Nurses with bipolar or anxiety/depression

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Any of my fellow nurses diagnosed with bipolar or anxiety/depression? I was recently diagnosed with bipolar w hypomania but having difficulty accepting it. I really thought it was just anxiety with depression. Reason I say anxiety depression is because I have been feeling low for the past 2 years or so where I just dont have the same desires, motivation and just want to sleep all the time, hopeless, sad, no confidence and poor sed satisfaction. Then when I go to work I am anxious due to all the duties of a nurse and become annoyed very easily. So it is hard to tell if I really am bipolar or just anxious? I do tend to overthink things, binge eat which has caused significant weight gain, irritable or angry over small things, difficulty sleeping or sleep too much because I work night shift and sometimes when I go out im either happy or in my feelings. I feel these are normal feelings due to life and its stressors and how annoying people can be majority of the time. Any advice/tips? I was started on lamictal about 5 weeks ago and I know these meds take about 6 weeks to notice any changes depending on dosage or if its even the right med for me.

10 hours ago, OR_RN13 said:

Hi all! I found this thread because Ive been battling with depression off an on since I was 12, I am now 28. I never seeked professional help or have been properly diagnosed. I am afraid of the stigma and unsure how being diagnosed with a mental illness will affect my career. Seeing that you all are seeking treatment gives me hope. Do you disclose this to the BRN? Does it affect your license in any way? Growing up I would always talk to my dad about these struggles. But he passed away 6 years ago. Now I don’t tan to anyone about it. I haven’t felt safe enough to talk to anyone else about this. I’m married and I don’t talk to my husband about it. We’ve had a rough marriage (only 3 years in) and he says I’m psychotic and need to go on meds (mainly bc that’s what my MIL thinks of me...husband left our marriage an open book to her and shared every argument form day one), my close friends thinks he is verbally abusive for saying that. I’m afraid to go to him about these issues bc I’m afraid he will use it against me, and if this does affect my career I will have no means to get by if we do divorce. My MIL has been treated for PTSD, anxiety, OCD and more...so I’m not sure if he just thinks medication is the soltion bc that is the norm in his family. I’m just afraid to be diagnosed and having it on my record. Does this interfere with our liscence?

This is none of the BONS business. Less is best when telling them/colleagues things about your health. I suggest finding a good therapist to talk and help you through all of this. Maybe even marriage counseling? Start with your own therapist though. I hope things start to improve for you!

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I have major depressive disorder, among other things, and just weaned off my Zoloft, so it's hard to fight the depression now that I can feel everything again. I thought I would be doing better than I am, but at least I'm keeping my anxiety in check. It's hard to force myself to eat and get out of bed sometimes, or do any of my old hobbies, but it's something I've learned to deal with.

I feel like a lot of nurses who experience burnout show depressive symptoms, although that's situational depression rather than a disorder.

My best advice, other than following your medication regimen and to see a therapist, would be to maintain your focus while you're working. Stay organized. Leave work at work, keep yourself busy in your free time, and enjoy your hobbies. Also, keep a mood diary to bring to your psychiatrist, and discuss any concerns with your medications and offer you advice based on how you are. One thing I do want to mention though, is that often when antidepressants are prescribed, they check for possible bipolar disorder, because prescribing just the antidepressants for bipolar disorder obviously will have negative effects, you want to treat the mania too. I've seen this happen to people plenty of times, unfortunately

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Specializes in BSc.

Or rn 13.

Hi, I hope you are feeling better soon.

The only time the licensing body was involved with my health concern was when I had been hospitalized to help stabilize my bipolar blip. My license was put on a temporary hold.

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Specializes in Ltc.

I am CNA and nursing student and I have bipolar 2 and narcolepsy. I found out that exercise and good sleep hygiene help a lot. I don't know if that's more helping the narcolepsy or bipolar. I also realize I can't take on extra shifts, also try good coping skills. Having a good therapist as well, family can only do so much. It's good to vent to a professional, or else going to feel guilty about hurting someones feelings. Get a hobby outside of the medical field, I actually work on cars. These things sound so simple but I find that they keep me from losing my career.

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Specializes in Psych.

Hello. I am a nurse with GAD, and probable high functioning hypomania. I have been stable on medication for years. It is nothing to be ashamed of. We don’t shame people for having cancer or diabetes, so we shouldn’t for a mental health disorder. I am living proof that you CAN have a successful career with a mental health dx.

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