Nursing & Depression

sphinx, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2003

Well, my third "in office" day, and so far so good. Today was very hectic, and I was assurred it is not always that bad. I believe it, there were several call-ins (everyone has that nasty GI bug) and 11 openings, plus having to place the visits from the nurses who called sick. The nurses were really overloaded, and I felt so bad for them, as I know how it feels. But it did seem unusually heavy, as we were assigning people more than I remember getting for a long time, if ever. We floated off as many as possible, but our team staff is great, freaking *volunteering* to work overtime. I'm sitting there thinking, how do they do it? I was freaking out and falling apart at much less. Well, I guess they aren't suffering from depression. Or, if they are, they haven't shown it. I am very much enjoying coming home and having no paperwork. I am kind of vegging, to "celebrating", but slowly starting to do more, do stuff I haven't done in many moons, like clear the table and fill the dishwasher, etc. Maybe I'll even cook one of these days. I haven't made more than grilled cheese in eons!!!! :)

And tomorrow my youngest son has a physical, so I have the afternoon off. I might see one patient, as I have 2 medicare D/C I still need to do. I'll still have plenty of time, though.

So, I guess, I am doing a little better. I'm glad I made this move. I learned something m,arvelous the other day: Our copy machine staples papers together if you tell it too! I was so *amazed*!!!! Then I kind of had to laugh at the fact I am still paying my student loan so I can make a copy machine collate and staple, hahaha!!!!!!!!

mario_ragucci · Jan 9, 2003

Originally posted by mamabear
To quote Page & Plant: "I've been dazed and confused for so long, it's not true".

Now finish it!

Wanted a woman, never bargained for you

Lots of people talkin', few of them know

Soul of a woman was created below, yeah

Im learning so much about pain and seratonin and re-uptake in class. They teach us that pain and suffering is not the same, but suffering causes anxiety and release chemicals in the body which signal distress. This is all difficult for me to understand because I can't see any of it. i can only imagine prostiglandins and opioids. Sometimes I think I am an opioid, when I am only an NSAID :-( I'm sorry

micro, RN · Jan 9, 2003

the mystery of depression, mental health and illness

physical health and illness...........

I remember watching my first open heart surgery(when I was a student nurse-----), that one I could see the heart.....the doctors and the surgical personell doing their thing, but to see a heart start beating again.....omg, I could go on and on.........

research shows that in the end, noone exactly knows.....

which is why there are so many theories out there related to

so many diagnoses of many kinds........

and most approaches to wellness and returning health are multifaceted.........

together something works..........

but back to the original thought of this thread......

are nurses more depressed than the general population.....

are we more neurotic, are we more _______?

imho, naah!!!!! we just are out there in the trenches, up to our armpits dealing with _____, that our own humanity/mperfections/diseaseprocesses shows through.............

only in my humble opinions and thoughts and I have told I think too much.......

in this fast-paced sometimes tragic world of today.....

to each of you, I hope for you peace and peace to find

starting with yourself and your own peace of mind

love to you each, those dear to me and to all,

cause this world is indeed very small

:)micro:p

mattsmom81 · Jan 9, 2003

Sphynx, isn't it nice to come home and 'be' home with your family...instead of looking at mounds of paperwork??

I only did home health a short time and knew immediately I needed a job I could leave at work because I have a tendency to obsess a bit on undone work...LOL!

Your mood seems to be lightening and hope you feel better as you are sure 'reading' better! (((HUGS)))

kidsccrn · Jan 9, 2003

I agree with alot of the posts. The biggest problem I have is with people making judgements about depression who have never been there. I have been on antidepressants for about 5 years now I wish I had done it sooner. I come from a dysfunctional family of which I will not bore you with the details. I also come from a strong family history of depression and suicide. It's takes alot of strength to go to therapy and face your demons and I do not appreciate people making fun of people who are in therapy. If you have never experienced depression you have no idea what it is like, to get to a point that taking your life seems like it would be better for your family then watching their mother unable to function is frightening. I got to the point I could no longer put on a happy face and fake it. I am so much better now but it took a lot of therapy and meds before I got back to living. So cut your coworkers a break that are being treated for depression it's a long and lonely road back. I wish I had time to do something for myself but between work and taking care of my family which includes a daughter with special medical needs I DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME TO MYSELF

micro, RN · Jan 9, 2003

*If you have never experienced depression, you have no idea what it is like*

*It is indeed a long and lonely road back*

kidsccrn-----

'the answers they give are so simple, aren't they'

'living the solution is not'

take care as you can

micro

sanakruz, ADN · Jan 9, 2003

Sphinx- You sound goood!!!!

micro, RN · Jan 9, 2003

don't she though!!!!!

sphinx, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2003

Well it is nice to know that others can notice a change in me. I do feel a bit better too, but never sure if it shows. By the time I get home, I am still kinda tired, and don't know if my family can notice a change in me or not. But last night my husband said he really appreciates that I am not coming home buried in paperwork. I said, me too! The past 2 days have been kinda nutty at work, but I'm getting the hang of it!!!! Today I had 1/2 day; I went and did a visit to do a DC on one of my patients to wrap up loose ends. Then I took my son to the MD for his physical. I was proud of myself, remembering to ask everything I wanted....about his height/weight percentile, switching to concerta, a few other probs. Then on the way home I stopped at the pharmacy. My other son's birthday is tomorrow, and it occurred to me that no one will be here with him but me, so we should celebrate tonight. I was on the wrong side of town, so asked my hubby to get his present (we're slow :) ), cake and card, and we'll order out. I felt so organized! Weird!

anyhoo, I digress.......

sphinx, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2003

Mario, I am wondering, why do you usually now end your posts with "I'm sorry"? Is it because some of us (me included) have given you a hard time and you are apologizing ahead of time, or do you just feel generally sorry for having the opinions you have and expressing them, or whatever. I don't know what anyone else would think, but IMO, you can say what you what....in a well thought out manner......without preapologizing.......if someone is hurt by your statement then perhaps an apology is needed, but otherwise......just seems like you are carrying around guilt for little if any reason.

mario_ragucci · Jan 15, 2003

Sphinx - I do end with I'm sorry :-( as a apology in advance of offending someone with my thoughts. I also say it every time I ask a question in class. But I don't aplogize at work because the RN's observe me there, so I don't have to say I'm sorry to them.

Everybody...I am coming a long way in my iceberg-tip understanding of depression. For the firsttime I heard someone say that a depressed person will become aggitated by non-depressed people becaused the depressed people are upset with their own depression and don't want to depress the undepressed. My school also went into the way a person can look if they are depressed. A "blunted' look. You know, i see alot of people who have blunted looks most of the time. I don't want to harm anyone, and if someone is blunted I will not ignore them, but will not provide any stimulus other than "hello" or "how are you" with a person with a blunted look. I don't want to harm anyone. Sad, emotional looks are one thing, and I can now differientiate between a sad look and a blunted look. I still respect and love you, blunted or not, and only want to help/love.

I'm sorry :-(

micro, RN · Jan 15, 2003

please forgive me all, but in reading through the above few posts........something struck me 'right out of the blue' clarity.....Mario said.....He greets someone with ..... 'with more than a hi and a how are you?'

wow, I just found that a profound statement.....and I am not being perfunctory or anything else, but outright 'clarified'

how often we 'just go along in this world with just going through the motions, the hi's and the how are you's.........'

to be aware of your environment and others around you.........and to respond accordingly in the utmost of your 'way'.............

what the 'world' needs now is more awareness and peace.........

and understanding and respect...........

but I am not a politician......I am just a human..........

thanks for the above words.........thanks for bearing listening/reading mine.....

love and peace all,

micro

nothing profound, just me.........

Nursing & Depression

Nurses and Depression/Anxiety