Many nurses on depression or anxiety meds?

[avsmch]

While going through the different forums here, it seems like many of the nurses and student nurses are taking depression or anxiety meds. I realize this site serves as a place to vent so maybe that is why it seems to come up often. But I was wondering how common is it to hear of nurses on your floors having to take these meds? Do you think it is mostly for personal reasons or related to their job? Maybe its from a difficulty of transitioning from nursing school to working as a nurse? I'm sure theres plenty of reasons. Just curious what others may think. Thanks!

[wanderlust99]

Great post! Of course we know the general population not just nurses deal with this, but surely it doesn't help that we deal with life and death situations and have high stress jobs.

In my early twenties I suffered through years of horrible depression. It's upsetting when people think you are just popping pills because you can't deal with life.

Anyway, I was depressed way before I hit nursing school. But, nursing school kind of escalated it for me. I finally reached out for some help, it took me 2 years to find the courage to actually ask my doctor about taking an antidepressant. I was in denial for so long and thought I didn't need them. But when things would upset me, I started having thoughts like "I should just kill myself, I would be better off dead". I also had vivid violent images of me shooting myself in the head with a gun. Starting antidepressants just helped me cope a little bit better. They didn't make me automatically this happy go lucky person. I was still myself, just without the "I should just kill myself, or I wish I was dead" thoughts.

I am off the meds now, but I am sooo happy I took them. I still have a hard time coping with things and sometimes feel like I'm not even out of my depression. I can identify with that one poster, because I too just work, then come home and do nothing. I am very lonely and have no life pretty much. I've been on the internet all day long. I just don't feel like doing anything. But, I think I just need to find new ways to cope with my life and ways to change some things about myself. I don't feel meds will help me at this point.

[Bella RN, BSN, MSN]

No i do not drink. Only occasionally the last time I drank was in August. The stress has led me to have esophageal gastritis. Very very painful:crying2:

I have missed an entire work week. My employer understands, I believe she empathizes with me because she herself is very anxious and knows I am honest about my call ins and I am an excellent nurse.

I have been told by 2 different docs to step away from the bedside that critical care may be too stressful for me and suggested anti depressants. I refuse to take them because I don't want to gain weight.

Since I have been off of work i have not needed to take xanax but i have been counting the down the days i will be returning and the makes me anxious.

I work with a good team, some of them are EXTREMELY anxious and try to prove themselves too much but maybe open hearts and ICU isnt for me anymore.:uhoh21:

I used to LOVE oncolgy until the population started to get younger and younger and that made me depressed. I took months off to regroup from seeing so many young people die of cancer.

Thank you So much to EVERYONE that replied....I may not know you but you have brighten my day.:nuke: We must take care of ourselves and each other. Thank you again Fellow nurses. I will look into getting some help:nurse:

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

Chica bella, please look in to EAP, or in to a counselor on your own if your hospital doesn't offer EAP...and do it immediately. As much as your boss is understanding, that understanding alone won't allow you to keep your job if you're calling in that much (and I do not mean that to be harsh, because I know how you feel). I have been in your shoes before, and if you can see a psychiatrist, they can work with you on getting an approved medical leave, which will give you time to get things straight and keep your employment status safe. I wish you well.

I have dealt with both anxiety and depression for years, and been on meds for both, the depression a lot longer...long before I became a nurse. They both run in my family as well (although, lucky me, I have them the worst). I have been suicidal at my lowest times. There is no way to put in to words what a place that is to be in. I have learned the hard way that indeed it is a chemical imbalance for me. I have tried more than once to be off the meds, and have ended up severely depressed again when I do it (which always reminds me that hey...I was feeling good because I was ON the meds....DUH!). I have done counseling, behavior therapy, etc, in conjuction with the medication, the meds were never done alone as a "quick fix." I know now that I can't be off them, that's just the way it is. I almost succeeded in killing myself by taking myself off of them. It's a hard thing to admit that I need a pill to be "happy" and "normal." It makes me feel like a freak, like I'm less worthy. I still struggle to accept it.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I refuse to take them because I don't want to gain weight.

I've actually lost a lot of weight since getting on antidepressants. My eating habits haven't changed, but I'm more active now that I'm not totally depressed. And it's not exercising- I'm just leaving the house more and expending more calories in little things.

This is not a good reason to want to stay off medication. It sounds like you are depressed to the point of being unable to function. That's not something you bounce back from without actively seeking out help in whatever form it's available.