Immediate support
Immediate support

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.

Start a discussion
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
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_87818756 Anxiety due to hair loss
  • replies: 0

I am a 33 year old international student ( presently on student visa ) who has just graduated from university. I have alopecia which was diagnosed by doctor long time back . My hair has been thinning and loosing density since 2014. I have been taking... View more

I am a 33 year old international student ( presently on student visa ) who has just graduated from university. I have alopecia which was diagnosed by doctor long time back . My hair has been thinning and loosing density since 2014. I have been taking some treatments like minoxidil, taking medicine, using hair serums .Due to failure of such treatment, I am having stress and anxiety. Many people especially my relatives and friends comment on my hair loss . This makes me depressed. The only treatment left is putting a wig , but I feel that if wig falls off in public, or somebody notices it , then what will I say.This stresses me out. I do not want to go bald also. Please advise any psychological treatment or therapy for the anxiety . recommend a treatment which is not too costly.

JimBob33 Coping with an anxious child
  • replies: 7

I have a young daughter (6) who struggles with severe anxiety. It’s gradually getting worse, and I feel like we all walk on eggshells every day. We don’t get through a day without at least one meltdown. I started therapy mid year to help me cope (par... View more

I have a young daughter (6) who struggles with severe anxiety. It’s gradually getting worse, and I feel like we all walk on eggshells every day. We don’t get through a day without at least one meltdown. I started therapy mid year to help me cope (particularly in my responses to her when she is melting down), in addition to her seeing a psychologist. Unfortunately she hasn’t had many sessions due to psychologist being sick or needing to reschedule, so I don’t think we’ve seen much benefit there. I don’t know what I’m after… maybe just to vent? Or strategies to help? I’m just so exhausted. Every day is such a battle… to get dressed, to leave the house, to try and enjoy a family activity. The list is endless. Her anxiety also manifests as physical symptoms and she constantly complains of being hurt/feeling sore/wanting medicine to make her feel better. She has no other diagnosis except anxiety. There are definitely sensory issues, but the health professionals we’ve seen have only given the anxiety diagnosis with various elements thrown into the mix. I feel sorry for our eldest, who is also dealing with this. He misses out on fun activities because of how she is, though we do try and do a lot of 1:1 with him as well. He’s also a very sensitive kid, so when she’s melting down and hysterical, it definitely affects him negatively. She panics about everything. It used to be limited to a few select issues, but it’s progressing out to almost anything. Commencing school this year was possibly the worst period of our lives, and I genuinely don’t know how we survived. She was doing well once in a routine etc, but now school has ended, her anxiety has peaked. School holidays should be relaxing and fun, except ours are filled with meltdowns, hysteria and tension. I guess I’m just feeling overwhelmed. Exhausted. Angry that this is our situation. Devastated I can’t do anything to help. Frustrated. Depleted. The list goes on! I’m not sure where to go from here. I will resume seeing my own psychologist who is lovely, and we do seek help from those around us when we need… but it doesn’t change the reality of how tough this current situation is.

Brokenhearted Where to start on a journey to healing?
  • replies: 4

Background info - I have pretty severe GAD. I didn’t realize just how bad, or how much it has affected every aspect of my life, until my beloved (ex)husband of over 20 years had a breakdown of his own because he was so unhappy. He left in January, an... View more

Background info - I have pretty severe GAD. I didn’t realize just how bad, or how much it has affected every aspect of my life, until my beloved (ex)husband of over 20 years had a breakdown of his own because he was so unhappy. He left in January, and I only recently found out he’s been seeing someone since March. Apparently he was too scared to tell me as he was worried I would completely fall apart. Which I am. The only thing getting me through was the hope it was temporary, and we could reconcile.So this is where I am now. Completely unravelling with anxiety off the charts.Add in some panic disorder, social anxiety and a touch a ocd, being in my head is not fun. I have to somehow navigate my way through a life without him. All the ways he covered for me the past 20 years. Making the phone calls, paying the bills. These things terrify me.We have to sell the house and there will be all the things I need to do without his guidance.I am 52 and never lived without another adult. Now it’s just me, my youngest kid and a dog.I have been on meds for the past 4 years, but I don’t know if they’ve actually helped at all. I just assumed they were, so I’ve made an appointment with my GP to review. I have been seeing a psychologist on and off this year, but it’s just talk therapy, and I don’t think talking for 50 minutes a fortnight is going to fix me. So what do I do? I need to get well enough to re-enter the workforce. I haven’t had a proper job for 10 years.I am so overwhelmed. Do I look at inpatient programs? What is likely to help me?

