Did I have a Nervous Breakdown?

[sallynRN]

I'm 47 & I've been a RN for just over 2 yrs. Five months after graduation I took a job as a telephone triage nurse in the adult internal med dept. at a large group practice. Before nursing school I was a CSR for 14 yrs, so this job was fairly easy to step into - just needed to apply my nursing knowledge & hone my assessment skills over the phone. Then, I started feeling like I was missing out on something, since there really wasn't much hands-on or face-to-face patient contact, so I left for a job on the LTC unit of a SNF close to home. I lasted 7 wks, then I think I went CRAZY. I started having panic attacks - heart palpitations, stomach pains, diarrhea, headaches, SOB & I was crying all the time - on the way to work, on the way home from work.... It all started about 2 wks ago. I started to question myself - did I even want to be a nurse anymore? I had no confidence in myself. I was afraid I was going to miss something all the time & I felt like I was running in circles. The way I was feeling had nothing to do with the facility, the staff, or the residents - everyone said I was doing a great job & coming along in my orientation, so what was my problem? It got to the point that I felt like I was going crazy. I was so overwhelmed by my feelings that I seriously started thinking I'd have a heart attack or stroke! My last shift was Sunday (3p-11p) & I barely made it out the door before I broke down. I could barely see through my tears as I drove home sobbing, hysterically. I woke my husband (who was totally blind-sided, by the way, because I hadn't said a word about how I was feeling) & told him I couldn't go back. We decided my health is more important, so I quit the next day. What happened to me? Did I have a mini mental breakdown?

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

There is just no way we can diagnose what happened to you. You definitely need to speak with your Healthcare Provider. I know this has to be very frightening for you. Get the medical advice you need from your HCP and we certainly wish you better days.