Nurses with depression

Nurses Stress 101

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Are you one of them?

What is your story?

Me: dysthymic disorder, likely depressive sx from the age of 10-12. Major depressive episodes: 2. Other psychiatric comorbidities: anorexia nervosa (currently, in longstanding remission.) Hospitalizations: none. Medications: on and off since 2001...tried just about everything. Currently just restarted a single antidepressant. Therapists I've been through: too many to count.

I honestly think I went into nursing, in part, because I didn't think I could do any better and I couldn't fathom working in a role where I would actually have to be a boss or make important decisions. I viewed nursing as very subservient and I was totally OK with spending my life in the background and taking orders (that is what I thought nursing was, at the time.) This was over 10 years ago now and I don't see nursing that way anymore, and I do think I have grown into the role to some degree, and I'm not as fearful as I once was.

It is taking me way longer to complete my graduate education than it should because I struggle with maintaining work/family/life balance. It is incredibly frustrating to know that you are really smart (I'm not going to go into that because you all are probably going to either think I'm A. inflating my intelligence or B. a pompous a#$hole) but you cannot manage to accomplish what you think you should be able to, given a normal mood. I'm not even going to talk about my undergraduate education....lets just say I took more incompletes, part-time semesters, etc. than any human being should. I would have graduated when I was 40 had I not had PSEO credits. Fortunately at work, I have not struggled....I think the nature of shift work allows me to be able to put on a happy face for 8-12 hours.

I hesitate to post this because I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that aren't sympathetic and don't believe that depression is a real, legitimate problem. I just feel like such a failure right now because I went to the doctor today and got back on Wellbutrin :crying2:.

:crying2::crying2::crying2::crying2::crying2:

Specializes in adult ICU.
Hi (semi-) quick question. I think I might be experiencing a small depressive episode again and was thinking of trying to get some help before things get too bad, but I am a nursing student and wasnt sure how that would my affect my plans to be a nurse. I am afraid that I will be hospitalized if I talk to anyone and I would have to drop out of school or would not be allowed to be a nurse due to mental illness or something. Could someone give me any info on these things? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Nobody gets hospitalized for mental illness these days unless they are really sick. If you are depressed, you would pretty much have to be suicidal with a plan/intent to get yourself locked up. You'll probably get offered medication and/or counseling/psychotherapy if you go in to see someone -- it's not so scary.

It will not affect your schooling unless your depression gets to the point where you are not performing in your classes/clinicals. You don't have to reveal depression to anyone at your school, nor do you have to tell your employer (and I would recommend that you don't tell unless you have good reason to, because of the stigma surrounding depression/mental illness.)

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...you would pretty much have to be suicidal with a plan/intent to get yourself locked up. ...It will not affect your schooling unless your depression gets to the point where you are not performing in your classes/clinicals.

Yeah, that's what I thought. But when I have bad ones, they usually include the specific suicide plans and the semi- attempts and such. So just don't mention that have "End of Road Plan 2010" and don't show up with any suspicious scratches showing or anything and should be ok? Any other things not to mention? Really appreciate help because it is already starting to affect classes/clinicals, though have gotten pretty damn good at putting on the smile and uttering "Nothing. I'm fine." randomly. Am occassionally successful at diverting these things but then again sometimes not, you know?

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
I am happy to find this subject and others that can understand depression, I am 37 and I have been on and off meds. I am currently off, was taking effexor, the withdrawl was awful and the sexually side effects was one of the reasons I wanted to be back off. I also have anxiety/panic problems, my pcp don't get it, I need to see a therapist and psyciatrist again but life gets in the way.

There are other meds good for anxiety and depression with less or no sexual side effects. I didn't think Effexor was a big offender in the orgasm department but Paxil was definitely a bust. If it's the only med you tried then you haven't been well-treated. Withdrawal is an awful problem. I'm content to stay on half doses.

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But...are we covered by the American with Disabilities Act. Are we covered by FMLA? How do you cope without telling everybody (actually just WHO is it that needs to know?)...I dont want to lose my job. I struggle daily. I am an efficient nurse. But...Migraines r/t depression are threatening my employment. Cant just "Cowboy Up"...true dibilitating migraines. Yes..it doe smake you feel like a failure when you are a nurse..and cant make it in because , heck...you need a nurse yourself. Thanks.

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Specializes in Nonviolent physical intervention.

Lots of nurses struggle with depression/anxiety, just like a lot of people do in general. I'm in psychiatric nursing right now, and I know that I've struggled a lot my whole life with anxiety. One way to think about your situation is relating it to another medical condition. Let's use diabetes.

