PSYC 8781 “Axis I: Adjustment and Disorders and Anxiety Disorders” Program Transcript [MUSIC PLAYING] FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, I just keep thinking what if something happens? I mean I've always had trouble concentrating. But this time, it's different. FEMALE SPEAKER: Different, how? FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, you know how like you were talking on your cell phone or something and it cuts out. You lose the connection. It's kind of like that. My mind just goes blank. And when I'm at the hospital and it happens, I flip out. I could give the patient the wrong medication or something. What if it's early dementia? I mean I've read about that happening. I read an article just the other day about people in their 30s and 40s getting that. That's horrible. FEMALE SPEAKER: It sounds like you're constantly nervous that you'll go blank and that something bad will happen. You mentioned having other symptoms. Like what? FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, at work, my temper. I flip out on patients sometimes and on other nurses. I just freak out. I even started snapping at my daughter. And that has never happened before. FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, I understand. You're feeling anxious. And you're having some temper issues, which are sort of out of character for you. How are things going at home? FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, I'm not sleeping very well at all. One of my favorite things used to be to curl up at night with a book. But I can't concentrate. I have this whole stack of books by my bedside table. I mean they're history books. And I love reading about history. But I haven't even touched them. And my husband got so upset the other day because he brought me this kit for scrap-booking, which is something I used to really enjoy doing. But I just took them back to the store. I could not deal with that either. FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, it seems like you're not finding relaxation in the things that used to enjoy doing. Now, when you returned your husband's gift, you said that you couldn't deal with that. What exactly couldn't you deal with? ©2012 Laureate Education, Inc. FEMALE SPEAKER: The expense. You have no idea what these scrap-making materials cost. I could spend that much in groceries in a week. And I thought--So that I lie in bed at night at 3:00 AM worrying about, just money, money, money, money, money. And my husband and I both work. We work really long hours. But it's just not enough. We really should have started saving for college. I mean my eldest is going to start college in a few years. And I don't know what we're going to do. We don't have the money. FEMALE SPEAKER: Did you talk to your husband about your concerns? FEMALE SPEAKER: Yeah. Yeah. We talk. Alex, my husband, he's 12 years older than me. I mean we get along fine. But I worry about him. I mean at work for example, he's been up for this really big promotion. But now it looks like he's not going to get it. And his health, he's got a whole history of early heart attacks in his family. And I just worry about that. I mean he hasn't shown any symptoms or anything. But I really, really, worry that one day something might happen to him. I mean the whole thing just feels like a crap shoot. With care reform now, what if they cut back on my hours at work? And what if I lose my job? Doctor, I cannot afford to lose this job. FEMALE SPEAKER: Any idea how long you've been having these symptoms, the lack of concentration, trouble sleeping, problems relaxing? FEMALE SPEAKER: A while. Off and on, I guess. I went to see a counselor when I was in nursing school. I was Ms. Overachiever. I was making straight A's, but I couldn't help but worry that it was never enough. FEMALE SPEAKER:It sounds like you were feeling the pressure of trying to achieve your career goals. Did the counseling help you? FEMALE SPEAKER: Yeah. Yeah. I guess it did. I mean I went for a couple of months. And the counselor had me do this body scan exercise. And he suggested I should start meditating. But who had time to meditate. I was too busy making straight A's. © 2012 Laureate Education, Inc. ©2012 Laureate Education, Inc.