Best career for someone with anxiety and depression?

[Chall14]

I currently work as a nurse but I'm off sick with my depression. I'm questioning if this is the right career for me?

[CarmelaGrace]

I think it depends not so much on the career but a) your support network b) how you manage your illness and c) how supportive your workplace/colleagues are.

[Chall14 in reply to CarmelaGrace]

My biggest issue is my concentration and as a nurse you need to be able to focus 100% on the task in hand. I have made so many mistakes, I am scared that if I continue to be a nurse that one day I will cause harm to a patient

[Hidden in reply to Chall14]

Do not base your career off of your circumstance. Anxiety is not a life-long issue. It doesn't have to be. By avoiding your passions, you are allowing it to continue. You are in charge of your life. Not anxiety. Not fear. You won't harm a patient. Your job now is to do your assigned work while managing your anxiety until it goes away. But if you make decisions based on its existence, you will remain in the fear cycle.

[steadfast66]

As a nurse, you can relate to others with depression. Also, seeing a therapists helps sort through your feelings. There are probably doctors who suffer from depression. I suffer from anxiety, but I can help those with it because I know how they are feeling even if I don't know the source. When I feel an anxiety attack coming or feel I am getting anxious about something, I stop and think about what I am doing or thinking and talk myself into calming down. I actually say to myself,

"This is nothing to get anxious about; calm down." Depending on the situation, I try not to prejudge what people are thinking about me or saying. Really doesn't matter because everyone has some issues to deal with even though it may not be apparent.

[Mishkacat]

Chall, I am in exactly same situation and quite often I wonder is Id be better in a less stressful job, but things aren't as simple as that. Firstly I am good at my job when my anxiety, depression, panic attacks don't kick in. I don't trust OHU as I didn't declare the issues to begin with..otherwise I'd not got the job in first place...Therefore I have family and few trusted friends to release with.

Whatever you do don't give up, good jobs are hard to come by. Forget meds...try changing your lifestyle...I know shift work is hard and messes you up.In same situation as you, I get to see worse off people, which helps me get through daily life....message me anytime, I wont discuss too much public xx Oh and plus when you deal with people, you secretly know you are actually more qualified then all these people with MH degrees!!