Nursing school stress

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Hi guys, so I'm currently a sophomore but this is my first year in my nursing school (because my first year was pre-reqs). So, I'm not really sure why but I've decided I wanted to do nursing since like my junior year of high school... Now that I'm in the nursing program, I feel really overwhelmed by the workload and stress and I feel like nursing isn't for me when I see how much stress they take on... I've never felt so overwhelmed that I've had a couple panic attacks so far and I've never had those before! I've always been on top of my studying game and I'm not sure what exactly it is that's happening to me... I keep debating whether i want to leave nursing school and become a medical assistant but sometimes my anxiety doesn't flare up and I decide I want to stay but other times I cry like crazy and decide it's not for me... I'm really not sure what to do, any advice?

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My advice would be to reach out to your health care provider about managing your anxiety.

Good luck.

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Hi so I forgot to say that I went and they prescribed me Zoloft 25 mg but that was since Wednesday so I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to start actually working or seeing results until 2-3 weeks? But I'm just so worried that I might drop my nursing school before it works and then feel bad that I left it afterwards idk what to do at all

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Hi so I forgot to say that I went and they prescribed me Zoloft 25 mg but that was since Wednesday so I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to start actually working or seeing results until 2-3 weeks? But I'm just so worried that I might drop my nursing school before it works and then feel bad that I left it afterwards idk what to do at all

Yeah, it'll take a bit of time to kick in, unfortunately.

Can you pinpoint exactly what makes you anxious? I have generalized anxiety disorder and a few things really help me: meditation, exercise and making lists.

All work when I'm feeling overwhelmed, but the list making is probably the most helpful. It lets me focus on one thing at a time and celebrate the little victories of crossing things off.

My opinion is that you try to hang in there. You're doing good things by reaching out and getting help. And we're always here if you need to chat or get advice or tips.

You can do this.

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I guess Everytime I think of whether I really want to do nursing or not and also when I study because it's a lot of material thrown at me... That's when I feel the anxiety... And Thanks a lot for the advice!

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While I can't speak from personal experience, I do have friends in various stages of their nursing school career. One friend in particular who I know is a hard worker told me that nursing school is nothing like prerequisites. She told me that the first week, every single last person in her cohort had broken down crying at some point and it has continued periodically since the start of school. While I don't know if will get better for sure, know that you are not the only person who has or is facing the same internal struggle. Hang in there and continue working hard. If you want to be a nurse, then make it happen. Best wishes!

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Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider and discuss how you are feeling. I felt the same too. (I think everyone does to a certain extent at some point) It was a decision that I was glad to make. Doing so, afforded me to work through it and graduate.

All the best!

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What decision did you make exactly? And I made an appointment already and I'm on Zoloft but then I have to see her again in three weeks... I'm not that stressed at some points but then the feeling comes back and I'm just like oh my gosh

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Nursing school sure is really stressful. Instructors making things more stressful than it already is adds on to it too! I hated my instructors for that. I was a pretty much straight A student during my pre reqs, but I got a F on my very first exam in nursing school! That was devastating. There's a reason why they make it very difficult and stressful, because you're gonna be dealing with peoples lives once you become a nurse. My friends told me (I have a lot of close friends who are nurses) when I was going through Nursing school, Everyone goes through it man, it's stressful, but it's attainable. If it was that difficult, there wouldn't be any nurses. Working as a nurse is totally different from school”. It helped a lot. The way I dealt with nursing school stress was ranting with my study groups. No one else really understands what you're going through except your classmates. Just don't complain too much and let it take over your study time haha. Good luck!

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