Anxiety & healthcare worker

MrsK213

Hi ladies, I have suffered with anxiety for many years now. Never on medication for it, I've always managed it on my own. Tried therapy a few times, got too expensive. I am a healthcare worker who is always dealing with blood. Since becoming pregnant I've had anxieties about contracting something from handling these specimens. Now that I've gotten further and further along (I'm now 28 weeks), it's gotten worse where I am obsessing about things that "might" have happened at work to expose me to something. Anyone else a healthcare worker and had an incident happen or had anxiety like this being pregnant?? It takes over my everyday thoughts, I don't know what to do. I am going to try to find a therapist in the mean time. I'm afraid all this anxiety will harm my baby. Thanks ladies!

serenbach

I work in healthcare as a nurse so understand some of your anxieties, (I spent 3 months of my pregnancy working in an all male prison, anxiety was an understatement!)

However as long as you are following policies such as wearing gloves, hand washing, using anti bac then I wouldn't worry about catching anything and unless you have a needle stick injury it's doubtful that anybody else's blood can get into your system. Is there any body in your work place that you can speak to about your anxiety about this? I would recommend doing so

MrsK213

Thank you, yes I talk with one of my co-workers about it who is also pregnant. She is a little more relaxed about it, so it doesn't help too much haha. I'm trying to find ways to distract myself so I don't focus on it. Hasn't been easy to do though.

NESeattlite

This sounds like classic OCD symptoms (especially contamination anxiety).  OCD/anxiety often gets worse in pregnancy, so given your history I would definitely talk to both your OB/GYN and an anxiety specialist (psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, etc) about some treatments.  It won't necessarily be meds, therapy could help a lot too.  In general this type of OCD is very treatable with the right therapy.  Should be covered by insurance too?

MrsK213

Thank you ladies for your replies! I found a new therapist that I am going to make an appt with tomorrow, and she accepts my insurance.