Nursing & Depression

[carpe_de_em]

While visiting in the lounge one day, we discovered that every nurse there was on an anti-depressant.

I have had 'Treatment Resistant Depression' for about 20 years--as long as I've been a nurse. Now I am totally burned out, on major meds, and am seeking disability d/t depression/anxiety.

I beleive years of long hours, high stress, high expectations and little appreciation (from management, not patients) has contributed to this.

How many other jobs consider you a tratior b/c you call in sick? And trying to get off for a sick child is an unforgivable sin. How many other jobs want you to work overtime on the days you are scheduled, call you at all hours of the night or day when you are off, first pleading w/ you to come in, then laying a guilt trip on you if you say "NO!" And let's not forget the mandatory inservices and CEU's that take time away from your family.

If any profession should understand the importance of the individuals' physical, mental, social and spiritual self it should be nursing--after all we are taught in nursing school about treating the patient as a whole, not just a disease! Why don't we treat our staff the same way.

Anyone out there in the same boat?

[Alley Cat]

Originally posted by Eeyore

[Anyway what are your opinions concerning the usefulness of talk therapy for a chemical imbalance? [/b]

My cousin who has suffered with clinical depression for YEARS did not get anywhere until 1. somebody decided his depression was a chemical imbalance, and 2. he had to talk to people about things from his past that may have been triggers in the first place. He and his brother both have emotional problems (bro. is schizophrenic secondary to a head injury), their 2 sisters (as far as he or any of the family knows) are fine. So I think it has to be a combination; but I'm not a psych nurse and not on antidepressants myself. Maybe a case by case thing? Would also depend on finding an excellent counselor/psychiatrist/psychologist to begin with.

[carpe_de_em]

Originally posted by Eeyore

It's nice to know you aren't the only one..I have been on different meds for depression for over 20 years. Celexa is the current one and it is working well for me. I jokingly tell people" I know when I miss a few days of meds...the dog ask me if I've had my pills. Anyway what are your opinions concerning the usefulness of talk therapy for a chemical imbalance?

I,TOO, AM ON CELEXA. I THINK IT HAS HELPED A LOT. MY OPINION ON TALK THERAPY IS MIXED. FINDING A TRULY GOOD THERAPIST IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THEY CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS FEES, YOU TELL THEM YOU ARE EXTREMELY DEPRESSED, MISS A VISIT B/C YOU AN'T GET OUT OF BED. AND INSTEAD OF CALLING TO SEE IF YOU ARE OK, THEY JUST CHARGE YOU FOR THE MISSED APPOINTMENT. I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE GOOD THREAPIST IN 20 YEARS. WHEN I LEFT HER OFFICE EACH TIME I FELT LIKE I HAD OPTIONS IN LIFE AND THE STRENGTH TO ATTEMPT THEM.

MY BEST "THERAPY" WAS A GOOD GIRLFRIEND WHO HAD BEEN A HERION ADDICT. SHE HAD ETREME ANXIETY AND UNDERSTOOD WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS AFRAID TO BE OUT AFTER DARK, SHE KNEW WHAT PANIC ATTACKS WERE LIKE, SHE, TOO, LIVED WITH DEEP DEPRESSION, WE DRANK TONDS OF COFFEE, AND LEARNED TO LAUGH AT OURSELVES AND THE STUPID, IRRITATING EMOTIONAL TURMOIL WE LIVED WITH. SHE HAS MOVE AWAY NOW BUT WE STILL FEEL CONECTED AT THE HEART. I DID MORE HEALING DURING THAT TWO YEAR FRIENDSHIP THAN I DID IN ALL MY YEARS OF THERAPY!

IF ANYONE NEEDS AN UNDERSTANDING SHOULDER, LET ME KNOW!

[NurseDianne, ADN]

I suppose since "depression" is diagnosed as a "two week straight" feeling of all those things, maybe I'm not depressed after all. So what is it? The blues?

I can't say I feel depressed all the time, not even 90% of the time, but there are days, even 2 days in a row, where I am totally exhausted, wiped out, not willing or able to give of myself to anyone.

I fully believe, that in nursing, it's so easy to talk to the doctors, explain how we are feeling, and have them prescribe some antidepressant. I have actually, in the past several weeks, contemplated talking to my doc about the same thing. It is that work is so hectic? Or that my oldest just got married? Or school? a combo? Who knows?

