What's the deal with anxiety meds for students?

[Strwbrywne]

I hear of so many students taking anxiety meds to get through nursing school. Is this the norm? I realize this is going to be a emotional roller coaster and am trying to prepare myself mentally. I was just curious if most students do take something to help them through it. I've been talking to some students currently in the program and was surprised to hear that so many of them do.

Insight?

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

I think the truth is that for many people, nursing school is the most intensive stress they've had to manage. Through the course of a nursing program, any mild mental health (or health for that matter) weaknesses, which have previously been just managed by an individual, can become unmanageable due to that stress.

I also think it's very easy for fellow nursing students to judge those who choose to treat disorders such as anxiety with medication. There can be a "holier than thou" aspect of...well since I didn't need medication when I was stressed out, it's not really needed....they're just being weak and taking the easy way out.

But we all have our own experiences, and our own genetic predispositions. If a mental health condition is impairing a student's ability to perform, they need to get professional help. That professional help may include medication. No one but the student and their health care professional have the right to judge this treatment plan. For anyone else to do so just show's a level of ignorance and prejudice on the part on their part. As with most things, it says far more about the person judging, than the person being judged.

To the OP: no, I don't think it's the norm. But I do think that many folks get diagnosed with mental health conditions during nursing school for the reasons I stated in the beginning of the post.

And no, I don't take medication for anxiety....so, I've not taken this personally. I just really dislike when folks who, from their education should know better, choose to pick on someone who is already having a tough time.

I don't think that beginning medication without trying out coping mechanisms that can be learned in therapy is the right thing, except in extreme cases. Even then, I believe that those who are on anti-anxiety medications should also do therapy simultaneously in order to learn how to deal with their anxiety. Of course people who need anti-anxiety medication should take it - but I find that many students are like me in that they have bad anxiety, but not to the point where they are unable to function. There are options before medication that should be explored.

I say this as someone who DOES have anxiety, who HAS been offered medication by an MD, and denied it because I didn't want to reduce my therapeutic management of my anxiety to taking a pill every day. I asked for a referral to a therapist instead because I wanted to exhaust that option before beginning a daily regimen of medication. Once I was in therapy, I realized that I was able to manage my anxiety without medication, utilizing tools that I learned within. I also say this as a student that plans on going into mental health - I have absolutely no judgment for those with mental health problems who need medication to stabilize and function on a daily basis in the least.

Medication is a serious thing, and it does have side effects, and this is especially true for mental health drugs. I think it's ignorant to argue otherwise. I don't think anyone has argued that those with extreme anxiety, panic attacks, etc to the point of not being able to function should be judged for taking or denied medication. However, there is definitely a culture forming of patients wanting to take a pill for their problems rather than taking a look at their lifestyle and making lifelong changes that could combat their health issues just as well, if not better. If every obese person could take a pill to make them magically lose 30 lbs a year rather than exercising, even at the cost of knowing it could hurt their kidneys, would they take it? I'm sure they would - that's the kind of culture we have in America. It's sad, but it's true. I think that's all anyone is commenting on.

[CuriousMe]

I don't think that beginning medication without trying out coping mechanisms that can be learned in therapy is the right thing, except in extreme cases. Even then, I believe that those who are on anti-anxiety medications should also do therapy simultaneously in order to learn how to deal with their anxiety. Of course people who need anti-anxiety medication should take it - but I find that many students are like me in that they have bad anxiety, but not to the point where they are unable to function. There are options before medication that should be explored.

I say this as someone who DOES have anxiety, who HAS been offered medication by an MD, and denied it because I didn't want to reduce my therapeutic management of my anxiety to taking a pill every day. I asked for a referral to a therapist instead because I wanted to exhaust that option before beginning a daily regimen of medication. Once I was in therapy, I realized that I was able to manage my anxiety without medication, utilizing tools that I learned within. I also say this as a student that plans on going into mental health - I have absolutely no judgment for those with mental health problems who need medication to stabilize and function on a daily basis in the least.

Medication is a serious thing, and it does have side effects, and this is especially true for mental health drugs. I think it's ignorant to argue otherwise. I don't think anyone has argued that those with extreme anxiety, panic attacks, etc to the point of not being able to function should be judged for taking or denied medication. However, there is definitely a culture forming of patients wanting to take a pill for their problems rather than taking a look at their lifestyle and making lifelong changes that could combat their health issues just as well, if not better. If every obese person could take a pill to make them magically lose 30 lbs a year rather than exercising, even at the cost of knowing it could hurt their kidneys, would they take it? I'm sure they would - that's the kind of culture we have in America. It's sad, but it's true. I think that's all anyone is commenting on.

I understand that you are speaking as someone who struggles with this condition. So, you have a wealth of knowledge about how this condition impacts you. However, you have no more knowledge on how a condition impacts others. I stand by my assertion that no one, but the student and their health care provider have the right to judge a treatment plan. Just as you know the best plan for you, other's know the best plan for them.

Additionally....how do you know that someone on anxiety medication isn't doing the things you mentioned already? You don't because, only the health care provider and the student would know that.

So, as I said before....only the student and the provider get to decide if the treatment plan is appropriate.

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

...Why are you assuming I am judging anyone because I am expressing an opinion? You keep harping on this point, but from what I've read, no one has been judgmental about a student who needs anti-anxiety medication - just the culture of using medication to cure all ailments as the first line of defense. Convenient comparison, but I feel just as strongly about overweight individuals seeking OTC weight loss pills instead of actively changing their diet, increasing their exercise, and portion control.

