Depression, schizophrenia, while going through pre-reqs?

narcissistic · Sep 11, 2006

Hi there,
Seem to me you first need to find out what is wrong you and then get treatment for it. I know sometimes when you don't have support while going anything that takes alot of time it does get lonely. I hope you will find someone to talk to about how you feel.
I will be praying for you,
SweePolly

Well actually, it's not that I suffer from any of the mentioned ailments. Just sometimes I'm hit with the "blues" and I prefer diet & exercise to get rid of that. I also have a problem that seems to be ruining my pre-req classes. I'm a chronic procrastinator and it's so hard to change that negative behavior. It also builds up anxiety and mild panick attacks I suppose.

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 11, 2006

It sounds like you know what the problem is and what you need to do to get around it. I'm with you that diet and exercise (and attitude) can take care of most mental health issues for most people. Although of course there is a place for the mental health field and pharmaceuticals etc. in some cases, I think people in this society are way overmedicated.

Regarding being a procrastinator- yup that's me. I was worried about that too before starting classes. So far I'm only one week into school so I can't sound overconfident but things are going very well. First off - I get up earlier in the morning. Can't even express what a difference that makes. Also, I compartmentalize. I have set times of the day and week to work on specific things, and I don't worry about them during other times. Like, Mon-Wed I go to work, I have 3 mornings a week that I do freelance work at home, I do laundry and dinner first thing in the morning, etc. Having routines can help so much if you're a chronic procrastinator. Find specific slots of time when you will do schoolwork and studying, and don't worry about it the rest of the time.

jones21498 · Sep 11, 2006

I would be outraged if they used a medical condition against a student like this. I have a long history of disorders: borderline personality, depression, anxiety, bulimia, anorexia, suicide attempts, but I am seeing a psychiatrist and am on the appropriate medications. I have a history of cancer also. Who has the right to say that one of my mental illnesses is more of barrier than one that is physical. I live in Indiana and have NEVER heard of a nurse being told they cannot become certified because of a past illness such as this. In the United States this is labeled discrimination. I could see how having an illness such as schizophrenia can be dangerous to a patient if the nurse has never seen a specialist and been put on appropriate medications, but who as a nurse would do this. It is not a communicable disease that can be passed on to a patient so there should be no limitations. That is my opinion.

ayden · Sep 16, 2006

I'm taking my prereqs right now but I was hospitalized for a mental illness two years ago. I'm on meds and stable now, so I hope it's not a problem or I will be depressed. It took me a long time to figure out that I want to go into nursing and I don't know what else I would do.

charebec65 · Sep 16, 2006

I believe that in Ohio you can't have been treated/hospitalized for certain mental illnesses for 5 years prior to being licensed.... I believe schizophrenia and bipolar are included in the list among other things. I have a friend who is a pediatrician. She was dx'd with schizophrenia during medical school and had a very tough time completing everything...not because of lack of intelligence but due to the sx of the disorder. Eventually she was dx'd as schizoaffecive. She managed to finish, become licensed and practice for a while but can no longer. I love my friend but can see why she is not able to practice a profession she loves.