Struggling with depression, panic and anxiety.

Nurses Disabilities

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My wife is an RN, returning to work after several physical struggles. In the midst of these, she has been hit with depression and anxiety/panic, and it seems to be destroying her life. She's unable to go to work without having a panic attack and just gave up her full time job. At home, she just sits or sleeps all day, and feels bad because she can't seem to do anything else. She's currently taking meds, but nothing seems to help. Does it get better than this?

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I think it's probably best to keep this discussion in this forum. Depression can and can not be disabling, the same as back pain or MS. We don't necessarily for have forum for those functioning with these problems.

Anyway, I understand the crippling kind of dispression. In the 80's I was so depressed I couldn't function, didn't bathe, shave, do laundry, or even leave my bedroom. I contemplated suicide often and attempted twice. Everything took a tremendous amount of effort. My body ached with the depression. I also have panic attacks in public on occasion, where I would just totally freak and be paralyzed with fear.

Time, medication, therapy, in-paitent hospitalization, self-help books, support of loved ones and friends (more friends as family didn't know what to do) and diet and excercise eventually got me to a point where I could take baby steps. Eventually I went to nursing school and after a year was able to get off medications.

I do hope your dear wife finds hope and a tiny spark of light and goes towards that. It's sometimes a long day's journey into night, but the sun always shines after the night. Been there and done that and am on the other side and I haven't had to go back, although there have been some down times in the years since, nothing like that awful time.

Hang in there.

Awesome post Tweety. Isn't it wonderful that we can be honest? It's comforting to know that many of us have shared very similar experiences and hope sharing those experiences will help others in the darkness of depression. When my kids were at home and someone would call for me while I was at the doctor my kids would say "Mom's not home she's at her psychiatrist", My Mother just about passed out one time. Please tell your children not to give out such information. It's nothing I'm ashamed of. After all these years you would think she finally gets it but she doesn't. Thanks to God and Education that we do get it and are passing it onto our children.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Awesome post Tweety. Isn't it wonderful that we can be honest? It's comforting to know that many of us have shared very similar experiences and hope sharing those experiences will help others in the darkness of depression. When my kids were at home and someone would call for me while I was at the doctor my kids would say "Mom's not home she's at her psychiatrist", My Mother just about passed out one time. Please tell your children not to give out such information. It's nothing I'm ashamed of. After all these years you would think she finally gets it but she doesn't. Thanks to God and Education that we do get it and are passing it onto our children.

Thanks. I share mainly to give hope to someone deep in it. I know the darkside and am here to say that I'm a survivor and I plan on always being one.

Like you, there's no room in my head for guilt, shame or embarrassment. :)

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My sister has schizophrenia. I'd certainly call that a disability.

One of the saddest diseases there is. I hope she is able to do well.....

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When I went through the bullying at work I absolutely felt the impact of anxiety and situational depression. (It was the very worst time in my life.) I think it is a disability.

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Thanks Tweety and everyone for your encouraging words. It gives us hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

i have anxiety and depression and the doc just started me on klonopin for anxiety and i have been on zoloft. i found klonopin more helpful than xanax. has anyone tried klonopin? my prayers are with you all.

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there was a period of months, that i took ativan.

but i personally struggled w/knowing i was dependent on an anxiolytic, and hated taking them...even if it did help.

actually, they did help the anxiety, but also added to the depression.

i took myself off them and have learned to manage any anxiety.

one of the more frustrating symptoms i had, was abrupt and extreme agitation.

i hated the fact that i would just lose it.

my np put me on inderal la...something about how it interrupts the adrenaline response, and it suppresses flashbacks from a horrible past.

within 3 wks, i noticed the agitation was gone, as well as much of the acute anxiety.

so, through a process, i have carefully eliminated most of my meds, except the cymbalta (which has been magical for me) and the inderal.

as your disease process rallies on, i strongly recommend ongoing evaluation of what is working and what is not.

it's important to weigh the benefit vs burden.

see what you can manage on your own.

it really does give a feeling of accomplishment, when you realize you don't have to be dependent on 20 different meds to "function". (i love the irony of that statement)

for months, i mindlessly took what was prescribed.

through that process, i realized how much control i had lost of myself and my life.

3 yrs after the dx, i still have much work to do.

but i have never felt better, and more hopeful about today and tomorrow.

for all of you who are just beginning, please, be an active participant in your recovery.

don't be afraid to complain about a med being too much, or not working.

plant goals for yourself, i.e., i want to feel more alert, or today i will clean the bathroom.

initially, everything is in baby steps.

the most important outcome of this entire journey, is to restore, and even transcend to a level of functioning that acknowledges your personal best.

that will entail active participation with a good therapist and minimal medications.

you will all get there...

one baby step at a time.

leslie

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Lovely post Leslie,

I could relate with the pro-active approach to recovery.

However, I find myself at times slipping backwards and

despite knowing that baby steps, one moment at a time

I can soar into a recluse. Especially when it involves

anything with my son.

This explains my last week. I'm going to talk

to my provider about the Inderal LA, but if I remember

correctly I bottomed out in BP.

Just needed to vent.....express some stuff, I think

all of us that have or are suffering with depression

have also done.

Thanks for listening.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Markjrn:

How are you and your wife doing? Wishing you both peace in healing.

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I'm in nursing school now and going into this I was determined not to let anxiety and depression get in my way. Easier said than done. I'm on sertraline and also listen to Joel Osteen a lot which seems to help me bypass depression on those "bad" days. Its not fun and it doesn't help when people just tell you to "get up and go" or "stop worrying".....it's a disease. My prayers are with you guys! Hopefully she'll gain strength because with her experiences she probably brings valuable knowledge to the world of nursing and there are many patients that need her.

God Bless.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
I'm in nursing school now and going into this I was determined not to let anxiety and depression get in my way. Easier said than done. I'm on sertraline and also listen to Joel Osteen a lot which seems to help me bypass depression on those "bad" days. Its not fun and it doesn't help when people just tell you to "get up and go" or "stop worrying".....it's a disease. My prayers are with you guys! Hopefully she'll gain strength because with her experiences she probably brings valuable knowledge to the world of nursing and there are many patients that need her.

I'm looking at Spring Semester sign up next week and have the same thoughts...

Will the anxiety/depression get in the way of memory and thinking.

Still determined to plug along, hoping the stimulation in an area I love will get me through with passing gades and a good clinical experience. Good Luck to you!

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in response to dutchgirl depression and anxiety are considerd illnesses and dis-abilit-ies whe the illness interferes with activites of daily living thaat is my humble opinion.

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