Coming out with mental health... or not?

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

One of my previous NM had quite special sense of humor. For example, he liked to call me on my days off somewhere around 6 A. M. to ask if I got his email regarding being fired the day before. When I said "no, sir", he casually mentioned that I should contact him should I get such email any time before my next shift because "it might be another HR mistake... these guys think they can read my mind, yah 'know".

As a result, I got PTSD. Work with therapist, getting better. Among things that remain, is "startling", so when I got a phone call from my current work, where everything is OK, I got things like PVCs. Cardiologist says that something needs to be done about it as they run 270+ /min. , either b-blockers (contraindicated), or implanted shocker, which will make my life really complicated (a lot of travel by planes). The therapist got an idea to ask somebody on my job to call me a few times and just say hi. He thinks it will "recondition" my brain after several times and tachy will be gone. There is no cardio-related causes for tachycardia, all tests done and perfectly normal.

I have more than one person on my current job whom I think I can trust but asking to do such thing will anyway look borderline between ridiculous and idiotic, or so I think. It will make me coming out with mental health diagnosis, and I am well aware of stigmas. I am not sure who of those friends of mine would abstain from gossip, and obviously do not want make waves in calm waters. So, can anybody give an advice of what should I do?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Don't disclose your illness at work. It's almost always a bad idea. If you have someone at work you can trust to be discreet, you could as them to do this for you, but I really think you're better off not involving people at work. There's too many things that can go sideways with disclosing a mental health diagnosis on the job, although yours is one that people have some respect for because of the war veterans who suffer from the condition.

Good luck to you. I don't have PTSD but my son does, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Be well.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Does it have to be someone from work or is it just the phone ringing in the night that sets it off. I have free nights and weekends and am not a stalker or axe murderer but could ring you up a couple of times (being facetious but I think you get my drift) Have you tried doing dyaphramatic breathing or even bio-feedback to slow your heartrate and calm your self. I agree that you should not enlist help from someone at work. You never really know who your friends are at work and gossip especially about any mental health issues runs like wildfire through the hospital.

BTW -what happened to the jerk that set this off?

There are mental health support groups that work like AA that you might look into as well.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

As someone else with mental health issues & who had to deal with PTSD, I wouldn't tell anyone at work at all EVER! Unless you happened to work with your best friend. But your coworkers are just that, coworkers. They will gossip behind your back even when they tell you they won't.

I hope you can find some other way to help yourself. Good luck.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

This is your personal business. Your therapist is way off and has no business involving your coworkers in some kind of desensitizing therapy.

I agree that disclosing mental health issues will make you the subject of gossip. It was after all

a manager with a twisted and sadistic sense of

humor who triggered all of this. People can be very cruel and might start calling at 6am just to torment you like he did. You could have someone start rumors that you are unfit to work.

Extreme stress can wreak havoc on the thyroid. I hope that has been evaluated.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Thank you so much, guys!. I got it - no word out about it to those who do not need to know :speechless: :lurking:

It happens on my free day, usually at around 5 AM when they want me to come and cover for someone who just called off, or later if someone calls for some other innocent purpose like potluck invitation. Whether I understand it as something absolutely harmless and non-threatening, my heart still acts out. Every non-pharmacological strategy known was tried over the last year, all tests are done and came back normal. PTSD and stress-related cardiomyopathy.... all doctors say that it will get better if I live till the time it does.

The therapist is actually the guy #5 and the first one with whom I got some positive results. He just doesn't get why people who are supposed to care for mentally sick people as well as for anyone else can have any stigmas against their own lot. When I gave him fine details of what the phrase "nurses eat their young" really means, he was speechless with shock. But this is the reality we all live with, you know.

I did deconditioning technique for other, not life-threatening group of symptoms and it helped quite a bit. So, either my hubby's IT team can make fake phone calls (from the same number but coming from unrelated place halfway around the globe) and it will do the business in a dozen attempts or so with the help of flecainide, or it will be the same pill for a year and some sort of EP surgery thereafter.

And what happened with "bad guy"... he's still there, of course :devil:

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I suffer from PTSD and anxiety disorder from events in my childhood. It's all pretty well controlled now but I have worked hard at it. We are not supposed to give medical advice here but if you are interested I believe you can send me a private message.

Hppy

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I would not tell anyone at your work about this..not even those you think you can trust..because coworkers are usually not as close of friends as we sometimes think..any health issue, in my opinion, is not the business of the employer unless it would directly effect your ability to function while at work (i.e. broken leg). Right or wrong, mental health issues are not viewed the same (even among most healthcare workers) as something physical (diabetes, etc).

If you don't have to keep your phone on then turn it off on the nights you sleep and don't have to get up for work the next day - you can turn it on anytime after you get up and around. If there is a message for you to call work - don't. You are not obligated to return a call to tell then you aren't available. Eventually they will figure out not to call you and ask you to work extra or realize even if they do you aren't going to respond.

As far as the NM - something is wrong w/him..sounds almost like he wants your attention..either way..and tho' some may disagree w/me - I'd either change units or go to HR about his behavior. It's not funny in the least.

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......CBT and drugs.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

CBT - doing just that. But, unfortunately, it has nothing to do with VTach.

Drugs - sorry, not. I saw way too many folks who liked Xanax and other good stuff a little bit too much.

So far, after I got half a dozen calls at any time of the day and heard cheerful "hi from Bangalore, what's the weather like?" it is getting better in terms of Vtach/SVT runs.

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Email me if u can [email protected]

i have a very similiar issue and we can talk together to help each other

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Mother-Baby and SCN.

Any update? :) Hope things are better, and I agree that guy should've been disciplined :grumpy:

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