Depression

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

Guest_25828651 How to make friends my age?
  • replies: 0

Hi iv been going through depression and lost my partner and daughter due to it I also haven’t had friends since 2017 im on medication so I get by but since my partner and daughter left 8 months ago now im starting to struggle with being lonely and wo... View more

Hi iv been going through depression and lost my partner and daughter due to it I also haven’t had friends since 2017 im on medication so I get by but since my partner and daughter left 8 months ago now im starting to struggle with being lonely and would like to know what people do or go to socialise iv never been big with going out but im willing to do and try anything to give everything a shot.

Snip_Sulfur I feel weird and may have the startings of bipolar
  • replies: 1

Recently I have been in a depressive slump. Bored out of my mind, lonely, upset, numb, essentially the works of what it means to be depressed. But I mean, just last week I was over the moon. I’m in the rehearsal stage of my first production ever, i m... View more

Recently I have been in a depressive slump. Bored out of my mind, lonely, upset, numb, essentially the works of what it means to be depressed. But I mean, just last week I was over the moon. I’m in the rehearsal stage of my first production ever, i moved rooms to something more roomy, I got to see a friend i hadn’t seen in a while and talk to teammates. The other night i was feeling like shit. I messaged that friend about whether they considered us friends. they wouldn’t give me an answer and it made me spiral a little. i flipped between laughing to numb and just was all over the place (this was late like 2am which may have contributed) but i hadn’t felt that desperate and just terrible in a long time. i also feel bad at coming to them when i have a problem because it isn’t their responsibility to help me. i feel like a burden and just overall selfish.

Anna4 35 years of depression loss and trauma
  • replies: 3

Life can change in an instant !I am 52, I recently survived a serious attempt on my life and ended up in ICU. Where do I start, my journey seems to not end….A head injury at 15, a parent hit by a car survived with an acquired brain injury then stroke... View more

Life can change in an instant !I am 52, I recently survived a serious attempt on my life and ended up in ICU. Where do I start, my journey seems to not end….A head injury at 15, a parent hit by a car survived with an acquired brain injury then strokes. I lost a boyfriend in a car accident at 18, divorced with a 1 year old daughter at 24, remarried, had an amazing life with beautiful property a house and blessed with a son, then widowed at 39, my husband died of cancer. A few failed relationships later, doing all the comprising, getting love bombed and being taken advantage of, I have respect for myself but looked at as the problem when wanting more. Pay my own way always and an independent women.Family issues, mental health, anxiety, trauma and PTSD. Living with chronic pain. Worked through it all and raised two amazing children, who I am so proud of. I am seriously considering ending my life .

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.

Mothership Passive
  • replies: 0

I have realised that I'm passive, I don't speak up for myself, mentally weak, avoiding conflict, avoiding an argument, all the time, Is this a ptsd symptom, I've had several traumas since I was a teenager, I'm 66yrs old now

I have realised that I'm passive, I don't speak up for myself, mentally weak, avoiding conflict, avoiding an argument, all the time, Is this a ptsd symptom, I've had several traumas since I was a teenager, I'm 66yrs old now

Guest_52192962 Too much - I can’t handle anymore
  • replies: 0

Hi Ten years ago (seems like a long time) I made a stupid decision to go online and try to date. I was 26 I had a 3 Bedroom house all to my self. I was Working. It was 6 houses from the beach. This guy, I met on oasis (dating App) ruined my mind set ... View more