I have been such a hateful *itch to my family and friends. :imbar but, I don't want to be labeled as "depressed". It amazes me why my husband even stays around at times like these. I know I don't eat right, exercise enough or do all those things to allivate depression. But, I honestly, can't find the time.

So, any good ideas?

[KarafromPhilly]

Carpe de em--I know what you mean about being charged for a missed appointment when you're too depressed to get out of bed. Gee, how therapeutic. Thanks a lot. A phone call to see that you are still alive would be nice. Isn't that part of their JOB?

[mario_ragucci]

Someone on this board once said celexia is like "prozac with a kick." What does it mean "a kick." Like, a speed buzz? Taking speed and bedside nursing would be hard to do, coffee is about as far as i could go. What does it feel like when you drink coffee and take celexa? I know it is hard to get in/out of a rut of no time. Remember: having no time is when your dead. When your dead, you don't gotta worry about taking anything or even worrying. So save some of your problems for when your dead :-) Not spooky, just trying to put emphasis on you and life today and how precious we forget it is :-)

[AlexandraRN]

I am a psychiatric nurse and see many nurses as patients on the inpatient units. I think the public forgets and we forget that we are human to. The nature of our jobs keeps our stress level at an all time high day after day. Then we go home and try to juggle our family life. It's all too much!!! I teach others about coping skills and appropriate defense mechanisms yet I cant seem to put those to work for myself. I have been on and anti-depressants for 20 years now. My depression started with the birth of my twin daughters. I was so over-whelmed and frustrated trying to do everything and be everything to everybody. Almost all the nurses i work with are on anti-depressants. Working with patients who are in emotional pain 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week takes it toll on you. It really gets to you after a while. No matter how much you try to leave it at the job our patients are important to us and we take on their pain sometimes!!!! Of course it leaves us drained and frustrated to see them come back after a few months. The old revolving door syndrome. I do everything I can to keep myself emotionally stable. Sometimes it just doesnt work for me. I hate not wanting to get out of bed sometimes, I hate feeling so drained, I hate feeling irritable and cranky sometimes with family and friends. I agree with a statement made in one of the threads above, its easier to understand depression when youve been there!!!!!!

[mario_ragucci]

Almost all the nurses i work with are on anti-depressants.

Gulp ! :-)

I guess it would be hard to discuss, and people could also bond right away (a positive thing) when they got the blues and are on meds. Its still a mystical feeling I am imagining to be on these meds. Does it make driving easier? Can you feel it when your driving, or doing other fine motor skills task? I know not all drugs effect the same way too.

Awww, I would love to have twins ! You are a lucky damn person!! If tryingto do everything gives ya grief, just be more you and let your feelings be known. How long can you hold your breath? I'm sorry :-(

[Youda]

Once when I was working in labor and delivery a soon to deliver pt. asked me if I had any children. I said no, at that time. She said, "well, how can you be my nurse when you don't know what I'm going through?" I said, "I don't have to have cancer to be a nurse to a pt. with cancer, and I don't have to have children to be your nurse today."

But, to answer Mario's questions, you don't have to have depression to care for a pt. with depression; but you do have to have depression to really understand it, unfortunately. Mario, this may just be one of those things you're gonna have to be grateful you don't know about. :)

[carpe_de_em]

ABOUT THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE MEDS MAKE YOU FEEL. MANY PEOPLE WONDER IF WE GET A 'HIGH' OR 'BUZZ'. THE ANSWER IS NO. THESE MEDS HELP ME FEEL NORMAL. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO USE XANAX AS A STREET DRUG AND SAY THEY GET A HIGH OFF OF IF. BUT FOR ME IT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DON'T TAKE IT. MY HANDS AND LEGS SHAKE UNCONTROLABLY, I GET TEARFULL AND CRY CONSTANTLY, I CAN BECOME SUICIDAL. I HAVE A MAJOR PANIC ATTACK. THE CELEXA IS THE SAME WAY, I DON'T GET HIGH, I FEEL MORE NORMAL. WITHOUT IT I WOULD FEEL LIKE I WAS SINKING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, WITH ALL THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ME. THERE IS NO ENERGY OR REASON TO TRY TO FIGHT MY WAY UP. I JUST CONTINUE TO SINK.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THE BEST DEFINITION IF DEPRESSION IS "CANCER OF THE SOUL"

IT ROBS YOU OF ALL HOPE, YOU SEE NO OPTIONS, NO REASON TO LIVE, NO POSSIBILITY OF THINGS GETTING BETTER.

