[earle58]

Originally Posted by DutchgirlRN

Ok, Ok, I give up. Leslie is my rock. Thanks leslie.

While I personally as stated "IMHO" don't feel like depression belongs in a nurses with disabilities thread I do see your point as well. I was paralyzed with fear but to me IMHO it was an illness. Yes it definately disabled me from living my life but it was IMHO an illness.

It's kinda like, what came first the chicken or the egg? Does that make sense? Maybe a dozen or 1/2 a dozen x 2 = the same? Good grief now I am sounding like I'm crazy but I'm not just temporarily stupid.

i'm enjoying your brief moment of insanity.
i see what you're saying.
most depressions will not interfere w/normal functions of life.
sure, you may experience overall dysthymia, and lose interest in different activities.
but still, most are able to continue w/their job.
it turns into a disability when it interferes with your adl's, i.e., family, job, friendships.

i've been where this woman is, also.
and even when you reach the point of becoming restless and wanting more, your home has become a very safe haven, from the terrifying world out there.
it is such a journey back to 'normalcy'.

and i initially started with a psychiatrist who overmedicated me soooooo badly.
that's why i emphasized getting someone reputable.
i wasn't aware of the damage he had done, but my family certainly was, as well as my therapist.
now that i see a wonderfully competent np, i can only appreciate how bad off i was with the other.
there is so much i could elaborate on re: this thread- it doesn't matter if it's anxiety, depression, panic attacks, ptsd.
they all overlap and have similiar presentations.
where this woman is now, is headed towards the more severe type.

my heart and prayers are with you both.

leslie

[markjrn]

Originally Posted by earle58

i'm enjoying your brief moment of insanity.
i see what you're saying.
most depressions will not interfere w/normal functions of life.
sure, you may experience overall dysthymia, and lose interest in different activities.
but still, most are able to continue w/their job.
it turns into a disability when it interferes with your adl's, i.e., family, job, friendships.

i've been where this woman is, also.
and even when you reach the point of becoming restless and wanting more, your home has become a very safe haven, from the terrifying world out there.
it is such a journey back to 'normalcy'.

and i initially started with a psychiatrist who overmedicated me soooooo badly.
that's why i emphasized getting someone reputable.
i wasn't aware of the damage he had done, but my family certainly was, as well as my therapist.
now that i see a wonderfully competent np, i can only appreciate how bad off i was with the other.
there is so much i could elaborate on re: this thread- it doesn't matter if it's anxiety, depression, panic attacks, ptsd.
they all overlap and have similiar presentations.
where this woman is now, is headed towards the more severe type.

my heart and prayers are with you both.

leslie

My wife has been reading this thread with interest, and Leslie, your post really hit home with her - she can really relate to what you're saying. Hopefully she's not headed for the more severe type of anything, although her status seems pretty severe now, at least to us.

Her psych is the head of te department, and flies in from Boston twice a week to see patients. It's an odd arrangement, but we hope he's good. He seems intelligent and doesn't seem to jump to over-medicate. He's talking about adding a drug to enhance her antidepressant and we don't know what that is yet.

I hope there's a way out of this for her. Thanks for the words of support.

[markjrn]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

I think this IS a disability, at least it's totally screwing with my wife's ADL's and she feels disabled.

She says sometimes it feels like fear, but I guess that's what panic attacks are - fight or flight kicks in, and that's a fear response. She went through hell in nursing school, and I'm wondering now if that's why she's having panic attacks at work. She went through nursing school years ago and had above satisfactory evaluations and grades, but was hounded and harassed by instructors. I wonder about PTSD, but I'm no psych guy so I don't know.

Anyways, I'm just worried and rambling now. Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

[Tweety]

I think it's probably best to keep this discussion in this forum. Depression can and can not be disabling, the same as back pain or MS. We don't necessarily for have forum for those functioning with these problems.

Anyway, I understand the crippling kind of dispression. In the 80's I was so depressed I couldn't function, didn't bathe, shave, do laundry, or even leave my bedroom. I contemplated suicide often and attempted twice. Everything took a tremendous amount of effort. My body ached with the depression. I also have panic attacks in public on occasion, where I would just totally freak and be paralyzed with fear.

Time, medication, therapy, in-paitent hospitalization, self-help books, support of loved ones and friends (more friends as family didn't know what to do) and diet and excercise eventually got me to a point where I could take baby steps. Eventually I went to nursing school and after a year was able to get off medications.

I do hope your dear wife finds hope and a tiny spark of light and goes towards that. It's sometimes a long day's journey into night, but the sun always shines after the night. Been there and done that and am on the other side and I haven't had to go back, although there have been some down times in the years since, nothing like that awful time.

Hang in there.

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by Tweety

I think it's probably best to keep this discussion in this forum. Depression can and can not be disabling, the same as back pain or MS. We don't necessarily for have forum for those functioning with these problems.

Anyway, I understand the crippling kind of dispression. In the 80's I was so depressed I couldn't function, didn't bathe, shave, do laundry, or even leave my bedroom. I contemplated suicide often and attempted twice. Everything took a tremendous amount of effort. My body ached with the depression. I also have panic attacks in public on occasion, where I would just totally freak and be paralyzed with fear.

Time, medication, therapy, in-paitent hospitalization, self-help books, support of loved ones and friends (more friends as family didn't know what to do) and diet and excercise eventually got me to a point where I could take baby steps. Eventually I went to nursing school and after a year was able to get off medications.

I do hope your dear wife finds hope and a tiny spark of light and goes towards that. It's sometimes a long day's journey into night, but the sun always shines after the night. Been there and done that and am on the other side and I haven't had to go back, although there have been some down times in the years since, nothing like that awful time.

Hang in there.

Awesome post Tweety. Isn't it wonderful that we can be honest? It's comforting to know that many of us have shared very similar experiences and hope sharing those experiences will help others in the darkness of depression. When my kids were at home and someone would call for me while I was at the doctor my kids would say "Mom's not home she's at her psychiatrist", My Mother just about passed out one time. Please tell your children not to give out such information. It's nothing I'm ashamed of. After all these years you would think she finally gets it but she doesn't. Thanks to God and Education that we do get it and are passing it onto our children.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by DutchgirlRN

Awesome post Tweety. Isn't it wonderful that we can be honest? It's comforting to know that many of us have shared very similar experiences and hope sharing those experiences will help others in the darkness of depression. When my kids were at home and someone would call for me while I was at the doctor my kids would say "Mom's not home she's at her psychiatrist", My Mother just about passed out one time. Please tell your children not to give out such information. It's nothing I'm ashamed of. After all these years you would think she finally gets it but she doesn't. Thanks to God and Education that we do get it and are passing it onto our children.

Thanks. I share mainly to give hope to someone deep in it. I know the darkside and am here to say that I'm a survivor and I plan on always being one.

Like you, there's no room in my head for guilt, shame or embarrassment.

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by Suesquatch

?

My sister has schizophrenia. I'd certainly call that a disability.

One of the saddest diseases there is. I hope she is able to do well.....

[HM2Viking]

When I went through the bullying at work I absolutely felt the impact of anxiety and situational depression. (It was the very worst time in my life.) I think it is a disability.

[markjrn]

Thanks Tweety and everyone for your encouraging words. It gives us hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

[kizzykatlove]

i have anxiety and depression and the doc just started me on klonopin for anxiety and i have been on zoloft. i found klonopin more helpful than xanax. has anyone tried klonopin? my prayers are with you all.