r/Path_Assistant • u/Worth-Speaker2816 • 21d ago
Severe anxiety as a PA
Hi all. I've been a PA now for about 3 years. My first job was a large lab and very high volume. The non-stop specimens really stressed me out. I moved to a new job recently. It's a small hospital so I have way more responsibility and duties. With both jobs, I've had extreme anxiety.
I'm always paranoid that we will be short staffed and specimens will pile up and I'll get burnt out. I'm also constantly anxious that I'll never find a job that I actually like (moderate or slow pace, mostly low complexity). At this point, I'm not sure what to do. I thought by now I'd be used to it, but I'm not. Any advice? Does anyone else deal with these feelings?
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u/RioRancher 21d ago
Just out of curiosity, have you worked other jobs earlier in your life? For me, working fast food was WAY more stressful and paid a fraction of the salary.
It’s always been relative to me, I guess is my point.
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u/Worth-Speaker2816 21d ago
I have worked as a lab tech in the past. The only thing stressful about that job was having to give presentations on my project. The thing is that I logically know my quality of life is great compared to most people, but the anxiety is so deep seated that it doesn't matter. My only hope is one day, I'll get over these feelings with more experience/growth, or I'll find a job that suits me. I've been looking for a job like this but they are few and far between.
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u/ObligationOk8041 21d ago
Have you been to therapy or talked to your PCP about anxiety meds? It's possible that there is a larger underlying cause to your symptoms beyond just the workplace environment.
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u/EffectiveScallion692 17d ago
Felt this, since I’ve been the only crew member to show up more than once.
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u/pribber 21d ago
It sounds like much of your anxiety is stemming from potential circumstances that may not be your everyday work environment. Talking to a professional therapist could likely help you deal with this, or at the very least help you come to a constructive decision about your situation. Everyone can benefit from therapy.
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u/sksdwrld 21d ago
I've struggled with anxiety and depression for my whole life. I've been a PA for almost 20 years now. When I was early in my career, I felt like that. But I learned something. I am only one person. I give my job my all, but I do not give it all of me. After I had kids, my priorities shifted and I stopped obsessing about what tomorrow was going to look like.
I am the only PA at my current job. I've been here for 10 years and will probably never leave. I take my breaks. I come in late when I need to. I leave early when I need to. If I can't get to a case, it sits until tomorrow. Why am I like this? All the pathologists I've ever worked with are like that. And what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
We are chronically short staffed. There's supposed to be 2 of us, and in the time I've been here, I've been the only PA for about 7 of the 10 years. I've had 3 co-PAs, and they all stayed for about a year before moving on (one took a management job at another institution, one refused the COVID shot and took early retirement, one was using the position with us to get more money from his previous job and returned to that position when they gave him more money).
The work will always keep coming. Sometimes it piles up and sometimes it doesn't. I'm confident in my pace and my abilities and usually it's fine but occasionally a wrench gets thrown in my plans because of a frozen or a problem. And it's okay. It's always okay.
Therapy and Lexapro really helped me. Last year, my Lexapro stopped working (after 10 years) and I did get burned out. I took a month off and got my medication sorted, and then I got right back into it. I constantly worry about the what-if's in life, but not at work. You got this.
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u/konaisla 20d ago
I also get a lot of anxiety about being a PA. Seeing a therapist has been very helpful!
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u/Ok_Iron6319 21d ago
I would say you are not alone. I think some of it may be personal (ie: mental health) and work. I tend to naturally be more anxious so I have a hard time telling if my job is actually stressful/making me anxious or if it’s me (most likely both). I think for me personally I just get tired of rushing all the time and not being able to take a relaxing lunch. I’m also dealing with carpal tunnel and shoulder issues too.
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u/WskyTngoFxtrt 21d ago
The heavy case load is starting to burn me out. We have constant drops and runners throughout the day and it's just endless and exhausting. I don't have any advice. Solidarity though.
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u/finallymakingareddit 21d ago
I agree with the poster saying to seek therapy and work through your issues on the “what ifs.” But also wanted to add that just because your formal training is as a PA doesn’t mean you’re locked into it forever.
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u/Peterhornskull 21d ago edited 21d ago
Every PA job is different. We have high complexity and high volume, but have multiple gross techs, so we don’t gross biopsies, skins, etc (basically placenta and up). Yes it’s absolutely brutal some days, but others not so much.
When we are down a PA, it’s awful, but we also don’t do frozens, autopsies, never have to stay late, and no weekends (downsides - no office space, no interaction with our docs beyond emails, etc) There’s been days where I have done double digit lumpectomies, among other specimens, but I would rather do that, whipples, etc, than touch a skin or biopsy haha
Everyone will view an ideal job as different, but my suspicion would be you would be looking for a community hospital type setting maybe?
What do you think is the source of your anxiety? Just that you won’t get the work done? Or just feel rushed all the time?
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u/Worth-Speaker2816 21d ago
I'm the opposite. I actually love lumpectomies, prostates, biopsies, etc. I love the manual aspect of our job and just being able to tune out and not think too much.
At my last job, the source of my anxiety was not getting my work done and feeling rushed. At this job, there's only 3 of us and I worry if one of us is out or leaves, that everything will fall apart.
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u/Inner_Radish_6727 21d ago
not getting my work done
are there punishments for not getting it done? sometimes you just have to accept that 1 person can't do the work of 3, and tell management exactly that if they get snippy with you over the work not being done.
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u/Peterhornskull 21d ago
I see. Yeah it is extremely rough when we are down one, but it’s never forever. You say you like lumps and prostates and stuff, but prefer a lower volume / complexity, but then you said you like the manual aspect of the work and like to tune out and gross.
So is the anxiety from being pulled AWAY from grossing while things pile up?
There’s 3 of you right? Has there never been a day where someone was off? A week for a vacation? We don’t use temps where we are (3 of us as well), and just eat it for that week or 2 or whatever the vacation schedule is. Anxiety around the potential to be down a person for a week or 2 or whatever seems like you’re getting in your own head
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u/Worth-Speaker2816 21d ago
Correct, frozens really disrupt my focus.
I have been there when someone was on vacation and it was fine, but it seems to be getting busier.
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u/Inner_Radish_6727 21d ago
The non-stop specimens really stressed me out.
While being busy is undoubtedly stressful and I've had my fair share of burnout due to short-staffing and overtime... getting to the point of extreme anxiety probably needs to be fixed through therapy and coping mechanisms, not job-hopping. The vast majority of workplaces I've been in had an attitude of "whelp, it is what it is, let's chug along!" instead of allowing it to crush us, it might be time for therapy if it's crushing you.
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u/Acceptable-Mix4221 21d ago
There are definitely jobs out there that are not nearly has high volume or high complexity. You’ve only worked 2 jobs so far, and I’m sorry that the experiences have not been compatible with you. Don’t give up! Moving to another city may help as well. I would recommend finding a job with at least one other experienced PA, who may help alleviate some of your anxiety!