Today marks the fifth anniversary of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake, which rocked Canterbury to its core, leaving many people feeling anxious and depressed in it's aftermath.

CDHB Psychiatrist Caroline Bell said many people are feeling worn down with constant battles with houses, insurance and injustice they've felt.

She said for many these things were worse than the earthquake.

A 75-year-old Christchurch resident said five years ago she never imagined she would still be waiting for her insurance to be sorted out, for example.

Patricia and her husband are still in insurance limbo, and after years of frustration their claim is still up in the air.

She said she's worried about her husband, who is becoming increasingly frail and depressed about the situation.

"I think they are hoping some of us will die off and they just won't have to worry."

Meanwhile, another Christchurch resident, who has terminal cancer, has said worries over insurance delays is ruining his quality of life.

Two years ago Selwyn resident Ricky Bligh was told he had just three months left to live.

He has two forms of cancer, and also Parkinsons disease.

His home was damaged in both the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and he's been waiting for his claim with State Insurance to be settled ever since.

Bligh said the stress has been enormous.

"I've got four wonderful adult children and five grandchildren, so I want to be around. And and I want a house where they can come and stay, have Christmas."

He said he has hard hats positioned around the house in case of another earthquake, because his home isn't structurally sound.