[moonlightdrive]

Hi, I'm 20 years old and in college to hopefully one day become a nurse. I will be applying for the nursing program in the spring, but I've been thinking a lot lately and I don't think I even want to be a nurse anymore. I'm not that smart and I have HORRIBLE anxiety. In all of my classes the other students complain if they don't make 95% or higher, and I'm just struggling to make a B, or C.

I have no other choice but to go through with nursing, I can't think of any other profession I could do. I enjoy learning about medical stuff, but I need to enjoy a lot more than that to make it through nursing school. Anyone who has been or known someone who has went through nursing school said it consumes your life for the two years you are in there, and that it is extremely stressful. I don't think I can handle that.

I wish there were some other career I could do, but I'm horrible at math, and it seems like every other career (unless it's arts/drama) involves serious math. I want to make my parents proud and finish college, because if I were to drop out they would be SO disappointed, they are kind of perfectionist.

Also my mom has been very sickly for the past couple of years. Not only is she my mom but she is my best friend...my world. Lately I can tell she is giving up because none of her treatments have been working and we can't afford to pay for hospital treatment. I feel guilty, because maybe if my parents didn't buy me a nice car, clothes, vacations, electronics, school, etc... then maybe we could afford to do the hospital treatment.

The expenses of my mom's health has caused a lot of stress between her and my dad and it KILLS me to see her upset. I've never seen her like this. I'm scared I'm going to lose her, and if that happens I don't think I will be able to survive. I have no friends, the only person I hang out with is my mom, if I were to lose her then I would be alone in the world.

Also I have a disorder called Dermatillomania which is where I can't fight the urge to stop picking my skin, and it causes ugly scars on my face, arms, chest and back. My doctor doesn't really understand it. No one around me understands it. My family says "stop picking your skin", but I can't!!! I try so hard to fight the urge. But that's a whole other story.

I'm just so tired of life, I feel worthless, I dread the future, I don't know what to do with my life, and the list goes on... I've been on Cymbalta and Lexapro in the past for anxiety, but I didn't notice a difference at all. I have Xanax but that doesn't do anything for me either. I'm stuck and don't know what to do

[optimize990h]

Nursing is very stressful. You have to find some options. This is a good place for support. Check out the chat room. Hang in there. There's others who will support you here. Be patient.

[moonlightdrive]

Originally Posted by optimize990h

Nursing is very stressful. You have to find some options. This is a good place for support. Check out the chat room. Hang in there. There's others who will support you here. Be patient.

I definitely do need to find some other options. But I'd hate to waste all my time and effort I put into my pre-reqs for nursing. I will go check out the chat room now! Thank you so much for your response

[bluedolphin92]

Why do you not have any option other than nursing? I changed my major after my first year of school and even though I don't know exactly what I want to do with my new major, I felt so much less stress and anxiety after I switched (I went from Pre-Vet to Psychology).

Do you have an academic advising center at your school? There are usually people there who you can talk to about various career options. They may be able to help you find something you'd enjoy that would cause you less anxiety.

[SeekingZen]

Hi Moonlightdrive,

I agree with Bluedolphin. Your school should have a career counselor or career center available that can assist you. They may have you take the Strong Interest Inventory and/or MBTI to help you determine what other career paths interest you aside from nursing. I wish I had gone to nursing school also, but I have heard that nursing is a very stressful field.

You should try to meet with the career counselor at your school before you take classes next semester...

Maybe there are some other related careers that you can look into that do not involve a lot of math, possibly nutritionist or radiology tech.

I wish you luck on finding the right career path!

[FacingChains]

Originally Posted by SeekingZen

Hi Moonlightdrive,

I agree with Bluedolphin. Your school should have a career counselor or career center available that can assist you. They may have you take the Strong Interest Inventory and/or MBTI to help you determine what other career paths interest you aside from nursing. I wish I had gone to nursing school also, but I have heard that nursing is a very stressful field.

You should try to meet with the career counselor at your school before you take classes next semester...

Maybe there are some other related careers that you can look into that do not involve a lot of math, possibly nutritionist or radiology tech.

I wish you luck on finding the right career path!

Moonlightdrive, You sound like such a compassionate person, of course you want to be a nurse!!!, I like the idea of becoming somekind of tech though like when I get an x-ray or ultra sound i always think , "what a quiet, peaceful job..." cause you are pretty much left alone...so there are other options, please have faith....try to focus on today and not tomorrow or the future...re: your Mom and her illness b/c they are not real (the events of tomorrow and the future so why get yourself in a tizzy about something that hasnt haooened yet?)they havent happened yet. I think a lot of your problems can be solved and you are obviously bright enough, just your anxiety is getting in the way. I would find another P-doc, maybe there is another drug that would help besides xanax. I have major anxiety and have never even tried xanax, I take seroquel...anyway, hang in there girl. Use your strength of intelligence and research some cbt techniques for thought distortions to try and help you learn to correct your thinking to lessen your anxiety, just google if you havent learned them already...try to be mindful, one day at a time....good luck Moon, and blesssings to your Mom, Facing Chains