• WayAhead
  • WayAhead Directory
  • Mental Health Month
  • PNDA
  • Stress Less
  • WayAhead Workplaces

Understanding Anxiety

Information and support for Anxiety Disorders

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Understanding Anxiety is a WayAhead program

  • Support Groups
    • Calendar
    • What happens at a Support Group?
    • Locations
    • Become a Facilitator
      • Facilitators Login
  • About Anxiety
    • What is anxiety?
    • Translated information
    • Personal Experiences
      • Bani’s Story – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
      • Julie’s Story – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
      • Marie’s Story – Agoraphobia
      • Quinn’s story – Generalised Anxiety Disorder
    • A Summary of the Latest Research
    • OCD and Anxiety Disorders Awareness
  • Anxiety in Children
    • Does my child need help with their anxiety?
    • Small Steps Seminar
    • Find a Child and Adolescent Anxiety Clinic
    • Video – Big Questions about Childhood Anxiety
  • Getting Help
    • Getting help
    • Treatment and Support
    • Medicare Rebate for Psychologists
    • Find a clinic
    • Online Resources
    • Translated Information
  • Education
    • understanding-anxiety-forums
    • Small Steps – Anxiety awareness in children
    • OCD Awareness Week
  • Contact Us
    • Anxiety Disorders Information Phone Service
    • Telephone Interpreter Service 131450
    • WayAhead Directory of Mental Health Services

Marie’s Story – Agoraphobia

My anxiety started when I was very young. I was always a nervous child and had low self-esteem. I never understood the feelings I had and just assumed that it was me.

I struggled on into my early twenties with feelings of anxiousness and depression. It was when my first son was born that I became aware that anxiety was a big problem in my life. He was born with a hare lip and a cleft palate and required a lot of medical assistance. I wasn’t coping and became mildly depressed. I continued to battle on, always anxious and now looking back, still depressed. That went on for about 8 years until my second son was born.

Throughout the pregnancy, I was nervous about having another baby with a hare lip, but he was ok when he was born. He was a low birth weight and was put into natal ICU. I began having anxiety attacks and could not get myself together. I had a caesarean with this birth and after 10 days we went home. I was very anxious and the nervousness was consequently transferred to my baby. I sought help from Karitane but nothing helped.

When my baby was 3 months old, I went to my local hospital’s psychiatric ward and was seen by a psychiatrist, and it was then I was diagnosed with post natal depression and agoraphobia. I began an eight month program of day therapy at the hospital learning how to cope with my anxiety and depression. I believed I was cured and I didn’t heed the warning signs that my illness was coming back.

About three years later I began to have panic attacks. I had laboured, heavy breathing. I had palpitations and kept thinking that I would freak-out or die. It got so bad that I couldn’t go out, even if I had someone with me. As I had never had a panic attack before, I began to get ever more scared and lost the ability to cope with my new baby. I saw a psychologist who recommended group therapy. I started attending the group and continued for several years.

I did get some help from the therapy, but it was when I found a support group for anxiety disorders I started to feel that I could control my attacks and my depression. I realised that I wasn’t the only one who suffers and I got good advice from the other group members. I began doing volunteer work and found that extremely rewarding. I volunteered for several years making some good friends, but eventually stopped due to health problems. I find that even after all the therapy and learning strategies to control the anxiety and depression, I still must be very vigilant at times of stress or when my health is not so good.

I believe that I will always have anxiety and at times depression. However, I am now confident that I can control them and not let them control me.

Anxiety Support Groups

Some of our groups are running face-to-face and some have moved online

Small Steps

Girl in school uniform looking at camera

Our Small Steps seminars, designed to help parents and teachers identify and address anxiety disorders in children, are now available online.

A program of

Get Support

Anxiety Disorders Information Line
1300 794 992
5 days a week
9.00 - 5.00pm

Stay in the loop

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

WayAhead Programs

WayAhead Online Directory
Mental Health Month
Understanding Anxiety
Workplace Health Promotion Network
Stress Less Tips
Perinatal Depression and Anxiety


SUPPORTED BY

WayAhead is supported by the NSW Government

WayAhead is an ACNC registered Australian Charity and a QIP accredited organisation

Registered Charity and QIC logos

© 2023 · WayAhead - Mental Health Association NSW · All Rights Reserved ·