Depression in Nursing

Are their any nurses that suffer from depression and are still working and on meds.

I have been a nurse for 20+ years and have been on antidepressant for several years and still work. It took many tries with meds to find the one that wouldn't make me sleepy or walk around like a zombie but i did find one and i can still work. Nursing is a hard job and the stress can really get to you. if you need to take meds then do. you can still work and function. never give up

I discovered shortly after I became a nurse that I had depression and anxiety. The doctors tried many antidepressants. Prozac made me even worse. Narcotics didn't really help me either. Just recently, my doctor placed me on lexapro and buspar. I noticed a difference almost right away. I don't feel sleepy or have any side effects that I know of. Not even dry mouth! Nursing is stressful and I find that these work best for me. Good luck and don't forget about therapy to go along with the meds:)

I was on antidepressants and had a very mixed experiences with other nurses when they found out. Some actually called them mind altering drugs and was totally against their use for nurses.

Hello fellow nurses,
I've been on antidepressants for a few years and had felt ok. Last year I left a job I'd been at for 5 years mainly due to my perceived discrimination over my military (guard) duty. Didn't realize initially why their behaviour was escalating. Can't prove anything- they are very subtle. I understand I needed to leave there but haven't fully dealt with the hurt and my feelings of betrayal. I loved working there. Since then my mother passed away and my job situation has been in flux. I feel ungrounded and increasingly unhappy. Tried to make a night shift work- couldn't handle nights with my guard duty so I went to prn. Have applied with several agencies and hospitals near me (I'm an ER nurse with 21 years total experience). The agencies by the way have just been wasting my time and while I waited on them, all the prn shifts were taken. I know I need to seek counseling. Feel like I need to spill all of this on someone to get direction. Maybe I'm going down the wrong road. I have great experience and my resume is full. Any suggestions from anyone? I appreciate your comments.
Thanks,
Kelkat in Colorado

At my former job in back in Georgia many of the nurses I worked with were on some form of antidepressant. No one thought any less of them. In my books it takes a stronger person to reach out and ask for help than one who refuses help or denies their is a problem (when obviously there might be one). I am not sure why any one would look down on people that suffer depression. Depression is an illness just as hypothyroidism, hypertension, diabetes, etc... are.

I can't help but wonder if the people that belittle others for medical issues like depression do not have some sort of underlying psychiatriatric condition themselves.

:( I have just been told I have depression, sleep disorder and anger issues. Been accused of talking to my fellow nurses in a not so nice a way during report. I was not aware of this until called to the manager's office. I was so upset and beside myself I went to our AEP councilor and next thing I knew I have found myself now in a day clinic dealing with all of this. Yes nursing is stressfull, and it does not help with the conditions that we are forced to work in. Do I know when all of this started no. I do not. Been a RN since 2003 with no patern of anything in my file, no drugs, no alcohal and I dont smoke, so go figure. So I am now getting help with all of this mess that I have. Will I return to nursing I dont know. I just dont see how one gets good marks from patients and yet turns around and get the opposite from fellow nurses.... shakes my head

Nurse on the road to recover

I have found that although I have a tendency toward depression anyway, being a nurse makes it worse because I work hard all day to care for others, and when I get home in your personal life I am completely worn down and I feel like a failure because I just have nothing left to give. I am taking medications for my psychiatric condition, and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as I continue to love my job and I am not using it as a way to forget that I am miserable (which I am not). :dance:

Bump!

Anyone else out there?

Hey Cat,

I've been reading through these posts and come to the conclusion that nurses really need a support group. Everybody needs to go. Period. This work is draining and it would do us all a lot of good to have a safe place to both unload re-charge at the end of the day, especially those living with pre-existant depressive and anxiety conditions. Rule number one should be to show the same degree of compassion, caring and love for each other that we use for our patients. While it is no substitute for direct personal contact, I find this forum very theraputic for just those reasons.

