I need some advice. I've been working as an RN for about a year and a half. I have been on Med/surg/tele floor for a complete year and prior to that I was at a LTC. I'm worried my anxiety is going to get to me one of these days. I haven't had anything tremdously horrible happen to me...however, there were days where we were understaffed, had a heavy load, or patients that went down the hill fast...Everyone tells me I am a great caring compassionate nurse. My supervisors and co-workers I work with respect me and are willing to help me when moments arise where I don't know what to do in difficult situation. I do enjoy what I do, however, the anxiety is getting worse and worse. I have tried to pin point where the anxiety is coming from and I can't. I have a great supporting husband and kids. Yes, I do work night shift, but I've been managing it fine for a year now. I have good co-workers. I have a good salary. But everytime I am off for a certain amount of days and come back for the first night my anxiety is horrible. I can't eat anything, I'm nausead, I am constantly running to the bathroom with an upset stomach, I can't sleep or rest...I have nightmares about it. I get jittery and pace the house...the food I try to eat all tastes funny....and I just get so worked up that on the way to work I end up crying...over nothing really. I am not usually emotional person. I thought that with experiance and more knowledge I'll be able to brace my anxiety...but I see nursing is a constant learning experiance. I see other nurse smile coming into work...calm relax...enjoying life outside...but I count down hours and minutes before I head out back to work. I know this is not healthy. Please advice if anyone had this happen or what I could do to get rid of anxiety.
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
Thank you for all the replys. I do realize I take everything close to heart. With our patient ratio 1:8 and most of the time we have one aid on 30 some patients I feel HORRIBLE that I am not providing the proper care to my patients. I have had numerous family member in the hospital, and I always expected the best care for them...I have high standards for myself...because I am taking care of someones' mother, father, someone else special person...they too deserve best and proper care...but when we are understaffed what can you do about it. I will make an appointment with my primary doctor to get checked out...I honestly believe I developed IBS from nursing. I too have though about changing from nursing. I am doing part time home health and loving it...however, the company I started to work for cant' provide insurance and full time hours...
I was diagnosed with IBS since becoming a nurse. Huh. It really seems to "get" to some of us very strongly.
Sorry to hear re the IBS to everyone who has it. Yoga and Pilates and gentle exercise/stretching helped a friend of mine with her IBS, as she got it from stress. That may help a little.
BTW my hair turned from part-grey to WHITE within 2 years of being a student RN and in the first year of being a RN.
It is an extremely stressful job being a responsible nurse. Not for the young or faint-hearted in some areas, I think.
Thank you for all the replys. I do realize I take everything close to heart. With our patient ratio 1:8 and most of the time we have one aid on 30 some patients I feel HORRIBLE that I am not providing the proper care to my patients. I have had numerous family member in the hospital, and I always expected the best care for them...I have high standards for myself...because I am taking care of someones' mother, father, someone else special person...they too deserve best and proper care...but when we are understaffed what can you do about it. I will make an appointment with my primary doctor to get checked out...I honestly believe I developed IBS from nursing. I too have though about changing from nursing. I am doing part time home health and loving it...however, the company I started to work for cant' provide insurance and full time hours...
So go and look for a home health company that might have full time and benefits or heavy prn and get a short term health policy..if you love it,, make it your dream.
Something that works for me as far as the natural realm works is Natural Calm by Peter Gilham's. Your magnesium maybe off. Don't take pills make sure it is a liquid. I like the lemon flavor. Worth a try and works wonders! You never know.
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
Something that works for me as far as the natural realm works is Natural Calm by Peter Gilham's. Your magnesium maybe off. Don't take pills make sure it is a liquid. I like the lemon flavor. Worth a try and works wonders! You never know.
Can you get that anywhere, or does it have to be a natural foods place? And do you ever get the flushed face side-effect from taking Mg?
