For those of you "hot shots" who didn't think the nursing program was " that hard"...

[caffeineRx]

...how did you "make" it this way? As in--how did you keep everything in check?

I want to know. Obviously--you are smart--that is a given. Some people do things with a lot more ease than others.

However, what baffles me is, I am still ALL over the place and I know I am "smart" per se. I scored in the 93rd/96th percentile for BOTH National Nursing Entrance Exams, and I have been in "gifted" classes since a wee child.

Now--I am NOT trying to brag at all. I'm "just sayin' ". And to be honest, I am pretty sure that most of us who are in the nursing program are pretty gifted. Not just any average joe can get in right ?

I am finding this nursing program manageable at times, and at other times--I believe I may be losing my head.

So let me be honest here--I struggle with ADHD, anxiety, and subsequently- depression. I am trying to go "natural" and have been off meds for quite a few years now. However, I am wondering it this just might be my culprit.

I am terrified to take more meds. I took Paxil and it worked like a DREAM--however--gained weight and no sex drive. I can fight the weight gain...but my dear sex drive? Hmmmm lol.

So this is why I am "here" asking you all for "tips". I have been taking/using as many tips as possible..but I really feel I am walking around like a zombie. It's like my brain goes on overload daily.. Not to be funny at all (even though it sounds funny) but my eyes start crossing on their own sometimes..when I am looking at a computer or driving. I sometimes run red lights because I am so zoned out. And these are on days when I am able to get 7 hours of sleep (even though most days I get about 5.5- boohoo). My brain feels fried.

I am ultimately frustrated with myself because I know this shouldn't be this hard. I look around at the "calm" people and envy them. Why do I short circuit so quickly? Academically, these nursing classes are something I should be able to fly through with at least around a 3.5-3.7 GPA without having to stress it. If I want to really stress...a 4.0 is definitely doable.

Ok--enough of that--see how crazy I am? I never stop thinking, talking, etc, etc, etc. Replies? :argue::chuckle:yawn:

[TessaMae]

The rhythm method

Are you familiar with the BC method that enables you to detect when you are fertile? It has to do with the type of cervical mucus you are having on any given day. There is a kind that tells you you are fertile, there is another type that tells you you are not. I forget the name of this method but it should come up pretty readily if you google it. It is totally natural - no pills, foam, nothing. You simply abstain from intercourse on the days you are fertile. The beauty of it is you can do other types of lovemaking - just not actual intercourse. Also, it is said that you can use the knowledge of when you are fertile to try to determine the gender of baby you wish to conceive, if and when you wish to conceive. That is, during the first few hours or 1st day of fertility, if you conceive, it will be a male child, I think. Otherwise, you will conceive a female. Please don't quote me - it has been many years since the wife and I used this method of contraception and I don't remember all there is to know about it - including even the name of it! :confused: so please don't rely on anything I've said to keep you from pregnancy or to determine the gender of a child you might wish to conceive. Check it out on the 'net, though, if you want hormone-free, chemical-free, gadget-free contraception. Ah, it just came to me - The Billings Method, I think it's called.

And please get whatever medication you need for your mental status. I pray your loved one will come to understand that you simply need some medicating. Why do you suppose he's so against meds for your condition? Fear?

[Junebugfairy]

i will put myself out there... i am bi polar 2, add, and ocd.. but thanks to medication and treatment, i am able to live a normal, healthy, and straight a life. i have mental illness, but i do not allow myself to suffer from it..i control it, i do not allow it to control me! :)

i also cannot use hormonal contraceptives because they cause a worsening of my bi polar symptoms, even though am on medications. my bi polar medications also reduce the effectiveness of hormonal bc, so either way i need to use non hormonal methods.

i use a paragard, which is a non hormonal iud. i have used it for over 7 years, and i am 27 now, so i have years of use and i love it. if pregnancy is not wanted right now, you might consider asking your gyno about non hormonal options, like the iud. you are certainly not out of effective options for birth control.

