[Lawnurse]

(((I do wonder at times if there is not a genetic component to some forms of depression and illness. Sort of a chemical and enviromental predisposion to one illness or another.))))

Not only are they genetic, there is new evidence suggesting depression and alcoholism share common genes, so they're more likely to occur together.
(good intuition, Fire!)

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by belzmom

I noticed you are in Maine - liked your post. I am just starting the RN/FNP program at USM after 15 years in mental health (and I have mental illness as well). Love that phrase "mentally interesting."
Thanks!

Hi, that's neat! Practically next door, hee hee! Hope you enjoy the program, I haven't heard anything either way about it.

Mentally interesting, well, I have been depressed mostly THIS time, so I don't find myself fascinating today, LOL...

[shandy84]

Originally Posted by Severina

I was just wondering if there are any other nurses who struggle with mental illness. It seems to be one disability that is met with little tolerance and support in the medical field. I do have major co-morbid mental illness, Major depression/PTSD/DID, and have had many problems in my career. I have been in therapy and on meds for a long time and have worked very hard to be functional, and I have suprised myself by what I have been able to achieve. Currently, I am a hospice nurse in a residential setting and it seems that I have found my niche. It doesn't aggravate my illness too much. I am very busy at times and most of my job revolves in much cognitive thinking and decision making about the best ways to respond to a patient's emerging or existing symptoms, and in assessing patients to see where they are in the dying process, plus lots of educating to patients and families. My extensive personal trauma background has made me able to have a different perspective on death and don't see it as the scary thing that is SO SAD, that a lot of people do. Plus, because of the things that I have been through, I am more able to be compassionate and understanding of patients and their fears. I especially do well with patients with existing mental illness or lots of anxiety. I notice that a lot of nurses have little tolerance for a patients anxiety and are not willing to take the extra time to walk them through things and provide the extra reassurance that they need.
Yes, there are some nursing jobs that I don't think I would be able to do because of the fast on the spot life and death action necessary. ER and Trauma/Burn are pretty much out for me. But thats OK. A lot of nurses couldn't handle doing what I do either for their own reasons. We are all suited to certain things.
Having mental illness doesn't automatically make you unsuited for the nursing profession. Even though I have heard many times, "what are you doing here?" "Shouldn't you be doing something else, less stressful?"
I am here and am doing the thing I am suited for. Yes sometimes I have to take time off due to my illness, but its no different than somone who has flare ups of a chronic physical illness like lupus, chronic fatigue, or fibromyalgia.

I would like to know how other nurses have coped with their own illness and their nursing careers.

Severina

Mental Illness is like any other illness , treatment can be successful! However I do struggle with depression sometimes but alot is related to the stress of being a nurse.

[hotdogtimmy]

Hi

Have been nursing for 25 years -always in ER and prehospital and was diagnosed ant 10 years ago (following a whole number of big life events) as bipolar.
I have tried various meds none of which agreee with me or make me cope better.....I was a keen runner and rugby player and often took NSAIDs for sports injuries and no one bothered to tell me that it interacts with lithium and shuts down your thyroid!!So I dont do drugs any more.But do do counselling and cognitive therapy

Fortunately tho as an ER nurse the more eccentric behaviour is "normal".....for the rest,its about keeping a journal of moods;lots of holistic stuff like reflexology etc,staying very fit and simply taking care of yourself at the expense of others if needs be

I think the advice abt finding your niche applies to anyone

And I never feel more alive than when doing a good resus!!

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by hotdogtimmy

I think the advice abt finding your niche applies to anyone

And I never feel more alive than when doing a good resus!!

Do you not experience the depressive aspect very often?

Glad you are doing well! Welcome to the board! Why the nickname?

[hotdogtimmy]

Originally Posted by zoeboboey

Do you not experience the depressive aspect very often?

Glad you are doing well! Welcome to the board! Why the nickname?

In fact I get depressed abt 25% of the time and its during those periods that I increase my time at the gym/walking and having aromatherapy and reflexology.In fact I find it easier to deal with....cos in the manic phase I lose control my internal censor (over what exactly comes out of my mouth)

The nick name is from when I was a flite nurse ,with "hotdog" used as a verb.....really just a big showoff,wearing my (bright orange) flite suit to regular meetings etc....not wearing a bullet proof vest........and grandstanding at the scene......really just typical typeA personality stuff....it started as a bit of penis envy (LoL) but stuck as a funny reminder of the days when my knees actually worked together on the same day,even simultaneously!!

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by hotdogtimmy

In fact I get depressed abt 25% of the time and its during those periods that I increase my time at the gym/walking and having aromatherapy and reflexology.In fact I find it easier to deal with....cos in the manic phase I lose control my internal censor (over what exactly comes out of my mouth)

The nick name is from when I was a flite nurse ,with "hotdog" used as a verb.....really just a big showoff,wearing my (bright orange) flite suit to regular meetings etc....not wearing a bullet proof vest........and grandstanding at the scene......really just typical typeA personality stuff....it started as a bit of penis envy (LoL) but stuck as a funny reminder of the days when my knees actually worked together on the same day,even simultaneously!!

GREAT sense of humor, LOL!

I am past that point - I'm lucky if I shower. I am still considering ECT! zoiks! but I can't seem to do anything else!

Now you have me confused - are you a boy Timmy or a girl Timmy?

[hotdogtimmy]

Originally Posted by zoeboboey

GREAT sense of humor, LOL!

I am past that point - I'm lucky if I shower. I am still considering ECT! zoiks! but I can't seem to do anything else!

Now you have me confused - are you a boy Timmy or a girl Timmy?

Last time I looked definitely a boy
it was the others (the other male helo/fire&rescue crew) who had the PE cos I was also the most photogenic !!!!
I'm from africa....as in,where men are men and women are glad LoL
Nows that the manic side.........

But yes I think that there are depressive BPMD and manic BPMD people and by and large I fall into the manic side -which can be well "hidden" in EMS/ER setting........so when I feel that black dog of depression at the door I'm very aware of it and start my 'taking-care-of-myself' program.........and in truth I've always been able to get help if very low....its my smart manic mouth and sometimes total disregard for my safety thats causes problems in my life.......but I figure its the only life I have.................as my local chaplain says,the longest queue in heaven is going to be at the "ASK WHY? here" desk.

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by hotdogtimmy

Last time I looked definitely a boy
it was the others (the other male helo/fire&rescue crew) who had the PE cos I was also the most photogenic !!!!
I'm from africa....as in,where men are men and women are glad LoL
Nows that the manic side.........

But yes I think that there are depressive BPMD and manic BPMD people and by and large I fall into the manic side -which can be well "hidden" in EMS/ER setting........so when I feel that black dog of depression at the door I'm very aware of it and start my 'taking-care-of-myself' program.........and in truth I've always been able to get help if very low....its my smart manic mouth and sometimes total disregard for my safety thats causes problems in my life.......but I figure its the only life I have.................as my local chaplain says,the longest queue in heaven is going to be at the "ASK WHY? here" desk.

Sigh, I so miss my mania, LOL!

[Fuzzy]

LOVE MANIA!!! Get lots done. People enjoy being around me. Life...is wonderful. Sometimes I manage to get into a little trouble but I usually am able to talk my way out of it. It's those depression demons that are killers . I work hard to stay on the drugs but when the depression strikes, I dump them in hopes of becoming at least a little normal and sometimes hypomanic. This causes some people concern but so far so good.
Fuzzy