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.
Things are going well. We leave soon for warmth and sun. DH now drug free and happy to be so. I am dealing with the fast cycling and know it will get better when we get going.
I am sleeping better this week and that always helps. DD coming tomorrow to say good bye. Sad to be far away from her as she has B-P II also. I have been able to be her back up. She can do it, it is something I need to remember daily. I have seen her a real mess and worry it could happen again. She does have a back up plan if life gets too far out of control for her. I am glad she was able to discuss it with me.
Long story short. Life is good. Ready for the next chapter in my life.
Well I'm on Geodon now. Talk about a wild ride. At least I not gaining a half a ton of weight or sleeping 23 out of 24 hours on it. However I have been crawling out of my skin a bit and quite manic which I guess can happen in small doses. However things are getting better.
Fuzzy, who has a really clean house, a clean yard and is very happy at work because she can't stop moving:chuckle
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Things are going well. We leave soon for warmth and sun. DH now drug free and happy to be so. I am dealing with the fast cycling and know it will get better when we get going.
I am sleeping better this week and that always helps. DD coming tomorrow to say good bye. Sad to be far away from her as she has B-P II also. I have been able to be her back up. She can do it, it is something I need to remember daily. I have seen her a real mess and worry it could happen again. She does have a back up plan if life gets too far out of control for her. I am glad she was able to discuss it with me.
Long story short. Life is good. Ready for the next chapter in my life.
Wonderful, it sounds like! (((((((((((( aky )))))))) please stay in touch!
BTW does your screen name have anything to do with your dx?
xo
Well I'm on Geodon now. Talk about a wild ride. At least I not gaining a half a ton of weight or sleeping 23 out of 24 hours on it. However I have been crawling out of my skin a bit and quite manic which I guess can happen in small doses. However things are getting better.
Fuzzy, who has a really clean house, a clean yard and is very happy at work because she can't stop moving:chuckle
Oo please be careful, sounds a little like akathesia which I had w/ a few med - esp the Geodon which made me want to jump thru a window to make that crawling out of my skin feeling STOP. Be safe. :) your doc can either lower your dose, prescribe something to tx the akathesia, or change you to another med. And, as you said, the s/e sometimes resolve themselves w/ time. Not advising, just sharing what worked for me. Actually I had a major hospitalization due to the Geodon's akathesia s/e. I feel for you Fuzzy! xo
Wonderful, it sounds like! (((((((((((( aky )))))))) please stay in touch!
BTW does your screen name have anything to do with your dx?
xo
Now in desert for the winter. Great sun and feel good. DD having some problems and calls crying at times, but can get back on track with some encouragement. DH probably has meniscus tear and is back on narcs. Both of us hate it but he is doing OK so far.
My name is a reflection of one of my passions, crocheting. Right now not doing any because of my need to R&R. Have afghan started. Usually make toys for Christmas, but doubt I will do any this year. Teddy bears are my favorite but I don't have the patience yet to count each stitch.
Money is tight, as it is for all who are retired. I know I could get a job but don't feel up to it now. DH can't work due to his injuries. Stress is always present for all of us so I don't get too upset by all this. Mostly I just focus on keeping healthy and learning how to do everything necessary to live as we do. This is mostly because I suspect DH will have need of further surg. and will be out of commission to keep our little place going.
I have fewer bad moments than good so I am blessed.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Now in desert for the winter. Great sun and feel good. DD having some problems and calls crying at times, but can get back on track with some encouragement. DH probably has meniscus tear and is back on narcs. Both of us hate it but he is doing OK so far.
((((((((((((((AKY ))))))))))) Still praying for all y'all.
Boy it's tough especially December, here's hoping you are all blessed beyond measure!
