New nursing student with Bipolar 1 and ADHD

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Hello everyone! Today was the first day of class for the nursing program and I am a little concerned about my diagnosis interfering. I was finally diagnosed Bipolar 1 with ultradian cycling after years of steadily worsening episodes. I am waiting on my insurance right now before I can start my medications of Lamictal and Stratterra. The ADHD has been there for quite some time, easily since I was a child but the bipolar disorder has emerged over the last 6-8 years.

My concern is that it may interfere with the program while we experiment with the proper medication cocktail and I learn coping mechanisms. I finished all of the pre/co requisites for the nursing program, I have been going to college since 2010 to ensure that come the program, it will be my sole focus and now it is. I got accepted and am thrilled and terrified. I plan on specializing in psychiatric nursing or trauma as both fields really strike a cord with me. I know just how difficult it can be having a mental illness that at times can run your life and I know how discouraging and painful it can be when people look at you and treat you like an invalid because of it.

I want to help banish the stigma surrounding mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder to show people that just because I have a diagnosis doesn't mean I am any less capable. I also want to help remove some of the negativity surrounding ADHD; our brains may go "SQUIRREL!" constantly but we also come up with solutions to problems faster, forgive easier, take things in stride, and live life to the fullest. I hope that I will be able to get through the program and get my medications right so that it only my disorders only help me, not hinder.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hello, and welcome to Allnurses! We're glad you're here!

I have to say first of all that you are one AMAZING person to have gone to college and made it into the nursing program. I have bipolar 1 too and I know how hard it can be to maintain stability under stress. And I can't imagine what you go through with ultradian cycling plus ADHD.

However, I must warn you that disclosing your diagnoses at school and with your future employer is generally a bad idea. While I agree that it's important for us to try to dispel the stigma surrounding mental illness, the workplace isn't the place to do it. There are too many things that can go sideways when bosses and co-workers know about our condition. I've been burned badly twice by sharing my diagnosis with people at work; instead of being seen as a competent professional, I was pegged as "unstable" and looked at suspiciously by supervisors who eventually found ways to get rid of me without violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

That being said, I hope your nursing program goes well, and that you become a successful nurse. You can do it!

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Have you ever been on Lamictal? I had to go off of it eventually because the cognitive effects had the potential to impair my nursing practice. It saved my life when I needed it, though.

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I just started it 3 days ago. Was waiting for insurance nonsense. I found GoodRx and it actually got my total down to $10 from $88 without insurance so that was incredibly helpful. They have me on 25 mg for the first two weeks and then 50 mg after that to decrease my chance of developing Steven-Johnson Syndrome so fingers crossed!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Lamictal is a good drug. It not only helped moderate my mood swings, it also took away my urge to overeat compulsively. But it does take time to work, so you need to be patient...you may not feel the effects for weeks. Therapeutic dose is ~ 200 mg/day, although some people don't need as much, and some folks (like me) need as much as 400 mg/day. Wishing you well. Keep us posted!

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I agree, don't disclose unless you have to. I have bipolar also, and have had a very successful career for 25 years. The last 5 years have been hell, mostly because of lateral discrimination from uninformed coworkers. Good luck and congratulations.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Congrats on being accepted. Keep your diagnoses to yourself. It's no one's business but your own, and you alone are not going to banish any wrong attitudes regarding mental illness. No need shutting doors to yourself before they are even opened.

The only one you need to prove anything to, is yourself.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

How are you doing now that you've been on meds for a while? I hope they're working for you.

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