Depression r/t nursing school AEB becoming someone I don't recognize

Nurses Stress 101

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School is depressing me. Most days I am not motivated, have a lack of interest in things that used to make me happy...blah blah blah... The thing is I've had terrible luck with anti-depressents and firmly don not believe in them. I am considering quitting nursing school because its just too much. I want to be a nurse but I'm starting to think its not going to get any better. I have a year left and then the N-CLEX.

Im worried if I'll never be the same person I used to be.

Can you try to get yourself into a routine? Incorporate exercise and a healthy diet. Spring is here and the weather is getting nicer, try to spend some time outside every day. Can you talk to your doctor about trying different meds? Maybe a different antidepressant would work better for you, or possibly ADHD meds if your doctor thinks it's appropriate.

Hang in there. If you quit nursing school, it will probably leave you more depressed in the long term.

Hey,

I just read this and wanted you to know that you aren't alone. I don't know anything about your situation besides what you wrote, so I could be completely wrong on my assumption. I go through stages of absolutely loving my classes to absolutely hating them and feeling completely unwilling to do ANYTHING. I'm kind of going through that right now. Plenty of assignments, but I just don't feel like doing them. I'm hoping that's totally natural, or else something major is wrong with me. :)

Don't quit. Push through your feelings and finish strong. I've also had a bad time in the past on antidepressants and came to the same conclusion: they aren't for me. I've been working on my eating habits and exercising more often (still not as much as I should) and I'm taking time away from studying to spend time with people I really love. It's helped me a lot. And I don't know what your friends/family situation is, but I really suggest that you be around people as much as you can (of course keep studying, though). And be around people you really, really like, people that make you feel better about yourself.

I know we can't always control chemicals in our brains or whatever, but we can control our response and attitude towards situations, and if you choose to make this thing work, then I know you can do it.

Don't give up.

Specializes in ER, Med-surg.
Can you try to get yourself into a routine? Incorporate exercise and a healthy diet. Spring is here and the weather is getting nicer, try to spend some time outside every day. Can you talk to your doctor about trying different meds? Maybe a different antidepressant would work better for you, or possibly ADHD meds if your doctor thinks it's appropriate.

Hang in there. If you quit nursing school, it will probably leave you more depressed in the long term.

ADHD meds seem to work for people when antidepressants don't, at least in a few cases I've seen. A close friend has severe depression and usually pulls herself out of it with a combination of her stimulant ADHD medication and Zyprexa. But they zyprexa makes her gain weight which makes her depressed again. Go figure.

Finish your schooling! If you don't, it might give you a reason to become depressed later.

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Have you considered speaking to a psychologist? Most colleges/universities have counselors that you can speak with and who can help you learn some good coping techniques to help you through your emotions. Just because you need some help does not mean that you need medication.

What are you struggling with specifically? Is it the amount of work? The difficulty of the work? I would suggest making a list of the major factors that are causing your to be depresses and then trying to address those specifically.

If it's the amount of work, try making a study schedule to follow, and be sure to schedule time to yourself as well.

If it's the difficulty of the work, consider working with a tutor or forming a study group. Try to work on the issues that are causing the stress and emotions, rather than the emotions themselves.

Self care is vitally important for nursing students and nurses. Even in nursing school, when you feel like you are so busy, it's very important to take time to pamper yourself. Even if it's just a hour or two per day, try to always give yourself some time to relax. Go for a walk, get a massage, get a pedicure, go to a coffee shop and treat yourself to a nice warm drink and read a book for fun, go shopping for a new outfit, get your hair cut, just do something that makes you feel happy.

And yes, it does get better when you graduate. Nursing school is demanding and it often feels like you're turning into this person who doesn't do anything but stress and study. When you graduate and pass NCLEX and start working though, it will all be worth it. Hang in there.

