Anxiety....I hate it.

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If it was not for Allnurses, I would lose my mind. It's funny how I will never see or know any of you, but yet I feel this is the only place of comfort I can come to. I'm having horrible anxiety today. It just comes from out of the blue. I try to close my eyes and sleep, but it makes it worse. How do I get through this today?

As long as you do the right thing and have conviction of what your are doing, there is no reason that you feel that way. Nursing is very stressful job. Just learn how to relax sometimes while working and you will be ok. And don't forget to follow the hospital policy.

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I get to my job at least 30 mins early every shift so i can at least get a slight lead on what will undoubtedly ensue by the time I get report -- as soon as I'm done, call bells will start ringing, and patients will start demanding a million things. I will then have to fix and replace whatever we need to do that the prior shift didn't do -- I'll then have at least least one or two patients w "crisis" types of issues. By 10 a.m., I'm supposed to have a total grasp of the details of each patient, deliver all their meds, do all their vitals, change them, feed them, clean them, and report all of it TO the case manager or I get a dirty look. Don't even get me started on transporting patients to tests, critical values, stat labs, or a code that might take place during this time ... and this is all way before lunch. Rinse, lather and repeat throughout the day and turn it up a few notches by change of shift.

And we wonder why we have anxiety as nurses??? I haven't even discussed family members or managers on shift creeping around and checking charts, or reminding me of my next mandatory CE due, my failure to chart a med on the last shift, or my duty to sign up for a committee.

My point is -- it's really not YOU -- it's the JOB. The JOB just really needs to change ...but it won't -- so you have to change what you can.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Hey loveishope, how is the back pain matey?

When I get anxious I write in my journal. It sounds like a small thing, but I can read over everything that has happened, and then get it straight in my mind. Then I think well what can I do about this anxiety, what is making me anxious? You can try making lists as well.

I also have the odd glass of wine (not the whole bottle though, he he!) and I burn lavender oil. This oil has been used for thousands of years to calm anxious people.

We get many people into psych now due to anxiety. They just have acopia - cannot cope with the pressures in life today. We are all striving for unrealistic goals I think and too many of us are wanting that perfect life and perfect body. Unfortunately it just does not exist (unless u have a ton of plastic surgery then u can look like a freak).

I also so yoga & pilates, that calms me down a lot and focuses my mind. Meditation is also helpful.

You really need to figure out why ur getting anxious though, if ur older, it could be related to menopause even?? Just a thought.

Hope this helps :)

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i dont suffer from anxiety, but after todays shift all i can say is wish i had 1mg ativan PO.. just saying

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