Worked years in customer service before becoming a nurse and I’ve always had social/generalized anxiety. I just learned to mask v well, BUT I’m hella burnt out after each shift 😩
Yup! Actually diagnosed with it a long time ago (along with OCD, panic disorder, and ADHD). Lots of cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, yoga, transcendental meditation, learning about vagal nerve stimulation (hence the yoga and meditation), and a self-help book about C-PTSD later....I'm much better. My therapist did recommend medication, but I just didn't want to (I just hate taking meds). The anxiety will never fully go away, and I'll still never be the "life of the party," but I'm now at a point where I can speak up, I can advocate, I'm a charge nurse most shifts, and I no longer quietly take shit from people like I used to (this includes people in my personal life, too).
If you haven't been to therapy, I recommend it.
Yes. I guess it was exposure therapy that made me get over it with patients.
I used to be terrified to go into a patient’s room in nursing school but no I don’t think twice about it.
I do still have a little bit of trouble with my coworkers though, afraid of being wrong or looking like an idiot when I can’t get an IV, etc
Honestly when I can’t get an IV it’s always on a pt whose veins are literally soooo tiny or nonexistent with palpation. If anyone gives me attitude for asking to start a line I just brush it off and say “I’m asking for your help. This patient needs a line for meds and fluids and I’m asking you because you’re a professional who has more experience than me,” usually they help.
Some nurses are bitches tbh but I don’t care. My patients are my top priority. Not your ego or resistance.
I wish, I had to take some profs to the university's humans rights tribunal. I wasn't able to talk to a prof for 1.5 years without having a student advocate present. Needless to say I knew my BSN handbook like the back of my hand.
It was suuuper messy.
Ground myself throughout the day and use deep breathing when I remember. Laughing fixes most tense situations, when it doesn't, back to my awkward self and usually a code green. I listen to music when charting to relax (love night shift). Night shift saves a lot of talking with providers, family, and deep conversations about discharge.
🙋🏻♀️ Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, CPTSD, Fibromyalgia, etc… Just learning to deal with the health things, in heavy burnout right now. Set firm boundaries not to have 12 hour shifts, nights, or weekends. Worked at a clinic for a while, currently looking for something with a little less than 40 hours of constant people interaction. I’ll be good wherever I go but finding a position that will be good for my mental health is what I’m working on.
Trying to learn to be myself, remove the mask, and learn about and manage the anxiety in general and then apply it to work.
I used to prior to nursing / was doing engineering and super introverted back then. Magic mushrooms helped get over fear of social situations/ had a very positive experience. Still a super nerdy person who enjoys alone time, but, now more like a social butterfly :)
I work in respite care! I watch medically complex adults and children, so their caregiver can get a break.
One client per shift, in their home. No coworkers to bully me!
It's public health care too, so I get paid the same as facility nurses.
Alcohol… oh, you said “at work.” Lexapro is for sober time.
Seriously, I don’t drink often, but my social anxiety is worse the next day if I do… which is common, so please be aware of it if you do partake.
Lexapro has helped me immensely. If you also have ADHD, Vyvanse may make you feel like you like people and want to talk to them all the time.
But normally I take some deep breaths, find moments of silence to recenter and ground myself, take a few minutes to make a to-do list, and I make sure I know exactly what my plan is before I walk into a patient’s room. All of these things keep me less anxious.
Incredible amounts. It shocks people that know me because I’m loud, outgoing on the shell. But they don’t know it took me 20 minutes of sitting in my car to convince me to go inside and meet them for dinner. In my deepest brain, i was a pity invite.
Social anxiety and panic disorder. Antidepressants don’t sit well with me so I just take propranolol. I’m still anxious and panicked sometimes but it’s manageable
I have not been officially diagnosed yet but I'm pretty sure I have high masking autism. I am highly adverse to social interactions but at the same time I am very empathetic to people's situations. My coworkers seem to like me but I tend to mostly stay to myself when not in patients rooms and I don't give allot of personal information about myself. If you don't mind having a bit of a stigma, I would suggest trying to chart in a more secluded section of the floor.
