Ask Nurse Jenn - Our Resident Mental Health Nurse!

[Sophie_M]

Hi everyone,

This is a thread for asking questions of our resident Mental Health Nurse, Nurse Jenn who pops into the forums regularly.

PLEASE NOTE as per our community rules, Nurse Jenn won't be able to answer questions about medications, these are best discussed offline directly with your mental health professional.

BEFORE YOU ASK NURSE JENN PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

• Nurse Jenn’s time is limited! We cannot provide an ongoing dialogue with Nurse Jenn in this thread - one post/question per person please
• We'd recommend you have a look through the forums before posting here to see if your question has already been answered by Nurse Jenn, our other members, or if there's information about it already on the beyondblue website.
• If a question pops up that has already been answered previously, or if alternate resources are available, one of our moderators will reply and direct you to the link.
• When writing your question, imagine you are speaking to someone in person i.e. provide a clear and detailed post with enough information that outlines how Nurse Jenn can help you.

Background

From Nurse Jenn

Long ago I was struggling to find my way in my career. I was training to become a registered nurse and I didn’t seem to fit into the traditional ‘medical model’ of delivering care.  Then I started my mental health rotation and I found my place in helping others. I am now 45 years old and have been in the mental health field as a nurse, manager, educator, project officer, advocate… for over 22 years across several countries and cultures (Aus USA Canada NZ).  I have experience in a number of different child and youth mental health teams, early psychosis teams as well as adult and older adult hospital settings. I have also worked as the manager of the beyondblue NewAccess program and understand what it’s like to live regionally where services can be limited. 

Working with people around the globe has made me aware that worry and stress do not know age, culture or country. It is a phenomenon of being human. I have felt it myself in different periods of my life and seen struggle it in loved ones and people everywhere.  I have felt the traumatic loss of a close friends death by suicide (as so many have) and recently experienced the extreme joy of becoming a mother.  

I am thankful everyday that I can walk beside people who need some support to find their own balance and strength. I am very grateful to be here on the beyondblue forum with all of you.

I hope that my professional and personal experience can provide you with some support, direction or even just an acknowledgement that what you are going through is real, and tough, and that you can achieve more than you know.  

[Guest_4643]

Hey Sleepy21, sorry I'm just replying to you now.

I'm not sure I'm allowed to mention medication names here which is understandable, it's for BLD (won't say the actual word) pressure but it's used on veterans & others with PTSD at very small doses, even for what it's actually meant for, and successful. But I'm worried about fainting, etc. My Psychiatrist said someone didn't listen to the advice to not get up too quickly & whatnot & needed 10 stitches in their head. Some of my old meds used to make me feel dizzy & lightheaded too though so I also took them at night.

I'm sorry to hear you also get flashbacks. I have heard of 1800RESPECT but I've never contacted them. I contacted GriefLine but never heard back. I'll do a search on PTSD and see if I can find any threads, thanks for the suggestions.

I hope you're well also.

- Tayla

[Guest_1643]

Hi Tayla - I know what medication you are talking about.
There is a PTSD section on the forums here - where there are whole threads from people who experience PTSD. It is an interesting space to chat. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums

I was just wandering what was your specific question re the medication - are you unsure if you want to take it? I think 1800 Respect would have some interesting perspectives. GriefLine can sometimes be very busy at certain times but i've gotten through quite often. Glad to see you're reaching out and hope you find the right care. I'm sure you will .

[ecomama]

Dear Tayla

It's understandable that you're concerned about taking the meds the Psych is suggesting.

You're trying to make an informed decision and that's wise with any medication, so well done.

I encourage you to call 1800RESPECT as Sleepy as suggested.
I phoned them Friday night and they have a whole file on me and my family.

I ask to be put through to a trauma psychologist and it always happen, first call.
No need for call backs.

I've phoned them maybe 30 times over the past 5y and the help I received was truly excellent.

The traumas you've described fit this call line.
Bullying in ANY form is "disrespect" to put it mildly, plain abusive more plainly.

Also Tayla, if you have a thread, could you put it on my thread you visit please?

I would love to reach out to you more comprehensively on your thread.

You've done the right thing coming back and reaching out for support.

The advice I received from the psych on Friday night was to practice "radical self-care".
Bluberry Googled it and it IS a thing, so that's what I'll do now.