Hi Ten years ago (seems like a long time) I made a stupid decision to go online and try to date. I was 26 I had a 3 Bedroom house all to my self. I was Working. It was 6 houses from the beach. This guy, I met on oasis (dating App) ruined my mind set and affected and Ruined My LIFE. I say this because he controlled me todo anything. It was an online dating app. This got really Toxic and became bad really fast. I made the mistake of allowing him to pick me up and take me back to his place in his car. As soon as I was there, he’d (with his Mum) kick me out. I faught back and was manipulated even more. The police got involved. He said he used me for financial gain ideas. And that he needed help. I was so pissed off, but I didn’t want todo anything as you could imagine that would result in criminal activity. So I let revenge manifest over the years. He would Email me at Late wrong times. Like I.e 2:00 in the morning. And torment me by talking about himself and how he thought my sisters were a catch. I’ve gone through depression My whole life. And whilst I was drinking, and from a divorced Family I was coping and managing. He managed to isolate me from my family. Then he applied for an intervention order ON ME. Couldn’t fkn believe IT. Because we kept fighting in Emails and Phone Conversations. I’ve managed to move myself over 69 Times whilst dealing with people (share house tenants, and families) shit. As I approached mental Health.., (they wernt aware what I was going through). So they miss diagnosed me and detained me every time I went to an Emergency department for Help because I was homeless. I havnt had kids or met a person through ANY OF This. My mothers lack of support just means I want her further away from me. I’ve gained so much weight from stress eating, and I was over weight before. I developed an abscess skin infection (which I’ve endured for 9 Years) and ive had multiple insicion and drainage operations. Anyway I’m highly (At_My_Wits_end) suicidal and all the advice I got from sister (3 of them) in Canada. Is that my life is getting smaller - and smaller.

Rosy Today is not a good day
  • replies: 8

So much has happened in my life, since childhood. My father was very strict, my mum had mental health issues since childhood. We were sent to my Nan's when mum was not good and we were often by my dad that we would be sent to an orphanage. Whenever t... View more

So much has happened in my life, since childhood. My father was very strict, my mum had mental health issues since childhood. We were sent to my Nan's when mum was not good and we were often by my dad that we would be sent to an orphanage. Whenever they had an argument I was told it was my fault, I believed that because mum got pregnant with me, they had to get married. I was often left out, whilst my sister was loved by everyone, I have always loved her, she is my rock. When I was 17/18 I got my first job, where I was groomed and sexually assaulted by my boss. At the same time, my parents separated and my mum took my two sisters to live in another town, then a couple of weeks later, my dad moved out and I was left alone. I often wondered why I was left behind, that I was so unloved. I have no happy memories of my childhood, I remember hugging my dad once and he told me to get away and pushed me away. I never hugged him again. Throughout my life I thought I had friends but I've found that most of them talk to me only because of my husband. I worked hard and had a good reputation and then I started working where I work now. I didn't notice at first how toxic the environment was until I found out my boss was telling everyone how useless I was at my job. Apparently my boss told other staff what a terrible person I was, how I couldn't do my job and told stories about me. I couldn't figure out why colleagues stopped talking to me. I decided to resign and another manager stopped me, a few weeks later, my boss was investigated and had her contract terminated. I have spent the last couple of years trying to unravel the lies spread but it has been hard. In the meantime, I have had breast cancer and a heart attack and I am not the person I used to be. Now my marriage is in name only, and my husband who says he loves but he no longer shows affection or sleeps withe me. I'm tired of this existence.

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.

