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.
this is my third time trying to get through nursing school. i have a learning disability, bipolor and major depression (figured out all three in my 20s). i am making it through this time now that i know what is wrong and how to work with it. my family is full of etoh abusers and mental illness (both with out treatment) so i had to build my own support system ( hard for a private and shy person- but worth it). it is nice to know that you can BECOME an rn even with a mental illness. thank you all for sharing.
Geez, my powers of observation are really slipping. I just noticed this thread. I suffer from PTSD, and major depression. I've had them ever since childhood, after witnessing the horrible physical and emotional abuse my mom endured at the hands of my dad.(this happened in the 70's when resources for DV victims didn't exist) As a kid I buried my terrible memories, and tried to live life as a regular kid, only to have the repression come back and bite me in the butt in my 20's and early 30's. I am 35 now, and it's taken me this long to come to terms with what happened to my mom and me. In 2002 I finally had to come full circle when my mom was critically ill for months. When she finally came home from strengthening at the nursing home, and I had just gotten my LPN license after juggling school, and my sick mom being in and out of the hospital 5 different times before Labor Day 2002. She was home for ONE DAY, and the very next day, my dad yelled at my mom for no reason, and that just pushed all my buttons. I told him he shouldn't yell at her after all she'd been thru, and if he did it again he could get the **** out of the house. 3 hours later, he was lying in the yard, dead of a massive MI. I tried CPR, but was not successful of course. After all of this, I just fell into a downward spiral. Finally realized that if I were to live I had to get some kind of help. Went on Paxil 37.5, and it has helped me out. Did some backslididing and stopped taking it. Was okay at first, but fell really hard again. Thoughts got really dark, and I knew I had to start taking them again. My friends, My beloved mom, and my faith keep me going when things get tough. Whatever you do, NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF. You're too valuable for that. Someone may need you and not even know it yet.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I can't believe it either.
Well that was interesting LOL.
Nice to see people on this thread again, it's been quiet for some time. Anyway, HULLLO fellow Registered Nuts et al (ha ha)
Doing MUCH better, very suicidal sometimes this winter. Now with the sun going down later and later I am feeling excited about the springtime! Anyway, good to see y'all - take care and God bless you!
You never know what you can overcome until you take the steps to do it. I have a very mild case of ADHD which has been a life save for me in a way because I always have so much to do and have the energy or stamina because of it. I went off the Straterra because it was making me sleepy and I don't have time for all of that with nursing school. It is difficult but you can do it. You cannot over tax yourself and have to keep yourself eating well, sleeping well and lots of good habits to beat your odds. But it can be done. My family is supportive now but not always in the past. I have a few good friends. The story of your success is written, you have gone back 3 times, not easy and you are pointed in the right direction. Everything in this life is a day at a time....don't look back at your family...it is the past not the future or it will bring you down. There are people that will try to complicate things so you won't be successful. Stay focused, be well, and good luck.:)
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
hi
thanks for the thread, this really helped :)
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{SMOoch}}}}}}}}}}}}]]]
See what happens Mont when you open up to people? They LOVE YOU!
xo
(Well, ok, they don't ALL love you .... some might be MAD when you do - it just means they are beginning to see something of themselves?)
Don't mind me, I'm babbling - I played nurse today - took a friend for a colonoscopy (the poor thing) and then my son to the doctors. THEN had to take him to the HOSPITAL for chest pains and shortness of breath! HOO BOY!
mont
22 Posts
this is my third time trying to get through nursing school. i have a learning disability, bipolor and major depression (figured out all three in my 20s). i am making it through this time now that i know what is wrong and how to work with it. my family is full of etoh abusers and mental illness (both with out treatment) so i had to build my own support system ( hard for a private and shy person- but worth it). it is nice to know that you can BECOME an rn even with a mental illness. thank you all for sharing.