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.
For a long time antidepressants were for acute depression. The mental health and medical field have finally opened their eyes to the fact that chronic depression is a very viable condition. I have been on Effexor for 12 years, before that it was Prozac and Wellbutrin. I have come to accept the fact that I will always take meds and I don't really think about it anymore. The only drawback that makes me hesitate is the fact that I gained 65 lbs. on Effexor and can't get it off. You know what? I would rather be fat and happy than skinny and suicidal.
Amen to that, nancynurse05! I also gained alot of weight. But the alternative doesn't even compare. And there is a very good side to this: You learn to really work on your spirit and develop deep qualities.
I've been an RN since 82 and was diagnosed in college with bipolar disorder.
Fortunately, medication works extremely well for me and I've worked without problem. (I do avoid night shift.) I'm responding to your concerns about ECT which I totally understand, but early on it took ECT to get things back on track for me. It worked beautifully and based on the difficulty you're having and how long it's hanging around, I'd say go for it.
I think it was 1979 when I had ECT and it stabilized things and like I say, medicaton has done the trick since then. Good luck and God bless.
I'm an RN (since 81) and have had difficulty with depression, anxiety, and bipolar illness. Many times I've had to take extended "vacations" and I wish I could have considered it like a "flare up" of any other medical condition! I have to say that all things considered I have done very well. I have found my niche in geriatrics and when I am well it fits pretty well.
Anyway, I have been out of work since Oct 03. Tried several meds and nothing seems to be getting me out of the depression! I am so sick of it!
Doc is now talking about ECT which scares the living .... out of me...
Echoing Wannalearn's advice- get to a reproductive endocrinologist yesterday. PCOS can cause insulin resistance, obesity, infertility and cause you to lose estrogen's protective effects against against cardiac disease. All those extra circulating estrogens you have are converted to androgens in the body. That's why PCOS pts. often have facial and other more typically male hair growth patterns as well as the male cardiac profile. It can be treated. You can likely (barring other problems) have kids. Fix what you can fix; it feels good to take steps in the right direction. It may lighten your load a bit. I don't have PCOS, but I am bipolar and it is a struggle at times. Good luck to you.
I am new to this site ... I thought I would share my story. I have generalized anxiety, PTSD, test anxiety, and panic disorder .... I was in a nursing school and doing well, but I had an instructor who decided that, I don't know .... didn't like my hair color or something (she didn't know about my anxieties, but just didn't like me for some unknown reason) ... and from the first day on she tried to intimidate me and make feel stupid, and quit. She would berate me in front of client's and classmates ... the worse being the time she was demonstrating the pulse ox monitor to us and put it on my finger. My pulse was 126 ... she made a rude comment about my being anxious, in front of my patient and all my classmates. Every week was something different, each week escalating from the week before. Although clinical was only 8 hours long, I was having mild to moderately severe panic attacks lasting 26+ hours. At the end of the semester, she pulled me into a room and said "I know that you have recieved A's on everything, and did all the zero-credit work, but we are failing you anyway. You need to change your major or go somewhere else but you will NEVER be a nurse". Well, at first I changed my major believing that I really could not do it ... and I became depressed because nursing has been my heart since as long as I can remember. I took the summer, got my anxiety under control and switched schools. I am in my second semester at the new school and have yet to have a panic attack at clinical. The instructor that I have now knows that I have "some anxiety", but doesn't know the entire story. He is really very helpful and wants me to succeed.
My parents believe that 'it's all in my head' and that i should 'just get over it'. To them 'it's no big deal' and it shouldn't cause me any problems. Because I am covered under their insurance I am only able to attend the counseling at the college. It really has helped and I am grateful that they provide that service, but my counselor is unable to prescribe medications, so I have overcome my anxiety at clinical without the help of medications. I still have panic attacks but I have learned to control them so when I do get the, they are not as severe and I am able to get them under control much quicker.
It is possible to get through nursing school with mental illnesses. I am proof of that!!! Good luck to all you fellow nursing majors!! :)
I hope that you can make something out of the above web sites!
I am mentally ill myself and I used to be a nurse!
I could go back to work but my problem is memory -- I have a very bad memory where it was not so bad but then it got worse really bad!
Now I barely remember anything except I can still preach though and that is a good sign for me!
Kathy
kpop
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..
I've been an RN since 82 and was diagnosed in college with bipolar disorder.
Fortunately, medication works extremely well for me and I've worked without problem. (I do avoid night shift.) I'm responding to your concerns about ECT which I totally understand, but early on it took ECT to get things back on track for me.
I so appreciate your feedback!
I am still struggling with the basics - even showering and mouth care, sigh... I do go out every day to get my dunkin donuts coffee (LOL) but it's drive thru. I am just basically avoiding people and responsibilities, other than that I'm fine (ever hear what F.I.N.E. stands for? Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional)
Anyway - I have just been running away from the whole thing - but from what I hear - maybe ECT is for the best. I have not heard one negative and I have talked to quite a few!
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
My parents believe that 'it's all in my head' and that i should 'just get over it'. To them 'it's no big deal' and it shouldn't cause me any problems.
Hi Tigger girl, thank you for posting! I identify especially re my family thinking it's in your head. Well this year I was hospitalized twice, and in outpatient treatment 4-5 times, plus two siblings are now mentally ill, so they are starting to get it, my dad especially. Plus he is finally willing to read the literature, and he has a new wife who has several years of Al-anon under her belt (boy she has worked wonders).
I agree that you can get through just about anything if you want it, KUDOS for going to another school! That other school, MAN - what is wrong with HELPING A HUMAN BEING? If she saw you had trouble, why couldn't she reach out instead of brush off? Sigh...
Anyway - keep up the good work and - you know even tho it is stigmatized mental illness is a fact of life for SO MANY NURSES! Do a "search" on this site and you will find more than half a dozen THREADS on it! not to mention the individual posts scattered throughout!
Wow !!! I am amazed that everyone is so open about their mental "issues".
I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for years, and have occasionally experienced manic symptoms. I have only been diagnosed with depression in the past. Although undiagnosed, I also believe that I have Adult ADD. Looking back on the past difficulties during my childhood years in school, I believe that I have always had it, but a diagnosis of ADD was really rare when I was growing up. I have been so afraid that I would not be able to even make it through nursing school with these problems. After reading the entries under this formum, I have new hope.
I have taken some of the pre-req's for nursing school, and even had to withdraw from a local nursing school due to illness and stress. I have heard so many horror stories about that particular school ( example: "they eat their young" ) For years they were the only nursing school in town, but now they are getting some competition, so hopefully they will be forced to drop the advasarial approach. I am now awaiting for the local community college to start their program. They have a huge new campus so I hope that it will be soon, while my pre-reqs credits are still transferrable.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Wow !!! I am amazed that everyone is so open about their mental "issues".
I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for years, ... the advasarial approach. I am now awaiting for the local community college to start their program. They have a huge new campus so I hope that it will be soon, while my pre-reqs credits are still transferrable.
Hi Tinkerbell -
Yeah, I was surprised too! Like I said, there are at least a half dozen threads like these!
Ya wonder - are there so many because nursing aggravates our illness? or is it because people with our illness are more likely to be caretakers/caregivers?
anyway, if YOU have a diagnosis of mental illness, or learning disability, that is documented, you may want to contact your disability organization (would that be ADA?) to see if you need or can have accommodations to help you through. Of course you then have to weigh whether they truly WOULD treat you fairly at the school, regardless of the "law". Nursing school is a very spooky organization, well, I'm not saying it right. Let's just say they seem to have an independent governing system ... most nurses from my era anyway had to go thru a very interesting initiation to pass muster - not unlike Simon on the American Idol show - you are what they like, or (shrug)...
All right, I am meandering. Just wanted to say hi and that it is possible that you will want to explore having some accommodations to facilitate your learning.
Yeah, I was surprised too! Like I said, there are at least a half dozen threads like these!
Ya wonder - are there so many because nursing aggravates our illness? or is it because people with our illness are more likely to be caretakers/caregivers?
anyway, if YOU have a diagnosis of mental illness, or learning disability, that is documented, you may want to contact your disability organization (would that be ADA?) to see if you need or can have accommodations to help you through. Of course you then have to weigh whether they truly WOULD treat you fairly at the school, regardless of the "law". Nursing school is a very spooky organization, well, I'm not saying it right. Let's just say they seem to have an independent governing system ... most nurses from my era anyway had to go thru a very interesting initiation to pass muster - not unlike Simon on the American Idol show - you are what they like, or (shrug)...
All right, I am meandering. Just wanted to say hi and that it is possible that you will want to explore having some accommodations to facilitate your learning.
xo
Hi Zoeboboey
Thanks for the advice. I may have to check into that. I would not trust the "nursing school from Hell" with any information about a mental issue. They would try and use it against me, (ex: tell me that I couldn't possibly make it through nursing school with my "issues", or worse). Obviously,from reading the postings, people with mental disabilities can make it through nursing school and become nurses.
I have also been told, in the past (from a therapist) that I am co-dependent.
Aren't co-dependents supposed to be good caregivers ?
I would like to know how other nurses have coped with their own illness and their nursing careers. Severina
Wow! You are awesome! Coming to terms with a mental illness is difficult enough, but I feel that those of us who have problems with depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc... put ourselves though a lot more because "we should know" better. It's funny, but it feels like other health care workers look at us differently if they know we have a mental health problem. Patients are usually grateful that someone is there with them speaking the same "language" that they speak.
There are so many roles that RNs can fill in nursing and health care, and I admire you for finding the spot that you are well equipped to handle and that you do it so well. You are a great example. Thank you for your post!
ARNPsomeday
124 Posts
Amen to that, nancynurse05! I also gained alot of weight. But the alternative doesn't even compare. And there is a very good side to this: You learn to really work on your spirit and develop deep qualities.