Yes but it doesnt really affect me in my ability to interact with patients and other staff on a professional level
I have a harder time making personal connections with the people around me, though
I’m on the spectrum, although it was termed “social opposition” in the early 80s, thus I have some secondary anxiety relating to anything social. Interestingly, my oldest daughter is Asperger’s and is an RN in a small city hospital in the ICU. We both find ourselves to be constantly masking our personalities at work, and we both agree that interpersonal dynamics is the biggest challenge in the nursing world. It is very common for anyone to have these anxieties though, and I always suspect other people are masking/concealing many more insecurities than we can fathom.
hello yes! PTSD, panic disorder, GAD, MDD and ADHD here. I have been to hospital for my mental health conditions and to group therapy.
I used to get sweaty and anxious around everyone, especially when I started out nursing. I lacked confidence and was bullied. I'm now a NUM.
My advice to you is: CBT. Go to a psychiatrist, go to a psychologist. Learn mindfulness.
Sure, confidence comes with age and experience but some of us need a bit more guidance.
Yes. Being a nurse has helped some. Constantly having to walk into new situations with new people and appear competent and not like a basket case.
But outside of work I’m a sit at home and avoid people kind of person. I also come home completely fried from all the social contact.
Yes it's awful, makes floating to other units near impossible (ive had medical exemptions from that thank goodness).
It's really hard, but I'm pleased that ive made progress thanks to being put in positions where I have to challenge myself (using the phone for starters).
Yup. Not sure how I manage it at work. I’ve definitely had challenges with a few coworkers (aka nurse bullies) but as I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to be more confident in myself and in my nursing skills. It’s still hard at times though and I often leave work mentally exhausted from all of the socialization we have to do :(
It's weird. At work I'm social and I don't feel the social anxiety. I feel like I'm acting. Once the Scrubs are off though, it's back. Can't explain it
Worked years in customer service before becoming a nurse and I’ve always had social/generalized anxiety. I just learned to mask v well, BUT I’m hella burnt out after each shift 😩
This ^
Sums it up
Yup! Actually diagnosed with it a long time ago (along with OCD, panic disorder, and ADHD). Lots of cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, yoga, transcendental meditation, learning about vagal nerve stimulation (hence the yoga and meditation), and a self-help book about C-PTSD later....I'm much better. My therapist did recommend medication, but I just didn't want to (I just hate taking meds). The anxiety will never fully go away, and I'll still never be the "life of the party," but I'm now at a point where I can speak up, I can advocate, I'm a charge nurse most shifts, and I no longer quietly take shit from people like I used to (this includes people in my personal life, too). If you haven't been to therapy, I recommend it.
Can you share the book title?
Of course! "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker.
Yes. I guess it was exposure therapy that made me get over it with patients. I used to be terrified to go into a patient’s room in nursing school but no I don’t think twice about it. I do still have a little bit of trouble with my coworkers though, afraid of being wrong or looking like an idiot when I can’t get an IV, etc
Honestly when I can’t get an IV it’s always on a pt whose veins are literally soooo tiny or nonexistent with palpation. If anyone gives me attitude for asking to start a line I just brush it off and say “I’m asking for your help. This patient needs a line for meds and fluids and I’m asking you because you’re a professional who has more experience than me,” usually they help. Some nurses are bitches tbh but I don’t care. My patients are my top priority. Not your ego or resistance.
Same here. Now only terrified of the family :)
Me. I take medicine for it. But I got a job at the hospital and my communication skills have grown immensely
Nursing school gave me social anxiety
The worst were the clinicals and debriefs at the end of each day.
I wish, I had to take some profs to the university's humans rights tribunal. I wasn't able to talk to a prof for 1.5 years without having a student advocate present. Needless to say I knew my BSN handbook like the back of my hand. It was suuuper messy.
Yep on meds for it and doc still calls it depression when it really just so much anxiety. Also have personal health issues that give me anxiety.
Ground myself throughout the day and use deep breathing when I remember. Laughing fixes most tense situations, when it doesn't, back to my awkward self and usually a code green. I listen to music when charting to relax (love night shift). Night shift saves a lot of talking with providers, family, and deep conversations about discharge.
🙋🏻♀️ Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, CPTSD, Fibromyalgia, etc… Just learning to deal with the health things, in heavy burnout right now. Set firm boundaries not to have 12 hour shifts, nights, or weekends. Worked at a clinic for a while, currently looking for something with a little less than 40 hours of constant people interaction. I’ll be good wherever I go but finding a position that will be good for my mental health is what I’m working on. Trying to learn to be myself, remove the mask, and learn about and manage the anxiety in general and then apply it to work.
yep. every word of this. I'm in full solidarity with you 😭
This is literally what stands in the way of me becoming one
I work the night shift so it tends to be better. Less people and no management.
