clinical anxiety and want to give up

mammac5 · Feb 25, 2010

First of all, remember that you've come this far and you can do ANYTHING for 8 weeks. Keep that in perspective.

Second, go back to the provider who has helped you with your med regimen and let him/her know that you are going to need to bump things up for the short-term. If you're using benzos now for anxiety, perhaps your doc can add a beta blocker to take just prior to the times when you're having tachycardic episodes.

Third, I personally would not discuss this with your instructor at this point. As much as I hate it, I've seen instructors really go after the "weak" student in the group and you just don't need that sort of stigma. I know, we're all "medical professionals" but these people are your teachers and they don't need to know what's going on with you medically unless it would affect your ability to provide safe care to your patients. Keep your private life private -- to me, nursing school has been too "incestuous" already!

cacna09 · Feb 25, 2010

Hi, worriedSPN you are not the only one suffering from anxiety b/c I have it too. And I really hate it b/c it has affected my grades badly. My anxiety begin when I start my 2nd year of college and ever since this anxiety existed my GPA started to lower down b/c I didn't do well in school b/c this anxiety prevented me from focusing when the teacher is teaching. And while the teacher is teaching instead of concentrate on what they said my head is just go blank b/c my heart is pounding so hard and I can feel my brain pounding too, plus my hands are sweating quite lots and if I leave my hands on top of the paper or book it would make it wet and sometimes I have a hard time breathing too. I feel like I really want to run out of the classroom but that will distract everyone so I never did. My anxiety ONLY appear when I sit in classroom or sit around large group of ppl b/c I feel like the speaker (teacher, ect.) is looking at me most or the whole time when they're talking. That's the only time the anxiety happened. When I walking around campus no anxiety, go to other public places no anxiety either, it's just happened when sitting down in class. I think my anxiety existed due to all my teachers are looking at me too much b/c I am just too quiet and the shyest student of all that's why they pay too much attention on me. I never participate in class discussion like if the teacher ask a question and even if I know the answer I still keep it silent b/c I'm too shy to talk, the only time I participated is when we do a group discussion as it's required. I hope that all my teachers stopped looking at me too much b/c it's not only causing me from having anxiety but they also make other students around me feel uncomfortable too b/c the teacher is looking straight toward me so of course the teacher's eyes are looking through ppl sitting infront and behind me too. I thinking about email all my teachers to tell them please prevent from looking at me too much b/c it giving me anxiety but I never email them about this b/c I don't want to embarrass when they know about my problem, I think it can get worse if they know it b/c what if they know I have this problem and they would keep an eyes on me more, and if that happen I think I might faint from this anxiety attack. I don't go to school for about a year already b/c due to this anxiety and I had made excuse so that my parents wouldn't trying to send me back to school. I never tell my parents, relatives, friends or anyone about this except share w/ online ppl to get advice. I'm planning to go back to school soon to finish up my pre-reqs for ADN but only if I feel my anxiety go away completely. I did trying to take anxiety medicines but I never take it yet b/c I have to visit my doctor to get the prescription and I don't want to go see them b/c I afraid I'll get embarrass when my Dr know it. And if they my problem they can tell my parents about it b/c my parents have the same Dr as me too. So ever since I have this anxiety I do very poor in school and needless to say my grades is going down as well. I already have many "W" and "D" in my record, total is about 10 poor grades already. I don't know I have anymore hope or chance to get accept in the Nursing Program in the future or not due to that grade. I hope I can control my anxiety when I'm sitting in class but it's very difficult to do it. Yes, I'm stressed and depressed a lots about this problem b/c it prevent me from doing well in school. I know that my school also have counseling for this problem too b/c I never come in there to get help either b/c if they know about it I'm afraid the whole school will know about my problem too. Now I'm just want to take this long break to solve this problem by myself and when I'm ready I'll be back to school.

My only suggestion to you is to seek for counseling about this at your school if they have this free service or at your expense if you seek for the psychologist for help, do this if you feel comfortable about expressing your problem w/ them. It does help me when I trying to go out to public more and get involved in more w/ ppl like trying to hang out w/ friends more and go together w/ them in places where there are lots of ppl so I get more comfortable around ppl and it would help fighting back the anxiety.

Sorry for this long story but when I heard that other suffering from anxiety too I feel kind of relieve b/c I at least know that I'm not the only one having it so I just feel like I really want to share my problem too b/c online is the only place that I'm feel comfortable to talking about my issue. Thanks for hearing about this.

kayskate · Feb 25, 2010

Can you identify what this prof does that makes you anxious? If you have not had this issue w other profs maybe it is just personality. You will have to work w all types of ppl in your career and will need to find some way to work w those whom you do not like outside of nursing. Are you having trouble w the material in this particular clinical? If so, the prob may be that you feel unprepared. Try to learn from the exp you are getting w this instructor. S/he may be trying to help you by asking Qs, etc. Try to look at it from a positive pt of view. I know this is hard, but if all else fails, you can get through 8 wks. Don't quit b/c you are having trouble w one person. Don't even think about it. You have come too far to get discouraged.

Kay

worriedSPN · Feb 25, 2010

Thank you for the responses.

I cannot identify what is is about my clinical instructor that makes me anxious, I just feel like that around her only in the clinical setting, but not in class at all. You're right though, as hard as it may be I can't let one person bring me down....I'll just give it my best shot and come what may.

I try to be prepared as I can at clinical, but I think I feel not quite speedy enough at certain things. I definately had that feeling that nursing instructors do tend to go after the weaker ones, so I'll continue to work with my therapist, friends, and some encouragement from here.

I wanna make it and be a good nurse is all! :nurse:

Thanks! I feel a lot better. :)

Idontknowbetter · Feb 25, 2010

I had ther same problem and my doctor gave me an Rx for Propranolol 20mg. It works wonders. No bad side effects like there are with benzodiazepines, either.