Is working with mental health patients a good idea if I am not completely mentally stable?

I have been a Minister and Advocate for nearly over 35+ years; having multiple degrees. One priority to keep in mind is this:

1) Do not let work get to you, you are there to assist others

2) You must realize that everyone will not be co-operative; as so I frequently have stated repetitiously "you are accountable for your own actions". Before I go beyond this matter and everyone starts jumping on me. Permit me to expound this a little bit.

* Just because someone may have a medical condition; it is imperative that some cases in Psychology and Psychiatry are actually are what is led to believe is not what it appears ... Permit me to provide conclusive facts:

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a) A Psychologist or Psychiatrist (or in some cases a Specialist or Physician) may misdiagnose a patient as having a psychological and/or psychiatric disorder / medical condition when actually it is not but another area of what one would call "mitochondria" or "mitochondrial" which is often overlooked and easily to as to sum it up "putting the cart before the horse".
(But hey - we're all humans aren't we? We all make mistakes... Smile!)

b) Some are actually just merely "habits"; for example - there is no mental illness, medical condition, or any type of labeling. It is just that - a habit; for example: think back in "Skool Daze" (play with words) - when you were in Grade School or Elementary School; where often you or someone was scolded by the Teacher for chewing on pencil erasers? Yelled at to stop that obnoxious annoyance of distraction of tapping pencils or writing on desks (or even writing notes to your friend(s))? For girls with long hair, finger twirling ,,, nail biting ... lip smacking... thereon. Before you knew it or that person you knew, it just grew on you. Suddenly, as an Adult, in the workforce - you or that other party is doing the exact same thing. That is not a psychological issue or a psychiatric issue but rather a habit that was developed; just so as one started it, it can be broken. It's easier said than done. There is a problem with this sometimes; because one would often find a new habit in lieu of the old habit (and one wished they had not mentioned it, for the latter is worse than the first). The truth? We all have habits - like it or not; some might not be obvious while others can be quite annoying where how many of us can say that we've been told "Must we do that all the time?"

c) In addendum, as per your employment; you are there because that was where your heart was at. One key point people fail to realize is, the best person to work with are the very individual(s) who have been in their shoes! Nothing is further from truth from there. Would you rather work, if you were a patient with a person who has similar issues "just like me" or with someone who never had it? Think about that for a moment there... I am retired now; moreover, very much still a strong Advocate where many have mistaken me to be a Representative due to so much knowledge attained (some due to degrees and CE's and CME's; others is because "I have it too" - due to multiple medical conditions I have since birth) being so heavily relied upon for info to referrals have been overwhelming since late 70s' era and far more now due to Internet provision and accessibility.

3) Another key factor of employees (regardless of what medical department they are in) is one thing which is all in common; that which many are beginning the titration of the overload of cases/clients/patients (ironically at the same given time there's the "chopping ax" of reduction of Staff Personnel at same given time so as the old adage goes "for want of a horseshoe the battle was lost") is not cutting out very well if you read the the emphasis of the irony. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining in the cloud for more and more facilities are beginning to limit the hours down; reducing that unneeded overload. [Yet, if there were a balance, the scales still would be found wanting.]

a) Time Factor: trying to accomplish XXXX with this case/client/patient in this short span of time which one could nearly imply it is almost futile; due to insufficient time

b) Confusion Factor: the most difficult part here is especially when the case/client/patient is under the influence of medication(s) which affects and impairs the cognitive to mental stability. This would bring up the issue here, if the medication(s) is actually effectual with the individual you are working with. Example: episodes of mood swings that are suddenly manifested so quickly, should be a warning sign or alert that the medication(s) should be checked. There have been cases where case/client/patient had been titrated off completely of (all) medication(s) and were found to be normal. Somnolence complaints were reviewed again, and from that standpoint the proper Specialist was then found and the case/client/patient was deemed mentally sound; with closure and erasure of any mental history of such said individual was wiped out after the confirmation from the proper Specialist that such said individual had XXXX medical condition in addition to another referral to another Specialist for another medical condition was also found.