you cannot allow yourself to suffer! i am always shocked at how many women and men with mental illness do not take medications that would greatly increase their quality of life. you do not have to live like this, no one does, but you have to make the choice to make a call to your doctor.

i was diagnosed at 13 with bi polar 2 disorder, and i have been on meds ever since. my quality of life greatly improved as a young teen, thanks to medications. i only wish i was diagnosed and treated sooner, because my life wuold have been so much better, my grades would have been better, and i would have known stability and happiness much earlier.

i realize that many do not like the idea of taking drugs, wanna do the 'natural route' etc.. but how is that working for you?

i do have a 4.0, and i do not think nursing is terribly difficult, but it is because i focus, study, and totally absorb myself with it. i make it easy by not working a full time job, by having a husband who supports me, and by having treatment for my psychiatric disorder.

i cannot make you get treatment.. but i can tell you that i will never ever go back to being unstable, depressed, unhappy, moody, irritable, and unable to function. you deserve better, and that may include coming to terms with the fact that we have effective treatments for depression and mental illness, and there is no shame in seeking treatment.

i will say it again.. no one deserves to live in the darkness that depression brings, that includes you. you deserve all the happiness in the world, but sometimes our brain chemistry needs adjustment so that we are able to live happily and healthfully.

[leslie :-D]

fairycari, you rock!:balloons:

truly, an inspiration.

you will go far in life.

God bless you.

leslie

[Junebugfairy]

oh yeah, one more thing.

you do not need permission from anyone, especially your husband, to seek needed medical treatment for an illness. my husband is not involved in my medical decisions, i do not ask him if i should seek treatment, or if he is worried about side effects.

i love my husband dearly, we are happily married, but being married does not mean that he owns you, or that he controls any part of your life including health care. my husband and i are partners, we complement each other, but we have our own lives too. we do not lose ourselves just because we marry.

[Junebugfairy]

i cry because he feels i am taking the easy way out and said he would do anything to make me "better".

he cannot make you better, no one can..

this is an honest to goodness medical condition, so it is no less valid than high blood pressure or diabetes.

your husband could not 'fix' you if you were diabetic, and depression is not different.

if i were you, this is what i would do....you take your money, your insurance card, or whatever, and you make that call to the doctor..with or without his understanding or approval... and you get better.

[SiennaGreen]

What an amazing group of people we have here! I am honored to be among them. So many good insights.

Just one thought. I don't think a natural, or fertility awareness method of BC will be helpful right now for the OP. It sounds like stress levels are high and sleep is lacking. Those two things alone will throw off your diagnostics. the IUD might be a good start but I thought they were usually cautious is folks who haven't had children yet. When we were needing very good contraception w/o hormones, we combined a fertility awareness w/barrier method. Lots of work, but worthwhile if staying off hormones is key. Have you tried progesterone only contraceptives? Sometimes, they have less ups and downs.

Also- I agree, get some sleep. I struggle w/periods of anxiety and insomnia. Thw worse it gets, the worse it gets kind of thing. The very BEST cure is prevention and it begins with getting enough sleep.

[Junebugfairy]

iud's are perfectly acceptable for women who do not have children.

there are doctors, specifically 'old school/not into new trends' types who will not insert, but i easily found a young obgyn who inserted an iud for me at age 20 :)

i had never had children, but i did have one termination of pregnancy due to condom failure. i really wanted an iud, and i called around and found an obgyn who totally supported iud use in any woman who wanted one for contraception.

i did try pop, or progestin only bc, and i still had major issues with the hormones. i do believe that some women with some conditions are simply not suited for hormonal type bc pills.

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Fertility awareness method rocks (IMO) but it is unreliable as far as basal body temperatures go when one is having difficulty sleeping and stressed. I used Ovusoft Fertility Software for some time, which was extremely helpful when using FAM. (You are talking about the Shettles method for gender, BTW.)

