Many nurses on depression or anxiety meds?

dream'n, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2008

I personally have dealt with depression, panic, and OCD since around the age of 11. The symptoms improve or worsen over time. Sometimes I can function for a year or two off of meds, at other times I can't function at all. Finally a psychiatrist summed it up pretty well for me by saying I needed to stay on my medications ALL of the time, when I feel good and when I feel bad. It was then, after 25 years or so, that I really saw this as a chronic illness for me. Something that a few therapy sessions or self-actualization couldn't cure. I am a much more compliant patient now.

rph3664 · Nov 3, 2008

I think a lot of people in all occupations are on these types of meds. I think it's our high-pressure, fast-paced modern life.

And the fact that the drugs exist in the first place. In past decades, people used alcohol, caffeine, opium, paregoric, etc.

Keep in mind that lots of people take antidepressants for reasons other than depression, just like lots of people who do not have epilepsy take anticonvulsants.

rph3664 · Nov 4, 2008

LOL I've been clinically depressed since I was 12, so I don't think nursing did it.
Lily should give me some free t-shirts or something though, for how often I recommend my particular SSNRI to my co-workers.

Lemme guess, Cymbalta?

That drug has never caught on much around here, and that's a good thing because lots of people have terrible side effects from it and tapering off from it can be a very difficult experience. It is only recommended for use when nothing else works.

lpnflorida, LPN · Nov 5, 2008

This is a very interesting thread. I will put my two cents in.

Does the field of medicine in and of itself cause more depression or anxiety? If you look at the statistics 1 in 4 people will suffer from depression in thier lifetimes.

A case can be made of perhaps it is more the luck of the draw of genetics, personal histories as opposed to the profession itself. However, with Dentist having the highest suicide rate , perhaps there is something to the field itself.

I prefer to think that as people who are in medicine as a profession they are more educated as to the help which is available to them. They keep a more open minded about accepting help. That they are less judging about someone who might need a pharmacology boost to help them over the hump. They need to gain better coping skills , or accept that they might have a chemical imbalance which will need to be treated for the rest of their lives.

I applaud all who have had the strength to recognize they could not solve it alone . I admire those who had the courage to reached out for the help they needed.

LPNdelgado · Nov 5, 2008

I am in between with the discussion and the answers. I have NEVER taken medication, but feel i need to. I am trying my hardest not to have any b/c i dont want to be classified. A lot of people do not understand about depression, bipolar disorder or any mental instability. I do believe alot of it is inherited through genes, however, it may not show up until later. That is my situation. It is on my family here and there, but some are from drug use. I have never used drugs, but between my 2 young children and nursing school i am ripping my hair out. I am more stressed, more anxious, and more restless than EVER! So it really just depends on life and i agree a lot of us come from broken or disturbed homes. I am in nursing b/c it has been my passion since 7 years ago when I lost my first child. ANYONE GOT MEDS?? LOL...

blueheaven · Nov 5, 2008

Seems like many nurses take insomnia meds also. Wonder if that is due to 12-hour shifts, or if many of them had sleeping difficulties prior to nursing.

Try working night shift for a while. It's totally opposite of our circadian rhythms. When Iwas a young pup I could handle it. Now, I just can't do it cause my body says NO!

So those folks may need something to help them sleep.

On day shift, I do not need to take anything to sleep cause I come home from my 12er and have no problems going to sleep. If I am upset from something at work and can't doze off, I read, crochet etc to find something to turn my brain off before I try to sleep.

How many people have TV in their bedrooms??

I really think that some of these folks have sleep disorders prior and the stressors sometimes play into it.LOL I could go on forever about things that you can do to help you sleep without taking medication.

The sleep meister

frellyou · Nov 6, 2008

One thing I have noticed amongst peers in depression/anxiety support groups is that many of those suffering from depression/anxiety are very compassionate people, a personality trait that I believe lends itself to nursing. I've also noticed in this group of people that there is a strong desire to help others - again something that seems to be common in those interested in a nursing career.
I guess what I believe to some extent is that nursing may not be the cause of depression/anxiety, but that the personality traits that can be associated with depression/anxiety are often those same traits that draw people to a career in nursing and other helping/caring professions.

I know that for me personally I am far more compassionate since my most recent (second) episode of major depression. I guess it's something about realising just how bad things can get for people and understanding that you never really know what's going on in their lives. I was a lot harder on people before I became ill.

I was studying engineering when the second time struck, took a year off to travel and recover and figured out I wanted to be a nurse :nurse: . So I guess in a way my illness turned out to be positive.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2008

I spent the first half of my twenties dealing with cyclic, recurring periods of depression and anxiety. This all started before I even wanted to go to nursing school. I'm in therapy and on ADs now and feel great. Two pills a day to keep me happy seems worth it.

