Student w/ Anxiety

[Snomma]

I'm an undergrad student pursuing a BSN. I'm only a sophomore so I haven't begun actual nursing courses yet. I'm 19 years old and recently have been diagnosed with a generalized anxiety issue. I was wondering from other people who experience this, if being a nurse, after schooling, brought on additional stress and anxiety. I am passionate about becoming a nurse. I want to help others and make a difference in their lives. What causes me stress mostly is life in general, money, bills. I haven't experienced it due to school, I make good grades and study often to prevent this. I want to become a nurse, but don't want to end up damaging myself mentally due to increased stress on the job. Any advice?

[erickz623]

I suffer from anxiety, especially when it peaked during nursing school. It was difficult. My grades were suffering, my relationship was suffering, etc. I decided to seek help and my PCP decided to put me on sertraline, which has helped tremendously. It cleared my mind; my grades improved significantly after a few weeks of taking it.

You know the roots to your anxiety, some of which are hard to overcome. Learn some strategies to manage your anxiety. Take breaks, exercise, do things you enjoy. It might be a good idea to talk to your PCP about it, as they are a good resource and can provide good advice.

There are many nurses out there that suffer from anxiety. Some manage it well, others don't. Don't let it define your nursing school career!