How do YOU keep sane?

[adrienurse, LPN]

Okay, we've won the genetic lottery that lets us be just SO good at solving other people's problems. We work insane hours, the work is so emotional draining that we often bring home emotional homework that so often is left undone. So many nurses I know are on antidepressants or have a terrible home life -- many are divorced.

Tell me how YOU keep it together.

[Rustyhammer]

Can you say "Jack Daniels"?

[shay]

Rx 'happy' drugs....(that would be anti-depressants, people, not narcs) :). And a garden and a dog and a cat and a husband and a LIFE outside nursing. And the occasional pedicure, manicure, and full body massage. Oh, and really fun friends who make me laugh until my sides split.

[kittyw]

I'm still in school, so I don't have many of my patients' problems to bring home, but I do bring home stress over school work (I'm a single mom to boot.) Last semester I took a watercolor class. It was a blast and so fun to just play. I didn't have to worry about doing it "right" or worry about passing any tests. It was just 2 hrs a week for me to get away from my little one and play with color. Now I have watercolor supplies at home to decompress with. :-)

[Rustyhammer]

I'm not really a JD-aholic (although I DO like a double now and then.

I DO try to leave work at work and home at home.

I have a wonderful wife and at least one (at a time) great kid -3 kids total-.

I take it one day at a time...work is good...work is not so good. Just depends on the day.

-Russell

[live4today, RN]

Originally posted by Rustyhammer

Can you say "Jack Daniels"?

JACK JA JA JACK JA JACK DANIELS! GULP!!! :rotfl:

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Originally posted by shay

And a garden and a dog and a cat and a husband and a LIFE outside nursing.

Gotta agree with shay on this one. You gotta keep everything in perspective. What's most important to you? For me, it's everything OUTSIDE nursing. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but it is NOT my world.

But she forgot sex, chocolate, and allnurses.com!

Heather

[live4today, RN]

Welllllllll...since my kids and hubby tell me I'm already certifiable, I guess I wouldn't recognize sanity if it presented itself to me in a dream. :rotfl: :chair:

[fedupnurse]

What Shay and Heather said, I ditto whole heartedly! I have work friends and non-work friends and never shall the twain meet! I'm lucky I can actually keep my sick, warpped, demented, gross sense of humor in check when I am around the "normal" people. I must admit though, I do tend to have more fun and laugh a lot more with my "nurse" friends. Probably because I don't have to keep myself under constant watch so no one will puke when I say something!

I got very good at leaving work at work. Sometimes you can't (good thing I didn't have a gun thread from Tuesday am, for example) but usually I can. I vent by coming here and writing letters. Spend lots of time with my dog who is just hysterical (she thinks SHE is a male cat-need I say more????) and the massage thing is a done deal at least once a month.

Did anyone mention Ben & Jerry's yet??????

[jschut, BSN, RN]

De-stress????? :chair:

I try to read (something else besides nursing stuff) and play with my kids or my grandkids.....

[shay]

Originally posted by cheerfuldoer

Welllllllll...since my kids and hubby tell me I'm already certifiable, I guess I wouldn't recognize sanity if it presented itself to me in a dream. :rotfl: :chair:

(passes Renee some 'happy pills') :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[live4today, RN]

Shay...I took my Celexa already today, and I'm feeling on cloud nine as I write. My husband begged my doctor not to ever take me off of those Celexa pills. Tried Zoloft, tried Paxil, but nothing works like Celexa. Ahhhh...I feel like new woman! :rotfl: