I experienced my first panic attack

[Blackheartednurse]

I'm a fairly new nurse who recently started a job as a home health nurse.Today I experienced an awful panic attack.I was assigned to a new patient who I was supposed to admit.So when I met my patient it turned out she has a mental retardation other than that in pretty good health except she is on a wheelchair and has contractures on her legs.But no problem with BP,sugar or kidney.Her caregiver was there with her and was very helpful with answering question,handling patient etc.From the start I felt little uneasy.Maybe because I dont have much experience with mentally retarded patients plus on a wheelchair.Fast forward I weighted the patient and started going through some of the paperwork with the caregiver and all of the sudden a feeling of impending doom hits me,my mouth became dry and I had trouble swallowing my saliva,then I felt like I want to get out of there fast.This scary feeling lasted like 5-7 minutes.Then I started to get it together and finally the panic was gone.I never experience a panic attack at work.I dont know what could have caused it,maybe the stress of being unexperienced nurse or maybe the fact that yesterday I found out that a friend of a family committed suicide,or maybe the combination of both and everything else.

[ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN]

I have extensive knowledge of panic disorder because I was diagnosed with it at age 18. Cognitive behavioral therapy helped me very much, so much more than the meds they gave me. They explained to me the sensations I was experiencing, and once I understood what exactly was going on.... I learned to cope.

It's like a domino effect. You get one panicky sensation, which triggers you to freak out more "My mouth is dry..oh no. I feel dizzy and weak.. my heart is racing... am I going to pass out right here?? oh no! Am I having a stroke? A heart attack??" Once you figure out that nothing is truly wrong with you, you can ride out those panic attacks quicker and soon enough you can psych yourself out and not get them anymore or if you feel one coming on, you know what is happening and it is not upsetting so it doesn't manifest into a full fledged attack. Its just fear and stress as you stated and your body tries to compensate.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Great wisdom in the first reply, and I think you answered your own question in your last sentence. It's a good learning experience for you. Don't think negatively about it. It means you're human. Who says you can be better than the rest of us? Good luck, keep learning, and a long satisfying career to you.

[itsmejuli]

Here's a great book about anxiety, panic and how to cope. Maybe I should read it again :)

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Panic-Revised-Control-Anxiety/dp/0060951605

[happy2learn]

Girl, I can only imagine how terrifying that was. I've never had a panic attack, hoping I never will, but we're all human so you never know.

I would guess that it was a combination of factors that caused it.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. :hug:Take care of yourself

[CrazierThanYou]

I feel ya. I often get very anxious in unfamiliar situations. If you haven't had much experience with the developmentally disabled population, it can be hard to know how to act, what to do. Even then...

My mom took care of a woman with MR for several years and I was very comfortable with her, she visited my house often and was a wonderful person. But the other day, I was at a store and a woman with MR walked up to me and started talking. I felt really bad because I could not understand a word and I wasn't sure how to react. I mean, I didn't want to keep asking her to repeat herself, yet I didn't know what she was saying. Thankfully, her care taker came over and talked to her.

Hopefully, you will become more comfortable with your client in time! Good luck!

[mazy]

Panic attacks are awful, I have been there. One of the worst things is that when you have an attack you start panicking because you're panicking, and then you get a lot of anxiety that it's going to happen again. Yeesh. Just awful.

I've pretty much gotten mine under control, I've learned to recognize impending feelings of anxiety, recognize triggers, and do some thought reframing to nip it in the bud. There are some good resources out there, educating yourself about what is happening is key.

Another book that I would recommend, in addition to what another poster recommended is "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" at this link:

http://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Phobia-Workbook-Fourth/dp/1572244135/ref=pd_sim_b_11

But also, it sounds like you have every right to be experiencing some anxiety, you've been clobbered in your personal life and now you're (quite normally) also stressed out by your new responsibilities as a nurse. Go easy on yourself! Can't say this enough: You're only human!:redpinkhe

[HollyHobby]

Blackhearted, your story reminds me of the time I had the mother of all panic attacks at work. I wasn't a new nurse, but it was a high acuity ICU, I was in charge, and a patient went into PEA. I called the physician to inform him we were coding his patient. He screamed and swore at me, which was considered normal physician behavior at this facility. I mean, he was shouting and swearing so loudly that the people standing near me could hear his every word.

Two days before, my mom had been diagnosed with ALS.

I had to hand the phone over to another nurse because I just could not breathe. I ran to the break room and experienced the worst panic attack I've ever had. Fortunately, there were plenty of nurses and a physician at the patient's bedside so my absence didn't harm the patient.

I'm quite positive that your panic attack was caused by receiving tragic news, and triggered by a stressful work situation. Everybody has a point where enough is enough and your coping mechanisms can only handle so much. Being laid low by distressing news will make your threshold for dealing with stress lower. When this happens, even a slightly anxiety-provoking situation can be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Please don't think there's anything "wrong" with you. Also, don't think you'll necessarily have to suffer panic attacks repeatedly or long-term. Examine how your life is going and see if you can't find ways to take care of your mental health. For example, take some time to relax by yourself or be with people who love and support you. Avoid caffeine. Do something you enjoy. Just take care of yourself and cut yourself some slack.

If you do have another panic attack, remind yourself that even though it feels like the end of the world, you will feel normally again in ten minutes. If it seems like anxiety is becoming a problem for you, don't hesitate to get help.

[isshin]

A few years ago I would get full blown panic attacks, time slows down, my sight would become very sharp and bright, and I knew I was dying, I don't mean I thought I was going to die, I knew 100% I was. After quite a few I realized what I was doing, I was getting myself stuck in circular thought, so to break the cycle I would do something totally unrelated to what started it, get something to eat, tell a story to someone, play a computer game etc In my case I may be ill, so I do a quick check, pulse, breathing, no pain, ah, silly mind and back to work I go. sitting and resting I found only increases the minds idea that something is seriously wrong.