Any nurses with anxiety/ bi polar?

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I go to college soon and I really want to get into nursing once I finish my prerequisites. I feel like this is really what I want to do with my life. Although, I struggle with anxiety and bi polar disorder. I take medication for it and I have it more under control, although I sometimes have a hard time in new situations when I'm around people I don't know. I get shy around new people, I usually just listen and observe instead of engaging in conversation unless someone speaks to me. I feel like this will hold me back to doing nursing or I will be a bad nurse because of it. I don't want this to hold me back. Are there any nurses out there that have the same problem? If so how do you deal with it?

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Yep. A bunch on here.

You are not alone.

Maybe start here till the responses start coming: The Best Is Yet To Be - Nursing community for nurses

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I go to college soon and I really want to get into nursing once I finish my prerequisites. I feel like this is really what I want to do with my life. Although, I struggle with anxiety and bi polar disorder. I take medication for it and I have it more under control, although I sometimes have a hard time in new situations when I'm around people I don't know. I get shy around new people, I usually just listen and observe instead of engaging in conversation unless someone speaks to me. I feel like this will hold me back to doing nursing or I will be a bad nurse because of it. I don't want this to hold me back. Are there any nurses out there that have the same problem? If so how do you deal with it?

Hello, and WELCOME to Allnurses!!

I'm Viva, and I'm Bipolar 1 with rapid cycling. As MrChicagoRN said, there are a lot of nurses here who have BP, as well as anxiety and depression, who are more than willing to share their struggles as well as what works for them.

For what it's worth, more nurses are introverted and somewhat shy, than extroverted like me (although I do have a degree of social anxiety in certain situations), so please don't let that hold you back from pursuing a nursing career.

I'm probably not the best person to advise you on what it's actually like to be a successful nurse with bipolar disorder, as my own career has imploded this year due to my own anxiety issues and family concerns. But there are other BP nurses here who are doing well, and who prove that there is no reason for mental illness to get in the way of going after your dreams.

I hope you'll enjoy posting here and getting to know both the 'regulars' and the newbies. Once again, welcome, and happy posting!

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I've got an anxiety disorder and PTSD. I'm in my prereqs also, but I'm willing to take the chance of being a nurse because it's really what I want to do. Medication helps, but I soldier through most days without it

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i have an anxiety disorder, especially in completely new situations. i almost didn't go through with my LPN program bc i was too scared & doubted that i could even finish the program, but i did! i'm still learning how to keep my anxiety under control. been 5 years since i got diagnosed & it's still a struggle sometimes. there's only so much you can hold inside before you're about to full-blown have an anxiety attack so i've had to learn to be completely open with my feelings & why i feel anxious. so find somebody to confide in! somebody you know won't judge you, whether it be a counselor, a close friend, a family member, whomever. i also find working out helps me as well. best of luck!

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Bipolar 2, generalized anxiety disorder, introvert. The stress of where I work (skilled nursing facility) is a trigger for bipolar episodes, so I've found that working on-call, and choosing my own schedule works best for me. I am lucky to be in a financial position to be able to do that. I take medication twice daily plus occasional PRNs, and for the most part am stable.

Introverted nurses have to put on a show, so to speak, at work. It'll take a lot out of you, so you need to make sure you know how to take care of yourself. Carve out time to spend alone to unwind, pamper yourself after work - hot shower, fluffy bath robe, feet elevated and a good dose of Netflix works for me.

I will warn you however, that many nurses are not as sympathetic toward mental illness as you might think. Just because they know about mental illnesses and their treatments doesn't mean the stigma won't extend to your workplace or classroom. It's there, and be careful who you tell about it.

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I find that my anxiety has actually worked for the betterment of my residents. It makes me reflect more often, check behind myself, check behind others (not to find fault but just to ensure things are transcribed, noted or addressed as they should be and fix it myself if I can, continue seeking to perform best practices, ask questions or find the answers online or books and most of all. After doing all these things I think to myself, I've done my best so what do I have to worry about?

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Hey everyone! I am so inspired by everyones stories. I also suffer from anxiety so I completely understand the fear about new surroundings and situations

thanks and good luck everyone!

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