Are you familiar with the BC method that enables you to detect when you are fertile? It has to do with the type of cervical mucus you are having on any given day. There is a kind that tells you you are fertile, there is another type that tells you you are not. I forget the name of this method but it should come up pretty readily if you google it. It is totally natural - no pills, foam, nothing. You simply abstain from intercourse on the days you are fertile. The beauty of it is you can do other types of lovemaking - just not actual intercourse. Also, it is said that you can use the knowledge of when you are fertile to try to determine the gender of baby you wish to conceive, if and when you wish to conceive. That is, during the first few hours or 1st day of fertility, if you conceive, it will be a male child, I think. Otherwise, you will conceive a female. Please don't quote me - it has been many years since the wife and I used this method of contraception and I don't remember all there is to know about it - including even the name of it! :confused: so please don't rely on anything I've said to keep you from pregnancy or to determine the gender of a child you might wish to conceive. Check it out on the 'net, though, if you want hormone-free, chemical-free, gadget-free contraception. Ah, it just came to me - The Billings Method, I think it's called.

And please get whatever medication you need for your mental status. I pray your loved one will come to understand that you simply need some medicating. Why do you suppose he's so against meds for your condition? Fear?

[Wise Woman RN]

I was an average student in high school, but got a 3.9 GPA in nursing school... I was older when I started, worked part time, school full time, two kids I took to and from two different schools, and a hubby that was out of town a lot, and when he was in town, didn't help a lot...

I just decided that dust bunnies were good pets, and mac and cheese was good dinner, etc. Then, I paid VERY close attention in school, did the study guides, read stuff out loud, then read it silently, then went over my notes... And the kids and I had school... I taught them everything I learned in school... They were 4 and 8.

But each way I absorbed the information used a different part of the brain, and teaching someone is a really good way to keep information in there... by the time I was a senior RN student, I had been working as an LPN for a year, so had the experiences I needed to continue on... It was tough, but I grew from an emotionally neglected mouse to a strong, dynamic nurse... and my kids benefited by seeing the rewards of a good education... and they still know all the bones in the body... *S*

Now, I keep up on things in the field, and when we get students, I try to grab them to impart a little bit of that self-confidence that will get them through.. You can do this, and do it well...

All the best...

[caffeineRx]

FairyCari--you are an absolute blessing. All of you are! I am so amazed at the replies I have received and could nearly cry from the feeling that people were actually trying to help me so much. This touched my heart a LOT. I thank EACH and every one of you and would like to eventually get around to replying to each post as the unbelievable amount of information you gave me is/was soooooo greatly appreciated.

FaryCari-I feel like you and I have almost lived the same life. I have been through MANY of the things you stated and I salute you for being so open and AWESOME.I really respect you. You are a terrific human being for opening up like that to help another person-me.

You guys are all wonderful. God Bless

PS. I know it's not my guys decision.but medicines, med agents, were the reason for the ending of my last pregnancy. It was a horrid experience that he says brings him a lot of anxiety and guilt and that he never wants me to go thru that again--and of course I am sure he doesn't either.

So I totally hear ya on what you're saying--but it's kind of a diff scenario. Someone asked why--yes--it's definitely fear! He also feels it will make me unhealthy again.

I wouldn't take meds if I could get by without them..but I mean--I feel like I am just bareeeeeely getting by. I don't want to live life depressed, thinking about my last potential baby, how I cannot stand myself, being moody towards others, settling for "just barely" passing grades, etc. I am going to talk to my doctor tomorrow.

Part of me just didn't want to tell him I was taking anything and just have him start using condoms with spermicide to be doubly sure.

Thanks ALL!!!! Thanks so much.

[caffeineRx]

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

Inbox--If you haven't investigated this book, Dr. Edward Hallowell has a fab book that I bought in audio format from audible.com called "Delivered From Distraction" that might not only give you some ideas to help manage besides those that are pharmacologic (though, by all means, if you need pharmacologic assistance, which it sounds like you might, use that as well!), but if you can get your man to listen to bits and pieces of it, he may get an understanding of what is going on regarding your ADHD (the good and the not so good). **hugs**