Going back to school with anxiety d/o, depression & OCD...

Nurses Disabilities

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So, here's my predicament... last summer (2010) I started having severe panic attacks which led to an anxiety disorder and depression (also found hypothyroidism and am on medication for it). I had to take the past fall 2010 semester off because I was so anxious sitting in classes or even standing in line at the grocery store or driving- I was house-bound for a few weeks. I had anxiety problems in high school, but conquered them through Lucinda Basset's tape set. This time it was much stronger and worse and came with uncontrollable thoughts of harming myself. I was then diagnosed with OCD (Obsessional thinking without the compulsions). After a slew of different SSRI SNRIs and Anti-Phychotic (yeah?????) medications, and a suicide attempt, two hospitalizations, and many hours of therapy I found a drug that is working ... decently... (Luvox at 300 mg w/Ativan 1 mg prn). These past 5 months have been nothing short of a living hell for me. I used to be very active (coaching youth sports, active in on campus activities, exercise, going out) and have become a couch potato who is very very scared to get back into things at school in 5 weeks. I also have found that since I have not been studying my brain has turned useless and I barely remember anything I learned my first year. Has anyone been through anything like this and succeeded in nursing school? Does anybody have advice for someone in my situation? Know a friend with a similar situation and a success story? Will I be able to get back into it and get my masters in nursing and become an NP one day? I feel very scared about going back to school and being able to sit in class let alone learn the material and test well. Also, should I tell my professors about what happened? If so, how much should I share? I don't want to be looked at as weak, but my therapist says they should know. Also, is there any suggestion on what I could be doing in the next 5 weeks to academically prepare aside from going over my NCLEX book? Any good books of the basics or I don't know...

Thank you so much in advance for your response! I really appreciate it.

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