While visiting in the lounge one day, we discovered that every nurse there was on an anti-depressant.
I have had 'Treatment Resistant Depression' for about 20 years--as long as I've been a nurse. Now I am totally burned out, on major meds, and am seeking disability d/t depression/anxiety.
I beleive years of long hours, high stress, high expectations and little appreciation (from management, not patients) has contributed to this.
How many other jobs consider you a tratior b/c you call in sick? And trying to get off for a sick child is an unforgivable sin. How many other jobs want you to work overtime on the days you are scheduled, call you at all hours of the night or day when you are off, first pleading w/ you to come in, then laying a guilt trip on you if you say "NO!" And let's not forget the mandatory inservices and CEU's that take time away from your family.
If any profession should understand the importance of the individuals' physical, mental, social and spiritual self it should be nursing--after all we are taught in nursing school about treating the patient as a whole, not just a disease! Why don't we treat our staff the same way.
During this thread, there has been the analogy made between depression and any other illness, such as diabetes. You wouldn't tell a diabetic to just "snap out of it" for example. I am IDDM. From time to time at work, I've run to the candy machine, and popped in a few quarters to get a candy bar. It's always such an inconvenience to go into a coma at work! :) Invariably, someone will tell me (a nurse!), "you can't have that, you're a diabetic!" They say this while believing that sugar "causes" diabetes, and if I'd just not eat that candy bar, I'd be fine. (nevermind a blood sugar of 20!)
Well, I don't mean to talk about diabetes in this thread (except that there is a high incidence of depression with diabetes), but to point out that even in the nursing profession, many do not keep informed of the latest advances. Those who believe a diabetic shouldn't have sugar are operating at the 1950's philosophy when there wasn't any other treatments except not to eat!
Just as it is in depression. Medical advances and research continue at as astounding rate. I do agree that depression has a stigma attached to it. It is within our generation, or our parents' generation, when depression wasn't depression but "melancholia" and those people were put away in the State mental hospitals! These stigmas are from ignorance, not unkindness, even within the healthcare profession. Education! Education for ourselves and the public! We've got to get out of the 1950s with our thinking about depression and a host of other diseases.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
And don't forget the ever-popular "nervous breakdown".....that was what it was called when my grandmother went through a depressive episode back in the 1950s. I remember my mother telling me about it in a hush-hush tone when I was a young girl in the '60s, and it was just this terrible taboo, like the "funny uncle" and the 400-pound aunt on her side of the family and the alcoholics on my dad's side. My family was probably typical of the era, but when I look back I feel sad for all the "black sheep" on both sides, myself included. It wasn't until both parents had been gone for some time that I was able to bring my own problems out into the open and begin the healing process, and the others never got that chance. In addition to having depression, I'm also a recovering alcoholic----sober now for 10 years, 8 months, and 11 days, thank God!!----and I spent a lot of years feeling worthless. In fact, my life didn't really even start until I was well into my 30s; I went to college, got my nursing degree, and became a productive member of society all after the age of 35. I'm not "fixed" yet, but I'm a helluva lot closer to where I want to be in life than I was even a couple of years ago, when the depression started in again. Looking back, I think that was my first clue that I was going into perimenopause, because the hot flashes started coming about 6 months later (that's a story for another day, this one's already too long). Anyway, I'm glad that people are talking about this disorder now instead of acting as if it were something shameful, or as if it were some kind of lifestyle choice (who would CHOOSE to feel like pond scum??!) that we could change at will.
Sorry I've not taken the time to read all of these posts......just some of them. So far, I didn't see a post where anybody mentioned chemical/hormonal imbalences????
I've suffered with depression for most of my adult life. It comes and goes. Those of you who have been victims, you know what I'm talking about when I say that if it were 'just as simple as snapping out of it'...we would. Its like falling into a black hole....no sides to grab on to!!
I've just completed a national study for some 'new' meds due to come out......needless to say, I was one of thse that got the placebo.........yuck! They plan on Rx somethng to help and I must wait a week. I'm just sick of feeling so tired, blue and 'out of sorts'....I don't let it effect my job.....I can't....I love my job.....
I also suffer from Fibromyalgia and Arthritis.....Caring for others helps me take my mind off of myself for awhile.
We are not crazy just because we feel blue......we help others and sometimes we need others to care for us too!
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Thanks for your feedback, micro and Mamabear! I appreciate the encouragement and am glad to be where I am now, instead of where I was a year (or two, or ten) ago.
Well, since we're baring our souls in this thread . . .
Three weeks ago, nice doctor raised my Zoloft. God help me, this is the FIRST day I've felt good. Not great, mind you. Just good. Like I was even thinking about doing the dishes. Just thinking about it. Days like today give me a little hope. Thanks, you guys, all of you, for joining in on this thread.
micro, RN
1,173 Posts
"We are not alone"
"God forbid the neighbors, found out we were anything but perfect."
"I am not so sure that people will ever accept depression for what it truly is..."
just reading and admiring my fellow posters here....
thx for sharing so openly, because we need each other in this world..............
now to add my not so profound, but from experience quote........
"Prozac is not a happy pill"
neither is life fair or always happy
But that is not what we are talking about here.....
We are talking about real people with real depression which involved a biochemical imbalance........
We do not relish it, love it, but we do live with it......and sometimes it is controlled and we :)
good day,
micro
stigmas, stigmas, stigmas.......
all i see is stigmas......
bust those stigmas down........