Mental-illness Nursing & Me

Wow. As a psychiatric nurse I loved your story, have seen it in many of my most beloved patients and am amazed at how well you have fared despite your chaotic upbringing. Please explore counseling to better understand yourself, your mother and your child. Wishing you a bright and peaceful future.

[FONT="Book Antiqua"]Thanks Jules. My oldest daughter is named Jules as well!I appreciate your post--thanks for taking time out to write me. My husband and I are both going to seek counseling--together & for myself. It not only affects my work but my home life as well. It will be very healthy for us. I wrote that short story for my psychology class. I would like to write a memoir in more detail someday. My grandmother wants to write about my mother's early days. It would be quite a book! Don't know if you've read the book The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. After reading that book (the only book I've ever read), it inspired to write about my own life growing up. We'll see what happens.The last few days of work was NUTS!!! What was suppose to be two 8 hr days turned into two 12 hour days! Hospice pts' actively dying on me, injury-fall, new admits, pt hoarding secret drugs, one needing a blood transfusion NOW, CMA not following a STAT order and making a med-error, last minute call-in both days, crazy family members claiming to be nurses telling you how to do your job--SHEESH, thankfully I have this weekend off. I'm scared to death to go back on Monday!!! Everything always happens at once and I'm the ONLY nurse on the floor--they all think I can do everything at once--I wanted to go hide in the med-room! LOL! Anyway, the DNS told me to laugh all the way home. I was like, "yes--I will, like a crazy person cause that's what I feel like right now!!"

Quote from Jules AWow. As a psychiatric nurse I loved your story, have seen it in many of my most beloved patients and am amazed at how well you have fared despite your chaotic upbringing. Please explore counseling to better understand yourself, your mother and your child. Wishing you a bright and peaceful future.

Wow, I think you have found some great coping skills and I absolutely love your writing! I think counseling is a great idea, not because there is anything "wrong" - but just to make sure your life is as rich and full as you'd like it to be and as is possible. Thanks!

Thanks so much for sharing your story, you write really well, and should consider writing a book!! The symptoms you mention having do sound a whole lot like Adult ADHD. I have it, and have felt that exact way. I got diagnosed at 40, and now take medication for the ADHD, which certainly does help. Take care of yourself, consider going in to be tested and evaluated for ADHD, doing so changed my life in a positive way and my only regret is that I didn't go in for evaluation sooner. Best of luck to you, and thanks again for sharing your short story, you truely are a survivor!!

thank you so much to all of you who responded to my post.i really appreciate your words. it's always comforting receiving positive responses from other nurses that have an understanding of mental illness. i recently met another nurse at my work who shares a lot of my feelings about things. i've found someone to talk to that i feel i can trust--an amazing feeling!i am going to look into getting a diagnosis. i'm nervous about it; however, it's necessary if i'm going to be the best nurse i can be. i need to over-come my fears.thank you again for your encouragement.<3 nurse sunflower

Quote from sunflowerrossI am going to look into getting a diagnosis. I'm nervous about it; however, it's necessary if I'm going to be the best nurse I can be. I need to over-come my fears. <3 Nurse Sunflower

I love the story you posted about your mother. My mother is very similar to what you have described. It is very hard to deal with having your mother, the one that is supposed to teach you to become a woman, be so delusional and paranoid. My mother and I are estranged at this point in my life. It is healthier for me not to have her in my life. I do grieve the loss of her, and not having had a "normal" childhood. Being a nurse, makes it even harder for me. I am full of guilt taking care of other people's loved ones, and I can not do anything for my mother. I wish you good luck in your job. Take one day at a time. Allow yourself time to breath. And know that you are a much stronger person than you give yourself credit for.

Quote from NCRN2010I love the story you posted about your mother. My mother is very similar to what you have described. It is very hard to deal with having your mother, the one that is supposed to teach you to become a woman, be so delusional and paranoid. My mother and I are estranged at this point in my life. It is healthier for me not to have her in my life. I do grieve the loss of her, and not having had a "normal" childhood. Being a nurse, makes it even harder for me. I am full of guilt taking care of other people's loved ones, and I can not do anything for my mother. I wish you good luck in your job. Take one day at a time. Allow yourself time to breath. And know that you are a much stronger person than you give yourself credit for.

You will fit right in with the rest of the nurses and staff !!! Trust me you cant be all that mentally ill if you have idenfied your problems and can devise a plan to overcome them. A scheduled shift may just work for you. I think you will do just fine. Good Luck !!! Oh and by the way nursing can make you think you are losing your mind at times. Just CYA document and watch and listen and you will be just fine !!!

Thank you so-ooo much!

I am in awe of your sharing - humbly I thank you.Consider doing a blog if you would like - I think it would be a gift to others but more so to yourself.Your a super lady take good care of you as you deserve it . Know you have my deep heartfelt respect.Marc