Yes, I believe that an MD simply throwing pills at someone, which is what my experience and MANY of my fellow anxiety-sufferers' experience has been when seeking help from their PCP, is wrong. I will never think otherwise because primary care physicians are not mental health professionals, and I do not believe they should prescribe mental health medication when their knowledge is limited. If anything, my criticism here is with the healthcare providers, and NOT the students/patients.

It seems to me that you aren't understanding what I'm saying if you believe that I've stated that medication is wrong in any and all cases, because I haven't stated that once.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I never had severe anxiety issues until nursing school. I actually wound up in the ER thinking I was having an MI! I have never been the same since nursing school. I feel like it ruined my relaxed attitude. I don't take meds, but I am still not the same. I graduated 7 years ago.

[CuriousMe]

...Why are you assuming I am judging anyone because I am expressing an opinion? You keep harping on this point, but from what I've read, no one has been judgmental about a student who needs anti-anxiety medication - just the culture of using medication to cure all ailments as the first line of defense. Convenient comparison, but I feel just as strongly about overweight individuals seeking OTC weight loss pills instead of actively changing their diet, increasing their exercise, and portion control.

Yes, I believe that an MD simply throwing pills at someone, which is what my experience and MANY of my fellow anxiety-sufferers' experience has been when seeking help from their PCP, is wrong. I will never think otherwise because primary care physicians are not mental health professionals, and I do not believe they should prescribe mental health medication when their knowledge is limited. If anything, my criticism here is with the healthcare providers, and NOT the students/patients.

It seems to me that you aren't understanding what I'm saying if you believe that I've stated that medication is wrong in any and all cases, because I haven't stated that once.

I have fully understood your posts. My "harping" is advocating for people who have decided with their practitioner that medication is a beneficial part of their treatment plan. I never said that you were stating that medication is wrong in all cases. I said that everyone has the right to make their own treatment decisions with their practitioner, without the implication that they are just "taking the easy way out." That judging any individual "shouldn't be on medication" is out of line. Only the student and their practitioner knows why they've chosen medication, and truly....it's no one else's business but theirs.

I understand that you think, over all, that practitioners choose medication to fast...fantastic! This thread isn't about practitioners, it's about students who are using MH medication. I'm just advocating that these students should not feel like they have to defend their treatment plan.

In my opinion there have been judgmental remarks in this thread, I'm not the only poster to respond to these remarks and no I'm not going to point them out specifically lest the AN "powers that be" consider that to be "personalizing" my remarks.

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

No judgmental posts have come from me. If you want to get offended and LOOK for judgment, it's certainly your prerogative. But medication is a serious thing, and should not be the commonplace treatment, nor the only option explored, for situational anxiety.

I don't know where you got this idea that anyone here believes that they have a right to be involved in their peers' treatment decisions in the first place. It's a conversation, and nobody, to my knowledge, is planning to tar and feather a fellow student on anti-anxiety medication. I'm allowed to express my opinion, and yes, I believe many practitioners take the "easy way out" by prescribing anti-anxiety medication without other interventions.

[CuriousMe]

No judgmental posts have come from me. If you want to get offended and LOOK for judgment, it's certainly your prerogative. But medication is a serious thing, and should not be the commonplace treatment, nor the only option explored, for situational anxiety.

I don't know where you got this idea that anyone here believes that they have a right to be involved in their peers' treatment decisions in the first place. It's a conversation, and nobody, to my knowledge, is planning to tar and feather a fellow student on anti-anxiety medication. I'm allowed to express my opinion, and yes, I believe many practitioners take the "easy way out" by prescribing anti-anxiety medication without other interventions.

I'm not offended, I dislike folks who are already down getting picked on. I never said you made judgmental remarks....so not sure why you are offended. You're speaking about practitioners, this thread is about nursing students.

They don't have to be tarred and feathered....it's often a difficult decision for someone to decide to take mental health medication, reading messages that imply they are just taking the easy way out just feed in to our culture's beliefs that folks can just "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" with mental health issues. That their diagnosis is just some kind of character flaw, they can will themselves out of.

I stand by my original assertions. I'm sorry if you're offended by me saying students have the right to choose whatever treatment plan works for them, without hearing "they're just taking the easy way out" from folks who should know better....because that's all I've said.

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

Maybe you are not addressing my posts, because I agree with you that it is a difficult decision for some to begin medication. However, in my generation (I'm 22), with the advent of medical information all over the web, more and more people are diagnosing themselves and seeking medication for their self-diagnosis. I can't believe that most MDs at a general practice have the knowledge and experience to properly assess a patient with a mental health problem and decide they need medication.

And I disagree with your assessment that our culture states that people should pull themselves up their bootstraps when it comes to mental health. I feel that people would much rather medicate their children to the point of being numb, hide their mental health issues in a closet, and pretend that everything is okay.

I'm advocating for those with mental health problems to not depend on medication as the only way to help themselves. With the knowledge that those on anti-depressants have become suicidal, that many mental health drugs are also drugs of abuse, and that those with prescriptions may not have the most stable mindset - I think I do know better. I do know that medication isn't the answer for every patient, and that for some patients that prescription will cause more problems than solutions.

At this point I don't think we're disagreeing that much. I certainly believe that the patient has a right to decide their own treatment plan, and I would never believe otherwise. But if asked my opinion? I would certainly also encourage them to explore CBT, group therapy, exercise, writing....it goes on and on...to combat their anxiety.

[kayty2339]

deleted...decided not to go any furthur with this.

Good night! :)