Need help! (again)

[naughtoj]

Ok, here goes....

I have to make a tough decision. Very soon. I need your help deciding.

Many of you know that I was recently diagnosed with depression. I have not decided to take meds for it yet. I am trying to see if it has more to do with environmental factors than brain chemical factors, if you will. I have decided to pursue some sort of medical career (ie, radiography, nuclear tech, surgical tech,..) but am trying nursing out first. I have applied for the ADN program here in Phoenix, but a condition of my application going thru this semester is my passing BIO 202 (Anatomy Phys). I am already behind in my coursework due to stress, time management, depression...whatever else. I just cannot bring myself to study after I come home from sitting all day long! The depression has A LOT to do with it.

So, because I can't make my mind up about anyting, last weekend I decided I needed to make extra money and to drop the BIO class for now (since I am unsure of what I am doing), work 2 jobs and pay off credit cards. So, I applied for a seasonal (to part time) position at a retail store here in Phx. I went for an interview today and I will most likely be offered something.

So.......... I KNOW that I will not stay at the full time job I am at now forever. The company is not good to work for and it is a go-nowhere job. I now have the opportunity to secure part time employment that will likely JUST MEET my financial needs, but not pay any extra. However, quitting my full time job now would allow me to jump right back into Anatomy and try to pass it this semester. Otherwise, I have to drop and pay for it again next semester and nursing school gets put off another semester at least. If I dropped to only this one new job, it would mean time with my husband that we have not had in years. It could give me a chance to get myself better (I can add to hubby's insurance for $140 and get psycho benefit, my insurance sucks. It would also force me to make a change in my life that I don't know I would make otherwise. If I am destined to do something else with my life, maybe quitting my full time job would allow me to figure out what that was and focus on it. I would have to drop to part time anyway when I get into nursing school. A major con of leaving my full time job is in March of next year I get three weeks paid vacation. I have been trying to hold off till then but I don't know if I can make it till then with no days off. Do you think that alone is worth staying till March? We are also going into the holidays, but I thought if I was really broke I could just tell my family no presents this year (I don't have kids).

If you were me, and you needed a break SO desperately and were anxious to sort out what you really want out of life professionally, what would you do? This is all assuming that I could live off the money from the part time job ( I think I can). I could also concentrate on getting certified as a CNA to make slightly more...the point is, I would have WEEKDAY time to figure all this out. Right now I have to downright BEG to leave a half hour early to go to the doc!!

Whadya think?????

 

[smurfette]

I wish that it would be easy to give you an answer that would be helpful. There are so many factors involved with depression, it would not be wise to even begin to try.

i can certainly understand your feelings of overwhelm. i suffer from depression myself. I have found a great deal of relief from using medication and seeing a therapist once every six weeks.

fighting your way out of depression is a long process but it is so worth the time to get it right.

You need to finda situation that will support your recovery. Consider consulting with a therapist about what would be the most helpful strategy to take.

The best of luck to you.

Danna

 

[PateT]

I suffered from depression for a few years. I was really unhappy at my job due to my boss always trying to get in my pants. (which he never succeeded) I felt trapped since I was a single parent. I finally got sick of it, quit and found a new job. I never took any medication from that point on.
What I learned from all that is I do have control over my circumstances. You can't walk on water if you don't get out of the boat.
Patti

 

[gogigi]

Are you talking March as in 4 months? If so, that would be a nice three weeks of NO work and pure relaxation(paid) to really think about what your next step of action should be. If you are talking March as in 1 year and 4 months well....I just have no words of wisdom...just that one thought. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is the thing that is hardest to do. In a way it is "easy" to stay where we are comfortable even if we are unhappy there. My husband was taking one class at a time b/c we were afraid to drop down to my salary alone. But once he took the plunge to work very part time(very low hours)and go to school full time there has been no looking back and he graduates this May. We are so glad that we made the hard decision to leave our comfort zone. Now he just needs to find a job...tee hee! You will be amazed at the "things" you can do without while in a transition period. I cannot speak to the depression so I realize that is a whole other factor thrown in there. Good luck to you Janice. I wish you all the best.
Angela

 

[NurseLRT]

Janice,
Like Danna said depression is something that needs to be treated most often by a phycisian and therapy.

I have had mild depression related to hormones, almost like a horrible PMS. Running or cardio that really works up a sweat 4-5 times/week alleviates this for me, but it is not clinical depression and it might be different from your condition all together. I was at the brink of asking my doctor for Prozac until I did some research and decided to do consistent cardio. It has made a world of difference for me.

I also entered an ADN program, I went on and got my BSN.

The money nurses can make is absolutely outrageous. I would say look at the big picture. What are your long term goals? It's one thing if you cannot afford it financially, but I would take one class at a time and keep your eye on the prize.

You seem very conflicted. Nursing school is a full time job, although I did work 3 times per week at a snack bar from 8-5 Fri, Sat, and Sun. It was difficult but totally doable. My snack bar job was not stressful and I was still making money.

Good luck in your decision, it will take some soul searching and talking to a therapist and your husband.

Lori

 

[naughtoj]

Angela....when you are depressed and need a break so desperately, March "as in four months" may as well be March "as in one year four months".LOL.


I think I am going to quit if I get offered this job. It pays nothing, but again, I need to figure out where I am going with my life and get there. Once I get on hubby's insurance (I can add if I lose my coverage) he has excellent mental health benefits and I can look into my depression and for a cure WITHOUT drugs. I took the drugs a few times and I hated it. I don't like the way they make you feel. At all. I don't even like to take cold medicine!LOL! I think the more cardio routine sounds more like me.


Really, it will be nice. I can do some research on how to live frugally and maybe I will qualify for some aid for college. I can also research getting my personal training certification in the meantime since that is something I have always wanted to do. I am on the waiting list for nursing school, so I will wait.

I am sure you will agree that I should be in the best mental state when entering nursing school. In addition, this will give me some time with my husband before I never see him again (nursing school) Believe me, my picture of what will be if I go the nursing route is very realistic. It is now time to prepare.

I am not going to be afraid anymore!!! Thank you to all of you who have listened to me whine and helped me through this. It has been a very tough time for me, compounded by family problems. This is truly the first time in quite a while that I have been excited! Now I just have to get the job!!LOL!

 

[NurseLRT]

Good luck, all the best.

 

[candi]

Sounds to me like you made the healthiest decision for yourself and you feel good about it:7

Good luck, Janice.

 

[Gayle]

Janice,

Go talk to the financial aid department at your school. There may be scholarship or grant opportunities that you qualify for that'll help with expenses.

HTH

 

[KathyH]

Hi Janice! You need to make your own decision. We can advise you but ultimately your going to do what you want. That being said if it were me I wouldn't waste any more time. I would quit the full time job go for the part time one & plunge in. Yes its scary but changes in life are GOOD You won't regret it. You'll be doing a job that you love & getting paid for it to boot. So many people are stuck in jobs that we hate (me included) b/c we never had the inclination to do something about it. You get comfortable & in a rut after a while & the years pass. Don't have regrets GO FOR IT!!!! I'm rooting for you. Hugs, Kathy:*