Any nurses with mental illness?

emilyjw · Nov 21, 2017

I didn't realize how true this was until I read it! I too have extreme anxiety, and often suffer from panic attacks. The fast pace of the ER keeps my mind off my anxiety until I start to slow down. Keep your head up, don't let anyone get to you. All you have to do is find your right fit!

Victoria1982 · Nov 26, 2017

Hi Emily! I'm a new user and I was reading your responses on this thread... I'm in such awe that you can work through your anxiety in an environment like the ER! Im definitely not at the point yet hahaha. Was just curious what you personally use to cope, besides utilizing the fast pace. Do you have any tips?

SouthpawRN · Nov 27, 2017

I thought this was a good commentary on nurses with mental health issues themselves.

mental health nurse oates.pdf

anewsns · Nov 27, 2017

#Intense post alert: Bipolar type "one and a half" as my doctor put it (since no hospitalizations). anxiety/ panic disorder, seasonal affective. (Usually my stuff follows a seasonal pattern but not always.) History alcohol abuse (but somehow overcame that and didn't come out with alcoholic dx). Every sort of episode (Major depression, mania, hypomania, lots of mixed, rapid cycling, and psychosis. ) Suffered a horrible bunch of years at the beginning of the nursing journey. So I slowly got on a good med regimen and developed every healthy coping mechanism under the sun and basically became a scientist of my own chemicals. I do really well now and see myself as a fighter who works twice as hard as most people to get to the same ends. In the end this actually made me a better nurse. I have a strong faith in God and ask for miracles all the time. Being mentally ill made me a very strong nurse and being a nurse helped me get through my mental illness. I also have to parrot those who say that going to work and being busy can actually be a nice outlet for all the anxiety/ energy. I feel like the jobs I had where I was sitting at a desk doing routine stuff made it worse even though that's counter-intuitive. I do well in acute care as long as I feel competent with the skills and patient load, so its more about having the knowledge for me, which eliminates the unknown factor. However in long term care I had far too many patients and felt I couldn't get it all done, and last time when I wanted to go visit the nursing home in my spare time I actually decided I couldn't do that anymore. Going in there even as a guest gives me this huge panic attack!! It's not the acuity for me, it's the nurse patient ratio. I would most prefer a medium paced environment. Its necessary to be picky and thoughtful about what you choose and to know yourself.

anewsns · Nov 27, 2017

I'm replying to this particular answer because you mentioned you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I've recently been accepted into a nursing program but before I'm officially allowed to work in clinicals, I'm required to take a drug test and disclose my medical history. Is there any way that having a bipolar diagnosis on my record will prevent me from being allowed to participate in the program? And idk if you have any experience with this, but I am on a small dose of benzodiazepines to help with the anxiety and mood swings, they're prescribed and idont use any illegal/unprescribed substances, however a part of me worries that once they find out I'm on benzodiazepines they will worry these drugs (prescribed or not) may interfere with my ability to participate in the school's clinicals. In your experience are these things i should be concerned about. I've worked so hard to get into the program and I don't want something like this to keep me from pursuing my career goals before I even get the chance to begin.

None of this is usually an issue. Sometimes it just requires them to get a doctors note to be sure you can do the job.