I buy mine from www.vitacost.com it is a liquid which absorbs better in the body then any pills will. I like the lemon flavor but it comes in alot of different flavors. It is called Peter Gilham's Natural Calm. 16 oz powder we mix with water and tastes like lemon tea. The red flushing you get from niacin not magnesium. You can't OD on this either. Start at 1/2 teas per day and work your way up. Works great one of my favorite and it is all organic. Gluten free, vegan formula. Hope this helps but you more then likely will have to order it. Have not seen it in stores.
thanks for the advice...i just don't want to go the medice route to treat my anxiety, thats why i haven't seen anyone. i do realize that if i do go see i doctor it will not make weaker. however, i do feel weak that i am letting my emotions get so out hand and get myself so worked up.
isn't it odd that society thinks it is a negative thing to need medication for an emotional/nervous type disorder but perfectly acceptable to take heart medications, insulin, or hypertensive medicine and go to work if you have a physical problem?!
i wish we would all not limit ourselves on what we decide are unacceptable diseases. anxiety disorders can spread like a cancer and begin to affect other areas of your life; at the very least they affect the quality of your life.
it is also okay to have some areas in your life that you are weaker at than others. it is no different wearing a pantyliner cause when you cough you may sprinkle than it is to need an intervention in the midst of a panic attack. try not to put conditions on yourself or set up totally unreasonable expectations. give yourself the same empathy and concern you would any patient that came to you with these same issues.
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
I buy mine from www.vitacost.com it is a liquid which absorbs better in the body then any pills will. I like the lemon flavor but it comes in alot of different flavors. It is called Peter Gilham's Natural Calm. 16 oz powder we mix with water and tastes like lemon tea. The red flushing you get from niacin not magnesium. You can't OD on this either. Start at 1/2 teas per day and work your way up. Works great one of my favorite and it is all organic. Gluten free, vegan formula. Hope this helps but you more then likely will have to order it. Have not seen it in stores.
I realized my mistake as soon as I posted. Argh! Thank you for the information - I will definitely look into it. Do you really notice a difference?
I realized my mistake as soon as I posted. Argh! Thank you for the information - I will definitely look into it. Do you really notice a difference?
You have to get the right balance for you. My husband and I are both taking it. It has made a world of difference. I also am a diabetic and no longer am taking my meds and sugar is balanced. My husband looks forward to taking it and he won't take anything! I follow Dr. Carolyn Dean MD ND she is great and full of info! What do you have to lose? I take 1 teaspoon a day and that keeps me balanced and My husband take 1/2 teaspoon a day. You will notice alot of changes in your body when you start. Taste in your mouth to energy level, stools become a rainbow LOL just pay attention to your body when you take it and you will be able to tell when your where you need to be. You can contact the company and they can send you some info on it. 1-866-416-9216 got info for a friend and some samples, but the samples are really for 3 days not just one day so if you get samples split it up into 3 days don't take the entire pack at once. Hope this helps I could write forever :)
Lilichik: I encourage you to rethink your attitude toward stress/anxiety and caring for YOU. You cannot be a good caregiver and advocate for your patients if you are not taking care of yourself first.
As a trained, educated healthcare professional, you should know that anxiety and stress do not mean you are a "bad" or "weak" person. By that logic a diabetic is a bad person for needing insulin; a hypertensive person is bad for needing BP lowering medication, etc. Our own personal prejudices and beliefs rear their ugly heads when we least expect it. So this is a good opportunity to face yours (about mental health). Please get help by whatever means necessary. Maybe holistic treatment or vitamins and exercise will be sufficient. If not, please take the next step to medical care. It is a sign of maturity, not weakness. Otherwise, as some of the other nurses have discussed your internalized stress will show up as IBS, migraines, stomach problems, etc.
Please let us know about your progress. :heartbeat
It sounds pretty normal to me. It's the fact that you never know what you're going to walk into on a shift that makes me anxious sometimes - it's just unpredictable.
CFitzRN, ADN
386 Posts
I was diagnosed with IBS since becoming a nurse. Huh. It really seems to "get" to some of us very strongly.