Things I wish I could tell my patients

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I wish I could tell my clients at work that there is hope for a life in spite of a psychiatric diagnosis.

Sometimes they tell me they feel ostracized and left out of society because of their illness. I wish I could tell them that I struggle with mental illness, but I have found a way to survive and thrive with a mental illness.

Sometimes I see their disbelief when told they will have to continue taking meds after discharge. I wish I could tell them that there's nothing wrong with taking meds. Meds help you do the day to day activities others take for granted.

I wish I could give them tips for remembering to take meds, such as setting a phone alarm with a message only you understand that reminds you.

I wish I could tell them that a dx of anxiety or depression do not make you a bad person.

But I can't.

Well, I can. But I feel my words are hollow. Because I can't tell them that I know this because of my own personal experience with mental illness.

I don't look down on my patients. I know that, but for the grace of God, anyone could have a mental illness.

So I pray for them. I try my best to show them I care. I touch them on the arm, give them high fives and fist pumps. I sit next to them. I listen to them. It's all I can do as their nurse.

Thank you, AN.com, for giving me a place to vent.

Thank you to the others on here who tell me about their own struggle with mental illness and support and encourage me to take my meds and take care of myself.

#tears in my eyes

[chiandre]

I read that in some countries, mentally-ill patients are jailed or even killed.

Yes, people misunderstand psychiatric patients. There are so many myths about them.

I am glad you can vent here. As an Obstetric-Psychiatric nurse, I completely understand and empathize.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I too am glad you can come here to vent. I think having a mental illness yourself makes you empathetic and understanding in a way that neurotypicals can't be, no matter how well-intentioned and competent they may be. If I ever need hospitalization, I hope I'll have someone like you taking care of me. You "get it".

I'm also glad that you find inspiration here to stay on course with your own treatment.

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

Is it unethical to share your experiences in hope of igniting hope? I get the whole nurse-patient relationship line however I think that is empathized more for manipulative situations.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Is it unethical to share your experiences in hope of igniting hope? I get the whole nurse-patient relationship line however I think that is empathized more for manipulative situations.

What do you mean by empathized for manipulative situations?

If I could figure out a way to share without over sharing I would. But being professional and discreet and not making the conversation about "me" is critical in therapeutic conversations. ]

[duskyjewel]

I think the intended word was emphasized, not empathized.

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

I think the intended word was emphasized, not empathized.

ya autocorrection feature on my tablet

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

What do you mean by empathized for manipulative situations?

If I could figure out a way to share without over sharing I would. But being professional and discreet and not making the conversation about "me" is critical in therapeutic conversations. ]

i meant, lets say you are in a situation where the other party gives you the impression they are fishing for information--- then maybe you are in a manipulative situation where the other party will use that information for slander or whatever. Now thats obviously the worst case scenario.

i used to say " i have this good friend of mine who is going through the same situation and i tell you what she did... how she did it...how she is doing now... i feel you will be fine" (this is a forum so you cant hear my tone, but i will be using a soothing demeanor and healing touch approach to convey that)

im rambling at work

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I think one way of counteracting the stigma of mental illness is for those that have it to come forward and talk about it. Everyone has times of mental distress, if not illness. If we can be open about it, our experiences can help others going through similar things. Sharing will also show we are not ashamed. We should not be ashamed of being ill or hurting emotionally. We should be able to talk about such things as we search for better.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I think one way of counteracting the stigma of mental illness is for those that have it to come forward and talk about it. Everyone has times of mental distress, if not illness. If we can be open about it, our experiences can help others going through similar things. Sharing will also show we are not ashamed. We should not be ashamed of being ill or hurting emotionally. We should be able to talk about such things as we search for better.

Yes. This. ^^

Being open about MI is the only way to eradicate stigma, IMHO. It can be costly, especially in terms of one's career, but ultimately it's worth it to come out of the shadows and prove that people who live with mental illness can be successful in life with proper treatment.

[fiba]

Do you think people that have gotten into psych nursing have struggled with mental health themselves??

I know that my interest comes from family experience.

I can really understand and value the recovery of mental illness due to that.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I got into psych nursing because my mom had bipolar disorder and I wanted to be able to understand her and help her. From living with her, I think I understand psych better, and I have more empathy than I would have otherwise. I see it from family members' points of view too.