Anxiety and doubts at its peak . . . any advice?

[ghing0293]

I am a 4th year nursing student at a certain college in the Philippines. Only one semester left and hopefully I will be able to graduate together with my friends. But recently, I am experiencing doubts about myself. Am I going to graduate and pass the board exam? Is nursing really meant for me? I have those questions floating in my mind. I am having study issues and I am having a hard time dealing with that.

I am just an average type of student but I have lots of insecurities with regards to my studies. Recently, I am constantly losing focus on studying. It seems that I am having short term memory loss but I am not sure of that because I kept on forgetting each and every lesson! I cannot remember the things that I used to know and I am alarmed. I am afraid that I might fail in the board exam if I cannot remember the lessons being taught. Because of that, I keep on receiving "not-so-good" grades and that makes me depressed.

Things are getting more tougher to me. Recently, my classmates are comparing me to my ex-boyfriend because my ex-boyfriend is getting high grades compared to me. I am such in a depressed state and I keep on telling myself "can I surpass their expectations of me? can I surpass my ex-boyfriend's grades? what will happen to me if I fail my term exams?"

Right now, I am starting my research study and it is a very difficult task to do. I am afraid that I won't be able to finish my thesis and fail my subjects. I have lots of doubts in my mind.

I hope someone can give me some advice on how to improve myself, how to excel in studies and to have higher grades because I am depressed over these matters.

[AMRC6713]

The anxiety/depression is likely the cause of the short term memory loss--it erases everything when you need it most. It's the same when you panic at an exam--the anxiety of the exam erases all the information you've retained.

You need to see you've come this far--you are smart and you are tough. You're good at what you do or else you'd never have made it this far. Being close to graduation is anxiety inducing in itself--that's normal. You're about to be on your own...I think we think we will be out there on an island to practice nursing with no help but you'll have a guide to help you study for the boards and when you get hired somewhere you'll have at least 6 mos-1year of being precepted before you're on your own completely. Even when you are on your own completely, you'll never be without help. It'll take a year before you really "get it" but you'll have coworkers to bounce questions off. You'll never be alone when you're doubting yourself.

It sounds like your depression/anxiety is interfering with daily life. Maybe you could seek help with a counselor or medications. I've had to do the same at points throughout my life and again this summer going into my senior year of NS. I will NOT jeopardize my nursing career over depression. You shouldn't either.

[jessdixie81]

The law of attraction... Put good things out there, good will come back. I personally don't believe you should seek medications, relying on chemical means to"fix what is wrong" is no way to live you're life. You have to believe in yourself, of you know you can do it then you can. If your friends are comparing you to others, it sounds like you need new friends. Write goals short and long term, attainable goals. First being; to know you can succeed and believe in yourself. "in one week I will be on the right track again, I can do this". It sounds simple but i climbed up from the dregs with this philosophy. It just took a reminder from a great friend. Record your lessons, and listen to them over and over in short increments. You can also record yourself saying affirmation statements. Believe you are and will be an asset to the lives of the people you will be caring for. Believe in your greatness.