regret eats my soul and I truly dislike the person who looks back at me in the mirror. I have a tremendous amount to be grateful for, but accepting to settle with my worthless contribution to life, is crushing my spirit. I've retired. Little friends, whom I hardly see, children grown with family of their own. Phone mostly silent daily! I am truly lonely. I feel judged because I don't work. I am trapped in my home perusing activities I find no pleasure in. In fact, I find most activities a useless objective only good in filling time. Why am I here. What's my purpose in life other than cleaning the same furniture/floors everyday. I volunteer (only to be guilted into more hours and days). I read at daycare (I love that) and I study to keep my mind active and alert. So why do I despise my life and especially the aged no body I've become, or in reality, always was and will be. I think I am a good person, but avoidance by others makes me wonder. My children prefer their fathers presence, as he buys their love and has connections in places that can benefit should they need. I can only offer my heart, hands, willingness, ears and food on the table. My goodness I am truly a worthless pathetic!

x_BLUE_MOON_x Severe OCD
  • replies: 2

Hi,I’ve been struggling with severe OCD for 1 year now relating to a specific theme, and I’m feeling mentally exhausted and burn't out.I’m dealing with depression, anger issues, cognitive difficulties, brain fog, and a significant loss of motivation.... View more

Hi,I’ve been struggling with severe OCD for 1 year now relating to a specific theme, and I’m feeling mentally exhausted and burn't out.I’m dealing with depression, anger issues, cognitive difficulties, brain fog, and a significant loss of motivation.Things that used to bring me joy no longer do, and some emotions I used to feel, I don’t really experience anymore.I’m currently seeing a psychologist who specialises in OCD at an OCD clinic.I also have Autism, ADHD, and Specific Language Impairment, which makes everything feel even more overwhelming. I’m currently taking antidepressants.I’ve been doing exposure therapy since February, and I’ve told my psychologist that I’m struggling even with very small steps. Despite this, she still wants me to continue.I’m planning to get a referral from my GP to see a psychiatrist regarding my ADHD and OCD, to explore whether ADHD medication or a change in antidepressants might help.I’m really not sure how much longer I can keep going like this before I have another meltdown. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.

BrightEyes-1234 Not ok.
  • replies: 4

I’m not ok. I just want to be happy. But it’s like my brain won’t let me and now I can’t even be bothered trying anymore. I’m tired. Everything is getting to me. I wish u could just escape…run away. But I can’t. And I feel stuck.

I’m not ok. I just want to be happy. But it’s like my brain won’t let me and now I can’t even be bothered trying anymore. I’m tired. Everything is getting to me. I wish u could just escape…run away. But I can’t. And I feel stuck.

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.

Tripletail Triggered by Supervisor at work..
  • replies: 0

It has been years...But recently a supervisor off night shift..Has returned to dayshift...I lasted 4 days with his behaviour. I'm a senior fifo construction worker, I know my stuff, I enjoy the detail and pressure. His return, or for myself new expos... View more

It has been years...But recently a supervisor off night shift..Has returned to dayshift...I lasted 4 days with his behaviour. I'm a senior fifo construction worker, I know my stuff, I enjoy the detail and pressure. His return, or for myself new exposure.I was warned He will throw you under the bus etc... So until these 4 days, I was happy loving my job.Since , I'm actually avoiding work, sending text messages drunk to my other supervisor.I am actually aware I have been triggered, but I Don't have total control.It's like an inner part of me is threatened, and yeah I'm doing the fight or flee response.Not happy..Don't want to quit job, Made a formal complaint, but that just triggered me more.. How do I navigate, the Hr stuff, whilst triggered as, supervisor has a history and knows exactly how to abuse or behave without actually invoking an obvious misuse of power or authority... It's been 8 yrs since I was last on here...This 1 has me rattled, like a narcissistic professional supervisor.... Any ideas?I'll quit my job, but why should I ?Not my Fault...??????

Guest_86975161 Had to put a rescue dog to sleep, the procedure went wrong. It was brutal. I want to die myself
  • replies: 1

I am an Aussie currenlty overseas waiting on paperwork for rescue dogs who never found a home, to return to Australia with us. We have 11 dogs. Fifteen days ago, a large young dog, walked past our house in clear distress. He was a young dog, maybe a ... View more

