Anyone Bipolar???

Nurses Stress 101

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I was wondering if anyone is, or knows of any successful bipolar nurses. I am non-medicated but cope with my symptoms via behavior modification and therapy. I do not want to rely on medication if I don't absolutely have to. Will I be forced to disclose my condition? If so, will I have to be medicated to be employable? I am not a severe case and don't have radical mood swings. Most people are not aware of my condition unless I tell them. This has really been on my mind so I appreciate your help.

thanks jahra. I will do that.

ARW123,

That's great, the sooner you and your Dr take control of sx

the better off you are.

I am here for support, feel free to PM me...

Specializes in Women's Health.

re bipolar: are you taking your meds??? There are many places in nsg where being bipolar does work well.... ED, ICU......try NOT to work all 3 shifts, if your shrink will write it as a disability... which it is... you can get reg shifts scheduled.... regularity is a big thing with this disease. It is best to let your boss know; legally this may protect you!!!!! Good luck!!!

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

I didn't see these most recent posts, sorry I haven't responded. I think it is a VERY good idea to contact your doctor especially if you are not sleeping - adequate sleep is the # 1 way to prevent mania, in my opinion. You start cutting THAT out you are going to get into trouble. My dr. has me on Benadryl, to take for sleep if I go more than two nights with less than 6 hours of sleep. Not RECOMMENDING it, just saying that's how important sleep is.

Hi, all. I am new to the site and joined d/t noting the BPD messages. I, too, am bipolar. I have been an RN for 19yrs. and a darn good one, too. I was diagnosed correctly in Fall of 2003. Before that I was only treated for depression because I only went to the MD when I felt like crap. After reading about BPD, I went to a psychiatrist and he agreed I was indeed bipolar. I was placed on new meds and functioned well for the next 4 yrs. with a few med adjustments in between. But, this year everything escalated. I crashed & burned in Feb. and only recovered well enough to return to work in April. I was placed on Lithium in addition to the Lamictal I was on previous. However, within 2 months, I am back on the roller coaster from hell. I have poor concentration & alternately feel like jumping out of my skin or hiding under the covers for life. Geodon was added but I'm unable to tolerate it. The odd thing is I work as a Psychiatric RN! While this does give me intimate knowledge into their feelings, it also makes it painfully aware to me that I may have to leave the nursing profession for the sake of my patients and myself. I am deathly afraid I will come unglued at work and traumatize the patients, not to mention some of the staff. While they (the staff) are aware of my BPD, since this last episode, some of them have taken to "hovering" over everything I do and say. Did I mention my paranoia? (Ha, ha). I guess my question is...how will I know for sure that it's time to hang up the ol' stethoscope? When I'm controlled, I'm great, but I wonder if I will ever again feel controlled. And I don't want to make such a decision if I'm not in the right frame of mind. My MD thinks I can recover again, but I have mountains of bills to pay and am a single Mom besides. Income is rather important for those things. Anyone out there able to give this chick some advice?? All will be appreciated.

Hello I'm new to the site and newly diagnosed with BP 1. It has been a few years since you have had this issue, has anything gotten better? I'm supposed to attend nursing school in Jan 2012 but petrified of the level of difficulty of the program that everyone constantly reminds me of not to mention all the episodes I may have during school. Is there any advice you can give me? Were you given any advice that was helpful for your situation?

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Hi, all. I am new to the site and joined d/t noting the BPD messages.

or

Hello I'm new to the site and newly diagnosed with BP 1.

Hi Joannlmt83, welcome to the site!!

it looks like you piggybacked onto a previous post? I assume the first part of the post is yours? It's easy to do! anyway, hello!

I am on the brink of attempting to jump back into the work force again ... not sure if can do it this time. I have had so many attempts and failures. I've tried going back to nursing, and I've gone into cashiering. I went back to nursing, I went back to cashiering. Taken a year or more, or less, off, in between. My resume looks like swiss cheese! So sick of this :( but not satisfied staying on social security, either.

So, help me figure out which part of the post is yours and maybe we can converse some more. There are also other threads in the "Nurses with disabilities" forum, see https://allnurses.com/nurses-disabilities-forum/

Sorry if I am sounding negative about going back to work, tomorrow might be different! lol

Littlenoodnik.... hey thanks for the response even though it wasn't exactly all that positive but honesty is the best. I tried copy and pasting so you would know who I'm writing to.

I'll read the forum thanks :)

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Littlenoodnik.... hey thanks for the response even though it wasn't exactly all that positive but honesty is the best. I tried copy and pasting so you would know who I'm writing to.

I'll read the forum thanks :)

Thanks Joan - just hit the button that says "quote" at the bottom of a post, and it will appear as a quote like yours does here. Anyway I am not "reading" or understanding things exactly right now, so forgive me if I sounded negative. I wasn't criticizing. Just trying to make sure I knew who I was talking to.

I am really struggling right now w/ mood swings, so again, forgive me if I sounded off! I was glad to hear from you and glad to have another person on my team who understands this crap, lol...

Specializes in Gastro, outpatient surgery floor.

hello everyone. I went to research bipolar today on this site as i am a nursing student now told this morning i was misdiagnosed for years now. My nursing school has brought all my s/s to the surface. I liked reading other post of people who can gone thru this. to be honest im very scared right now. i will be put on a medication ive never been on but praying with all my heart i can do this. I will probably be withdrawling from school for the time being. everything happens for reasons i believe. but any advise anyone can give me please private messages.. thanks!

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
hello everyone. I went to research bipolar today on this site as i am a nursing student now told this morning i was misdiagnosed for years now. My nursing school has brought all my s/s to the surface. I liked reading other post of people who can gone thru this. to be honest im very scared right now. i will be put on a medication ive never been on but praying with all my heart i can do this. I will probably be withdrawling from school for the time being. everything happens for reasons i believe. but any advise anyone can give me please private messages.. thanks!

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing! take care :)

Specializes in Gastro, outpatient surgery floor.

liddle~ thanks and i will keep you posted. last night the new mood meds knocked me on my feet and i had trouble today just to get out of bed. im doing much much better today. school will allow me to take leave but i, since im in a LPN program, will loose alot on clinicals. luck enough next week is my fall break. i dont believe i want to totally STOP nursing just having issues with the school that i truly dont want to continue there. but again well see what happens with my health

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
liddle~ thanks and i will keep you posted. last night the new mood meds knocked me on my feet and i had trouble today just to get out of bed. im doing much much better today. school will allow me to take leave but i, since im in a LPN program, will loose alot on clinicals. luck enough next week is my fall break. i dont believe i want to totally STOP nursing just having issues with the school that i truly dont want to continue there. but again well see what happens with my health

Hope you are able to figure out both the health AND school issues in a way that helps you!! do you have plenty of real life support that can help you thru this?

I haven't read through all the posts but having someone in my family who was bipolar (now deceased), I can say most bipolars - true bipolars - cannot function well or for long without medication. SOME can but the most cannot -this isn't a matter of will power - its a matter of brain circuitry. The person in my family was very conscientious about taking medication once diagnosed and lived a full life - no one would've known about the bipolar has she not told them as the medication allowed her to function normally - she wasn't a zombie - she was able to just...live. She was not ashamed or unwilling to admit her condition and actually educated a lot of people over the years about it and psych meds. She was an example that psych meds DO work when taken correctly.

For you, there would be no reason to tell your employee or anyone else about your diagnosis. Most medications that are given for bipolar are not going to show on a drug test and if something does crop up - you have a script. The main thing is for you to take care of yourself before you try to take care of anyone else. Good luck

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