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.
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Mario! I am going to have to take you by the shoulders and shake you!
What have I done for you to threaten violence to my spinal cord. Do you feel combative? :-)
I am gonna swan song out now before I get picked off. Just kidding. I apologize for myself on behald of myself and wheel always be friends Youda (from star wars?)
Youda- ativan is not a narcotic- Just because the DEA classifies as such is meaningless- The DEA has no place in nursing! I personally resent having to "count for" them each shift change, as it takes time away from the bedside...
But I must add that with a combination of anxiety and depression (which are often comorbid), "thinking" too much is absolutely the WRONG therapy. When you're already obsessing over something, throwing a drill instructor into the mix is not the right approach. Personal experience.
Thank you, abrenrn for speaking your mind.
Mattsmom--we've missed you!!!!
Thanks, Karen...missed ya'll too and glad to be back. :)
Excellent point and I 'resemble your remarks'...LOL! :chuckle
It has helped me greatly to meditate on light, encouraging (some spiritual) topics vs a hard and heavy approach. Paxil helped me deal with the obsessing I was doing...also helped me get some rest....and my therapist helps me with the perfectionism that many nurses inflict upon themselves. I have to keep working at it but I am winning the battle!.
Hugs to all...great topic and points all around. :kiss
Mario dear, once again you have sought to offer advice on a topic you have not been educated on...and this is why you are experiencing some flack here from those who are walking the walk.
Asking questions is OK...but you really need to refrain from advice giving until you've finished your nurses' training and develop some insight....and shouldn't comment on 'the blues' in the same vein as clinical depression, cuz they are two different animals.
You will learn about this in school and we ALL wish you the best as you learn and grow in nursing.
Platitudes from the less experienced to the more experienced can draw hospitility...and possibly are behind much of the 'eating of young' phenom out there, so bee aware.
Just contemplating the meaning of life, life, and life.
Just rambling on.
I am very impressed with this thread and the threaders that are knowledgeable and also sharing enough to be themselves to post of their own experiences to help in educating, breaking the stigma of mental health issues, mental illness, and to let another person "who may be suffering" that they are not alone.
I, for one, am thankful that the medical profession has started to and in some areas and practices are out of the dark ages, where such is not talked about and it is only the case of the "vapors", etc.
"Singing the blues" for me is and can be a good day.......and a day when I know that medication is working and life is going all right. That is me, in an almost "normal" state of wellness. People are people with their variabilities and different personalities.
Severe depression is being unable to stand up, hardly able to have the energy to turn over in bed, fear of anything and anybody, isolation. The list goes on. Medication is the only way to start the healing of this dangerous and serious disease process.
And in my case, this depression is definitely biochemical/physical and also tied into hormonal conditions(thyroid, postmenopause), alcoholism(another disease process that the stigma is out there about), childhood "crap"(time to get over it), and I also agree with the theory that there is also a genetic predisposition, in my case for depression.
Today, I am doing all right. Okay is very good for me. Prozac is my antidepressant. Only because I feel the need to help to break the stigma I am taking the "risk" of breaking my personal anonymity. One day at a time.
Way to serious these days.......time to lighten back up. Not so easy, but I is okay.............
Hey, did you hear the one about :)
nope it ain't that easy, but the :) moments are very nice.........
Youda- ativan is not a narcotic- Just because the DEA classifies as such is meaningless- The DEA has no place in nursing! I personally resent having to "count for" them each shift change, as it takes time away from the bedside...
OK. I hear you. But, I need a reference source here. Can you give me somewhere to look it up? I'm glad to learn anything new! Thanks!
Last week was Nat'l Depression Awareness week-( which I guess is why this thread is packing such a punch?) there is still too much stigma out there which stops people from getting help; especially people from cultural backrounds that are, well, macho. If only pulling one's self up by the bootstraps worked!!!! Of course we treat the whole person; but these new meds are very effective and generally well tolerated. The latest SSRI to be marketed is called Lexapro- new this month- Anybody seen it prescibed yet?
Just want to add my two cents to those of you who are bringing this information to the top. Thank you. This information is so valuable to all of us. Haven't heard of Lexapro yet; so glad to be on a site that brings us up to date and up to the minute. Youda, couldn't see your article, do you have a direct link?
T/Y
Any one with CFS? My daugter was diangnosed as depressed, in her third year at a major medical university, taking no summers off and working year round- quite a lot for a nineteen yo. States she is very tired, I realize this may be a symptom of depression, but could the depression be a symptom of CFS? Is there definitive labs for it? Is this Epstein Barr?
To access the articles, you have to be a registered user at http://www.medscape.com That's why I didn't link directly to the article; it wouldn't have worked if you haven't registered.
It's well worth registering, though. There are several articles on depression and other psych-related articles. All articles have expirations dates, so you can sure it's timely and recent information. And the BEST PART is that after you read any of the articles, you can get FREE CEU's for reading it!
Register, then click on CME (continuing medical units -- the site also has CME's for physicians), but will show what CEUs are available for nurses, too.
:p
sjoe
2,099 Posts
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