night shift depression

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jul 6, 2006

Funny, I wanted to start a thread about this same thing, but didn't know how to put it. I sleep so much...can go a few days without being awake for more than two hours. Then, when I go back to real life I feel like crap- and I mean the cold stuff that's been squashed with mold on it. Is it a problem I have, or a night shift issue? Anyone else have the same problem?

cannoli · Jul 6, 2006

I used to rotate to 8 hour nights years ago and it was terrible.

I'd get real irritable just thinking about that night rotation coming up. I could sleep every single minute I was off and it still wasn't enough sleep. I got my best sleep before going in to work while it was dark out. Around 3-4 a.m. was a really bad time, really difficult to stay awake.

I avoid night shift. I have been doing 3-11 which has its own issues, but since I can't get days ........

I think we are meant to sleep at night while it is dark and that's that.

Good luck.

HARRN2b · Jul 6, 2006

I am curious about something. Do you live in a climate where it is dark and dreary during the day in the winter months. I am wondering if you are suffering from not getting enough sunlight during the year. Maybe someone from AZ or another state with a high number of sunshine days could chime in.

rninme · Jul 6, 2006

There are times that I look and feel like the walking dead. Not a pretty sight!! It seems like the older I get...the harder working nights gets. I do ok during the winter...but working nights in the summer kills me for some reason. I don't have any answers....but if someone does....I'd love to hear them.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

I live in the northern midwest and winter is the worst. Don't see the sun for days and days. Summers are better, but not by much. If I don't get days within a couple of months I will have to start job shopping. Thanks to everyone for the input, sounds like this is an universal problem.

Crocuta, RN · Jul 6, 2006

I would suggest finding a good doctor and getting a full workup to make sure that you haven't developed a medical condition that would explain your symptoms. Hypothyroidism, adrenal disorders and diabetes are three that come to mind that could explain your symptoms. Personally, I find naturopaths dig deeper, but that's just my personal bias.

Also, you've got some experience now and you might be able to leverage it to get a swing shift position.

You might also try getting a light box with full spectrum lighting to sit in front of periodically during your off-nights as you maintain the exact same schedule as the nights you work. Ensure that you've installed complete light blocking curtains in your bedroom so that your body isn't getting daylight when it's supposed to be night.

Diet and exercise also play a huge role. Stop eating junk food now. Cut out caffiene and concentrated sugars (soda!). Exercise at least three times a week.

Good luck to you! There are answers and options that are right for you. I worked nights for three years while I was in the Navy and it was fine when I was young, but I just don't adapt well to them anymore. (Doesn't help when the 9 year old doesn't understand why she should creep around the house for a whole day just cause I'm in bed...)

weirdRN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

You might also try getting a light box with full spectrum lighting to sit in front of periodically during your off-nights as you maintain the exact same schedule as the nights you work. Ensure that you've installed complete light blocking curtains in your bedroom so that your body isn't getting daylight when it's supposed to be night.
Diet and exercise also play a huge role. Stop eating junk food now. Cut out caffiene and concentrated sugars (soda!). Exercise at least three times a week.

:yeahthat: Right now, I am working 3-11 but, I am going to be going to 7P to 7A soon. I have a seven year old who attends a daycamp during the summer and school in winter,so I am up from the time he gets home until I leave for work. (about 3:30 or so.)

When I worked cateye before, My stategy for avoiding the whole depression thing is that instead of sleeping like I feel I need to sleep, I only sleep for a set time (about 7 hours) on the days that I am working. I try to kind of follow that on the days off but that isn't always feasible. A set routine will help some too. I was also on melatonin and an SSRI for a short stint, but that didn't work for me.

Hope all of this helps.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 6, 2006

Excellent suggestions, all. Night shift wreaks havoc on the body. The only way I could manage it well was establishing a regular schedule just offset by 8 hours. Treating your sleep time as sacrosanct and turning off your telephone, making your sleeping area as dark as possible, reminding friends and family who may drop by that you would not call on them at 2am and this is your equivalent, and being mindful of the important of good diet and hydration are all vital. Fatigue will mask as hunger. Dehydration will make you drowsy.

And do get the workup from your HCP to rule out other stuff :).

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

Ive found when i work nights i have a horrible time playing catch up on the days that im off. Exactly why i dont work any more nights than i have to. Ill find someone to exchange shifts anything. Just ask my family,, working nights makes me almost unliveable.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

I too was sleeping too much when I took on 7-7 shifts. What I did to overcome it was to see my MD first, then I took a class on acclimating to night shifts which was at my local CC. That helped a ton!

I found that I had to take the 8 hour period of sleep totally uninterupted. Dark room, no noise, good bed and so on. After the 8 hours I had to open my drapes (sunlight makes melatonin kick in and helps wake cycle), turn on the TV or Music, and start my day. I had to MAKE myself wake up! If I kept busy...I did fine, but get bored and whoops...sleepy time!

I didn't stay at that hospital long, but for those 6 months this really helped :).

Good luck! :)

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2006

When I was working I did the night shift and have never felt so ill in all my life. I thought I was going to die of some illness. I had no problem staying awake, I just felt sick and unwell all night long. I am off sick at the moment with back injuries but when and If I return to the floor I would rather die than do the night shift-I kid you not.