Nurses struggling with mental illness

Nurses Disabilities

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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.

Severina

I so agree. The minute another nurse hears that you are mentally ill, it's like you have the plague. The assistant

director refered to another patient as crazy looked at me then used a more politically correct term. I gave it up at

work one day that I was bipolar when I was depressed. I don't really regret it though. I'm tired of keeping it a

secret. It wasn't my fault that I ended up being bipolar.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I so agree. The minute another nurse hears that you are mentally ill, it's like you have the plague. The assistant

director refered to another patient as crazy looked at me then used a more politically correct term. I gave it up at

work one day that I was bipolar when I was depressed. I don't really regret it though. I'm tired of keeping it a

secret. It wasn't my fault that I ended up being bipolar.

It is a mixed blessing. Nice not to have to hide but there are those who will give you a hard time.

Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

I lost all my credibility 4 years ago after my diagnosis. It's a small hospital, talk gets around. There were some behavioral issues with me prior to the diagnosis, but even then, people respected me. I was a "senior" member in the ER, did charge a lot.

Now I work PACU, can't even get a full time position - unless I want to go back to med surg nights, that would wreak havoc on my insomnia issues.

It's a shame that those in the medical profession, stop caring when it's one of their own. For me is depression, PTSD, anxiety, and "functional agoraphobia" - I laugh at that one. I haven't been to a grocery store or drug store in years, hubby goes for me - holiday parties, NO WAY, can't look for another job because the closest hospital is nearly an hour away, I can barely drive around town, no way can I start over somewhere else. I'm not that far into my recovery.

Anyhow, good luck to everyone with a psyc diagnosis. I hope your place of employement is more supportive than mine.

Blessings to all

The veterinary field must be more compassionate. Maybe it's because we work with beings that can't talk and tell us where it hurts. Several years ago I was involuntarily committed to the state hospital. My boss showed up to the hearing along with two of my co-workers. When I got out, my job was waiting for me. Everyone was happy to have me back although it was hard for awhile. I have to say that everyone has been supportive of my problems and I don't let the bipolar become an excuse either.

There have been times that I have been tempted to go to nursing school mostly because of the pay and benefits. However, whenever I read about the lack of support that nurses have in the workplace, I change my mind. I now undertand why there is a nursing shortage. People who are treated badly will play somewhere else. People learn quickly that maney and benefits aren't everything. A caring supportive environment is what will keep people in the field. Right now, I'll continue to be the best certifed veterinary technician that I can be...bipolar or not.

Fuzzy

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

It's a shame that those in the medical profession, stop caring when it's one of their own.

The veterinary field must be more compassionate.

Very sad statements on the profession for sure. At the same time they don't want me in full mania taking care of their patients. They have to have some way to be sure I'm safe to take care of their people. There is no real screening or monitoring process in place. Privacy laws and HIPPA and all that, they can't really find anything out. So they end up blanketly saying "forget about it" if they do know.

Wish there was some way - to protect my livelihood - and to protect my patients should I become unaware I am incapacitated. Ya know?

Specializes in Psych, Med-Surg.

I can see your point. I don't know how comfortable I'd be knowing that my nurse has panic attacks some days before work. So far I've been getting to work though.

Does anyone have any suggestions for anxiety before work? I have to be exhausted to sleep. Even then, sometimes I replay any mistakes I've made the day before over and over in my head.

Thanks

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I can see your point. I don't know how comfortable I'd be knowing that my nurse has panic attacks some days before work. So far I've been getting to work though.

Does anyone have any suggestions for anxiety before work? I have to be exhausted to sleep. Even then, sometimes I replay any mistakes I've made the day before over and over in my head.

Thanks

I have the same problem sometimes. Ugh. I know that when I don't sleep right, eat right, play right, it affects my ability to perform on the job.

Ya know how some people say that anger is depression turned inward?

Sometimes I think my anxiety is HURT turned inward. Weird I know but when I deal w/ the pain in my life, when I stop hurting myself (by lack of sleep or eating garbage or giving away every ounce of extra energy) I have less anxiety.

How to sleep? there is a thread on sleep hygiene at: https://allnurses.com/health-stress-management/sleep-hygiene-257271.html

These are some of the things that help.

Also, I try to REALLY rely on God working THROUGH me - I make too many mistakes on my own but w/ God's leading and trying to follow HIS agenda I do a lot better. Not so much anxiety if HE is doing the work.

Unfortunately I often take over - and that is where the anxiety comes in.