I am an Aussie currenlty overseas waiting on paperwork for rescue dogs who never found a home, to return to Australia with us. We have 11 dogs. Fifteen days ago, a large young dog, walked past our house in clear distress. He was a young dog, maybe a year old. He was pure skin and bones. I took him to the vet and they put him on a drip 2 days in a row, and gave him a shot of vitamins and painkilers straight to through the vein. The vet found sound ticks and becaues the dog had this head movement, he categorised that as a neurological response to a tick infection. He put him on antibiotics for 21 days. On day 14 his head movement got worse. I took him to another vet, they said it was distemper and that because of his head movement and being so malnourished, he would be unlikely to survive. That night he had a terrible night, couldn't breathe, all night. I stayed with hiim but could not do anything. The next day was Saturday. He did not want to eat and collapsed in the cage I had him when he tried to get up to drink water. He tried to eat but his jaw was clentched and he could not eat. I called to find a vet to come home to put him to sleep, I did not want him to go through another night like that the night before. I am in a rural town. No support system. Just my husband and I but my husbad was away for work, our only income is his. The vet came and before I could ask him about what was involved inthe procedure, he stabbed the dog with a needle straight to his skin and injected him with dedatives. I panicked because the dog already had trouble breathign and that made it worse. The dog stared to feel desperate, so did I. I had no vehicle to take him to a clinic so this guy just put another anesthetic same way and then put two needles in his heart AND I COULD NOT STOP ANY OF THIS, I was paralised like an idiot and then this guy try to hug me. I cannot stop crying even now. This happned just over 24 hours ago and I can't stop myself screaming in pain, shame, regret., anger, disgussed towards myself. This was such a lovely beautiful young dog, he did not resist any of this THAT I PUT HIM THROUGH. I feel gutted and have thought of taking my own life becuase I cannot stop relieving every minute of it, especially seeing that when he saw this guy, he got up and wagged its tail, even in the condition he was in. I put this animal through all this. I dont understand what happened to me, why didnt I react? The moral pain is unbearable, I never thoughtt I would put an animal through somethign like that. It was my job to protect him and I DIDNT. I should be in jail for negligence. I dont know what to do to pay for this pain I caused him. I LOVED THIS DOG he deserved so much better from me. I am not looking for simpathy. I just want to scream everywhere what a piece of garbage I am as a human being. There is no excuse for my reaction to that guy. No excuse. I took the dog in to protect hiim and ended up causeing him more pain in his last moments. That is unbearable shame. Just unbearable. I feel like I am going insane. Why didnt I do anything why?!! OMG, why?!

Picture Trauma event and coping
  • replies: 4

Hi all I have been involved in a very sad traumatic event (I won’t go into details online). It has left me reliving the incident over and over and thinking about the things I wish I had done. I have also had some flashbacks. Very overwhelming and cru... View more

Hi all I have been involved in a very sad traumatic event (I won’t go into details online). It has left me reliving the incident over and over and thinking about the things I wish I had done. I have also had some flashbacks. Very overwhelming and crushing. Now I am starting to feel numb like a zombie. I have found calling crisis lines and seeing a psychologist during the week helpful. I can’t see through it at the moment and feel like I will never be myself again. I have medication to help with sleep but it doesn’t get me through the night. I need to at least partially function for my family. I feel so detached from reality. My faith has helped. I have tried to get an early appointment this week with my psychologist to help. Not really sure why I am posting, but I think just to see if anyone else has gone through a traumatic event and how they are coping.

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.

Guest_06154239 Self harm, suicide, depression
  • replies: 2

I’m 14 and have been struggling a lot lately. I’m just looking for people who understand how I’m feeling and are up for a chat to distract myself

I’m 14 and have been struggling a lot lately. I’m just looking for people who understand how I’m feeling and are up for a chat to distract myself

Haggard My story
  • replies: 2

To introduce myself simply I am a male high school student approaching my final year. Since the age of roughly 7 I have felt like my life worthless. I’ve never had a defining trait aside from being the person there to fill in space, one of my biggest... View more

To introduce myself simply I am a male high school student approaching my final year. Since the age of roughly 7 I have felt like my life worthless. I’ve never had a defining trait aside from being the person there to fill in space, one of my biggest grievances is that I lack hope. I don’t expect to own a house nor do I expect to have kids, get in a romantic relationship, find a job, find a hobby, or even simply feel content. This doesn’t mean I do not want these things it is just the fact that these things will likely never happen. I’ve struggled with self harm through my life even at that young age, I struggle to manage my frustration, I struggle to get tears out when I’m feeling down, I struggle to find the good inside myself when I can see it in others, I struggle to take criticism, I struggle to take compliments. This is just the tip of the iceberg that makes up me as a person. To me self harm can range from things like substances, self-injury, isolation/‘bed rotting’, repeating self deprecating thoughts, etc. yes I’ve done it all but yet I find myself too scared to take my life. my home life I wouldn’t call rough, yes we’ve had plenty of problems which I won’t go into but the stage my home life is at now would be considered good in comparison to some of the stories I’ve heard and seen. i don’t have a clear understanding or grasp of what is exactly causing this, i just think it’s me. To finish off I will list a range of things I feel and do on a daily basis so whoever willingly reads this may get a grasp on how I feel and who I am. Restlessness, Depression, Anxiety, Paranoia, Stress, Hopelessness, Constant feeling of choking, Lack of appetite, inability to speak, self isolation, poor memory, fatigue, self deprecation.