R

I don't think there's anything wrong with antidepressant medication as long as it is prescribed by a Psychiatrist and monitored regularly. GP's should not be monitoring and treating depression. Also nurses under stress and with anxiety need to be careful to stay away from Benzo's because of their very addictive nature. Having gone through the process of recovery with a label of "Impaired Nurse" hanging around my neck. I know only to well how the sense of ease and comfort that comes from alcohol and anxiety meds like ativan and sleeper's like Ambian can throw a real monkey wrench into your life. The best is to seek help from a board certified mental health professional. After all it's not enough to treat the symptoms of depression - you have to address and understand the underlying cause in order to recover. I took Welbutrin for 4 years and have been off all meds for three years now. While I still struggle with depression and job stress I am pretty much ok these days. So my advice is get help but it is also not necessary to air all your laundry to your co-workers - that's what a therapist is for and unless you present as a danger to yourself and others it's all confidential. Don't be afraid to seek help.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

Ricu, you have a good point/idea. Yes, we have the Rubber Room here, when we have 'one of those days'. If need be, members can also destress in the Daily Thread if they so choose.

Hppy, I hear you about the Benzo's. etc. Have seen the behavior you mention in a non-medical professional friend of mine: use of Xanax for 'anxiety', shopping from one MD to another, gets bent out of shape when one brings up anything s/he doesn't want to talk about/is 'upsetting'.....

I do hope that others come to realize we are all here for one another. The profession can be stressful!

Actually, I am just the opposite. Nurses who need narcotics to get through a day for physical issues, nurses who need strong antidepressants, or anti anxiety agents to make it through the day should go find another job. They do not belong involved with direct patient care. Some say that nursing wears you down so much the rest of your life, if that is the case where nursing is that toll taking on you, then find a less stressful job.

[B]Thanks for all your input, Tom. Perhaps they might need a different line of nursing? Just a thought. [/B]

how about as school nurses, or Insurance companies, or even as the local friendly walmart greeter. Now if it was me. I see a career as a golf course marshall or even driving the beer cart, though I am not cute enough for that

Tom just a point to maybe agree to disagree on. It's funny to me when somone who openly advocates for the legalization and recreational use of Marijuana, feels a person who takes a medication like Paxil or Welbutrin should leave the profession of nursing. Depression is a real illness that often goes undiagnosed and untreated because people fear exposure and loss of their ability to make a living due to social stigma. I am in total agreement with you on the point that if someone needs strong mood altering drugs like alcohol, benzo's etc to get through their day/shift they should take time out to get treatment and recover. In my own personal experience, I was never drunk on the job, never took anything when on or before I worked but on my days off I was using legal precription medications like ativan and xanax when I should have been seeing a Psychiatrist and getting proper treatment for my depression and anxiety. Yes I crashed and fell, but my addictions were "discovered" because I attempted suicide. My stresses were not caused by the job and I take full responsibility for my actions. I haven't had a drink in over 6 years same for any benzo type drugs including sleepers. I have been back at work for 4 years, first in acute psych ( very stressful) and now in the in community based ICF-ddh homes.

People do recover and live and work sober - You can't pay the bills as a Walmart Greeter - and most states require a at least a BSN for school nursing - and school nursing is extremely stressful these days. When someone has put in the time and work to recover they should not be stigmatized.

Signed just another drunk in recovery

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

I absolutely believe that marijuana has legitimate medical uses and that people with CA, HIV MS and many other conditions should be able to access this resource. The I do not believe is should be widely available for recreational use - In California legal drug pushers are getting rich making huge profits and many people are getting falsified permits from Doctors for a "Fee" (Usually a couple hundred dollars) For conditions that don't exist.

There was a huge murder trial here for the guy who killed Angel's pitcher Nick Adenhart - The driver who was found guilty of murder had a blood alcohol level 4 times the legal level. What many people don't know is that he also tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. The driver of the other vehicle (who was also killed) had marijuana in her system. Perhaps if her judgement had not been impaired she would not have found herself in the path of that other car.

