Nursing with ocd

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

Hello

I am wondering if I can have some insight or advice. I'm in my last year of nursing school and a few years back i was diagnosed with ocd. Tends to be more on the obsessive side, I.e. Did that patients blood get in my eye, did I contract hiv, did I hurt someone?

i really think I'll be a great nurse, but my ocd got better for awhile on meds but I tried hard to wein off.

Is there anyone else that has this and has similar worries? What are your coping mechanisms?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello there,

I commend you for getting accepted and working through the challenges associated with nursing school. I am beginning my first year of nursing school this fall, but have been working in mental health for years and have worked with many RN's who have confided in me about their anxiety disorders or OCD obsessive tendencies. It is doable.

One nurse, who I greatly admire, takes anti-anxiety medications. There's nothing wrong with seeking help such as this. Is there any particular reason you're trying to wean yourself off of them? Have you discussed your plan with your provider?

To some degree, I think we all within the field have some degree of intrusive thoughts that teeter on obsessive. I find my background in psych training useful, particularly in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and mindfulness practice. I highly recommend learning about CBT, one aspect of the principles are essentially to teach yourself to evaluate the rationality of your thoughts. Mindfulness practice has probably been the most helpful. When taught by a qualified teacher, is useful to reduce stress in any situation. I'm a fan of Jon Kabat-Zinn's guided meditation CD's, as well as the introductory book Mindfulness in Plain English, although it can be a bit dense.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you had heart disease, would you wean off your cardiac meds? If you were diabetic, off insulin?

If it helps, keep taking it.

There are also areas in nursing where a little OCD is actually helpful. Look into OR nursing!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi there! I am curious too as to why you're trying to wean from meds? I also have OCD, and I just finished up my nursing program. I always joke that there will never be a patient who gets an infection on my watch LOL. I am a compulsive handwasher. I change gloves, a LOT. I do have obsessive thoughts, but mine seem to be directed more toward my family, particularly my daughter (what if she gets kidnapped, what if she's running across the yard, trips, and falls head first on the concrete, what if the roller coaster we're riding doesn't make it around the curve and we all fly off the track...as you can tell a lot of mine center around safety issues, or perceived safety issues.) In some ways it actually is a help...frequent handwashing is not a bad thing in the hospital setting ;) I am a handwashing general: If you come into a patient's room and don't wash your hands, you are going to get a reminder from me (that irritates some people). I have found that I count in my head...I'm not sure if it falls under a coping mechanism, part of the disorder, or both. Whatever the case, it is a calming thing for me to count in my head. I do it a lot...about anything and everything.

I have managed to keep things relatively in check over the years, however I have noticed that certain times of the month are harder than others (I joke that my OCD rides a hormone wave). Physical activity has seemed to help. I started going to the gym, and I have noticed it seems to help some with the obsessive thoughts...I provide a whole new meaning to "wiping down the gym equipment" though ;)

Good luck to you! I think it's a lot of trial-and-error as far as coping mechanisms. The good thing is you've made it this far!! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

To some degree, I think we all within the field have some degree of intrusive thoughts that teeter on obsessive. I find my background in psych training useful, particularly in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and mindfulness practice. I highly recommend learning about CBT, one aspect of the principles are essentially to teach yourself to evaluate the rationality of your thoughts. Mindfulness practice has probably been the most helpful. When taught by a qualified teacher, is useful to reduce stress in any situation. I'm a fan of Jon Kabat-Zinn's guided meditation CD's, as well as the introductory book Mindfulness in Plain English, although it can be a bit dense.

Exactly what I was going to suggest.

Don't rely just on medications. Cognitive Therapy is essential.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you had heart disease, would you wean off your cardiac meds? If you were diabetic, off insulin?

If it helps, keep taking it.

This is so true!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi all, thanks for your kind words!

Just to clarify, I didn't just stop taking the meds. With the doctor I took SSRIs for 6 months and then we decided to try to see if it had helped. And so I came off and I still do CBT worksheets and things had been really fine for a few months, but since being in clinical more consistetntly some symptoms have gotten a little worse.

Mine definitely manifests about my loved ones getting hurt too - I worry a lot about hurting people. i.e. contracting something in a hospital and spreading it to friends or boyfriends, getting the kids I volunteer with sick, etc.

I am going to start going back to counseling and I will consider getting back onto meds. I just hate leaving the hospital worried whether my patient was ok in my hands, or if I got blood on my hand without knowing it and touched my eye, etc. and I will in turn hurt others.

I love nursing so much, I just don't ever want these thoughts to take over my life!

Thanks for all your help

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think going back to counseling is a fantastic idea! I'm so glad that you're being proactive!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Glad you are going back to counseling. Make sure it is a cognitive therapist.

Best wishes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

It's really hard to tell without knowing you personally, but it sounds to me like your "self-care" and awareness are right where they should be. I can tell you that me, my tendencies toward anxiety and obsessive thoughts and nursing have managed to "get along" for a very long time. It does get better. There are some areas in nursing that are more suitable than others. Finding a good crew to work with is really great, too if you are lucky enough to find it. A good deal of the anxious person's thoughts center on the fear that others will notice something amiss, creating more anxiety and a vicious circle.

Really wish you the best and don't hesitate to come back with issues as they come up...keeping in mind you would run all of it by the person directing your care, who does know you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't EVER disclose that you were diagnosed with Anything. It can be a life-long death sentence legally, socially, career-wise, and so many other ways. =[ Also, you don't have to agree with what is said to you, unless involuntarily forced, but you can go back to normal afterwards. Don't disclose to your school, your employer, your friends, or anyone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment