Debilitating Anxiety

[silentwolves, ADN, BSN, RN]

So I do not have much acute care experience. I made it through the 3 month orientation very roughly, and never had a nice preceptor who understood my anxiety. I left that job. Was out of nursing for a year, then found a job on a rehab floor in a nursing facility. I was there for almost 3 years. I went through a temp agency and found a different job. This one isn't a good fit, so I"m looking again.

At each job I have had severe anxiety, to the point of crying for no reason. I've seen therapists, tried meds, breathing, taking a time out. Everything people have suggested!

Now I feel anxious all the time, even at home. I don't know what triggered this last episode. I'm even uncomfortable in my own home!

I have been looking for part time jobs left and right, but not getting any call backs. I'm in the process of getting my BSN. After thinking, I think part time would probably be better, so I have an extra day for all the doctor and psych appointments I have.

I thought about joining the local chapter of ANA to find a mentor who could help, but Im afraid to spend the money incase I loose my job and have NO income then...

I'm at an absolute loss. The anxiety has been getting worse since I was 20, I'm 36 now. I've been in therapy with the same person for a few years and really like her, so I dont think thats the problem.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Marshall1]

It sounds like you may need to revisit medication. Even if short term. For wanting to work part time you may need to look at home health, private duty or similar positions. LTC would be another option. Also, if you haven't had a physical with complete blood work you may want to consider that..anxiety can come from a variety of sources - not just mental health issues. Mitral Valve Prolapse/cardiac issues as well as respiratory illnesses can cause anxiety. Just to look at it from all angles.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

From someone who has BTDT...

- meds take time to work, and are not one size fits all. Some people respond wonderfully to monotherapy but others need an adjunct

- mindfulness has been shown to be very helpful - does your therapist know anything of this? Mindfulness, yoga, meditation, etc work for a lot of people

- the biggest thing is developing and utilizing coping skills. Therapy can be wonderful but if it's essentially talking about things you may need more.

Have you ever considered something more intense, like a partial hospital program? I've had to do it a few times, when my quality of life was such that even weekly therapy sessions weren't cutting it

I wish you the best.

[silentwolves, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the advice! I am working on medications. It takes so long to know whats working and what isn't! I am trying to avoid LTC since working on a rehab floor at one. I dont know, but I just dont want to work with that population exclusively. I have talked to a few local Home care agencies, and they tell me I dont have acute care experience and the rehab floor doesn't even count as sub acute to them. Plus, I'm very leary of going into houses on my own and working alone. I think that brings on my anxiety more.

I do know I have other health issues. I did have Lyme in 2000, and believe it has caused a lot of my chronic problems. But my primary care physician does not believe that chronic lyme exists and she tells me I am fine. Looking for a new MD too... But my anxiety has been getting worse and worse over the last few years. So I dont know. I see the psych NP tomorrow, so hopefully we will have a new plan...