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

Nurses Disabilities

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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.

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

I was looking for ways to deal with depression not give up on nursing. I refuse to do that. I am so close to applying heck I am already eligible to apply to some programs.

I will not be told you cannot by some one who knows nothing about me.

I owe it to myself, and my family to do everything in my power, if that included therapy so be it, to become a nurse, and the best one I can possibly be.

And that is the last thing I am going to say on this thread.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Heard it all before, and I find I am in no mood to listen anymore. I am going to prove you wrong.

As a person who has suffered from chronic and sometimes crippling Major Depressive Disorder and chronic health conditions I can tell you that nursing can still be a good career. It certainly has been good to me but the trick is to develop a strong work/ life balance. You mention drinking in your OP and I won't lecture you on this but will tell you that it's not the best idea as far a coping goes. A counselor I saw for years pointed out to me that Alcohol is after all a central nervous system depressant (That is before I discovered I was an alcoholic). It is also a fast track into a monitoring program of it leads to a DUI or encounter (Been There Done That). Still I have been a nurse since 2004 and monitoring program aside they have been good years both economically and psychologically) I won't per TOS give you medical advise but will tell you that I maintain a pretty healthy (mostly) diet and moderate exercise program and take my medicine. I have also developed a sleep hygiene pattern that gives me restful restorative sleep.

You don't have to prove anyone wrong or be defensive - just set you goals realistically and decide the healthiest way to get to where you want to be.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

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I don't normally bite back so hard when constructive critiques are offered. When I had first posted I had yet to find out about my former best friend, and my ex.

I hadn't slept well, and I was frustrated. I have decided to consider therapy this weekend. I can't afford to bottle up my emotions, and let them burst like that.

I am actually doing much better, I feel good about my exams. I make improvement each semester, and am endeavoring to make more.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Sometimes nursing school interferes with getting enough sleep. Sleep is fundamental to maintaining emotional and physical stability. Maybe going to nursing school part-time is an option for you, as well as limiting other activities that interfere with sleep?

Nursing jobs definitely can alter your sleep, if you work different shifts. Also, people who work nights can have more difficulty than others. Consider that as you go forward.

I truly believe you can do it. Many nurses have depression and can do a great job at work. What's most important is to take care of you, first, so you can take care of others.

....and...avoid alcohol when taking psychiatric medications--alcohol tends to decrease the positive effects and amplify the negatives.

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Specializes in ED, psych.

Gavin, I'm truly glad to hear about you considering therapy. But most importantly, I'm glad to see that you were aware of the effects of letting your emotions bubble over like that -- I see a lot of self awareness in this post, and this is a fantastic first step toward much improved mental health.

It takes a big person to say, 'well, crap. THAT sucked. Let's try something else ...' and to step out of ones comfort zone to do just that. From your prior posts, I know therapy didn't go that well, so I commend you for trying again.

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Gavin, I'm truly glad to hear about you considering therapy. But most importantly, I'm glad to see that you were aware of the effects of letting your emotions bubble over like that -- I see a lot of self awareness in this post, and this is a fantastic first step toward much improved mental health.

It takes a big person to say, 'well, crap. THAT sucked. Let's try something else ...' and to step out of ones comfort zone to do just that. From your prior posts, I know therapy didn't go that well, so I commend you for trying again.

When I tried the first time, It was three years ago, and I wasn't diagnosed with depresion. Perhaps therapy can compliment my medication.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Your mileage may vary, but therapy is a must for me along with my medication. Therapy helps me to identify problems and work on them, as well as gives me the opportunity to offload the emotions I can't share with others (not even my family). I don't know what I'd do if I had to rely only on medication.

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Your mileage may vary, but therapy is a must for me along with my medication. Therapy helps me to identify problems and work on them, as well as gives me the opportunity to offload the emotions I can't share with others (not even my family). I don't know what I'd do if I had to rely only on medication.

I don't know I don't even know what I would talk about. I am an open book. I don't hide anything anymore, because quite frankly I no longer care what people think of me. How could they possibly understand what I have been through.

Sure people have it worse, but that is hardly any comfort. The weird part is when I hit rock bottom, my life began to turn around.

Maybe I am more able to deal with problems after going on medication. The right medication. I find myself angry this has happened to me.

The repeated slights against my life, that are undeserved. I just stopped carring. I am polite, I am honest, but I am mostly worried about myself. I have empathy, and compasion, but not to a fault like I used to.

I have thrown people unceremoniously out of my life without so much as an explination because they violated my rules of morality. I whole sale chucked out my friends from high school after finding out about the ex, and the best friend.

In the last year I have no regrets, you know where my regrets come from, when I dealt with these people. Some are not bad, but most were a cancer in my life, one I am glad to be rid of. They are not good people, and I am starting to think of chucking more "friends from highschool" uncermoniously out of my life.

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Therapy is not just about talking. It's about insight and self awareness and learning to let go without anger. It can be about expressing appropriate anger at the correct target.

And lots more.

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Therapy is not just about talking. It's about insight and self awareness and learning to let go without anger. It can be about expressing appropriate anger at the correct target.

And lots more.

Fair enough. I just I don't know if I go I risk losing the fire I feel in my soul. I want to be better than them in every way shape, and form imaginable.

I listen to this a lot. I have a chip on my shoulder, that I am usually pretty good at hiding, but I want to be successful, and rub it in all the doubters faces. Like here this is what I made of myself. Eat your freaking heart out.

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This has to be for you, Gavin. It's your life. No one else is waiting to watch you fail.

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This has to be for you, Gavin. It's your life. No one else is waiting to watch you fail.

How do you do that far, hit the nail on the head so well so consistently.

I suppose your right, when I started out I thought it was me against the world, but I wouldn't have made it this far without help that I am incredibly grateful for.

I already called my psych to discuss if he thinks therapy will be helpful. I will get his input then make a decision.

I have to be able to look at myself in the mirror, and I find I need to be better than I was.

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