why are you anxious?

In that order:
Advice

Everything is going to be fine, Lori. Just read the advice I linked to.

::SMACK::

Better? :/

Deep breathing for 60 seconds.

Change of scenery.

When you calm down, make a list.

Whatever is bugging you will pass. It might take some effort, but it will pass.

CF's advice link is good, but for tip two, "doing something" does not mean pacing in circles shaking your hands. Been there, done that, don't work.

If you are at home and can do so, take a long hot shower or bath. Otherwise, cup of herbal tea. Breathing exercises are good. Try to focus on something non-threatening and non-demanding for a while. Go to the restroom, wherever you are, slip into a stall, or find a private place, and make funny faces for several minutes. Really try to be as stupid and goofy as possible.

the only thing that works for me is 30 minutes' jog on a treadmill. sorry.

*THWACK*

I am perpetually anxious. It's a bad problem, and I have teh xanax. BUT! On the plus side, I don't really have specific fears, or depression, because the general anxiety keeps these things at bay!

I am, though, sorry you are feeling anxious, LoriFLA, and wish you peace. The establishment tells me to ride it like a wave, this too will pass.

Thanks so much all. I made a cup of tea, read a few pages of the book I'm reading, and took a hot shower.

My chest was tightening, I could only focus on the problem causing the anxiety, nothing else. I'm still feeling some anxiety, but feeling a little better. I've been feeling anxious all day over a work situation.

I interviewed for a part-time dream job and I got it. It's a position in cardiac rehab, and very hard to come by.

My current job is horrible. I want to quit the hellhole, but I feel an obligation not to. I've only worked there for a couple of months. I've never worked a job for this short of time. I feel that it may appear strange to my new boss if I quit the hellacious job now, since they are both within the same company, and the new boss knows I work on hellish floor once a week.

I also fear that I am inadequate for the new job, even though the skill level is lower than my current job. Basically, I am anxious over how I am perceived, and I have feelings of inadequacy. It always comes back to this.

Thanks for listening to this nonsense, and thanks so much for the support and advice. :-)

Lori! Yay! What cardiac rehab position? I highly doubt you are inadequate for this new job. Do tell about it, if it won't aggravate the anxiety! And, really? Good for you. :)

Thanks viachicago! It's outpatient rehab. Patients come in post CABG, MI, PTCA, etc. I can wear regular clothes, no scrubs! Some patients are on telemetry depending on the phase of rehab. It's a dream job because it's only a couple days a week and short days. Basically we help them with the machines, monitor their rhythm, make sure they're not dying. :-) It's a perfect job at this time in my life, my kids are still young.

Viachicago, when do you graduate? What kind of nursing are you interested in?

Yes, good for you, new job, yay! It sounds like maybe not so much anxiety, but misplaced guilt? Maybe your body just knows what the right thing to do is, and your brain is fighting back a little.

Congratulations on the new job offer!

Thanks rainbaby. Yes, it may be guilt. I am known to feel guilty. :)

I've been known...

Seriously, I don't believe in much, but I believe in the wisdom of the body. Go with it and trust it! It's telling you to do something mentally uncomfy, but that's ok.

Thanks rainbaby. I think I am overly concerned with letting people down, and it puts me in these anxiety-ridden, guilt-ridden places.

I'm excited about this new job. I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. It's perfect for me.

Wow, anxiety attacks AND cardiac rehab. I need to put you on speed dial.

Well, congrats on the new job. And good luck with the transition from the old one.

My wife gets anxiety attacks maybe a couple times a year. Not pretty, but she gets through them. The worst was when she had jury duty on an Ozone Warning day and wandered around downtown for a couple hours in between the initial wait in line thing and when she had to appear at a court. It didn't hit her right away, but she ended up all chest-pain-let's-go-to-the-hospital.

Even if you think it's anxiety, though, you don't want to treat it lightly. Be careful, and be well. ;- )

Lori --- I'm done in December. I've no idea what I want to work in, yet. Med Surg for a little while at first. I enjoyed OB very much. For an externship this summer I applied for OB, open heart stepdown and Med Surg. I feel like there's so much to choose from!

I hope you take the job and love it. Do what's best for you and your family. Best of luck! You can do it!