YOU SEE ONLY FAILURE AND FEEL ONLY THE PAIN OF NOTHINGNESS.

IT IS A DEADLY DISEASE!!!

[fulwood]

"IT ROBS YOU OF ALL HOPE, YOU SEE NO OPTIONS, NO REASON TO LIVE, NO POSSIBILITY OF THINGS GETTING BETTER.

YOU SEE ONLY FAILURE AND FEEL ONLY THE PAIN OF NOTHINGNESS. "

carpe_de_em - in those few words you have summed up how I have been feeling for a long time. I have been crying a lot at my job, wonder what is the point in continuing on with things etc. etc. I hate myself but taking anti-depressants helps. It does not solve my problems - need counselling for that but it does make my mood and day bearable. I feel now I am in a black hole that I can't get out of and keep moving further down into the black hole.. Too anyone who has not suffered thru depression rest assured those of who have/had wish we could just shake this monster off our backs but we can't.. I hate having to start my days off popping a pill - but if I don't I can't even start my day right now...

[Leeny]

This is my first time here and I'd like to respond to this thread about depression and administrative support.

I held my last nursing position for 12 years at the same facility and became what I would call a very sad person. I was highly stressed in my job and felt I needed another nurse to share the workload. I spoke with my administrator and DON several times to no avail. At one point last July I had emergency surgery for something I "let go" for too long. When I called my DON from the emergency room she inquired how long would I be out? Never asked how I was doing. Never once called during my recuperation time off. I returned to my job only to find more duties were to be added. During the next 10 months I became so depressed I found it hard to even get out of bed in the morning and every little thing put me on edge. I approached my Administrator and Don again citing the stress of my position and the need for help and put in writing this time with all my facts. I received my request back with a big 8x11 "NO" scratched through it. I brought that home, discussed my situation with my husband (who by the way informed me I had to do something because he didn't know me anymore and was tired of my 55-60 work weeks, telephone calls at all hours, etc) and decided to resign my position. In my resignation I stated I was leaving due to the stressors imposed upon me were seriously affecting my health and well being and would remain until a suitable replacement was found. The next day my administrator approached me and said "I read your resignation again and think you should finish what your doing and just leave now so you can take care of your health and well being". SO YOU THINK ADMINISTRATION IS SUPPORTIVE?

The good news is I'm working at another facility in the same position with much less hours (40) and stress and my marriage is like it used to be. So why do I feel like I did something wrong? Is this part of depression too? Not as much as before but I still feel somewhat sad-??

Other nurses from my old facility are interviewing were I am now and guess what? There are three nurses in my previous position, 2 full time and one part time!!

[micro, RN]

This is a very tough subject for me. Have talked about it as openly as I can, because I am so tired of seeing the stigma that exists and how it effects people's lives and people's perception of this disease process, along with other related processes.

It is tough. Questions of does talk therapy help with a chemical imbalance.....? Should you have this or that career......? If you state that you have depression, does that label.....or is it something you move through and you have controlled depression.........as in if you had diabetes(you can have controlled diabetes)...........Are there things you can do to lessen the stressors in your life to decrease depression? Once on do you always stay on antidepressants? Why does a person with depression, still feel guilty about saying they have depression?

many, many, many, many, many ??????????????????

and there are answers.........some are universal........

and many are individual to the person that deals with this d.........

it adds a definite detour into this journey we all are on, in our individual paths......if it crosses our way......

just as much other also adds detours.......

it is what you do with what you have......

that shows your merit, your character, and your worth....

no word, no diagnosis defines you.....

but it is difficult to remember this........

Do we look differently at a person with heart disease?

Do we look differently at a person with diabetes?

Do we look .....

point enough.....

rest I edited out as I was typing, because much of this I am saying to myself........

but last question.......

with all this said,

Do we look differently at ourselves?

Even though we say we don't?

It starts with you.

#1

sorry, all

micro may just be talking to micro in public.......

luv to all

good night