Hope this helps some! :)

Back last summer I was diagnosed as having an anti-social personality disorder, an anxiety disorder and a mild form of a paranoi disorder. Of course, I know that how we present ourselves on the day of a psychological evaluation has everything to do with our diagnosis. I was having a really bad day on the day of the appointment, I did not handle the situation of having an upset stomach and an unexpectedly long testing time (4 hours) very well. If I could do it all over again I'm sure my diagnosis would have been much different. If I had to go in more time after that, though, they'd probably say I had a split personality disorder. :-)

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Back last summer I was diagnosed as having an anti-social personality disorder, an anxiety disorder and a mild form of a paranoi disorder. Of course, I know that how we present ourselves on the day of a psychological evaluation has everything to do with our diagnosis. I was having a really bad day on the day of the appointment, I did not handle the situation of having an upset stomach and an unexpectedly long testing time (4 hours) very well. If I could do it all over again I'm sure my diagnosis would have been much different. If I had to go in more time after that, though, they'd probably say I had a split personality disorder. :-)

You know this is a little different but - if I wear bright colors my shrink thinks I am manic! and drab or messy clothes, that I am depressed... Gee I feel like I manipulate him when I go to my sessions and dress to present my mood to him a certain way - it's like, hello, there is a person under here...

Anyway - you are quite right, that you do present differently on certain days. And I know I have gone in having a hard day before, and they assume that I am severely depressed. I've had to "instruct" my Dr. more than once that GRIEF is NORMAL, people have bad days, and PEOPLE GET SAD. I'm still not sure he gets it. It's amazing...

Good luck to you!

Hello All,

I have got admission into the BSN program and school is about to start. I am paying lot of money as out of state student. But, the thing making me nervous is my mental condition. I got the problem last summer. After treatment, I am perfectly normal. I still have to take pills everyday. Doctor said that it was more like schizophrenia. My doctor knows that I am going for Nursing and he doesn't have any problem.

I am still thinking that after spending lot of money and efforts, what happens if they does not give me work. Or does not even let me become registered nurse.

Any thoughts will be appreciated,

I am new to allnurses.com and just wanted to thank you for your honesty about your struggles. I am an RN who has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and I have had a long struggle with my nursing career. I just got fired from a job I should have quit 6 months ago, due to the stress level. I had to wait for 3 months to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, and during those 3 months everything just went from bad to worse. I moved here to be near my grandkids, I am divorced and have to support myself. Now I am worried that I am beng blacklisted. The bullying I experienced at this job was like nothing I ever experienced before. I hate the term they eat their young, but that is how I felt, only I'm not young anymore. How do I regain my self confidence. I had 136 hour of extended sick time accumulated after working harder than I ever thought I would, that my doctor did not recommend I use and less than a week later I was fired and subsequently lost the sick time. I could go on and on, I feel very isolated and without support. Can anyone offer sugestions before it is too late?

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Hello All,

I have got admission into the BSN program and school is about to start. I am paying lot of money as out of state student. But, the thing making me nervous is my mental condition. I got the problem last summer. After treatment, I am perfectly normal. I still have to take pills everyday. Doctor said that it was more like schizophrenia. My doctor knows that I am going for Nursing and he doesn't have any problem.

I am still thinking that after spending lot of money and efforts, what happens if they does not give me work. Or does not even let me become registered nurse.

Any thoughts will be appreciated,

(((((((((cutegalrx )))))))))) hope that things work out for you! I think it may vary state to state.

I am new to allnurses.com and just wanted to thank you for your honesty about your struggles. I am an RN who has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and I have had a long struggle with my nursing career. I just got fired from a job I should have quit 6 months ago, due to the stress level. I had to wait for 3 months to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, and during those 3 months everything just went from bad to worse. I moved here to be near my grandkids, I am divorced and have to support myself. Now I am worried that I am beng blacklisted. The bullying I experienced at this job was like nothing I ever experienced before. I hate the term they eat their young, but that is how I felt, only I'm not young anymore. How do I regain my self confidence. I had 136 hour of extended sick time accumulated after working harder than I ever thought I would, that my doctor did not recommend I use and less than a week later I was fired and subsequently lost the sick time. I could go on and on, I feel very isolated and without support. Can anyone offer sugestions before it is too late?

I still struggle with the self-confidence, I think the only suggestion I can offer is walk it out and pray much. Just ask God to put you where He would have you be. I know it is not easy. I also know I'm not much help :( Just that I have been there and done that and I feel like I am on my "last chance" here, just working part time and barely getting by sometimes (((((((((((seasonednrs123 )))))))))

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