Anyway, I'm not even in nursing school yet. Starting my prerequisites brought up a lot of anxiety and fear of failure, but those feelings all had roots in issues I was already dealing with.

Bella RN, BSN, MSN · Nov 8, 2008

Hi I have been an RN for 7yrs and find that i have been suffering from severe panic attacks and depression. On my way to work i find myself crying. It's awful. I have been calling in alot because I feel so helpless. I take xanax that is the only thing that calms me down.

I am upset a bit with my job because i believe i should be making more money. And when i ask for help i get blown off sometimes.

And I am dissatisfied with my social life. I just work in the ICU and come home and that is it. :crying2: I am 30 and VERY single

I take xanax at home and stay in bed all day and watch cnn. :uhoh3: Thats not a life. I refuse to talk to friends anymore.

At work I am the bubbly one..everyone sees me smiling but deep down i just want to run and hide. I dont know what to do. :cry:

I was scheduled to work a couple of days ago and woke up with intense fear and panic i was going to vomit...I immediately called in. I have received verbal counseling for the amount of times i have called in, but i did have a doctors note when i was extremely ill at one point.

I am scheduled to work this weekend and I just dont know what to do. I dont konw what is wrong with me......I feel so isolated at work and even off the job. I have become a loner but my true nature is a social butterfly. I dont think it would be wise to call in 3 times in one week, but My God my heart just can't take it. I work in an open heart ICU but don't take the fresh hearts just the chronics.

I dont know if i should share with my manager whats going on internally. i am thinking about going agency and or part time. I work 7a-7p and I find mysel waking up at 1;30am. I can't sleep. I get ready for work by 5a.m

I can't tell my family they have heard this before so this leaves me to suffer alone.

I have been taking the xanax like candy because that brings me solace.

I don't know what to do.....i feel so lost :crying2:

please help me fellow nurses:scrying:

rph3664 · Nov 8, 2008

Hi I have been an RN for 7yrs and find that i have been suffering from severe panic attacks and depression. On my way to work i find myself crying. It's awful. I have been calling in alot because I feel so helpless. I take xanax that is the only thing that calms me down.
I am upset a bit with my job because i believe i should be making more money. And when i ask for help i get blown off sometimes.
And I am dissatisfied with my social life. I just work in the ICU and come home and that is it. I am 30 and VERY single
I take xanax at home and stay in bed all day and watch cnn. Thats not a life. I refuse to talk to friends anymore.
At work I am the bubbly one..everyone sees me smiling but deep down i just want to run and hide. I dont know what to do.
I was scheduled to work a couple of days ago and woke up with intense fear and panic i was going to vomit...I immediately called in. I have received verbal counseling for the amount of times i have called in, but i did have a doctors note when i was extremely ill at one point.
I am scheduled to work this weekend and I just dont know what to do. I dont konw what is wrong with me......I feel so isolated at work and even off the job. I have become a loner but my true nature is a social butterfly. I dont think it would be wise to call in 3 times in one week, but My God my heart just can't take it. I work in an open heart ICU but don't take the fresh hearts just the chronics.
I dont know if i should share with my manager whats going on internally. i am thinking about going agency and or part time. I work 7a-7p and I find mysel waking up at 1;30am. I can't sleep. I get ready for work by 5a.m
I can't tell my family they have heard this before so this leaves me to suffer alone.
I have been taking the xanax like candy because that brings me solace.
I don't know what to do.....i feel so lost
please help me fellow nurses:scrying:

Does your employer have a contract with an Employee Assistance agency? If they do, you can get several sessions of counseling (usually 5, some places allow 8) at no cost to you, and it is 100% confidential. All your employer would know is that X number of people from this company used Employee Assistance, unless you tell them. Sometimes, an employer will refer someone to EA as a condition of continued employment and then they know about it.

:icon_hug:

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2008

I dont know if i should share with my manager whats going on internally.

Oh honey- are you seeing a therapist? Because if not, you need to. A good one that will help you figure out how to manage stress and anxiety and provide support to go along with medication. It sounds like the Xanax isn't enough. Have you been on anti-depressants before?

Also- do you drink at all? When I started ADs my psychiatrist told me to stop drinking- not so much because of reactions but because any drinking at all can make depressive episodes more frequent in people who struggle with depression.

I would not disclose the details to your manager. But maybe you should look in to taking some sick leave to take care of yourself and to have some space to evaluate your situation and what might make things better.

Please get help- it can be hard to reach out but it is so worth it to feel good again.

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2008

Chicabella813, you need to see a psychiatrist ASAP! Sounds like it may be time for a med change. Wish you the best.