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Understanding Anxiety

Information and support for Anxiety Disorders

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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
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    • 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

Quinn’s story – Generalised Anxiety Disorder

My name is Quinn. I have had a Generalised Anxiety Disorder since I was seven years old, and have lived with it for the past 13 years. When I was younger, I would wake up every morning feeling sick in the stomach, which caused me to be late for school, and on many occasions I missed days off school sick.

My mum took me to the GP who did numerous tests on me. I was even sent to a specialist for an endoscopy. All the tests came back negative. The GP said I was suffering from an anxiety disorder.

My anxiety caused me to suffer from lack of sleep due to all the “what if” questions. It stopped me from going to school camps and sleep overs. I missed the enjoyment of a normal childhood due to constant worrying about anything and everything.

My teachers also spoke to my mum about all my worries at school. They said it was starting to interfere with my school work.

I was referred to Macquarie University where I started in a program for children with anxiety. It was then I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder. The program was held over a number of weeks. I met some really nice kids who were going through the same things as me, so we could relate to each other. The program not only taught us how to get our anxiety under control, it also gave us strategies to use if and when we were stressed, tired or unwell. Those were the times when my anxiety would rear it’s ugly head again.

Although my treatment was 12 years ago and I would say my anxiety is 98% under control, I still have days where I am feeling a bit more than a little anxious. I often talk to my mum about the silly thoughts that I have. She usually says, “now is that a real worry? Has it happened yet? Well don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet, life is too short to worry about those things.”

Although I know this to be true, I do have times where I do worry about the future. I know that no amount of worry is going to change things in my life. With the help of my mum, I am going well and just need to stay on top of the anxiety and get rid of it altogether. Easier said than done, but it’s something I’m working hard on and putting my learned skills into practice.

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

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