Nursing & Depression

[carpe_de_em]

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.

Anyone out there in the same boat?

[sanakruz, ADN]

1.Depression is a real, legitimate illness.2 Nursing is a dysfunctional profession. 3. I'm not sure of the stats, but I believe blackjack dealers have the highest rate of suicide as a professional group. Alcohol/drugs play a part in 90% of completed suicides. How many of us have had a drink after work to cope?... We are not bad or weak. We have got to make some changes in our health care delivery system before we will heal.

[micro, RN]

psychnurse,

thx for your comments, you make such valid points.....

maybe as time goes along, our profession will change and we will be given the respect and the "respect" that we deserve.....

but until then, we must respect ourselves and do what we must do for ourselves.........individually, then as a whole.....

you have to care for #1 to care for anybody else..........

I am #1 in my book,

micro

[mattsmom81]

Just returning from a 'major meltdown' myself and can really relate to what everyone has said in this very insightful thread.

I got to the point I wasn't sleeping...up pacing all night...yet exhausted (???) My pain and health problems just sent me into a downhill spiral. Also found out I have a chronic Epstein Barr infection which is now easing off..and my thyroid is getting happy again after a lobectomy. :) So...those who are depressed should have a complete physical workup before taking antidepressants, I feel strongly.

My personal feeling is depression is a chemical imbalance--hereditary---and a 'trigger' (or two or three) sets it off in predisposed folks. I agree that meds and therapy together, (as well as spiritual healing) is the best approach and sure worked to get me through it. I am off all my 'pills' now and seem to be on the mend physically and spiritually. My heart goes out to all who have been or are where I was and I'd be glad to correspond with anyone who needs a friendly ear.

Nurses with depression...I agree with so many comments. I'd like to add one thing: I think 'nice' girls(and boys) are told it is more blessed to give than receive. We are told to 'give' to feel better, and 'help others' to help ourselves. I feel those of us who have given generously of ourselves (and maybe feel used and abused for it) wonder WHY we're not feeling wonderful???? We're doing what we 'should', right? Why are we feeling badly then...must be our heart is not in the right place, we're 'not doing enough, or something is 'wrong' with us or etc... ya'll get the picture. I think we are too hard on ourselves and push ourselves way the healthy limits and boundaries. It's easy for nurses to get sucked into maryrdom and hard for us to admit we're fallible.

Luv ya'll...great thread...hit me right in my heart. :kiss

[sanakruz, ADN]

You are lucky, my dear! Best wishes

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Nice thread. It's good to hear from other nurses on this topic.

Hang in there sphinx...

[sphinx, BSN, RN]

I'm hangin'....by a thread, hahaha!

[micro, RN]

l

l

l

l

:-)

Hey, all. One day at a time. Do what you gotta do.

A rhetorical question, why does it seem that in "our core" we are down on ourselves, even if we are feeling better?

Chemical imbalance, learned "bad stuff", etc.

:-) micro :-(

:-) micro

[carpe_de_em]

Depression is engufing my life. I make myself get up, shower and put on make-up. Sometimes I have to go out. Everything exhausts me. I am trying to walk daily while the fall weather is nice. So many chores await my attention, they will have to keep waiting. My lkife is unmanageable and I fee powerless to change it.

[sanakruz, ADN]

CARPE DE EM-

You can change it, but a symptom of the illness thats gripping you is a feeling of helplessness. There is help available. Its usually not free, but is confidential and effective. Make your

self call the county mental health. You must believe that is not hopeless, that change is possible. Its also often painful at first. It can get better, trust me on this.

[mario_ragucci]

Try to imagine with you during times of depression is you but you are a young child. What would that kid say to you? Would the kid make you laugh? Imagine you are that kid and try to make yourself feel new and playful. Certainly that kid wouldn't want you, it's older self, to be sad and gloomy. Right? You are what you are.

[fab4fan]

Originally posted by TheLionessRN

I have lived with depression since I was a teenager. I started taking Prozac in 93 or thereabouts, and was told I had to come off after 9 months. Subsequent rounds of the med were less effective. My new doctor put me on Effexor, but I was not regular with the med, and ended up asking to be admitted when it got too much to bear. I was only in the hospital for a day and a half, and was so intensely uncomfortable with the general population that I begged to be discharged. The doc did increase my Effexor dosage, and gave me the speech about treating depression just like diabetes and to stop being non-compliant. About a year ago, I realized that, if I missed a dose of Effexor, I would go into withdrawal. I want to warn you all that, while it isn't addictive, there is a withdrawal with the med. I got switched over to Celexa a few weeks ago, and only had about 3 days of withdrawal symptoms, luckily. The doc called it a panic attack, or hyperventilation, because I got numb around my mouth, and on the tip of my tongue. I thought I was having a seizure.

I really wonder if others out there have experienced any problems with Effexor.

I was on a different SSRI for an off-label use and developed the same sx. I was diagnosed with "serotonin syndrome"...wound up in ICU for three days.

Happened again with a different SSRI...started doing a little research and found that there are some people who do not tolerate SSRI's and develop serotonin syndrome. It can be very serious, and part of the problem is that it is often misdiagnosed as a panic attack.

It was terrible; I never want to go through anything like that again. Your case sounds almost word for word like my experience. Please be very careful about taking any SSRI's in the future...for some people, it gets worse with each episode (the second time it happened to me, I was in the hospital for a week).

I think it is funny, not in a ha ha way....I read those s/s of depression, and the suggestion to get help immediately if you have a suicide plan. I developed my suicide plan years ago. I haven't ever acted on it, but it is there, like an exit sign, just in case things get bad again.

[fab4fan]

I'm not sure what happened there, my post got buried in the middle of the quote. Anyway, my part is about serotonin syndrome.