Just food for thought

Hppy

cougarnurse wrote:You can mow the lawn, Tom.....

Actually I love mowing and its great exercise

hppygr8ful wrote:Tom just a point to maybe agree to disagree on. It's funny to me when somone who openly advocates for the legalization and recreational use of Marijuana, feels a person who takes a medication like Paxil or Welbutrin should leave the profession of nursing. Depression is a real illness that often goes undiagnosed and untreated because people fear exposure and loss of their ability to make a living due to social stigma. I am in total agreement with you on the point that if someone needs strong mood altering drugs like alcohol, benzo's etc to get through their day/shift they should take time out to get treatment and recover. In my own personal experience, I was never drunk on the job, never took anything when on or before I worked but on my days off I was using legal precription medications like ativan and xanax when I should have been seeing a Psychiatrist and getting proper treatment for my depression and anxiety. Yes I crashed and fell, but my addictions were "discovered" because I attempted suicide. My stresses were not caused by the job and I take full responsibility for my actions. I haven't had a drink in over 6 years same for any benzo type drugs including sleepers. I have been back at work for 4 years, first in acute psych ( very stressful) and now in the in community based ICF-ddh homes.

People do recover and live and work sober - You can't pay the bills as a Walmart Greeter - and most states require a at least a BSN for school nursing - and school nursing is extremely stressful these days. When someone has put in the time and work to recover they should not be stigmatized.

Signed just another drunk in recovery

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

Agreeing to disagree, I wasnt referring to paxil or wellbutrin, but have you looked at all their potential side effects and adverse reactions. Scary. Adverse reaction to Pot, you eat a Big Mac, go to sleep and gain 5 pounds. But there are many nurses using Benzos at work, if you need them at work, then probably you need to do something else. But there is a difference between using meds that make you able to cope with work and using a little recreational pot. A Safer Alternative For Recreational use. SAFR. Far safer than Booze

Me I haven't drank alcohol in over 34 years. No pot in 30 years. No tobacco in 6 years. No McDonalds in over 10 years. PETA supporter for 10 years now. I still kill deer but only for food.

hppygr8ful wrote:I absolutely believe that marijuana has legitimate medical uses and that people with CA, HIV MS and many other conditions should be able to access this resource. The I do not believe is should be widely available for recreational use - In California legal drug pushers are getting rich making huge profits and many people are getting falsified permits from Doctors for a "Fee" (Usually a couple hundred dollars) For conditions that don't exist.

There was a huge murder trial here for the guy who killed Angel's pitcher Nick Adenhart - The driver who was found guilty of murder had a blood alcohol level 4 times the legal level. What many people don't know is that he also tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. The driver of the other vehicle (who was also killed) had marijuana in her system. Perhaps if her judgement had not been impaired she would not have found herself in the path of that other car.

Just food for thought

Hppy

And maybe if it was just Pot and no Cocaine and no severe alcohol level, it wouldnt have happened. Pot is mellow, Cocaine and alcohol gets them combative and wacky. I have been injured numerous times in the ER in the last 1/4 century, 98% due to alcohol and drugs

Actually the main reason I went off anti-depressants was because of the long term side effects especially the potential for liver damage - Funny I drank for almost 20 years and never gave my liver a 2nd thought.

I do agree that the combination of drugs in the case I cited was a huge comtributing factor. Alcohol is probably the simgle most destructive recreational drug on the the market today - and it's legal a readily available. If people want to smoke a joint or have a drink on their day off and when they are not driving more power to them.

PS - I have talked down many a psychotic person high on any number of combinations so while I haven't worked in the ER per se - I know what you are talking about. I left Psych after having my jaw broken by a patient.

I also agree with you that if a nurse is having to use Benzo's at work that person should not be working - Benzo's don't treat anxiety they only mask the symptoms. It's much better to treat the root cause.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy