I was just wondering if there are any other nurses who struggle with mental illness. It seems to be one disability that is met with little tolerance and support in the medical field. I do have major co-morbid mental illness, Major depression/PTSD/DID, and have had many problems in my career. I have been in therapy and on meds for a long time and have worked very hard to be functional, and I have suprised myself by what I have been able to achieve. Currently, I am a hospice nurse in a residential setting and it seems that I have found my niche. It doesn't aggravate my illness too much. I am very busy at times and most of my job revolves in much cognitive thinking and decision making about the best ways to respond to a patient's emerging or existing symptoms, and in assessing patients to see where they are in the dying process, plus lots of educating to patients and families. My extensive personal trauma background has made me able to have a different perspective on death and don't see it as the scary thing that is SO SAD, that a lot of people do. Plus, because of the things that I have been through, I am more able to be compassionate and understanding of patients and their fears. I especially do well with patients with existing mental illness or lots of anxiety. I notice that a lot of nurses have little tolerance for a patients anxiety and are not willing to take the extra time to walk them through things and provide the extra reassurance that they need.
Yes, there are some nursing jobs that I don't think I would be able to do because of the fast on the spot life and death action necessary. ER and Trauma/Burn are pretty much out for me. But thats OK. A lot of nurses couldn't handle doing what I do either for their own reasons. We are all suited to certain things.
Having mental illness doesn't automatically make you unsuited for the nursing profession. Even though I have heard many times, "what are you doing here?" "Shouldn't you be doing something else, less stressful?"
I am here and am doing the thing I am suited for. Yes sometimes I have to take time off due to my illness, but its no different than somone who has flare ups of a chronic physical illness like lupus, chronic fatigue, or fibromyalgia.
I would like to know how other nurses have coped with their own illness and their nursing careers.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Last time I looked definitely a boy:D
it was the others (the other male helo/fire&rescue crew) who had the PE cos I was also the most photogenic !!!!
I'm from africa....as in,where men are men and women are glad LoL
Nows that the manic side.........:rotfl:
But yes I think that there are depressive BPMD and manic BPMD people and by and large I fall into the manic side -which can be well "hidden" in EMS/ER setting........so when I feel that black dog of depression at the door I'm very aware of it and start my 'taking-care-of-myself' program.........and in truth I've always been able to get help if very low....its my smart manic mouth and sometimes total disregard for my safety thats causes problems in my life.......but I figure its the only life I have.................as my local chaplain says,the longest queue in heaven is going to be at the "ASK WHY? here" desk.
LOVE MANIA!!! Get lots done. People enjoy being around me. Life...is wonderful. Sometimes I manage to get into a little trouble but I usually am able to talk my way out of it. It's those depression demons that are killers . I work hard to stay on the drugs but when the depression strikes, I dump them in hopes of becoming at least a little normal and sometimes hypomanic. This causes some people concern but so far so good.
In clinicals most students think I'm kinda off the wall but they do show respect because while they're busy gagging, staring that the stage IV decubitus, I'm holding the man's hand, telling him what we're doing and what the weather's like. Then I help pack the wound. I think we just feel the person in that sick body and communicate with them, while GUMs focus on the sickness itself. We know to Hate the illness, love the person.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
LOVE MANIA!!! Get lots done. People enjoy being around me. Life...is wonderful. Sometimes I manage to get into a little trouble but I usually am able to talk my way out of it. It's those depression demons that are killers . I work hard to stay on the drugs but when the depression strikes, I dump them in hopes of becoming at least a little normal and sometimes hypomanic. This causes some people concern but so far so good.
Fuzzy
"Fuzzy", THAT'S an interesting name!
I definitely prefer my hypomania but then of course worrying that it will go too high kinda spoils it. Anyway, I love that I can get my housework done and write a little bit, and the bitter edge is gone from everything.
I've been sick since a year ago October, couple hypomanic episodes but mostly depression - If I could bang my head on something for about 20 minutes I think it would help ... sigh...
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
*** The MIs in this thread are a great bunch! ***
In clinicals most students think I'm kinda off the wall but they do show respect because while they're busy gagging, staring that the stage IV decubitus, I'm holding the man's hand, telling him what we're doing and what the weather's like. Then I help pack the wound. I think we just feel the person in that sick body and communicate with them, while GUMs focus on the sickness itself. We know to Hate the illness, love the person.
GUM's?
Yep you sound like how I am as a nurse. If there is a code and plenty of people, I'm the one reassuring the other patients.
I have severe depression that seems to come on go, along with panic attacks and severe anxiety. How I dealt with this? I turned to drugs, the easy way out...right. I have put 4 years of school and my family in jeopardy. I am currently on medication which i am taking correctly, attending AA and NA. I hope this experience will help me be a better nurse. I have always worked in med surg but I am thinking of working in a rehab facility. I just want to help others that have been thru what I have and show them there is a way out. I have made some horrible mistakes but I consider it more of a stumble not a fall. Nursing is my calling, I just have to decide what area I can best help people in.
Thank you all for posting. For years I have had ups and downs with generalized anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia. The last couple of years the panic attacks and agoraphobia have worsened to the point were I had to take a 12 month LOA from work. The psych MD said "Oh it is just menopause making your sx. worse"
I am actively looking for any home-based nursing opportunities and would appreciate any employment resources/tips, etc.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I have severe depression that seems to come on go, along with panic attacks and severe anxiety. How I dealt with this? I turned to drugs, the easy way out...right. I have put 4 years of school and my family in jeopardy. I am currently on medication which i am taking correctly, attending AA and NA. I hope this experience will help me be a better nurse. I have always worked in med surg but I am thinking of working in a rehab facility. I just want to help others that have been thru what I have and show them there is a way out. I have made some horrible mistakes but I consider it more of a stumble not a fall. Nursing is my calling, I just have to decide what area I can best help people in.
Michaela
Sounds good - I know that my "bad" experiences have been used for good, MANY times!
but I usually am able to talk my way out of it. It's those depression demons that are killers 
. I work hard to stay on the drugs but when the depression strikes, I dump them in hopes of becoming at least a little normal and sometimes hypomanic. This causes some people concern but so far so good.
If I could bang my head on something for about 20 minutes I think it would help ... sigh...
Liddle Noodnik
3,789 Posts
Sigh, I so miss my mania, LOL!