I am an RN with anxiety. I no longer do floor nursing but I've known job-related anxiety and the dread of going to work. I even quit a job abruptly over the anxiety and took some time off ... only to learn that going back to work was very difficult and quitting didn't gain me anything.

I am still working as an RN and still have anxiety problems to some degree but I am better. Here are some things I did and I learned (besides that running from the problem didn't fix it) -

- got counseling for an extended period of time
- joined a support group and this was very helpful - out of this I got a support system that has been very valuable. It is a good place for me to be honest about my anxiety (and other issues). What a relief!
- read all I could from reliable sources on anxiety
- realized that although anxiety is uncomfortable, it would not kill me and that as the day went on I would feel better ... and I do
- tell myself THIS WILL PASS when I feel anxious at work ... and it does
- recognized that I have something to offer (maybe more than the average person because I can certainly empathize with patients who have mental health issues)
- am currently working onbringing my mind gently back to the present when it wanders to the future with scary thoughts, also very helpful

Mostly, I learned to try my best not to make too much of the anxiety. I am more than my anxiety issues and everybody is dealing with something.

By the way, I've been in nursing many years and have known gay and lesbian nurses and I never cared one bit about their sexual orientation ... it they were good members of the team I was on for the day, that was all that mattered to me! Nursing is a truly honorable profession and I am glad I chose it.