[mysticalwaters1]

My moms side of the family has everything nervous breakdowns, major depressions, bipolar, suicide, schizophrenia, Obsessive compulsive disorder it's nuts. I even thought of eventually going into psych. I know that several of these relatives of mine went into nursing or sorry jsut school and had to quit but there was more issues with their personality that interfered not soley the illness. I am a very nervous person and lately freaking out all the time anxious on med surg that someone a psych nurse said maybe i could get on something like paxil or something. I found it kindof funny and laughed out loud because while i am nervous and tense it was never as bad as when i was doing nursing. I'm not erratic or anything i do my job fine but i am getting severely stressed and will experience that where ever i go. I'm trying to calm myself but taking an anxiety pill sounds as if i'm looking for a quick fix but you know what maybe it would be good.

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by mysticalwaters1

I'm trying to calm myself but taking an anxiety pill sounds as if i'm looking for a quick fix but you know what maybe it would be good.

It can't hurt to look into it :0. I know it's hard not to judge yourself but you have to think of it as a physical abnormality. You're probably lacking a chemical and it's ok to provide it for yourself.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{MW}}}}}}}}}}}

I hope things get better, holler if you need to talk!

xo

[mont]

I really needed that big time, Thank You- you rock

[mont]

Originally Posted by mysticalwaters1

My moms side of the family has everything nervous breakdowns, major depressions, bipolar, suicide, schizophrenia, Obsessive compulsive disorder it's nuts. I even thought of eventually going into psych. I know that several of these relatives of mine went into nursing or sorry jsut school and had to quit but there was more issues with their personality that interfered not soley the illness. I am a very nervous person and lately freaking out all the time anxious on med surg that someone a psych nurse said maybe i could get on something like paxil or something. I found it kindof funny and laughed out loud because while i am nervous and tense it was never as bad as when i was doing nursing. I'm not erratic or anything i do my job fine but i am getting severely stressed and will experience that where ever i go. I'm trying to calm myself but taking an anxiety pill sounds as if i'm looking for a quick fix but you know what maybe it would be good.

Your not looking for a quick fix, believe me it is NOT quick . try not to judge your self too hard and allow yourself slack . EVERYONE has issue, those who denie it have the problem.

[RNAnna]

I am amazed! I have been looking on the internet for nurses with mental illness for so long, I thought it didn't exist. I am so glad that I have finally found this forum.
I went back to school as a non traditional student and am working my first nursing position. I have PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety and panic attacks. When I started school there were a lot of people who said that I couldn't (and probably shouldn't) go into nursing. I guess I'm just stuborn. So now, I am in orientation on my first nursing position - med/surg staff nurse - and finding it very difficult. I am only working at a .6 so I should only be working three days a week, but they have me working a lot more during orientation so that I can "get up to speed".
It is really hard and I am looking for any advice to how to cope with the intensity. I've heard that starting out is hard enough without mental illnesses, but I am strugling to keep myself healthy. The one thing that helps is that the people at work seem to be really caring and wonderful people. But when I get home, I tend to colapse in a ball of mental and physical exhaustion. If anyone has any advice......
I'm just glad to have found other nurses with mental illnesses and aren't afraid to talk about it.
Anna

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by mont

I really needed that big time, Thank You- you rock

ha ha at first I read what you wrote as: "My rock" and I was like "Oh gee ..." LOL

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by mont

Your not looking for a quick fix, believe me it is NOT quick . try not to judge your self too hard and allow yourself slack . EVERYONE has issue, those who denie it have the problem.

A big fat AMEN to that Mont!

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by RNAnna

I tend to colapse in a ball of mental and physical exhaustion. If anyone has any advice......
I'm just glad to have found other nurses with mental illnesses and aren't afraid to talk about it.
Anna

Hi Anna

I think the best thing to do might be to say, "Look I do have these commitments (and you do, to yourself!) and I really can't do beyond the .6. Maybe there is stuff I can do at home?" or some such. You don't need to be getting sick right off the bat! I bet they REALLY want you the extra time so you can help STAFF.

My opinion only, and do what you need to, but yeah, a new position AND just starting out is a HUGE deal. and it's important you set the precedent with them right off that you put yourself first!

Take care and keep in touch Anna!

[mattsmom81]

I'm probably a poster child here for what NOT to do in the nursing field...as it kept me tooo preoccupied and became the focal point of my life. I wasn't dealing with life events, hurts, emotions... I was running past them and avoiding. Succeeding. Doing good...for others. Until I crashed and burned that is...LOL!

So I guess what I want to say to nurses with mental illness: don't get so wrapped up in the sufferings of others that you fail to notice your OWN. This is a real problem in nursing for us as I look at it. Even the healthiest copers get 'burned out' in nursing, and I suspect those of us with psych problems are at much higher risk and need to take 'special' care of ourselves.

I'm currently at discovery point: getting to a recovery/healing point. If anything I can be a warning to other nurses, so I will post here at intervals once my therapy starts and I'm able to see more clearly what I should have done when things got tough, other than avoid. I was dx as mild depressive in the past but never took it seriously...thought I was invincible. til I crashed and burned as mentioned...

Ya know I think some of the 'sayings' out there are very harmful. Like the one: "Fake it til ya make it'... well, it doesn't work if you have MI issues...we gotta do the self work and can't just be 'human doings'.

Also what I call the 'caring church-isms': that tell us to care more for others to feel better...that doesn't work either if we are MI and need help ourselves...in this case nursing can be a harmful distraction to our own recovery.

Just some random thoughts...Hugs to all here and welcome to the new posters.

[mattsmom81]

Oh..just wanted to add..I am so thankful to read about nurses who have been successfully dx and are in treatment and are doing well...AND practicing nursing...I hope to be back there in the trenches with ya someday!