Depression + Anxiety as a Nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi guys,

I’ve had depression & anxiety for many years, if not forever really. I am very worried about my mental health affecting my nursing ability. I am currently in lvn/lpn school, doing well. Should I just drop out and be a CNA?

Thanks guys &

Happy early Thanksgiving ♥️

Specializes in PICU.

try to think about it in terms of teaching someone rather than a skills check off. How are you going to teach the wife or mother of a loved one how to do these things. Think of your instructor as the parent or spouse. reframe your thinking the next time as you teaching someone rather than you being checked off.

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that is such a great idea! thank you!

i'm still on the fence about dropping out...cnas help people so much. ?

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Specializes in PICU.
Just now, jesslahtidah said:

that is such a great idea! thank you!

i'm still on the fence about dropping out...cnas help people so much. ?

However if you want to be a nurse, you will always be looking at the nurses and regretting it.

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.
11 minutes ago, jesslahtidah said:

good question...every skills check off we do i freak out. fast heart rate, sweaty hands, and i forget the ati videos entirely, no matter how many times i watched them. i saw the trache on the mannequin but felt uncomfortable actually playing with it because i thought the cannula was already out? i don't even know. i just stared at that damn thing like "??????"

i sped through the catheter one and missed things according to my instructor. i can't even apply sterile gloves on 100% correctly. or comfortably take bp! ?

as for next time, i really don't know. ? yeah, i have to do patient education and have to be very confident! lord help me.

I was always one of the last ones to do check offs because I over thought everything and never felt ready. I also have performance anxiety. But, practice and more practice helped with my confidence. Even now as a seasoned nurse, if it’s a new skill and someone’s watching me do it, I get super nervous and tend to make mistakes. I hate it. Other people just exude confidence or are very good at the illusion of it!

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7 minutes ago, RNNPICU said:

However if you want to be a nurse, you will always be looking at the nurses and regretting it.

my exact fear

at least cnas have a lot less stress so that would help my anxiety. i'm a part time caregiver and worry about FORMER clients still....i stalk their family members online it's bad lol...

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after crying & really thinking about it, i’m going to continue with nursing school. ? i will contact a therapist, starting today. i will fall on my face over & over but i will graduate and be an amazing nurse. ? thank you to those that replied.

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Honestly it sounds like you need a different medication. You have already gotten a lot of good advice here. Have you thought about a medication change?

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Just now, MHDNURSE said:

Honestly it sounds like you need a different medication. You have already gotten a lot of good advice here. Have you thought about a medication change?

i’ve been off zoloft a while now. i should really be honest with my doctor. ?

i asked my instructor today if someone would be disqualified from being a nurse if they have depression & apparently it’s fine.

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I am not a nurse but have the same family background (verbal plus physical abuse) and spousal abuse (physical). So I've been thru the ringer with abuse. It drove me to a nervous breakdown. I've been thru all the symptoms you describe as well.

As long as I take both my meds, Zoloft (for depression) and Effexor XR (for anxiety), I do well. I didn't do as well on Zoloft alone. So perhaps asking your doctor to add Effexor or other anxiety drug will help you even more.

Best of luck to you!

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1 hour ago, happygal56 said:

I am not a nurse but have the same family background (verbal plus physical abuse) and spousal abuse (physical). So I've been thru the ringer with abuse. It drove me to a nervous breakdown. I've been thru all the symptoms you describe as well.

As long as I take both my meds, Zoloft (for depression) and Effexor XR (for anxiety), I do well. I didn't do as well on Zoloft alone. So perhaps asking your doctor to add Effexor or other anxiety drug will help you even more.

Best of luck to you!

i agree, i will call after the holiday. bless you

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Specializes in LDRP.

I start LPN school in January and have been struggling with PPD since the birth of my last child. Some days are harder than others. Quitting, however, only makes me feel worse in the end. Take each day moment by moment. Remember to sleep as much as possible and eat a healthy diet (fruits and veggies). I just bought a therapy light at the recommendation of my doctor and am hoping it helps. I’m also taking Zoloft and a few approved supplements. Little by little I’m starting to feel like life isn’t as overwhelming. Definitely talk to your doctor and find that hope you may be missing. Hugs!

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25 minutes ago, NurseMomTo8 said:

I start LPN school in January and have been struggling with PPD since the birth of my last child. Some days are harder than others. Quitting, however, only makes me feel worse in the end. Take each day moment by moment. Remember to sleep as much as possible and eat a healthy diet (fruits and veggies). I just bought a therapy light at the recommendation of my doctor and am hoping it helps. I’m also taking Zoloft and a few approved supplements. Little by little I’m starting to feel like life isn’t as overwhelming. Definitely talk to your doctor and find that hope you may be missing. Hugs!

thanks. ? i’m really poor so hopefully i can afford meds and such

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