I've been away for awhile. It's been a rough few months, and I just wanted to check back in. I have bipolar I, rapid cycling, mixed state, and after I had gallbladder surgery I ended up in the mother of all mixed states. Anesthesia and lack of meds from throwing up post op I suspect. Anyhow, I took a LOA from my job as a DON, and checked myself into a psych unit before something horrible happened. I'm back to work now (I was out 3 weeks), on a whole new set of meds (Geodon and Tegretol) and am slowly putting my life back on track. I am so blessed to have a wonderful administrator and department head team who have my back, and support me 100%. Most touching were the CNAs who came up to me after I got back telling me how much they missed me and asking if I was ok. I'm one lucky woman-- (a) to be alive, and (b) to be able to work and live my life with this sometimes crushing disease.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I've been away for awhile. It's been a rough few months, and I just wanted to check back in. I have bipolar I, rapid cycling, mixed state, and after I had gallbladder surgery I ended up in the mother of all mixed states. Anesthesia and lack of meds from throwing up post op I suspect. Anyhow, I took a LOA from my job as a DON, and checked myself into a psych unit before something horrible happened. I'm back to work now (I was out 3 weeks), on a whole new set of meds (Geodon and Tegretol) and am slowly putting my life back on track. I am so blessed to have a wonderful administrator and department head team who have my back, and support me 100%. Most touching were the CNAs who came up to me after I got back telling me how much they missed me and asking if I was ok. I'm one lucky woman-- (a) to be alive, and (b) to be able to work and live my life with this sometimes crushing disease.
Wonderful, it sounds like! (((((((((((( aky )))))))) please stay in touch!
BTW does your screen name have anything to do with your dx?
xo
Oo please be careful, sounds a little like akathesia which I had w/ a few med - esp the Geodon which made me want to jump thru a window to make that crawling out of my skin feeling STOP. Be safe. :) your doc can either lower your dose, prescribe something to tx the akathesia, or change you to another med. And, as you said, the s/e sometimes resolve themselves w/ time. Not advising, just sharing what worked for me. Actually I had a major hospitalization due to the Geodon's akathesia s/e. I feel for you Fuzzy! xo
I have akasthisia from my Geodon as well, although not as severe as what I had with Abilify. I'll probably end up on Cogentin, considering I haven't been able to tolerate any of the other AAPs. It can be managed.
I have akasthisia from my Geodon as well, although not as severe as what I had with Abilify. I'll probably end up on Cogentin, considering I haven't been able to tolerate any of the other AAPs. It can be managed.
I missed you. Great to have you back. Any thing out of the usual can set us off, surg is especially difficult. Glad that you knew what to do and were not afraid to do it. I hate ak side effects. l hope they can get them under control soon.
DH is in hosp. with pneumonia so my life is a little out of control now. Little sleep. I know that is a recipe for disaster for me. We also have a dog that acts like a recalcitrant 2-3 yr old. She also has bad abandonment issues so having him away is hard on her, as well. She was ready to charge the hospital to get him back yesterday. Fortunately she is only 25 lbs. so I can keep her under control.
Keep doing what they tell you. I will be keeping you in my prayers.
I'm new to this particular board. I've been depressed for about 37 years and only recently got bad enough to be hospitalized(I was suicidal.) Turns out I have bipolar. Greaaaaat. Just what I wanted to hear. They put me on a slew of meds and I was out for about 6wks--I'm a school nurse. It's a high-stress job, we have about 900 students. anyway, since my hospitalization I find that i'm on the edge of exploding nearly all the time. I can't get my psych to consider my meds--I was not like this last year! I'm just about to totally alienate my family and i get anxious every time I think about going to work.
I guess my question would be: How do you all manage your moods when you're not well-controlled? I have an appt with a new psych, but not until January. In the meantime, I thrash on.
I hope I can make it to the end of the school year. I've already decided to change schools, if I don't quit school nursing altogether. My big problem is, I HAVE to work. My DH is disabled and my 13yo son is disabled. But I hate working full-time. I feel like I have lost my footing at home. I no longer know where things are in the kitchen(DH is a SAHD), we're eating weird things for supper (Asparagus Lasagna, I kid you not:icon_roll) and our laundry is going to turn pink any day now. I used to work part time and I loved the home-making part of my life. Now it's all work, all caregiving, all the time. No fun, all mad, all manic all the time.
