I'm doing a bit of an unofficial survey - I've been wondering if nurses are disproportionately prone to anxiety. This is something I've been dealing with practically since starting my first job (I do believe there's some genetic component for me as my Mom is pretty high-strung). I have also noticed from discussion/interaction with other nurses that many of my colleagues deal with anxiety too, but are not exactly "advertising" it. Outwardly, you wouldn't guess that I am so anxious because I try hard to appear totally chilled. Also, I feel very safe at work because I know if anything were to happen to me, I'm already in the ER! Anyone I have confessed this to is pretty surprised.
An attending MD I used to work with is married to an RN and he told me that he says to his wife "nurses know too much and too little - they know a lot so they worry more than lay people, but they don't know enough to know how to fix the problem, or when the 'problem' is not really something to be concerned about." Personally I agree with this 100%. I work in the ED so I see some very sad/horrible/shocking things, and it definitely affects me. I have been having minor panic attacks for a while now, and I have become somewhat of a hypocondriac with several medical work-ups (endoscopy for stomach pains, MRI for headaches and dizziness, etc.) all which thank God showed nothing. There always seems to be another "symptom" cropping up and I try to tell myself it's nothing and to ignore it, it's just anxiety, etc. but it doesn't always work.
I believe our jobs carry an inordinately high level of stress as well as exposure to scary things most people are clueless about, a combination of which is the perfect recipe for anxiety. Just wondering if anyone else is dealing with this too?
I already had major anxiety issues, starting in high school after a couple of very traumatic experiences. When I got into nursing school, then became a nurse, my anxiety exacerbated and increased 10 fold. I started to calm down some but then it flared up again. I have had to finally deal with issues from 10 years ago because I just couldn't suppress them any longer. I tried medication, outpatient therapy, that just didn't work for me. I now try to exercise for stress relief, talk to a close friend, and find out what my triggers are so I can talk myself down.
Getting a grasp on your anxiety now will be a lot better for you in the long run. Find what works best for you and don't let anxiety overtake your life.
Update to my situation. I got away from the bedside. I have PTSD dreams about the hospital, but they are rapidly lessening in frequency and my anxiety symptoms outside of sleep have all but disappeared.
Good for you! Thankfully you found what worked for you and have gotten a hold on your anxiety.
mrsjonesRN
175 Posts
I already had major anxiety issues, starting in high school after a couple of very traumatic experiences. When I got into nursing school, then became a nurse, my anxiety exacerbated and increased 10 fold. I started to calm down some but then it flared up again. I have had to finally deal with issues from 10 years ago because I just couldn't suppress them any longer. I tried medication, outpatient therapy, that just didn't work for me. I now try to exercise for stress relief, talk to a close friend, and find out what my triggers are so I can talk myself down.
Getting a grasp on your anxiety now will be a lot better for you in the long run. Find what works best for you and don't let anxiety overtake your life.