WhereDoIBegin No one actually cares
  • replies: 1

I’m on medicationi see a psychiatrist i just called lifeline and if many things I explained how one of the things that messes with me is that after an hour with the psychiatrist your “time is up” Thought it was going well but then after half an hour ... View more

I’m on medicationi see a psychiatrist i just called lifeline and if many things I explained how one of the things that messes with me is that after an hour with the psychiatrist your “time is up” Thought it was going well but then after half an hour she said it’s “time to end the call” guess I’m not suicidal enough i don’t want to die i wNt to live for my kids i was cheated on 6 years ago and left for another man no abuse, nothing sinister. I am a good man. But since then I have struggled with both anxiety and depression on pills prescribed by the doc and I’m seeing a psychiatrist as already said but it doesn’t change anything i feel pain everyday my day is wake upfeel painworkfeel painwork more because child support doesn’t care and I’m paying a huge amount more than I shouldhave kids - because I have them 50%and then I feel like a beerand one always turns into manynow I’m an alcoholic that is seeking support for that A more money I have my kids literally 50% but I still pay $340 a week child support On top of that - i pay all of their sports, my eldest (I have 3) doeshigh end sport so that alone is >$5k a year, plus her other one and then the second girl does 3 things and the you youngest boy does a couple things (trying not to be too specific just in case) no one cares as long as mum is ok, everyone is ok. and then my eldest says “mum can’t afford our lunch orders this week” on a Friday it is about $10 each for a Lunch order. Meanwhile she just got new sunglasses worth $300. Tattoos, you name or.the system doesn’t care i always try to do the right thing “mum must just be going through a hard time” but she does cash on the side plus Centrelink payments, plus she is still with the aforementioned man who has his own income. She was supposed to keep them on private health but then when the first big op came up no, we had to spend double (which I pay half) because she had taken them off without my knowledge because she “couldn’t afford it” In the meantime she had a tummy tuck and god knows what else because she wanted to look better. the system doesn’t care about the kids and definitely not the person who makes money, they just feed the person who makes the least. Great job Australia. im just about done with it all the only thing holding me here is my 3 amazing children who are innocent and I would never let know this drama. guess the only reason I’m here is god I hope someone has had the same experience and made it through and can me some guidance. there isn’t any more ‘medical’ prescribed things I can be doing.

Brokenhearted It hurts to much to keep going
  • replies: 7

My husband of 20 years told me in Jan 2023 that he wasn’t sure what he wanted anymore. I suffer from extreme GAD with a lot of panic attacks, and have never been fully treated - tbh I’ve only just come to understand how bad it has been and how misera... View more

My husband of 20 years told me in Jan 2023 that he wasn’t sure what he wanted anymore. I suffer from extreme GAD with a lot of panic attacks, and have never been fully treated - tbh I’ve only just come to understand how bad it has been and how miserable I made our lives. I alternated between needing to control ever aspect of our lives, to refusing to get out of bed some days.All last year I tried to fix things, but it was too late, I had pushed him so far away that the love had vanished. He was a wonderful husband. Kind, generous, thoughtful and tolerant. But I didn’t appreciate him.He was so unhappy, rundown and overworked for years. He took on all the financial, parenting, home burdens.In January this year, he moved out to work on his own mental health. I tried to balance working on my own, while suddenly becoming a single parent. I was starting to feel much better and learning to cope, and decided to ask if we could gradually try again. Then two weeks ago I was given the bombshell - he has been seeing someone else, since March. Too scared to tell me because he knew how terribly I would react.I don’t want to do this life without him. I am completely destroyed. I still love him with all my heart and soul. I don’t want to hurt my girls and leave them without a mother, but most days I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up. I’m scared to be alone because the thoughts and the grief are overwhelming. He has our youngest today, taken her and the new girlfriend to his family for Christmas. I used to easily sleep 9-10 hours a night. Now I wake at 3am and start crying and wondering if I would be better off gone as the pain is unbearable.

Jan87 Thinking of ending life
  • replies: 1

Hi, I am 37 and a mother of 2 boys. Lately, I have been feeling very low and no self-worth. I have been thinking of ending my life. I don't know how or when but I just want to disappear and not be a burden to people. I find it hard to tell my family ... View more

Hi, I am 37 and a mother of 2 boys. Lately, I have been feeling very low and no self-worth. I have been thinking of ending my life. I don't know how or when but I just want to disappear and not be a burden to people. I find it hard to tell my family about my thoughts because I don't want them to worry about me, especially with Christmas happening. I want to just go somewhere and not take anything with me but I don't know where else to go.