Did any body else suffer a mental break down during school?

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So, I just graduated on the 5th, took my exam on Wednesday, and found out I passed yesterday. Officially a nurse! A weight has been lifted. I can stop stressing out. Hopefully.

This last semester, I don't know if it was just a accumulation of many factors or what, but I have developed severe health anxiety, specifically thinking that I have ALS. I may have it. I may not. I do know that I started worrying about it off and on since February. It hasn't stopped, hasn't gone away, only calmed down for a few weeks before I notice some new symptom cropping up. (Right now, it's the fact that I can't lift the middle finger of my right hand up when I lay my hand on a flat surface.)

Did anyone else go through thinking you had some sort of disease or cancer or something while you were in school? Did you get over it?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

You would be well advised to seek advice from your primary care provider. Your symptoms may or may not be due to an illness of some sort, but that's why we pay doctors. I do know that nursing school tends to provoke the hypochondriac in all of us---we hear about a disease or condition, and suddenly either we or a family member have it. Even the rare ones. So please, see your provider ASAP for a physical exam, and consider seeing a therapist if your anxiety seems to be getting out of control. Wishing you the very best.

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Oh I have. I've seen my PCP who said it was severe anxiety. I'm seeing a therapist, which hasn't really been helping. I had an appointment with a neurologist who didn't see anything wrong with me but has ordered an MRI just to make sure everything's kosher. I've had two medical professionals tell me I'm all good. Unfortunately, health anxiety is an ugly beast and once it sets its teeth into your brain, it doesn't let go very easily. Especially when you keep having "symptoms" or seeing things that look wrong. Thank you for your response, though, and the well wishes! I'm hoping I'll be able to get over this, too.

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Not being able to lift your finger sure sounds like more than anxiety to me. I'd be getting another opinion, see another Neurologist. Did the MRI show anything? I have anxiety and I know it can manifest into physical symptoms, but that's is such an odd symptom- it sounds like something more.

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Not being able to lift your finger sure sounds like more than anxiety to me. I'd be getting another opinion, see another Neurologist. Did the MRI show anything? I have anxiety and I know it can manifest into physical symptoms, but that's is such an odd symptom- it sounds like something more.

I haven't had my MRI yet. It was supposed to be scheduled last week, but I think they might have either forgotten about it or something happened with my insurance and it got stalled. I'll have to call tomorrow.

I don't know that the finger issue is necessarily anxiety-related, but I'm trying to be rational about it. I can still move it, curl it under, hold onto things with just my thumb and middle finger. I can still type perfectly fine. I don't see or have any deficits except for when I lay my hand flat. I have been able to lift it the past couple days, but it doesn't rise as far as my left side does. I don't know if maybe there's some sort of inflammation going on or what, but I plan to bring it up to my neurologist when I see her after my MRI.

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I hope you get some answers soon! Hugs!!

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I hope you get some answers soon! Hugs!!

Thank you!

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