RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Feelings of nervousness, also known as anxiety, are normal responses when things feel uncertain or beyond your control. Because of the many physical and emotional changes associated with illness, feelings of nervousness may occur. Although anxiety is a natural response, being nervous is uncomfortable and can affect the quality of your life.

Causes of Anxiety

Over the course of an illness there are many things that can cause feelings of anxiety or nervousness. It is helpful to identify what may be causing you to feel anxious. Identifying the cause of your nervousness will be helpful in determining what to do about it. However, it is possible to feel anxious without being able to say why. Some of the things that may cause feelings of anxiety include:

Fear of the unknown
Changes in how the disease is advancing
Fear about relieving symptoms such as constipation, pain or shortness of breath
Concerns about medications
Fear about giving or receiving care
Fear about not being able to care for yourself
Fear of physical or emotional loss
Responding to changes in your life
Concerns about your family or loved ones
Concerns about moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility
Unexpected news, favorable or unfavorable
Fear related to making decisions about the future
Concerns about making the right decisions
Questions or concerns about spiritual or religious issues
Financial concerns
Changes in your role within the family or the community
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Each person responds differently to situations that cause feelings of anxiety. Your body has many different ways of showing anxiety. Knowing that you may be nervous is the first step to feeling better. Some of the more common symptoms of anxiety include:

Restlessness or not being able to relax
Irritability
Stomach upset or nausea
Butterflies in the stomach and/or feeling as though there is a lump in your throat
Muscle tension, aches, soreness or just feeling tense
Feeling very tired or exhausted
Trouble falling or staying asleep or having nightmares
Getting upset about things which normally would not upset you
Worrying about what could or may happen
Trouble concentrating or feeling overwhelmed
Headaches
Eating more or eating less than usual
There are some signs that your body will give to let you know that you have been feeling too nervous for too long. You may want to talk to someone on your Hospice team or your physician about these feelings of anxiety. These signs include:

Sweating or cold, clammy hands, heart palpitations, and/or rapid breathing
Panic or extreme nervousness, feeling something needs to be done but feeling unable to do anything
Increase in pain
Sleeplessness or not being able to sleep at all
What You Can Do

While feelings of anxiety are normal, it is important to decrease the effect these feelings may have on you or the people you care for. The symptoms of anxiety are your body’s way of letting you know it needs to relax. If you body is relaxed, it helps you cope with what is happening in your life. Talking to someone you trust is usually a good place to start. Other suggestions to reduce anxiety may include:

Talk about your feelings, fears, and concerns with someone who will listen and provide support, including family members, friends, clergy, and/or your Hospice team
Take slow, deep breaths
Enjoy a relaxing activity such as a hot bath, a good book
Take a short walk or find a place that you can relax, uninterrupted, for a while
Seek spiritual support from your clergy and/or the Hospice chaplain
Allow yourself to cry
Keep a journal and write about your fears, feelings, concerns, and/or things that are happening in your life
Listen to soothing music
Talk to your physician, Hospice nurse or Hospice team about how you are feeling. Your physician may be able to prescribe medications to help your body relax.

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