Anyone have/had extreme anxiety?

dwainlou · Aug 19, 2004

yes most of us suffer with anxiety in clinicals. My blood pressure went up to 150/100

and another classmates had heart rate of 120. After several bp and heart meds that made her feel worse the doctor prescribed paxil for her which helped her cope. I started zoloft and should have been on it years ago, most of my anxiety is gone . But, Ido have to take bp meds still

zacarias, ASN, RN · Aug 19, 2004

Is there anyone out there that has suffered from extreme anxiety during clinicals? I am going back to school next week, and I have been concerned about having anxiety again when I am expected to perform in the clinical area. If you had extreme anxiety, how did you manage to cope with it? I know that I can be sucessful, but I suffer from low-self esteem and I am sure this is why I am having these problems. Everyone get's nervous, but I get so nervous that I can't seem to function. If anyone has any advice, I truly appreciate it. Anxiously (excuse the pun) awaiting any responses.

Boy do I remember clinicals and my anxiety. I was so anxious I could barely sleep the night before clinicals and my heart rate would be so high. It's definitely not a good feeling.

One thing that really helped me is talking with some close school friends that shared my anxiety and venting. Also, if I had clinicals with students I really knew, I would seek them out periodically to kind of decompress about our experience even if just for a moment.

adidas99 · Aug 19, 2004

Never got anxious during clinicals actually, but developed huge test anxiety during nursing school.

KacyLynnRN · Aug 19, 2004

Yes...I had to go on Paxil to make it through LPN school, the anxiety got so bad...and I am in RN school now, and I'm thinking I may need it again!

Rachel2004RN · Aug 19, 2004

is there anyone out there that has suffered from extreme anxiety during clinicals? i am going back to school next week, and i have been concerned about having anxiety again when i am expected to perform in the clinical area. if you had extreme anxiety, how did you manage to cope with it? i know that i can be sucessful, but i suffer from low-self esteem and i am sure this is why i am having these problems. everyone get's nervous, but i get so nervous that i can't seem to function. if anyone has any advice, i truly appreciate it. anxiously (excuse the pun) awaiting any responses.

hi-

i'm sorry to hear about your anxiety problems at clinical...i can definitely relate. i found that my anxiety level at clinical during the first year was almost incapacitating. i was just horrified that i'd either do something i wasn't supposed to do, or not do something i was supposed to do. like you, i think self-esteem had a lot to do with it. i knew my stuff--but just got excessively nervous at clinical---praying i'd be "safe" and not do anything stupid. third semester (beginning of second year) i found i gained a lot of confidence, mainly because of my instructor, but also because there were a lot of opportunities to have 'little successes' throughout the day. it seemed like being successful helped boost my confidence, decreasing anxiety. not only that, learning from mistakes helped boost confidence too, because knowing what not to do made me feel safer too. during the last semester, i had an excellent clinical experience, and although my anxiety was always there, it wasn't nearly at the level it had been, and i even felt some level of comfort on the clinical floor. so for me, my anxiety/panic clinically was directly related to self-confidence, and that's something that comes through experience.

good luck and i hope things get better for you

Genista, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2004

The first injection I ever gave was in my semester one of clinicals. My hands were shaking so bad (from nervousness) that my patient said,"It's okay, honey, just give me the injection." All this while my clinical instructor was peeking over my shoulder! I was mortified! :rotfl:

I was such a nervous nellie as a student & new grad.I think some of that is normal, but it can be worse for some than others. I have a type A personality, and have to consciously work at telling myself it is okay not to be perfect. I know sometimes we place such high standards on ourselves, even as new learners, and it only makes things worse. Take advantage of any tips and tricks your clinical instructor or other nurses/preceptors can give you.

As far as coping with anxiety, I agree with other posters that talking to friends and having a support system helps (venting & sharing). Also, I found that getting enough sleep and regular exercise really helps me. I used to toss and turn before clinicals. Being sleep deprived doesn't help at all! Finally, I know this sounds corny, but I find it helpful- use positive affirmations to replace the negative thoughts that drift through your mind. For example, instead of thinking,"Oh, I'll never be able to do xyz," replace it with,"I am learning new things and it gets easier the more times I do this." :balloons: Good luck!!!! Be kind to yourself, and kind to others. Someday you will be confident & experienced.Try to remember what it felt like to be new & nervous...and vow to be a kind resource to other newbies when you are a seasoned pro. :)

Rachel2004RN · Aug 19, 2004

I was such a nervous nellie as a student & new grad.I think some of that is normal, but it can be worse for some than others. I have a type A personality, and have to consciously work at telling myself it is okay not to be perfect. I know sometimes we place such high standards on ourselves, even as new learners, and it only makes things worse.

Oh, can I ever relate to this!!!! My instructor actually wrote on my third semester clinical eval that I was 'striving for perfection' but that it was slowing me down. (checking meds againts MAR's not three times but 3,000 times, LOL :rolleyes: ). This is a good point you mentioned---about the high standards we place on ourselves. My husband had to keep reminding me that if I knew it all I wouldn't be a student. I kept feeling like I was afraid of NOT knowing something at clinical and it took me a long time to get out of the mode of trying to prove myself and into the mode of being open to learning and realizing I was there to learn, not to prove I already knew it. I think I was so afraid of failing or something. That realization, in and of itself, helped me relax tremendously.

julieguitar · Mar 4, 2005

Is there anyone out there that has suffered from extreme anxiety during clinicals? I am going back to school next week, and I have been concerned about having anxiety again when I am expected to perform in the clinical area. If you had extreme anxiety, how did you manage to cope with it? I know that I can be sucessful, but I suffer from low-self esteem and I am sure this is why I am having these problems. Everyone get's nervous, but I get so nervous that I can't seem to function. If anyone has any advice, I truly appreciate it. Anxiously (excuse the pun) awaiting any responses.

Oh my god I have it the worst! I get so anxious that I will make a mistake and infect myself with something that I don't sleep. Then after clinical, I think about everything I did and freak out about everything. Currently, after learning about and taking care of GI patients, I am convinced that I have a SBO and I have put myself on a clear liquid diet and I'm on my way to the hospital. It's disgusting how nervous I am all of the time - I swear I was normal before nursing school. I'm in the last semester of RN nursing, and I still feel like passing out at clinicals...hmmm... I guess my comment didn't help you very much. Maybe I need some advice also. Anyone???