A huge number of Americans have diabetes, and although some of them end up very very sick and needing to be hospitalized, the majority do not. Most can manage their condition. When someone becomes very hypo or hyperglycemic, their mental status can be compromised. The same is true for mental illnesses. Most people can manage, but for some their condition becomes too severe and their mental status is compromised.

Now, would you think that someone with diabetes would be unable to be a nurse?

Mental illness is a medical condition. If anything, having the experiences you do will make you a greater asset to nursing, because you will have increased empathy for your patients.

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I just posted on the regular forum about being 58 and not being able to find a job, then I saw this thread. I have had depression, anxiety, and panic attacks most of my adult life. I wasn't diagnosed until my early 30's. I worked med/surg for 13 yrs and was struggling with symptoms and I didn't know what they were. In 1993 I ended up in a psych unit. Ultimately I felt I could no longer tolerate the stress of work and my symptoms. Since then it has been very difficult for me to tolerate the confines of a normal job. I have had jobs since then, but have only tolerated them for about 1-2 yrs at a time. I have worked about everywhere in my small town. I have been teaching CNA classes for 6 yrs, and mostly that works because I can call a lot of my own shots. However, it's not full time, and the classes don't always fill. My mental illnesses have affected my work life and my personal life.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical.

[color=sienna]hang in there honey. i can totally relate with the same issues. i'm currently on effexor 225mg. the dose was increased because i kept finding myself crying in the linen closet at work for what i felt at the time was no reason.

whenever i do have to go to work, i think by the grace of god i'm able to peel my body out of bed. it's not before i throw-up in the morning before i find myself ready to work; but it's either that or i wouldn't be able to pay my bills or support my teenagers. in addition, my husband has been unemployed for the longest time now, therefore, i don't have a choice in the matter.

:snowflake:

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I noticed the saying at the bottom of your post. I think you should be gentle with yourself. I need to apply that to myself as well. Maybe depression and being hard on ourselves go together. I can't imagine going through what you are just to go to work. I used to have to peel myself out of bed to go, but reading that you are throwing up made me feel sad. I understand having to work, which is where I am as a single mom of two adopted children. I am 58 and they are 17 and 18. My daughter is the 18 yr old and she has bipolar and is not functioning well because she's not compliant with the things that help her stay well. My 17 yr old son is a junior in HS. I have to keep pushing on. God is my strength when I am so low I can hardly get out of bed.

Do what you need to do for yourself.

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Specializes in hospital, pain management, home health.

Looks like it has been over a month since the last reply...This has been a very encouraging post! I've enjoyed it. It would be awesome if it could keep going.:)

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Specializes in hospital, pain management, home health.
But...are we covered by the American with Disabilities Act. Are we covered by FMLA? How do you cope without telling everybody (actually just WHO is it that needs to know?)...I dont want to lose my job. I struggle daily. I am an efficient nurse. But...Migraines r/t depression are threatening my employment. Cant just "Cowboy Up"...true dibilitating migraines. Yes..it doe smake you feel like a failure when you are a nurse..and cant make it in because , heck...you need a nurse yourself. Thanks.

To answer if FMLA will cover a leave of abscence. The answer is YES! I needed 2 weeks off for anxiety issues and knew I would need to be covered by FMLA to keep my job. I recognized the fact that I needed a medication adjustment to practice safely and took care of myself and continued on. So, yes FMLA will cover, but it is kinda awkward communicating it to the supervisor. But I had to do what I had to do. :)

Hope this helps!:D:nurse:

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I'm a recent grad and have dealt with depression/anxiety for a few years. I'm currenty on one med. I'm wondering, when I go through the hiring process, do I have to report this to HR? Is it possible that this could have an impact on my employment? Any advice would be great. Thank you.

Thank you all for sharing. I admire you all.

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No one has ever asked me. If it comes up at all, it would probably be in the process of getting your employer provided health insurance. If information about your pre-existing conditions and the medications you take leaked back to the employer, and they discriminated against you on that basis, they could be found liable for penalties under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

On the one hand, it would be difficult for you to prove that you were the victim of discrimination. On the other hand, the employer could be damaged financially (and in terms of their reputation) to the extent that they probably don't want to risk it.

Advice is "don't ask, don't tell, don't lie."

Depression is a chronic and usually manageable illness. You're doing the right thing by recognizing you have the problem taking the right steps to treat it. Rather have you responsible for my care than a nurse who is depressed and ignoring it.

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