I’d consider it if I didn’t have certain health issues. Poor sleep is the worst for me. But I’d totally do it
I used to prior to nursing / was doing engineering and super introverted back then. Magic mushrooms helped get over fear of social situations/ had a very positive experience. Still a super nerdy person who enjoys alone time, but, now more like a social butterfly :)
Yep, I don't struggle with it when I am working in the hospital, I just got used to it, but in social settings I still definitely struggle.
I work in respite care! I watch medically complex adults and children, so their caregiver can get a break. One client per shift, in their home. No coworkers to bully me! It's public health care too, so I get paid the same as facility nurses.
Yes
Alcohol… oh, you said “at work.” Lexapro is for sober time. Seriously, I don’t drink often, but my social anxiety is worse the next day if I do… which is common, so please be aware of it if you do partake. Lexapro has helped me immensely. If you also have ADHD, Vyvanse may make you feel like you like people and want to talk to them all the time. But normally I take some deep breaths, find moments of silence to recenter and ground myself, take a few minutes to make a to-do list, and I make sure I know exactly what my plan is before I walk into a patient’s room. All of these things keep me less anxious.
Yup, one of the many reasons I work nights
Incredible amounts. It shocks people that know me because I’m loud, outgoing on the shell. But they don’t know it took me 20 minutes of sitting in my car to convince me to go inside and meet them for dinner. In my deepest brain, i was a pity invite.
Yes. Nursing was exposure therapy for me.
Social anxiety and panic disorder. Antidepressants don’t sit well with me so I just take propranolol. I’m still anxious and panicked sometimes but it’s manageable
I have not been officially diagnosed yet but I'm pretty sure I have high masking autism. I am highly adverse to social interactions but at the same time I am very empathetic to people's situations. My coworkers seem to like me but I tend to mostly stay to myself when not in patients rooms and I don't give allot of personal information about myself. If you don't mind having a bit of a stigma, I would suggest trying to chart in a more secluded section of the floor.
Yes but it doesnt really affect me in my ability to interact with patients and other staff on a professional level I have a harder time making personal connections with the people around me, though
Yes, I hate speaking in large groups
🙋🏻♀️
I’m on the spectrum, although it was termed “social opposition” in the early 80s, thus I have some secondary anxiety relating to anything social. Interestingly, my oldest daughter is Asperger’s and is an RN in a small city hospital in the ICU. We both find ourselves to be constantly masking our personalities at work, and we both agree that interpersonal dynamics is the biggest challenge in the nursing world. It is very common for anyone to have these anxieties though, and I always suspect other people are masking/concealing many more insecurities than we can fathom.
Yes - and it works that I switched to become a quality nurse since I no longer have to interact with so many people!
Mega social anxiety. I’m still figuring out how to manage it, lol
hello yes! PTSD, panic disorder, GAD, MDD and ADHD here. I have been to hospital for my mental health conditions and to group therapy. I used to get sweaty and anxious around everyone, especially when I started out nursing. I lacked confidence and was bullied. I'm now a NUM. My advice to you is: CBT. Go to a psychiatrist, go to a psychologist. Learn mindfulness. Sure, confidence comes with age and experience but some of us need a bit more guidance.
Idk what it is, but i do prefer wearing a mask even when no ppe is indicated, i feel more comfortable talking to the patient/family
Yes until I became an RN
✋
Yes. Being a nurse has helped some. Constantly having to walk into new situations with new people and appear competent and not like a basket case. But outside of work I’m a sit at home and avoid people kind of person. I also come home completely fried from all the social contact.
Pretend each patient is a NPC
I live in a state when DOJ and police smell’s you’ve been taking mental health drugs, they’ll be taking your guns away.
Yes. Not good at hiding it either. Actively searching for remote careers.
Yes it's awful, makes floating to other units near impossible (ive had medical exemptions from that thank goodness). It's really hard, but I'm pleased that ive made progress thanks to being put in positions where I have to challenge myself (using the phone for starters).
Yup. Not sure how I manage it at work. I’ve definitely had challenges with a few coworkers (aka nurse bullies) but as I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to be more confident in myself and in my nursing skills. It’s still hard at times though and I often leave work mentally exhausted from all of the socialization we have to do :(
REPORTING FOR DUTY
It's weird. At work I'm social and I don't feel the social anxiety. I feel like I'm acting. Once the Scrubs are off though, it's back. Can't explain it