Dealing with Depresion, and Crohn's disease How best to manage my illness

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So a brief synopsis. I have Crohn's, and clinical depression. I was initially diagnosed as psychotic. Later when the anti-psychotics had no effect whatsoever on my ideas of reference delusions I was put on an anti-depressants, and a anti depressant booster. After three suicide attempts.

This was years ago, and after much struggle I finally feel like I am moving to a better place. I apply to nursing school next fall, I am eligible to apply to LPN, and ASN programs this spring. I decided to wait however to see if I could boost my GPA a little more, and complete more prereqs for more schools to give me a better shot at acceptance.

What I struggle most with is the depression. The ideas of reference are long gone, and so is the feeling of hopelessness I used to have. I must say ITS AMAZING I enjoy life again. Its the greatest feeling that I feel like I have never felt before.

I read however men have a tendency to overwork themselves when struggling with depression. I think this applies to me. I find depression hardest to deal with when I actually have free time, but at the same time I get burnt out if I try to hard to overwork myself.

Last semester I just got burnt out. I found myself slipping back into drinking heavily, and I barely finished with acceptable marks an A, and two Bs. I was taking a CNA course at the time, and I was working as a tutor, and volunteering.

I couldn't handle it. This semester I dropped the volunteering, and cut back my hours. Yet I am taking more difficult courses, and more credit hours.

I would really appreciate any insight on how to deal with this issue moving forward. I think I am finding things that work for me, balancing my workload, getting ahead in classes etc, but its still early so I am hoping this semester doesn't burn me out and sink my chances at getting into nursing school.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I don't know. I am not trying to be mean, but I think nursing may not be for you with your history. It's stressful to the max. Get some counseling/therapy and discuss specifically your goals of being a nurse. You have serious issues to overcome and I have my doubts this career would be the one for you.

Best wishes.

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I don't know. I am not trying to be mean, but I think nursing may not be for you with your history. It's stressful to the max. Get some counseling/therapy and discuss specifically your goals of being a nurse. You have serious issues to overcome and I have my doubts this career would be the one for you.

Best wishes.

Heard it all before, and I find I am in no mood to listen anymore. I am going to prove you wrong.

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If it were me living with two chronic conditions, I would avoid nursing because of the impact that shiftwork would have on my health and work life balance. I would pursue a career as an allied healthcare professional (radiology, ultrasonography, laboratory, occupational or physical therapy).

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Specializes in ED, psych.

Gavin, I'm confused about your reply to SmilingBluEyes: it doesn't jive with the tone of the OP. She's also absolutely right: counseling/therapy would be a good thing for you. You asked for insight -- she gave great advice.

You can easily crash and burn in nursing school if you're not taking care of yourself, emotionally and physically. I think seeing a therapist NOW and addressing what you said in your OP will save you heartache later down the road. You made a good first step in addressing some issues in the OP; keep going with it and see someone who can help you.

The only person to prove it to is yourself.

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Gavin, I'm confused about your reply to SmilingBluEyes: it doesn't jive with the tone of the OP. She's also absolutely right: counseling/therapy would be a good thing for you. You asked for insight -- she gave great advice.

You can easily crash and burn in nursing school if you're not taking care of yourself, emotionally and physically. I think seeing a therapist NOW and addressing what you said in your OP will save you heartache later down the road. You made a good first step in addressing some issues in the OP; keep going with it and see someone who can help you.

The only person to prove it to is yourself.

My apologies. It's been a rough weekend found out the man I asked to be my best man is now dating my ex fiancé. If I came off snipity it's been a rough day.

I have never wanted anything else so much in my life I owe my life to medical professionals, and I have spent thousands on the prereqs. Being told to stop now is like some one telling me to give up on my life.

As far as therapy goes, I tried it, it only serve to escalate the situation. The only thing that will help me is pursuing my education, and my medication regiment.

Maybe if I found the right therapist it would help, but so far my experience has been profoundly negative.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If therapy will escalate you, the stress of nursing will, likely, too. Based on what you have shared about yourself you are not a good candidate for a stressful career like nursing.

But hey, you don't want to listen so this is the last thing I will say here. Sometimes when you ask for opinions from the public, you will get answers that you won't like.

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Specializes in ED, psych.

I'm sorry to hear about your weekend -- I can understand being 'snipity.' That truly sucks.

I think you owe it to yourself to try therapy again. Sometimes it can take a few tries to find a good one (and a lot of researching around). You bring up some crucial points in the OP -- someone with more knowledge and expertise can help you develop some coping skills in regards to certain situations.

Again, I would really hate for you to come so far, only for you to crash in nursing school. That would *definitely* put a stop to your career, before it even begins. So far it doesn't seem like past coping skills have worked (i.e. overworking, burning out, drinking heavily).

Don't let this beat you ... that is going to mean listening to hard truths. Including what SmilingBluEyes stated -- you have some serious issues to OVERCOME. If it means moving into a career that you are passionate about, do what it takes to get healthy. Because, according to this stranger on the Internet, you seem to be in a rough way.

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If therapy will escalate you, the stress of nursing will, likely, too. Based on what you have shared about yourself you are not a good candidate for a stressful career like nursing.

But hey, you don't want to listen so this is the last thing I will say here. Sometimes when you ask for opinions from the public, you will get answers that you won't like.

That is fine, and I am free to ignore them when and if I see fit.

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I'm sorry to hear about your weekend -- I can understand being 'snipity.' That truly sucks.

I think you owe it to yourself to try therapy again. Sometimes it can take a few tries to find a good one (and a lot of researching around). You bring up some crucial points in the OP -- someone with more knowledge and expertise can help you develop some coping skills in regards to certain situations.

Again, I would really hate for you to come so far, only for you to crash in nursing school. That would *definitely* put a stop to your career, before it even begins. So far it doesn't seem like past coping skills have worked (i.e. overworking, burning out, drinking heavily).

Don't let this beat you ... that is going to mean listening to hard truths. Including what SmilingBluEyes stated -- you have some serious issues to OVERCOME. If it means moving into a career that you are passionate about, do what it takes to get healthy. Because, according to this stranger on the Internet, you seem to be in a rough way.

I will know more this week if it is feasible. If I can get pat this semester I can make it through nursing school. I am taking gen Chem micro, and anatomy, along with a second level humanities.

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I am going to do it and do it well your opinions are appreciated but discarded for all they worth nothing.

You know nothing about me. How hard I have worked to get this far. I risked my life quite literally to take my finals so I wouldn't have to take a medical leave, and or fail the course.

You opinions don't mean a darn to me.

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I am going to do it and do it well your opinions are appreciated but discarded for all they worth nothing.

You opinions don't mean a darn to me.

Then why come to a public forum asking for insight if you are only looking for specific answers?

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