Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of other occupations for people with mental illness that do not involve long days alone with a child!

Why choose being a nanny?! If you worked in a daycare or preschool, there would be other people around to keep an eye on you. As a nanny you are alone.

No, I would not hire a nanny who was on either antidepressants or antianxiety medications - nor would I hire the bipolar nanny who posted above. And I would have to fire any nanny who didn't disclose these vital medical facts about herself immediately.

You realize you come in contact with mentally ill people everyday?
I chose being a nanny, because I love children. I'm good st what I do, and I can't have my own. You realize there are many mother's with bipolar right?
Are you alright? Did your mother not hug you enough? I am putting myself because I know my former employer is on dcum. My longest job was with an employer who knew. I told them when I got diagnosed. They were educated doctors who didn't make false assumptions. Years after they moved away we are all very close.

Anonymous wrote:There are thousands of other occupations for people with mental illness that do not involve long days alone with a child!

Why choose being a nanny?! If you worked in a daycare or preschool, there would be other people around to keep an eye on you. As a nanny you are alone.

No, I would not hire a nanny who was on either antidepressants or antianxiety medications - nor would I hire the bipolar nanny who posted above. And I would have to fire any nanny who didn't disclose these vital medical facts about herself immediately.

You sound uneducated. I am another nanny. I'm on a benzo. My employers don't know, but if they asked, I would'nt lie. I'm on a very small dose and does not affect my driving or job performance. I also have glowing references. What exactly are you worried about? Do you equate someone with occasional anxiety as someone dangerous? With people like you in the world, it's no surprise there's still so much stigma surrounding mental illness.

There are thousands of other occupations for people with mental illness that do not involve long days alone with a child!

Why choose being a nanny?! If you worked in a daycare or preschool, there would be other people around to keep an eye on you. As a nanny you are alone.

No, I would not hire a nanny who was on either antidepressants or antianxiety medications - nor would I hire the bipolar nanny who posted above. And I would have to fire any nanny who didn't disclose these vital medical facts about herself immediately.

Sorry for the typos. My keys are sticking.

I have bipolar, I'm pretty sure my employers know. I have Xanax for extreme panic attacks. I've taken it 3 times in 4 yrs. I wasn't working or driving ( I know better). I take an anti psychotic before bed. I take wwllbutrin and a mood stabilizer every morning. I have a psychiatrist, therapist, and group therapy. I see them all weekly. You would never know unless I told you. If for some chance I'm not well ( which happened when I lost my baby) I took a few days off and checked myself into the hospital... because I know myself. I have been a nannu for nearly 15 yrs. Its never affected my job. I have glowing reciews from every single family ive worked for. Ive taken care of multiples a few times as well. I say all of the above to say be worried if a sick nanny isn't medicated.

Anonymous wrote:If you're talking about your standard SSRIs or MAOIs, I don't need to know.

If your anti-anxiety drug is a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, etc.), you should not be driving, and I probably would not want you working alone with my child.

I have known far too many people who didn't think a Xanax or a Klonopin was a big deal; they figured the doctor prescribed it, so there was no reason to restrict driving or anything else. I would worry about this.

If you're talking about your standard SSRIs or MAOIs, I don't need to know.

If your anti-anxiety drug is a benzodiazepine (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, etc.), you should not be driving, and I probably would not want you working alone with my child.

I'm on both and never disclose. It's none of their business, unless it is affecting my job performance, which it is not. They should be more concerned about those with mental illness who are not doing anything to treat it caring for their children. Daycare workers, teachers, etc. don't disclose this information so why should I?

I wouldn't. My job is not my psychiatrists office

I would keep that information to myself.

However.... I have family members who are on antidepressants that I would never trust my child with.

Anonymous wrote:Disclose in the interview because I would fire you on the spot if I found out you were medicated while caring for my baby.

You don't really understand how these kinds of drugs work, do you?

Disclose in the interview because I would fire you on the spot if I found out you were medicated while caring for my baby.

No. And It would depend on how the drug an severity of symptoms to even judge if you should be caring for young children.

No of course not, it is none of their business.

Nannies, if you are on any of these medications, do you disclose that to your employer? Why or why not?