b-1) There are plenty of such cases available to Medical Professionals and Specialists online and via the PLoS, PubMed, to name a few.
b-2) Side effects were reported to FDA as per protocol standards

c) Family Factor: "Hear Say" versus "The Individual" - there are numerous cases where family members so to quote and unquote have "pushed one over the fence" leading one to believe that they have such said mental yadda, yadda, yadda. As the saying goes "Garbage in, garbage out... " More often as it is said "Children learn what they live... " things that were thrust into the mindset of such said individual to a point where they actually believe a lie. This itself is a tough battle, especially when dealing and confronting family members to relatives; the real source of the problem points to the family. The individual is the traumatized victim. This itself is very time consuming in the Medical Fields' Standards; for it takes one Specialist to glean info, getting to the bottom line. For such Specialists are scarce, yet, are imperative in the Mental Health Field itself, within and without. He/She can read these family to relatives like a book and will know exactly what is the issue and if any corrections in the diagnostics and treatment of the case/client/patient is necessary. It has to be handled with fragile care. Sad to report; many Health Insurances no longer even provide coverages for this (unless if extreme cases such as sexual abuse to some degree of violence; and/or if Police/Sheriff/Child's Welfare Agencies/Domestic Abuse Agencies/etc... request it). The most difficult part is where such parties are deceased which are vital to the whole case study itself in treating this specific individual.

c-1) It is harder to get the case/client/patient to talk about it because of the deep set fear they live in whether the family to relative(s) are deceased or alive; it is even worse if they had been threatened.

c-2) If at such a young age (Garbage in, garbage out... ) had been pushed into their mindset; being it continual onset even to the present status as long as that individual has rapport with XXXX family member or relative or whomever, because of that "trash talk" - as one would properly deem it as "controlling, manipulative (possibility hostile) and negative environment" is in their mindset. Breaking that cycle of "defeat" is not an easy task; must be performed in progression with a lot of patience. Not necessarily the case/client/patient has to be in a Mental Health Facility; but a Case or Social Worker must be needed to maintain the separation of the offending family member/relative(s). The drastic measures, such as change of telephone number, relocation (if possible), so forth - if Case or Social Worker feels that the need be, then it can range from restraining orders to injunction (if an adult). "Re-training" the Adult will require evaluated programs if available as well as a more positive environment; and so forth.

c-3) There are plenty of case fact findings available for Medical Professionals in various areas from AMA to PLoS to PubMed as one would find various facts (old case studies and findings) and with the current and more effectual methods of plans and treatments for various types of cases which are popping anew frequently.

As you can see, this is rather a very long post indeed; yet broad-scoped in the wide array of hope. It does not matter what you have, one can have a medical condition or medical conditions but not let it permit it to get to them yet at the same given time it has made them an extremely valuable asset to the Medical Hospital / Facility - all because of patients demand for that such said specific Physician to Personnel; all because they know that person has it too and is a positive "Role Model" to them.

You can be an AWESOME influence and impact, never be afraid to say (this was my mistake in my early years, yet, hey, we learn from our mistakes; don't we?) what you have ... it makes the case/client/patient feel better and more comfortable.

I would not be surprised if you ended up with 5 star ratings with numerous feedback(s) and comment(s).

:)

I just went through this problem. I worked in residential support and truly took a lot of pride in the job I did, and even though i was exhausted fighting my anxiety & depression every day,

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I kept at it for fear of letting down family,clients, bosses and myself. people said I was a natural and for 3+ years I worked hard but felt so physically, mentally and emotionally drained every day. Noticing my meds just didn't seem to be doing their job properly and that my new marriage was starting to be severely affected, I weighed the options for weeks. Would I be too depressed if I didn't have my job to focus on? If I see the dr she will prob change meds and that meant starting from scratch AGAIN. Do I have the energy to go on like this? Could i afford things i needed on ei? sadly before I made a firm decision, I had a brutal panic attack during a difficult situation with a client in public. Some things can't be avoided but that day was the end of a job that was very important to me. Something worse could have happened. When you work with clients and you ever question if you should continue, step back, take some time for yourself and get stronger. Every life is important. Every decision has a consequence. For all my own selfish reasons I wish I had stepped back when I questioned myself but thankful no one was hurt. My opinion, just take a little time off for yourself. It's super important for us to take care of our mental health, first and foremost.