tmullis: and anyone else with depression. Do not feel like a freak. Depression is very common.

I want to add that being familiar with manic-deprssive disorder, I am still very uneducated about this illness! I have known frustration and anger towards people who never took the time to try to understand because of societys many reasons. Being labled mentally deranged, it's all in your head, etc. basically people are just afraid of the unknown. How very sad, that they don't know what the disease does to children,parents,family and friends, they'd just as soon not be bothered with such a dirty, unpleasant situation, please,Wake up world!!!Did you know that in many cases, severe head trauma has caused chemical imbalances that create the bi-polar(manic-depressive disorder)?

sandy: the testing of drugs in children will never happen. all drugs we give kids are tested on adults. I am always very hesitant when giving meds to the adolescents. I have read about the EMDR therapy I need more education on this before I can form any opinion on it. I have seen a lot of research on kids with bipolar. I am unclear with what I have read but seems that kids with ADD are either misdiagnosed with ADD rather than bipolar or kids with ADD later develop bipolar.

thela: I love lithium. I use it often it remains the gold standard for treatment of bipolar disorder. Yup, you will see many dpressed and biploras in the jails and ER

LKIllionos. If you look above, I posted to the bipolar/scz post. Did not read the Daniel steel book. What is the title of the book?

vickielee1970 said:

Until more men admit to depression and other mental illness, we will see it continue to be stigmatized. I have suffered from depression periodically since my teens. Many members of my family are prone to SDD or Seasonal Depression Disorder. The sun lamp works. I also find that even if its cold outside, if the sun is shining I can sit in my car with the windows up and soak up the sunlight. I have been off meds for 2 1/2 years. I got some zanex for help sleeping after my mom died and my dad. I know I could probably go back on meds again. I just get sick of the side effects and for me prozac gave me a 1000 yard stare. I functioned, I just wasn't happy or unhappy, I was without emotions. Most of the women I know and some of the men have admitted to taking "happy pills." So its not stigma that keeps me from taking something. I just have not found the med that doesn't make me gain weight or feel zonked. I could have never made it through LPN school on any of the meds I have tried for depression.
I think I would be interested in cymbalta, but it is very expensive. Anyone here have experience with it. I don't get much help with Zoloft, Prozac-see above, Elavil-I gained a lot of weight.

JonZ said:

vickielee1970 said:

Until more men admit to depression and other mental illness, we will see it continue to be stigmatized. I have suffered from depression periodically since my teens. Many members of my family are prone to SDD or Seasonal Depression Disorder. The sun lamp works. I also find that even if its cold outside, if the sun is shining I can sit in my car with the windows up and soak up the sunlight. I have been off meds for 2 1/2 years. I got some zanex for help sleeping after my mom died and my dad. I know I could probably go back on meds again. I just get sick of the side effects and for me prozac gave me a 1000 yard stare. I functioned, I just wasn't happy or unhappy, I was without emotions. Most of the women I know and some of the men have admitted to taking "happy pills." So its not stigma that keeps me from taking something. I just have not found the med that doesn't make me gain weight or feel zonked. I could have never made it through LPN school on any of the meds I have tried for depression.
I think I would be interested in cymbalta, but it is very expensive. Anyone here have experience with it. I don't get much help with Zoloft, Prozac-see above, Elavil-I gained a lot of weight.

Do you think that most depression stems from one's genetic background?

Nurses and doctors are not allowed to be sick, they take care of the sick....unfortunately a lot of people think that way and it is sad, my heart goes out to every nurse who has health issues and still takes care of others. Hang in there and talking about it is a good thing, therapy in itself. I love this nursing link, we all have something big in common, a caring heart.

JonZ,
Yes, I think there is a genetic component, it could we inherit the predisposition and then our environment and stressors determine how we learn to cope or not cope. I think we need to remember as medical professionals that a lot of the behavior we see that seems bizarre is the closest thing to a coping mechanism our client may have. Not all coping mechanism work well, but if thats all you know to do, it may not be odd to you.

charlita said:

dmazment said:

I was diagnosed in the early 90's with chronic clinical depression. I hid it so well, no one at work had a clue what I was going through. In my personal life, I didn't do so well. My one older sister finally intervened after she couldn't get in touch with me for a few weeks. You see, once I got home, I completely shut down and off. I didn't answer the phone, I ignored messages. I didn't return calls. If I didn't go to the market before I got home on friday, I didn't have food in the house for the weekend. I simply didn't eat. I would walk in the door of my haven, and just drop whatever I was carrying by the door, creating a path to the living room where I curled up with my dogs for hours on end, mostly mindlessly staring into space, sleeping, or pretending to watch tv.

I never received any support, understanding or kindness from my peers, including surgeons. Comments were made about the crazy charge nurse, if things didn't go the way someone wanted it. If I happened to raise my voice to be heard, watch out she's going to lose it. If I took a sick day, comments were made about me going off the deep end. I hung on as the afternoon OR charge for five long years after my diagnosis. Finally I set myself free, and left. Wherever I worked after this, I was very careful to never mention my battle with depression.

dmazement: did you ever take medication for it. I too have suffered from depression for many years. Most recently with the death of my Mom a year ago. I recognize some of the same systoms you described. Shutting down, sitting in front of the tv set for hours on end watching mindless stuff, not want ing to talk to anyone, sleeping all the time. I've been on Zoloft for some time now and it helps tremendously. I can tell right away of I don't take it. (cry easily, anxious, upset over nothing). I also notice that in the winter months I become depressed more easily. I have a artificial sunlight lamp and that helps quite abit too. I also find that even if I am rolling along with what life throws at me, it doesn't take much to send me back to that "black Hole". I can't seem to handle more than 2 things going wrong at the me time. GROUP HUG!

sbass: this happens so often. Blessings are so often found in the most unexpected forms.

sbass: I am so happy for him and for you. by the sound of your post this is good for you as well. Are you at all aware of or involved with NAMI

We have bipolar in my family.  Those with no experience about MI, do not know how devistating it can be.  I just want everyone to know that mental illness is not some kind of freakish disease.  It is a real, physical sickness.  The chemicals just don't work right.  chemicals are in our bodies, so it is clear that it should be catagorized as a disease/illness.  Lithium is great.  It has helped my sister make great strides in living a normal, healthy life.  My dad's brother commited suicide and was not as lucky. However, they did not know nearly as much about Bipolar back in the 40's.   SO.....although it is not curable by any means, it is manageable.  That is the good news.  About the insurance......it just depends on what insurance you have.  It seems some companies are more empathetic than others.  The more info we get out there about MI's.....the better it will be for those faced with this life altering illness.

Thank you dcnurse for putting a human face on the so common a human weakness. I know nurses are supposed to adapt, overcome, and overcome some more. We carry so much illnesses, mental illness often a part of our life's struggle as we deal with others who have openly and humbly come to grips with their own. Thanks again.

Is it possible for a person with manic depression/ bipolar to become a LPN or RN?