Depressed and Torn

SFCardiacRN · Mar 5, 2006

Finding the right medication and dosage in depression is difficult. Keep trying as depression responds to little else.

DaFreak71 · Mar 5, 2006

While reading your post, I got the feeling that you seem to think that you should have to take meds if your therapist is prescribing them. I just wanted to say that it is always your choice. You have a right to decide what goes into your body. If your therapist is "mad at you" for not being compliant, perhaps she doesn't recognize that it is your right to not be medicated.

If you are wanting to get pregnant, I would go off the meds. But before doing that, sounds like you really need to decide what you want. If nursing school is stressing you out that much, having a baby will not help. I think pregnacy and raising a child would be infinitely more stressful than nursing school. Also, maybe you are considering having a baby so that you won't have to go to nursing school? Kinda like a way out? Basically, don't do anything until you've thought it through and have a solid reason for doing whatever you decide to do. Feeling depressed and stressed out is a bad time to make a huge decision like having a child.

I've been in a similar position. For me, the right choice was to not take meds and to focus on diet and exercise. It helped the depression and had no side effects. I tend to think that doctors over-prescribe and are less willing to track a patient while they try other remedies before being medicated.

Best wishes,

Adri

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2006

I understand where you are coming from, i hope things get better for you. don't give up!!!! if you need someone to talk to then go ahead and click on one of the im links on my profile, and feel free to im me at any time. I'm rooting for you!!! :icon_hug:

TLC RN · Mar 5, 2006

I agree with SFCardiacRN, keep looking for the right med. Getting your mood stabilized will help you sort out much more in therapy. It is a long road but keep working at it. Also, add the exercise now - that will help.

As for being pregnant, my depression hit the all time low after I stopped breastfeeding my child. I also started meds at that time too because of the depression. In hindsight, I wish I had started the meds sooner. It made working issues in therapy much easier.

Diana Lynn · Mar 5, 2006

hey there

i hear you!! and i do understand..but look at your situation and help your therapist try to determine what is the cause of your depression..then you will be more able to determine the most effective treatment..are you overwhelmed with life situations...are you feeling cornered? what is your past history have things happened you have not dealt with? is it chemical? medications are not everything but therapy is effective and yes you may need the medications but the side effects to me out weighed the benefits.

diet and exercise is important...exploring conflicts with true values? you need to explore you and where you are and why and how you got there and how you can help yourself to feel better....we allow ourselves to feel the way we do for reasons sometimes beyond our control that is what you need to understand...you are important..you are special and you do have value...(((hugs))) hang in there......:innerconf

nurse_clown · Mar 5, 2006

hi. i have trouble with depression too. i think i have that seasonal one though. i always get down in the winter. i work to forget about my problems or to forget about myself. i work in oncology/palliative care and long term care. two part time jobs on the night shift. i'm pretty non-compliant with my therapy. but in my experience, building a strong relationship with my husband has been the most important. when i get down and depressed, i think that i'm the only one and i get so lonely. i forget that my husband is on my side and wants me to be happy. it took me seven years to realize that i wanted my husband to be happy too. (sounds crazy, eh?)

anyway, i work, work, work to deal with my depression. i hate being on meds because it makes me feel so weird. as for the anxiety, i try hard to ignore a lot. i deal with anxiety. i think i posted about my "obstacles" before. they're just so embarassing. my son insists on walking in the neighborhood twice a day. he's two. walking has helped me deal with the anxiety. the air is crispy and sometimes the sun comes out. so why not? i drag myself out of bed and feel much better after the walk.

as for the pregnancy i don't have any suggestions for you. i can only share my experiences. i finished school and was working for a year when i had a baby. i think nursing school is hard enough. being a new mom is hard too. a new mom in nursing school with anxiety and depression.... i couldn't even hazard a guess on the meds. after my son was born, i was really down. i had the post partum psychosis. it makes me shudder what me and my family went through. but i also had a very good support system. my parents, sister and my work were and still are very supportive to me and my family. it could have been worse.

i hope things go well for you. i hope you stick to and finish nursing school. it's been very hard for me to continue my nursing education after having two kids. even if you get pregnant, you should finish it anyway. i knew a lot of students who still went to school while pregnant and they did very well. well, i think i've rambled on enough already.

please take good care of yourself and your husband. pm me if you want. i check in every now and then.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2006

I wouldn't even consider having a baby while struggling with depression.

Hang in there.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Mar 5, 2006

I have struggled with depression since I was a child. I know it isn't fun. I have taken just about every med you can think of. Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Pamelor, Lithium, Depakote, Klonopin and Ativan. Didn't help. What worked best for me, was trying to do what made me happy. I got out of unhappy relationships, quit letting others walk over me and treat me like dirt. I quit smoking. I started going to bed at a reasonable hour and getting up very early. I started exercising A LOT. Outdoor activity helps tremendously. I have been ok lately, but life changes really throw me for a loop. I had lows when starting new jobs, getting married and moving, and the worst of all the depression I had was AFTER I HAD A BABY. I am 4 months post partum right now and doing well finally. The first 2 weeks were pure He!! I was too embarrassed to go for therapy or take meds. I delievered early, baby was low birth weight and we had problems breastfeeding. This was not what I expected! She had terrible colic and reflux. My dream of being a new mom was of breastfeeding my cuddly fat little baby and gazing into each others eyes. This is not what reality is like for all mothers! Having a newborn isn't always what you expect! All she did was scream no matter what I did. I really don't know how myself, my husband and my baby survived my severe mood swings. If you decide to have a baby, I just want you to be prepared for the depression that may occur. Like I said, I am doing fine now. No more scary thoughts of harming anyone or myself. 4 months later I am very happy that I have her and life is good, just not what I expected. If you have problems with depression I suggest not going to nursing school and taking care of a newborn at the same time. It will be too much stress. Sorry if I divolged (sp?) too much info, I just want you to be prepared for whatever you decide on doing.

KuteNurse, LPN · Mar 5, 2006

Awwww....What you need right now is just take care of yourself. No one will do it for you. Find something that you really enjoy doing and do it full force. I don't know how far into nursing school you are? But, I don't think you should give up on your dreams. Take the meds as prescribed for now, this will give you the time you need to think about starting a family. You are still young and you have plenty of time to decide what you want in life. Most importantly, take care of yourself! I am in a similiar situation. I also have depression, mine is seasonal though. I live in Minnesota where the sun rarely shines during the winter months. Good luck! I hope things work out well for you.

bargainhound, RN · Mar 5, 2006

My opinion....don't get pregnant while in such turmoil.

pabby · Mar 5, 2006

my opinion....don't get pregnant while in such turmoil.

i would agree with this.

[color=#ffa500]

[color=#ffa500]it doesn't seem to be fair to you to add stress to what sounds like an already stressful situation. it also isn't fair to a child to bring it into a situation where one of the parents may not be quite ready to care for the child.