[time4meRN]

Glad to hear you're doing well. Hope things continue to go well so that you have peace in your life.

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by spydercadet

My suggestion about nursing and PTSD, is the effect that the stimuli never really goes away.... But is their a lifetime limit ... ? Or are there certain people it just doesn't bother and some that are devastated by it?

I think that there is an element of subjectivity - similar to pain tolerance, one will holler w/ a hangnail, another can take 16 hrs of full out labor pains. So - mental anguish, some don't seem to take it in/on, others do.

I don't think someone can say, "Well, you don't hurt as much as I do" or "You are not as affected as I am ..." because they aren't in that person's shoes.

There are also pre-existing factors. I grew up w/ a reasonable amount of trauma and dysfunction, and then to go into the "pummeling" that often results from years of nursing (physical, mental, spiritual ...) - that can add up to a LOT of post-traumatic stress ...

One can't judge another person like that; they don't know their history or their tolerance of pain/trauma. And maybe, like you said, they have never learned how to deal w/ it appropriately. Hence, I think your suggestion is very good!

Originally Posted by WitchyRN

IMHO, we cannot make judgements about anyone else's diagnosis unless we are the doctor who made the diagnosis in the first place or the person who experienced the event.

That's right!

Originally Posted by earle58

i was dx'd with traumatic ptsd in 2004, by 3 different psychiatrists (yep, i was in denial and got a 2nd and 3rd opinion).
because of the meds i was put on, i couldn't work for months.
i eventually took myself off of all of them (except inderal and cymbalta) and started functioning again.
3 yrs later, i still go to therapy.
i've been back at work for over 2 yrs.
because of this "dx", i've gained much insight into myself and to life in gen'l.
it's ultimately made me much more than i thought i could possibly be.
some days, i feel really, really old.

i also work in a specialty that deals with suffering/dying on a daily basis.
and for those who work in an inpt hospice facility, you'll know what i mean:
about not being able to vent to others.
no one wants to hear the gruesome details, esp when it comes to dying.
so yes, spydercadet, i do understand the frustration in not being able to share the stressors on the job.

my dtr is a major concern to me.
she was hospitalized sev'l times in 2005.
her admitting dx was bipolar.
every subsequent hospitalization, just took that dx and ran w/it.
lithium did not help her.
and i never believed she was bipolar.
i did so much research, and i eventually took her off the bipolar meds.
but still, there's something off with her.
she finally has agreed to pursue further evaluation, but does not want to be hospitalized again.
i hope i didn't mess up.
now i'm wondering if she is bipolar.
i associated mania w/unrelenting energy, sleepless nocs, not eating.
i didn't see that with dd, but she is assaultive.
a np told me recently, that can be a manifestation of mania.
so now, i think i messed up big time.
i just don't know.
i have calls into 3 different psychopharmacologists...

thanks for listening, you guys.
it's been one of those days.

leslie

{{{{{{{{Leslie}}}}}}}}} God bless you hon, it's a lot. I'm glad things are better for you, phew! As to your daughter - you are doing a good job, mama, loving her and watching out for her. You can't read her mind nor control her actions, but you are there for her. And she knows you love her - that is so important.

[EricEnfermero]

Just a quick moderator note:

We definitely encourage our members to network and seek support from those who suffer from similar problems. It's sometimes a fine line, but we have to be careful not to dispense medical advice, such as recommending specific drugs.

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by EricEnfermero

Just a quick moderator note:

We definitely encourage our members to network and seek support from those who suffer from similar problems. It's sometimes a fine line, but we have to be careful not to dispense medical advice, such as recommending specific drugs.

Good point. Just to clarify though, is it ok to say "this is what I'm on and it works for me", without saying "you should try thus and such ..."?

Like your quote, it sounds like something Stephen Wright would say lol

[EricEnfermero]

It's always a little bit of an individual call, but generally "My experience is..." is better than "You should..." Make sense?

[jzzy88]

Sure didn't mean to give anyone the idea that I was in any way dispensing medical advice, but some of the psychiatric drugs that docs often prescribe cause really bad side effects which is adequately documented in scientific literature. Some of the drugs have caused diabetes and the makers of zyprexia (Lily) was sued and had to pay something like 500million b/c the drug caused diabetes.

Sometimes people unwittingly go along with whatever docs say and don't ask about side effects or if their are better drugs with less side effects. And sometimes docs haven't read the literature for years and prescribe old drugs b/c it's easier that way.

Again, I am no MD and am not giving medical advice but giving info based on what people with mood disorders have told me and also passing along things I have read in scientific literature. This info can be found by doing a google search and google scholar search and on Pub Med.

So in short, I am not an MD and am not dispensing medical advice but from what I have heard and read, psychiatric drugs can have potentially life threating side effects, like diabetes and massive wt. gain among others. And in my opinion it would be wise to make sure to ask people about these drugs, who actually take them, and research them on ones own including side effects.

Thanks much,
J

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by EricEnfermero

It's always a little bit of an individual call, but generally "My experience is..." is better than "You should..." Make sense?

Thank you Eric!

[EricEnfermero]

Originally Posted by jzzy88

So in short, I am not an MD and am not dispensing medical advice but from what I have heard and read, psychiatric drugs can have potentially life threating side effects, like diabetes and massive wt. gain among others. And in my opinion it would be wise to make sure to ask people about these drugs, who actually take them, and research them on ones own including side effects.

Thanks much,
J

Agreed, jzzy88. In part because of the anonymous nature of the site, we're just not the appropriate forum for that.

[jon_kulas]

I been dealing with depression since i was sixteen, locked myself in my room for 3 years and really, its taken a lot out of me. Also suffered from occasional panic attacks and insomnia. Waking up is just a drag! Felt blue and useless. After I read this thread, I realized that it wasnt just me whois dealing with this situation! It makes me feel kinda relieved that im not the only one who have this.. that this is real. (Ive been reading this thread daily for inspiration) I felt empowered to do something and aleviate this condition. Before, getting out of bed is like hell because of the fatigue, but now, It has become bearable. Everyday is a challenge to someone with this condition, but we can take these challenges to make us strong. Guys, Just keep on fighting!!! Never lose hope, even if the days are black. Get Help. find/build a support group. have plenty of exercise. Have time to find" Comfort in your strangeness"

[ERnurse07]

I am also a nurse who has bipolar II disorder - my challenge is keeping a job - and I wonder if anyone else has had this difficulty - I find I do really well - then I have a mood episode at work (usually crying for whatever reason) - anyway - I am trying to tackle this from a counselling and medication aspect - I concerned that I will find myself with too many burnt bridges - I really hope someone else has had this challenge and that you might have some advice. I have yet another interview this week - and lord knows I have had enough orientation sessions that I could run one myself - looking forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.

Jen