Anyone else feeling down now that they graduated?

[RnoRN]

Hello everyone!

I am really having a hard time now that I have graduated from my program. I feel quite down about life in general. I graduated with honors, got my dream job, and saved up money from my financial aid so I can go on a wonderful vacation after I take the NCLEX on the 23rd - but I am still feeling sad.

I just suddenly feel so lonely and isolated, even when I am with people I care about. It is the kind of feeling where a room could be filled with the 100 people I love the most, and it would make me a little happier, but I would still feel alone. I hate this feeling because I start to look at social media and compare myself to others (which is maladaptive, I know). I think that the sudden shift in my life from college, where I was surrounded by friends, to now seeing my friends off for break has been hard. I do have a history of depression, but I am taking my antidepressant and exercising 5 times weekly. This always works, so I am surprised I am not feeling great.

I am thinking about taking my dad to Finding Dory tomorrow for Father's Day, I think the laughs will be good for both of us!

I am writing this because I would love to hear from people who are feeling like me and what is working from them.

Thank you and have a great Father's Day!

[freckles23]

I felt the same exact way when I was in your position. I am 24 and graduated an ADN program a year n a half ago. All I have ever known is school, so for me to finally be out of it and working in the career I worked so hard for, I still felt incomplete. I am now working full time and school online part time and I still feel something missing. I feel the same exact way on the social issues as well. I loved being with my nursing school friends but life and schedules get in the way so it is hard to maintain those friendships with them. Also all of my other friends are settled down, have kids or significant others. So I feel like I am kind of just there, going through the motions of everyday. I feel like no one wants to hang out when I ask to make plans with them so I'm starting to think its an issue with me since all of these people keep denying or blowing off plans. It is a really tough situation to be in and I completely get it. I feel if I'm not in school and working, I have too much free time in my hands.. When in reality, when I have one day off, I feel it leaves me thinking way too much about life and where I want to be. I know some people might kill to have a career and education like me, but I'm just very unsatisfied. I also started to think maybe i really am depressed so i went to a doctor and she told me she could prescribe me Zoloft but i didnt really like that answe . So I am glad to see your post at this crucial time in my life because I thought I was the only one. I hope things get better for you and message me if you would like to talk!

[LVN2RN2018]

lmao!

[benegesserit]

This is exactly how I ended up applying for an MSN program just a few months after finishing my RN to BSN program and swearing I was done with school, at least for several years.

[jesscouperBSN]

I felt like that for a little while, and then the stress from not yet receiving our ATT set in, and I've replaced nursing school stress with studying for NCLEX (and impatiently waiting for ATT) stress. We graduated on May 20th and still have yet to hear a word from the NJ BON.

[whatwasithinking75]

Hey rnoRN,

I was wondering this myself actually.

I graduate in 2 weeks. We are currently just reviewing ATI. I have been more depressed in these last few weeks then throughout the nursing program.

I think it's because we go from constantly studying, exams, projects, clinical, etc. To... essentially just review and going to work.

It probably just takes time to adjust... Just like it took time to adjust to nursing school

Wishing you the best and congratulations!

[Oleacronon, BSN, RN]

Although I'm not a graduate yet, I feel a little bit down and lost now that I'm on vacation. It must be the Stockholm syndrome lol

[Mister_Masterz, RN]

I totally understand, I compare it to binge watching your favorite series on Netflix/Hulu. I after completing your favorite show and then watching the series finale, there is this sort of "emptiness." I just graduated recently and I went through the same thing. Feelings come and go, for me it was more of my very small group of friends that went through the same struggle with me for the two years, now that nursing school is coming out of focus and real world is coming into focus. During nursing school we tend to block out everything that's going on around us, reality it's hard after nursing school. BTW congratulations! You just completed some thing that is not easy to do, you should be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you! Best wishes and I wish you the feeling of joy..