Mental Illness in Nurses: Student

[spammy_j]

I'm in my second year of nursing school and over the last six months I have struggled with some form of depression and anxiety. I have not gotten an official diagnosis or treatment, but my nursing professors are very concerned about my emotional state and have encouraged me to seek counseling and/or medical help. Until the last two months it hasn't been too bad- I have struggled with mood swings, inability to sleep, lack of motivation, occasional panic attacks, etc. etc., but overall I had more good days than bad.

Anyways, there have been some new issues recently (inability to remember things, "zoning out" for hours at a time, severe anxiety attacks, what have you) that my parents are concerned about and I am looking into seeing a psychiatrist. I was originally booked to see a psychologist for counseling, and I am still considering that option. However, mental illness runs in my family on both sides and I am 20, so this is a prime time for that to start showing and that worries me. I am hoping that just talking to someone and getting some emotional relief may be all I need to get stabilized again, but there's always a chance it could be something more and that is scaring me because I don't know how that will affect my nursing career. I want to be a neonatal nurse, I have for years, and I have no idea what kind of guidelines there are on what types of illnesses/disabilities are allowed by the state/country (I live in VA). I am hesitant to see a psychiatrist, because if something does come up I don't want it to prevent me from being a nurse. I have tried to look online for such guidelines, but apparently the research class I am taking is not as effective as I had hoped because I can't find anything definitive.

Do any of you have mental illnesses/struggles? How do you deal with them? Does it affect your ability to get a job? Even if this is just a depression/anxiety cycle I am stuck in and nothing more, if I get an official "label" I am worried it will be harmful to my nursing career.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I struggle with depression/anxiety. The first thing you need to do is get healthy mentally. Do whatever you have to do to get to that point. Talk therapy helps. Medication helps. The two combined helps. Having these conditions do not preclude you from being a nurse at all. Receiving treatment and help will help you in all aspects of life.

While I am considered stable, I do see my psychologist twice a year for mental health checkups and whenever I need to when my depression and anxiety are at a point I need to see him.

You may need to take a semester off from school or you may be able to continue. You are taking the first step towards getting healthy by seeing that you have a need and having made the appointments necessary.

[elkpark]

Heck, huge numbers of nurses have psych backgrounds. Just look around this site. As long as an acute illness/episode is not impairing your safety to practice, having a hx of mental illness is not a barrier to licensure or practice.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Combining treatment with both a psychologist and a psychiatrist is a good plan. You can talk through your stresses with the first and get medications, if needed, from the second. Those work together.

[ChildPsych]

Do not feel alone and do get help. I was scared to death to make an appt with a psychiatrist but I'm so so thankful I did, and you will to!

I spent way to many years almost constantly suicidal, panic attacks on a daily basis. It really held me back and prevented me from doing so many things in my life. I feel I lost a lot of years because I was too scared to seek help. I was ashamed and embarrassed.

I have Bipolar, Panic disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, "mild" PTSD, and ADD. I'm on great meds and am doing great. No one would ever think I had a mental illness. I've had other nurses and techs open up to me about their issues and I feel blessed to be able to empathize and help.

You'd be very surprised at how many nurses have various mental illnesses. And that's OK. And it's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

I've been an RN for 8 years now. It has never effected my license or job in any way.