Nursing & Depression

Nurses Stress 101

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  1. Nurses and Depression/Anxiety

    • 401
      I think the incidence of depression/anxiety is higher in nursing than other professions.
    • 264
      I feel depression/anxiety has interfered with my job performance.
    • 260
      I feel nursing has played a part in my depression
    • 23
      I feel administration is as supportive to nurses w/ depression/anxiety as w/ other diseases

460 members have participated

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?

As far as therapy goes, I'm not knocking it, or saying I'll never try it again, but if it's so effective, then why hasn't it been a bit helpful in the many years of depression? (And I've tried many therapists, etc). Also, with the hours I worked (uh, all day..........no time to fit in appointments, esp weekly ones) it's really tough. When I was in a therapy group last year it was tough getting there on time or at all cuz I'd get busy or stuck at a patient's house......then I didn't click with the therapist, and had nothing in common with the other members, whose problems seemed universes away from mine (non had ever been hospitalized, attempted suicide or ever did any form of self harm, most had been on only one, maybe 2 meds if at all, none had tried ECT......I mean, I felt like the freak of the group. One woman had been in the group for 7 years, and said she stayed so long because "some women get their nails done, some get their hair done or massages, I come to group" Yeah, we had soooooooo much in common, yuppers. Anyway, we shall see.......I was hoping to find out something re: new job, you know finding another option, not being full time, whatever...then looking for a therapist,so I don't have the stress of scheduling appointments when I have no time for them! Oh well, I have a massive headache, and my side aches bad, so it's off to sleep for me (despite a 3 hour nap).

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Originally posted by psychnurse.com

Sphinx- pain and depression follow the same neural pathways- If you are depressed you hurt more and if you hurt your depression worsens.

I love the way this sounds because it just made alot of sense to me. Are depression and pain considered emotions too? And, answer this question: [blank] is to happieness as pain is to depression. I never thought of emotions/individual senses traveling within specific bundles of nerves. I know pain is efferent, not motor, and thats where my limited knowledge ends.

I wish for your depression to go away. Your not depressed; You just don't know it. I'm sorry :-(

nerves175.jpg

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Hey guys,

Been great. Don't think I'll stick around this site anymore. Good luck to youda, sphinx, carpe, and others.

Mario, get a life.

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Sphinx--I don't know where you live, but my mom had terrible GI distress. One day she was talking to a friend who worked at the water plant that supplied her area. He told her he didn't care what tests and standards they had to meet--they met them-- but he said, he said not under any circumstances to drink the water. She went to distilled water and the only time she's had GI trouble since, was when she told herself it was crazy--water couldn't do that to you-- and she went back to tap water and her sx returned. Just a thought.

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Originally posted by abrenrn

Mario, get a life.

Good ridence to ye who display hostility.

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Because the origins of depression can be genetic, pharmalogic, endocrinal, infectious, nutritional, neoplastic, or neurologic.........

Kinds of depression include endogenous, ............

..............

micro

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Originally posted by mario_ragucci

I wish for your depression to go away. Your not depressed; You just don't know it. I'm sorry :-(

[]

Mario, I don't know what the hell you meant by this. I hope it's not meant to be a serious remark, because if so, I will tell you, you do not know what the hell you are talking about. I've been reserving jugdement about you, but if you really feel this, I've changed my mind.

It's been a baaaaaaaad day

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hi carpe......re GI distress, that's interesting.......I do drink filtered water, does that make a difference? And they did find both gastritis and a "dysfunctional gallbladder", which while that sucks, at least for once I know it is not "all in my head".

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hi carpe......re GI distress, that's interesting.......I do drink filtered water, does that make a difference? And they did find both gastritis and a "dysfunctional gallbladder", which while that sucks, at least for once I know it is not "all in my head".

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arrrrgghhhh!!! I just was posting about an issue I've been dealing with today which has me very upset, and I shifted, and lost it (I'm on my couch, the mouse must have clicked on the back button). I'm too tired to repost it. But let's just say, I am letting a stranger get to me.....she is e-mailing me, being nasty, etc....and I am a fool, getting obssessive and sucked in, and replying (in a polite way) trying to get her to see the light, when I know she never will. She is just a nasty person. But I am so angry at myself for letting this thing consume almost my entire day. I've let people get to me like this before, and I know I shouldn't let it happen. But I feel this need to defend myself when people lie about me. I think its ok if someone doesn't like me, but at least have it be for a good reason, not stupid stuff that isn't true.

I know you have no idea what I am talking about. So I'll just stop yakking about it. My point? Is anyone ever get so obsessive about things like this? Or is it just me?

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Sphinx,

I am obsessive about things like this too. I am really sensitive. I hated it when people say that, like when my mother used to say I was too sensitive- that is part of who you are and may or may not be a good thing depending on the circumstances. I am sorry that someone emailed you something nasty. Can you block them? Just remember that the internet can open us up for something like that- the sheer numbers of people out there with easy access to do something like this. This type of behavior is nasty and stupid, so please just try to ignore it. A response from you is just what they want-they are probably bored with no life. Don't feed into it.

Blessings,

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by mario_ragucci

I wish for your depression to go away. Your not depressed; You just don't know it. I'm sorry :-(

[[/img]

I go to work and try to get through each day.....When I am off I don't even want to get out of bed or leave the house...I take me meds and hope for better days as the rest of you do.....I see that you Mario have learned NOTHING.....and continue to drive others away from this thread-please don't do that....We are finding much needed support here-please don't ruin it---just read if you must.......and learn to withhold inappropriate comments...My advice to you is- read the entire thread-almost every post you have made has offended fellow posters.....Is that what you want? Just what do you hope to accomplish? You don't have the answer-you have never suffered with depression and you know nothing about actual nursing at this point-only the science of it.....Make this a learning experience for you-often the best thing you can do for a patient or loved one is HOLD THEIR HAND AND LISTEN...Often there are NO answers....learn when to shut up
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