Sheesh. I haven't had more that 3 okay days since September.
For me having support is one of the most important pieces. DH and DD are mine. Both have their own problems but always help when I tell them I need help. There are in person support groups for people with MI. This forum is also a huge help to me.
When I was diagnosed I hated the label. Now I am glad I can hang a handle on what causes me to be the way I am. I still hate that I have MI, I can feel sorry for myself, if I want to. It is hard work to spend the effort with a psych that is willing to work with you. It is far easier to spend time worrying about pink underwear that has not happened yet. Keep laughing about DH efforts. He really is trying. My DH efforts are sometimes trying to me.
Finding the right combo of drugs is tricky. Just check out some of the posts from many of us. Hang in there Jan. will be here soon.
In the mean time- Is DH open to suggestions? Can you use that excess energy to write menus with him? Does he understand, accept your diagnosis?
Keep coming back here. It helps to connect with the rest of us.
I'm new to this particular board. I've been depressed for about 37 years and only recently got bad enough to be hospitalized(I was suicidal.) Turns out I have bipolar. Greaaaaat. Just what I wanted to hear. They put me on a slew of meds and I was out for about 6wks--I'm a school nurse. It's a high-stress job, we have about 900 students. anyway, since my hospitalization I find that i'm on the edge of exploding nearly all the time. I can't get my psych to consider my meds--I was not like this last year! I'm just about to totally alienate my family and i get anxious every time I think about going to work.
I guess my question would be: How do you all manage your moods when you're not well-controlled? I have an appt with a new psych, but not until January. In the meantime, I thrash on.
I hope I can make it to the end of the school year. I've already decided to change schools, if I don't quit school nursing altogether. My big problem is, I HAVE to work. My DH is disabled and my 13yo son is disabled. But I hate working full-time. I feel like I have lost my footing at home. I no longer know where things are in the kitchen(DH is a SAHD), we're eating weird things for supper (Asparagus Lasagna, I kid you not:icon_roll) and our laundry is going to turn pink any day now. I used to work part time and I loved the home-making part of my life. Now it's all work, all caregiving, all the time. No fun, all mad, all manic all the time.
Sheesh. I haven't had more that 3 okay days since September.
Newly diagnosed, and your psych won't see you until January? You should be being seen every week to two weeks, and getting your meds tweaked based on how you're feeling. Have you considered changing? I personally love psychiatriac ARNPs--I've been with mine for 6 years. It's not necessary to feel crappy with the right care, I think.
For me, transparency has been really important. My co-workers know I have bipolar disorder, and I'll just flat out tell them I'm having a weird day, when I am. Having someone know about it, not sucking it up, and having someone care about how I feel is important to my stability.
Also, have you given any thought to taking a leave of absence from work (you have 12 weeks FMLA), and getting into a partial hosptialization program that can help you get some of the "how am I going to live with this" solved. Worked for me a few years ago.
Working with this disease sucks. I run a 120 bed short term rehab SNF and some days I wish I could just bag it and be disabled. But ultimately, what I am is a nurse, and I would be lost without that, and my job. I expect that eventually, I'll have to find something less stressful, but I'm not living that far in the future...
TopazLover, BSN, RN
1 Article; 728 Posts
Things are going well. We leave soon for warmth and sun. DH now drug free and happy to be so. I am dealing with the fast cycling and know it will get better when we get going.
I am sleeping better this week and that always helps. DD coming tomorrow to say good bye. Sad to be far away from her as she has B-P II also. I have been able to be her back up. She can do it, it is something I need to remember daily. I have seen her a real mess and worry it could happen again. She does have a back up plan if life gets too far out of control for her. I am glad she was able to discuss it with me.
Long story short. Life is good. Ready for the next chapter in my life.