Health anxiety and panic disorder..any nurses in their 20s experiencing this?

[Jessie-Marie]

Hey, First time ever posting on an online forum and really interested in talking with anyone who is experiencing chronic Health anxiety and panic attacks. My condition is deteriorating and getting in the way of me being able to complete normal day to day tasks. I am in a constant state of anxiety which often turns into a panic attack and I'm becoming so frustrated and depressed. I have recently started in a new role as a nurse in a busy aged care facility and last night did my first shift alone, got half way through and completely freaked out with panic and had to go home .. I'm devastated anyone out there had or having a similar experience?

Cheers 

[Jacko777]

Welcome to the Beyond Blue forums Jessie-Marie. I am sorry to hear you have been struggling and I am glad you are talking about it.

A lot of us on this site have suffered from depression and anxiety, we have experienced what you are going through. Are you having any treatment from a professional like a psychologist or a counselor? Obviously you need to have a diagnosis so you know what is causing this and from there you can find some appropriate treatment. Especially if you feel you are deteriorating you want to nip this in the bud and start working on a plan for recovery. You can see your GP or give the BB phone service a call so they can give you some advice and support and refer you to someone close to you that can help. 

With good support and advice I think you will find some small steps that you can take each day that will bring you closer to peace and happiness. Love to you.

Jack

[Jessie-Marie]

Hey, thanks for the reply.

I have had a diagnosis of gad and depression since my mid teens and more recently panic disorder and health anxiety, I am on medication and see a psychologist weekly. I just want to be able to work like anyone else but at this point my anxiety is not allowing me to do this and am possibly going to have to leave my job which devastates me. I'm extremely lucky to have supportive family and friends but just feel like I'm failing and that I'm letting anxiety take over me. I have all the tools to recover so I guess it'll take time and maybe I need not to be too hard on myself.

Thanks

Jess

[Jacko777]

Hi Jessie-Marie,

Yes, I think your last line sums it up. It will take time and I hope you have the right tools to get through this. In the meanwhile I guess you can focus your attention on these facts, you are on the right path, you have great support, take satisfaction from knowing that this will get better.

Have you tried meditation? It helps me to focus on the positive and off the negative, be the boss of my own mind. Success is just a series of failures, remember when you feel that you are going backwards that in fact it is an inevitable part of getting on top of succeeding. Any time you can shift your focus from the negative to the positive will help, partake in the things you love and make you happy. Sorry for my slow reply.

Jack

[Mariee]

Hi Jessie-Marie,

I have had counselling for performance anxiety as I am currently studying a master’s degree.  During counselling I was told to practice meditation. This involved sitting in a comfortable position and even placing my hands on my stomach to feel my breathing if it would help me relax. I was told to focus on all the sounds around me, and not to try to block them out. The counsellor also told me to acknowledge any negative thoughts that may have come to mind, but to simply think of them as a telephone ringing that I’m not going to answer. I have also been told to ‘breathe in calmness and breathe out stress/anxiety’, which can be replaced with whatever words you feel are most relevant. I’m so sorry to hear that your anxiety is affecting your work; I know how hard you would have worked to get to where you are. I think you should be very proud of yourself for what you have achieved. We are always our own worst critics so you should try telling yourself how great you are at your job.

Mariee  

[percy1984]

im not a nurse but im a stay at home dad now for last 6 months now , yea  i have bad anxiety get bad panic attacks, and just staying at home doing everyday chors is a big thing for me i am start to load the washing machine then i would just get a sudden fear and start having an attack like cant breath and nearly faint chest hurting , yea just standing there id be washing the dishes id get into a panic, the following days id be reallly exhausted to scared to go to the shops drive the car anywhere. hope u start feeling beta soon

[juliagoolia4]

Hi Jessie Marie

Yes I am also a registered nurse working in aged care and in my 20s. When I started nursing a few years ago I felt really scared the first time I worked without a supervisor. The shift was really busy and I felt overwhelmed with responsibility.I felt out of my depth for a few months.

I was terrified I was going to make a mistake but just didnt worry about how long each task was taking me, I just slowed down and completed each step safely. I got through the first few months without anything major happening and when I had a chance, checked in with my manager (who was supportive) and we worked through some technical competancies together so that the first few times I would be supervised.

Maybe you could check in with a senior RN or facility manager and let them know how you are going? You could ask them to be your professional mentor for a few months, that way if there is something you don't understand of feel competent completing you could ask them for advice and to supervise you.

Most senior nurses trained in a hospital system and had much more supervision and experience than myself when I graduated. Also everyone is new at their job once in their life and we all need supporting when we are the new person. Dont feel bad/stupid/embarrassed just because you ask for help. Asking the other nurses around you for help too most of them will be more than willing to support you especially if they are new including the personal care workers, enrolled nurses, endorsed enrolled nurses. Sometimes they can be your angels at work.

I wish you the best of luck. Its a challenging and rewarding career. Be kind to yourself. Slow down and focus on the task at hand. Dont expect to know everything let others help you and ask for help with tasks. Be positive and I know you will be great.You will be surprised at how your confidence and ability grow over time.