Permanent nights..now anxiety/panic when I try to sleep...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry/CCU/Home Health.

Hi all

I am a new nurse (off orientation for 2 months) and I have been working permanent nights since September, and although I work well at night and can sleep fine during the day, I have found that when I am off of work I try to sleep and have a panic attack as soon as my head hits the pillow. I guess it could be the stress of the new job, but a typical night off is like this: I stay up as much as possible all day, or I sleep late due to being on a night schedule, then when my entire family goes to bed at say, 10-11pm, I start getting really anxious because I KNOW I am going to be up till 4am, sometimes later. And when I do lay down to sleep, I used to just nod off with no problem, now I toss and turn and my heart is pounding the whole time.

It has really taken a toll on me, and I have taken Benadryl (a very small dose of 12.5 mg) to get to sleep recently, but I am very reluctant to take any medications for fear of becoming dependent. I have already asked to go back to day shift, and will in December, but now it seems I have fallen into this anxiety habit when it comes time to sleep at night...NOT GOOD!!:uhoh3:

Anyone else suffered with this problem? Any advice would be appreciated!! I have suffered with panic attacks in the past in times of stress, but never took meds for them.

Thanks so much!!

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Having worked steady 11-7am for years, this will get better. Most people do complain of this from time to time. Its hard to sleep well anytime with the stress you endure as a nurse, let alone on a off shift. You need to learn how your body and mind can relax, you will probably get used to it after much time. When you work this shift, your whole world suddenly revolves around obtaining a good sleep. Look at some natural herbs/tea's ect. They did help me when I was having a bad week. I never, ever resorted to using prescription meds. To me, that would make things worse.

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Specializes in NICU.

I've always worked 7pm-7am and love it. I usually stay up late and actually love the nice quiet time ..... get housework done, watch TV, read, etc. I enjoy that time.

But I'm a night person. For me, I would get more anxious if I had to be up at 5 am ..... I'd get anxious laying in bed at 10 pm not being able to sleep!

When I first started working nights though, I used melatonin. I'd take it on the days I worked and any time through the week that I had trouble going to sleep or staying asleep. I never take it anymore, as once I got in the routine of night shift I got used to it and no longer need it, it wasn't habit forming for me. That might be something worth checking out.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Try something that will take your mind off things. Have a warm bath, followed by camomile tea, and then listen to some relaxing music as you sleep. I used to use 'Enya'; not sure if you have heard of her there. Is your room dark? I know of some ppl who have actually used cardboard or alfoil to block out the light. I just got some really dark heavy curtains.

Panic attacks are real, and scary, and if you continue to have them, you may need to seek some counselling, to teach you how to relax, and or find out whether there may be other reasons that you have not been able to identify. You need to cut this in the bud early...

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Sorry to get off topic slightly, but I have a question for RainDreamer.

When you are on days off, do you revert back to sleeping at night or do you continue your routine? I'm always curious to know how permanent night shift nurses organise their routine.

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Specializes in NICU.
Sorry to get off topic slightly, but I have a question for RainDreamer.

When you are on days off, do you revert back to sleeping at night or do you continue your routine? I'm always curious to know how permanent night shift nurses organise their routine.

I stay on a modified night shift schedule I guess you could say. I stay up late and wake up late, but not as late as on the days I work obviously. I normally go to bed anywhere between 1 and 4 am. Then wake up anywhere from 9-11 the next morning.

It all depends on that first day off though. I get home about 8 am and usually go to sleep for a bit that first day off .... if I only sleep a couple hours, then I'll most likely go to bed earlier that night (anywhere from 10 pm to midnight). But if I sleep more than a couple hours (3-5 hours), then I usually stay up later (1-4 am). So it just depends on what all I have going on.

Then the night before I have to go back to work I stay up as late as I can, then sleep as late as I can the next day.

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

I have the same problem, except when I wake up. Actually, I wake up startled in the morning, or several times during the night. My heart races and pounds so hard I swear it is going to beat right out of my chest. I have no idea why it happens. I went to PCP, ran all kinds of cardiac tests, (which I knew it wasnt heart related) and she finally put me on xanax. It helps alot.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

When I worked, nights was my preferred shift. I stuck to my night shift schedule when I was off. I cleaned house on my off days, made a few casseroles, and froze them for the kids and DH, balanced checkbooks, all the normal daytime stuff. If I had any kind of appointments I would schedule them early AM or late PM. Even retired I have a horrible time sleeping at night so I am still sleeping in the daytime. I do remember getting freaked out when I would try to sleep at night. I was always afraid of loosing some kind of control I have no idea of what kind of control.

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Specializes in med surg, telemetry, stroke.

Dear Heartlover, I know how you feel. Although I have been an LVN for over l l/2 years now, am finishing my last prereq for RN bridge program and although I work days (med/surg) not nights, the stress and panic attacks are hitting me hard. I cannot sleep on nights before I work. I am trying to get through my phys class right now and pass and then I am going to start on Lexapro which my doctor prescribed. I like others do not like to take any meds, but I cannot function any more with the stress and the panic attacks will hit while I am at work, home, sleeping on the freeway. They are awful and scary. I am older than you just went through menopause and that may have made them worse. The stress of being a new nurse is incredible though. You hang in there. You can do it. In my opinion you need to go see a doctor though because the panic attacks can get worse. I have let mine go on too long and now I am forced to try medication. My daughter (also an RN) just started work first year and she works nights. You can email her ValfromCal on this site. She may be able to offer some suggestions. She loves working nights. I don't know if I could do it. I have trouble sleeping as it is. Good luck to you. Take care of yourself first. You can't take care of others unless you take care of you! ;)

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm almost wondering if it has nothing to do with the shift. Like if it'd be the same way if you worked day shift too.

When I was a new nurse I had a lot of trouble sleeping, just due to the stress of being a new nurse. I never could get my mind to shut off, I had a hard time relaxing when I laid down, my heart would pound, etc. Even when I did fall asleep, it wouldn't be a deep sleep because I'd still be thinking about work related things.

So maybe it's anxiety from work that's causing the sleep problems. I agree with Dar in that if you continue to be anxious then you might want to see a doctor about what you can do to help it. It should get better with time though, at least it did for me. As time goes on you'll get more comfortable with your job and not get as anxious when you think about work, therefore you'll sleep better. But if it doesn't get better then would be the time to talk to someone.

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Specializes in LTC.

:zzzzzI started working night 3 months ago and started having this problem myself. I started having panic attacks on my night off also. I started working out on my nights off with a treadmill. I think it has to do with being on the go all night long. I get on it when my shift usually would start and go for 1/2 hr to 1hr depending how energetic I feel. This has helped at lot and I sleep like a rock usually by 2am. Hopes this helps.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

It sounds like something specific to working nights. I never had that problem when I worked nights for 12 years but I have heard of other night shift nurses with that problem. If it was only stress about work then you'd have the same problem no matter when you tried to sleep whether it be during the day or during the night. I think you're going to need to stay up on your nights off and sleep during the day. It sounds like a matter of your internal time clock experiencing the stress. Best of luck. BTW Benadryl is non-habit forming, physically anyway.

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