Jenny - Module 1

Hi, I’m Jenny. I’m a 4th year physical therapy student and I’m currently doing a placement in one of the local hospitals. I came to this program because I’ve been having a lot of anxiety on my placement. I notice that when I first meet with a person to assess them, I’m worrying that they won’t think I’m competent because I’m a student and then they won’t come back. When I present the case to my supervisor, I notice that I stutter a lot, I’m kinda shaky, and I’m so worried that she’ll tell me that I’m completely wrong and that I should know better since I’m so far along in the program (I graduate at the end of the year…eek! I don’t even want to think about interviewing for a job!). I have to admit this has never happened, but it could! I take a long time completing my paperwork, as well, I think because I worry so much about what my supervisor will say.

Presentations are a nightmare for me - always have been. In the past, I’d do whatever I could to avoid them, but here, I can’t. Every few weeks the students present at our rounds. I get soooo nervous. The week before the presentation, the worry starts to creep in. It affects my sleep and I prepare like crazy. I’m always worried people will see me shake or start to sweat. I worry they’ll be bored or think I’m an idiot. Even if I get positive feedback, I only remember the negative stuff – even if it’s not intended that way. None of this seems to happen for the other students. I really worry about getting a real job and still having these problems!

What do you think is Jenny’s main problem?

  1. Depression
  2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  3. Social Anxiety
  4. Panic Disorder

Homework

“Ideally I just want to be normal, like the other students and not get so worked up when I have to talk to someone. Ok, but the directions were all about choosing three goals, with a focus on doing. Here are mine”

My 3 goals for the program:

  1. Not being so scared when I assess clients that they’ll think I’m incompetent, this might make me interact with them more easily and not need to be so focused on seeming professional
  2. Sleep better in the days leading up to presentations
  3. Worry less about presentations and what people are thinking while I’m giving one

Where I put goals

I put my goals on my bathroom mirror so I can see them each morning before I go to work. That’s usually a time of higher anxiety so it can remind me of what I’m trying to accomplish.

Pros and cons of changing behaviour

Coming up with the disadvantages for changing was hard for me. After all, why wouldn’t I want to change this…it makes my life miserable. I certainly don’t want to come across as cocky or overly confident – that’s not a good alternative either and it seems that people talk about those people too. I do worry that if I stop preparing as much as I do that I really won’t do well or that I’ll miss something. I think I’d find that sad because it’d mean that I’m not as smart as my coworkers who can do fine on a fraction of the preparation. I also worry that I’ve been doing this for so long that I won’t be able to change. Here are some of my other advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of changing behaviour (imagine what life would be like without it) Disadvantages of changing behaviour (why you wouldn’t want to)
1) I could actually focus on my job and not what people are thinking about me 1) I might not do my job as well if I don’t spend as much time preparing
2) I’d have more time for fun things if I didn’t spend so much time preparing for presentations 2) I might be criticized more if I don’t prepare as much
3) I’d have more fun when going out with people instead of worrying that people are judging me 3) I might become cocky



Pros and cons of maintaining behaviour (not changing) or trying to change

Advantages of keeping behaviour (i.e. reasons to keep it, how it helps me) Disadvantages of behaviour (i.e., problems it causes me, reason to change it)
1) Nothing too bad has happened yet in terms of feedback for my presentations – the prepping must be helping 1) It really sucks to worry so much
2) I won’t be able to change 2) It’s physically draining
3) My worry makes me try harder – it’s gotten me where I am 3) I feel like I’m missing out on life

 

Read Module 1 reports from the other learners.
   
Mark Ann-Marie Steven