1 Votes
Specializes in Neuroscience.

I think depression during NS is normal. Along with anxiety. It's the nature of the beast. It's affecting me as well. I have mentioned a lot on this board that a lot of days I feel, "dead inside" just going through the motions to get it done. In clinical whenever my instructor says, "when you're the nurse..." I mentally correct them with an "if," because I have to take this on a day to day basis. Everytime a poster that is so excited that they got in makes a post, I just want to tell them that they have no idea what kind of academic hell they are in for, and that nursing school owns you for however many years you are there, but then I remember how excited I was when I got that letter and it seems like a lifetime ago. Try to hang in there though. Good nutrition, sleep (haha, when?!), and support. I think it's true what someone above said: it will make you more depressed to quit.

ETA: Up until last week, I studied all day everyday, as I was TERRIFIED to ever let my books leave my side or I would fail because the info would leak out of my brain if I wasn't looking at it constantly. Well this caused me to have mini-breakdown last week, so last weekend I made a deal with myself to study quietly at least 2 hours a day, get my work done, and then the rest of the day is for ME. My grades for the next test actually went UP, not down like I had previously feared. If you don't have me time, make it!

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

i think that anyone who is in nursing school is in the same boat you are. It literally sucks the life out of u and keeps on beating you down. YOu have a year behind you and thats a great accomplishment.

What i suggest to you is that you make the time, to just do stuff NON-nursing related. hang out with friends who are not in nursing school, or even go clothes shopping, lay out at the beach, somtething. ya know.

it gets better i promise :)

Specializes in ER.

I agree with everyone! I wouldn't have thought to say what the OP said but it was brilliant. There have been so many times along the way I've wanted to quit but I do think in the long run it would have caused me double the depression and anxiety! It would be really hard to look back and think "if only"... and "I was so close".... you don't have to be a nurse when you graduate but it will be nice to have the option. Plus there are so many areas to specialize in you don't even have to do patient care if you've discovered it isn't what you are interested in. Just hang in there, you've made it this far, farther than most people ever get! That means you've got what it takes. Someone saw something special in you! I am almost there, I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I finish in 4 months. My program is 5 semesters (once in the nursing program) and I didn't feel like I was going to make it out for sure until a few weeks ago- I'm coming up on the end of my 4th semester (I'm taking 5th over summer). I am so glad I hung in there. Nursing school is hell and when I am done no matter I'll be able to say I did it and made it instead of having to feel bad every time I bring up that I made it a few semesters and quit. You can do it!

Specializes in ER.

I also wanted to agree with everyone on picking up a hobby. I started knitting this semester and it has helped SO much to have something to do outside of studying!! I don't have time to do it all of the time but my life is better when I take the time to do it. Find something enjoyable and force yourself to spend some time with it :)

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

ya, ive probably dropped out (mentally) at least six times in the past 2 years, and now im ~40 days from having that BSN in my hands..

chin up buttercup... you can do it :D

ya, ive probably dropped out (mentally) at least six times in the past 2 years, and now im ~40 days from having that BSN in my hands..

chin up buttercup... you can do it :D

I agree with Pneumo (and others) ... I have a love/hate relationship with school too. I am currently in the same "dropped out" mentality, have no motivation to do any of it, yet I've been getting it done. Just while reading the above posts, I came to realize that I've been in nursing school for an entire year (after pre-reqs), and will start my final semester in a month! When I look at it like that, it seems a lot better. 3 more weeks of this semester, break, summer semester, DONE!!! I have to look forward to things to get me through my weeks, but looking back, this last year has FLOWN by, now only 4 months left.

I can do it, and SO CAN YOU!!!

Specializes in Neuroscience.
I am currently in the same "dropped out" mentality, have no motivation to do any of it, yet I've been getting it done.

This describes me to a T.

I have to literally, fake excitement at learning new things at clinical and at school or else I will be called out for it (looking dead behind the eyes, I mean). It's painfully forced.

I think what keeps me going is that I really do want to be a nurse. I love helping my patients in clinical and when they smile because I've helped them, it's the best thing ever. But I'm over school. I'm over group projects, tight deadlines, more paper work than is humane, sleep deprivation, guilt for not studying every second, endless worry, pretentious students who think they already know it all. I want to graduate, get my license, and leave me be already.

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