Anxiety - help!

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 1, 2007

We stay away from specific medical advice (OTC or Rx recommendations, etc) to keep in line with our Terms of Service, but it sounds like you've successfully dealt with anxiety in the past. What strategies have worked for you before?

SonicnurseRN · Mar 1, 2007

Sorry - I didn't realize OTC recommendations were against policy. I will not refer to those in the future. Haven't found a strategy that works for controlling my shaking due to performance anxiety ... other than avoidance

; )

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 1, 2007

Does your school have any kind of counseling service? They may be able to help you for a reasonable price.

I certainly would not recommend that you "self medicate" with over the counter drugs or alcohol. You should be talking to a professional about your anxiety. Look into what is available through your school.

You also may decide that it is time to get at least some kind of health insurance if your problem is severe enough to prevent you from progressing in school. As expensive as it is, it is cheaper than the alternative if you really need health care. Does the school offer any kind of health coverage? Some schools offer insurance for students that is cheaper than getting it totally on your own. That's how I got health insurance while I was in grad school -- group policies through the student association of the schools.

greatan · Mar 2, 2007

I wouldn't even consider myself to be one with severe anxiety but when it comes to clinicals and shots and someone watching my every move my hands shake horribly and I don't even know why. I can stand up in front of a hundred people and talk but clinicals are a whole different ballgame. As a matter a fact my instructor told me last week I did great but need to work on my shaky hands. Made me feel terrible. You are not the only one, trust me, I am sure it gets easier as time goes on and we gain more confidence in our abilities. Good luck.

lifes_a_beach · Mar 2, 2007

Hey there! Sorry to hear that youve been suffering with anxiety. I was exactly the same with the clinical skills. The sweating, shaking, tachycardia but honestly it does get better. I used to freak out before being tested at nursing school and would forget what step I was up to just due to in eg SC/IM injections. But once you are out their doing these skills you are only aware of your patient and your task at hand not all the other stuff.

Ive never used any meds to control the anxiety and by nature Im a very relaxed easygoing person so I just put it down to the stresses of nursing. It is a hard course and a stressfull career that you are going into but I promise you it is well worth it all. Hang in there and practice practice practice.

rags · Mar 3, 2007

Don't worry. Your reaction is completely normal! One day you think back to all the skills you do on a regular basis and wonder who it was so nerve racking the first couple of times.

Honestly. Just remind yourself that you were not born doing this and that your obvious nervousness when giving a shot is actually coming from the compassionate side of you that is going to help mold you into a competant and caring nurse!

Best advise... remember to breath! Always!

rags

SonicnurseRN · Mar 5, 2007

Thanks everyone. It does make me feel better that I am not alone in my shaking problem. I have a skills test tomorrow, have dropped caffeine & plan to do an hour of yoga before the test! I can do these skills all day, but when people are watching I go nuts!~!

Thanks again for all your support :nuke:

BlaineCM · Mar 5, 2007

You just brought me back to my first semester clinical check-off on injections. My hands were shaking so badly I could not even stick the needle into the vial. It was so noticeable my instructor noticed. Also, the student sitting beside me began to get nervous and shaky from looking at me. Yeah, it was bad! My instructor was very reassuring though.

mezzano · Mar 10, 2007

Just wanted to say - You are not alone!

I'm just starting my med/surg clinicals and will be required to give injections both at the clinical site and in a practical test at the end of the class. I'm VERY nervous about this. I'm confident that I can do this but when I'm in a situation where I'm being watched, I tend to get performance anxiety and begin to shake! I know that I can not shake while giving an injection! Fortunately for me, I am insured and went to my family doctor for help last year when I began to shake while taking a test. She prescribed a med for me that works well and I can take it only when needed. I took the med for the next few tests and was fine. Once I got my confidence back, I was able to take tests without shaking. I'm hoping to do the same thing with injections. I'll take the med in the beginning and when I feel more confident, I should be able to drop the med. I'm also doing some "mind over matter" exercises that help.

If you think your problem is bad enough, you may want to try to come up with some money to see a doc and get a prescription to help you over the hump because if you're like me, it's more than just normal nervousness and you may need some professional help to deal with it.

Hope this helps....would love to hear back from you!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 11, 2007

First off -- watch the Benadryl.....that stuff knocks me out and I would be a hazard on the road, never mind probably falling all over myself like Gumby during a checkoff!!

When we had our vital signs checkoff last semester, the person checking my partner and me for blood pressure looked at me incredulously and said, "Your BP is 156/90; are you feeling okay?"....I'm older and that's how it manifests itself in me -- oh, wonderful....so shaking is probably not uncommon....that was only my second checkoff, so it was a nightmare for me at that time!! I started getting much more relaxed as we went along last semester, lol....

Please keep in mind that hundreds of thousands have gone before you; as Daytonite often says, what makes them so special? If others can do this, why can't you? It's VERY uncomfortable to have someone scrutinizing you so closely....but take a look around your class....do you think you're the most incompetent? I doubt it....take a deep breath and do your best...go for a walk around the parking lot before your checkoff, or sit in a quiet corner and do some deep breathing or imagery (like we tell our pts!!)....it sounds like your instructors are very kind and encouraging...take advantage of that and know that they, too, want you to pass...

Best wishes!!

SonicnurseRN · Mar 11, 2007

Mezzano - We sound exactly the same! I ended up getting help from a prescription that you take occasionally, it helped a lot! I still shook a little, but it was within normal limits & I wasn't having a full-blown panic attack. I'm not nervous @ all with patients, just with the skills check off. I'm so grateful for everyone's support. It helps soooooo much to feel like I'm not alone : ) The bottom line is I passed all my skills w/ flying colors, we had to do injections, catherders & wound dressings! ! Yay!