I started a self-care thread, because I'm not good at it lol... please pop in there too if you want to.

Love EM

[Guest_4643]

Hi all.

Sleepy21 - thank you. I'll check that thread out. Yes my question is just me being hesitant to take it. I've never taken something like that before. My dreams and nightmares are very graphic, and I don't even think about scary stuff or watch scary stuff. Heck, I can see something scary on TV like an ad and freak out and not sleep and I always think there's something or someone watching me at night. So I sleep with the TV on (a waste of power, i know. I do have night lights though). I was thinking of trying one of those relaxing noise machines but I'm not sure where to get one and how much. I might try 1800RESPECT & Grief Line, thank you.

ecomama - thank you. I'm glad 1800RESPECT has helped both of you and many people. I wonder if they have a webchat? I would prefer that than calling them. Yes I do have a thread, I have some old ones too but I'm trying to stay on 1 thread only. I wish we had notifications here otherwise I'd tag you. I'll comment on my thread, and yours if I can find any, and see if they come up in the "new threads" part so both of you can check them out. I'll search radical self care also, thanks.

- Tayla

[Guest_1643]

Hey Tayla - I can relate to ur symptoms a lot. Thank u for sharing.
I find at 1800 Respect they have given me a lot of insight into PTSD which has helped me not feel alone. Regarding taking the medication I can absolutely relate to being hesitant. it would be great if there were alternatives to taking medication. Good on u for doing ur research. I don't know what is best but I do think it's good to do research and ask a lot of questions.

it's your body and your decision. It's good not to feel pressure either way and make your own decision. I'm sorry your flashbacks and nightmares are so vivid. It is very hard to have those experiences during sleep. Feel for u.

[Guest_4643]

Thank you Sleepy21.

I've heard it can be successful, but I don't know. I'll have to ask if there's an alternative that works for PTSD/flashbacks also.

Yes it is very difficult.

- Tayla

[Guest_4643]

Hi again.

I contacted 1800RESPECT on their webchat. The lady was a bit rude & unhelpful. I told her I was told to contact them regarding PTSD. Seems like it's not a good fit unless you're dealing with DV/Sexual Assualt.

- Tayla

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi Tayla,

So sorry for the late reply in this space. I am sorry you are going through such as tough time at the moment. Being spoken to rudely is not something that I expected from a support service called 1800RESPECT. I hope this doesn't deter you from contacting a support number in the future as there are many caring counsellors around.

Unfortunately we are not able to discuss specific medications here on the forum. Worrying about the side effects of new medication is quite normal and I wouldn't hesitate to further discuss these side effects with your GP or psychiatrist or even make an appointment with a pharmacist. Having worry about starting a new medication is really common. Having more sessions with your health care team is normal when starting any new treatment. Be kind to yourself when taking new steps towards your recovery. You are reaching out here which is awesome and it sounds like you are taking a cautious approach to your own care which is important.

If you start new medication, it is a good idea to start a daily journal to track any new side effects so you can look at them over time. Sometimes medications can take a little bit of time to adjust in our bodies and having a daily record of any new experiences can be really helpful when you are discussing how the medication is going when you meet with your GP/Psychiatrist once/if you start the new medication.

It sounds like you have some support within your health care team but I thought I would also mention that there is a Treatment Course (free and online) through an organisation called Mindspot that has a course for people experiencing PTSD symptoms. You can have a look at it here however it is only available to people over the age of 18. https://mindspot.org.au/ptsd-course

Another organisation called Phoenix has some great resources on PTSD also which I have attached here for you interest. https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/recovery/fact-sheets-and-booklets/

Sleepy and ecomama have offered some other great suggestions of having a look on the forum for different threads that relate to PTSD. Let us know how you're going today if it feels good to share.

Sending you strength,

Nurse Jenn

[Guest_4643]

Hi Nurse Jenn.

I did do a Mindspot course and asked many times if I could do the PTSD course, but the person kept arguing with me saying I don't have PTSD. I do as a diagnosis, and have heaps of evidence.

I'm not sure what other treatment I can do for PTSD, and flashbacks.

- Tayla

[Guest_4593]

Hope i can ask if its appropriate. About internalized symptoms can stress really cause ur body to react an a way that makes u literally sick for weeks at a time