Hospital??

Here if you go voluntarily, you have to request in writing to leave - goes to the pdoc - and they have to respond in 24 hrs.

Here, they do nothing except regulate meds and enforce a strict schedule. I was starting to get worse just for the boredom.

I wait it out if I'm not safe. But I'd do everything else, days off of work, schedule, self-care, whatever else.

My bill was over $5K for 3 days. Thankfully, insurance paid it.

Introverted,

Hi, its nice to meet you. Sorry your struggling right now. Do you live in the U.S.? Do you have a particular place that you feel comfortable about going into? Like perhaps maybe you know someone in your area that can give you some good recommendations. Or definitely I'm sure your Psych Dr. could. If you go, I would suggest that you really comply with what they offer, so as to help you get better. I'm meaning like instead of just isolating in your room 24/7, that you attend their group sessions, talk to the Doctor's that do their rounds, and stay on their schedule that they recommend for you.

Going voluntarily is I think less stressful as you can sign yourself out anytime. Unless of course your acting out then they might suggest you stay an extra day or two. Depending on whether you go Inpatient in a Hospital that has a Psych Ward or a Hospital that is strictly for Mental Health issues. They will try to adjust your medications or if your not on any they may start you on something. Don't get discouraged as it may take a bit to get the right combination of meds working for you. But opening up & talking with them will also help. Mind you, these are just my suggestions...

I would suggest definitely talking with your Pdoc if you have one.

My experience was different in that I did not go voluntarily (as I never knew you could)...I was taken at gunpoint by the police to the Hospital where they put me on a Lock-Down for a couple weeks. Meaning I wasn't going anywhere till the Sheriff's Dept. met with the On-call Psych Dr.'s to decide when I was safe to leave. Then for me, they would only release me if I was already signed up for an Outpatient Program, Psychiatrist, & Therapist. I went to an Outpatient program 5-days a week for 6-months. Since last Sept. I have been seeing my Pdoc on a weekly schedule.

I wish you only the best & if you have anymore questions just post.
Your Healingwell Friend,
Serenitee

Bipolar 2, Borderline, Anxiety/Panic Disorder, Ptsd.

Introverted,

Did you get to talk to your Pdoc yesterday by chance? I hope so, and I hope he can help you out. If you got a hold of him is he going to squeeze you into an appt. earlier than the 22nd?

I'm sorry you have been miserable. You had mentioned that you were feeling good for about a month... Something to try and look on the good side is now you know that feeling good is possible, and hopefully with the help of your Pdoc, combo of medications hopefully you will start feeling better in the near future.

I think most of us here at HW site can relate to how your feeling. I know for myself in the last year of getting professional help I was getting better, and then all of a sudden I just started going backwards. I too, have been miserable the last couple of months. I really like my Pdoc a lot but it felt like she was just thinking that since I've come such a long way since last September that I have been doing good. So a week ago, I had written down my mood # for each day, feeling words to explain each day, and told her I was not getting better but moving backwards again. She finally listened & added Lamictal to my meds along with my existing ones: Neurontin, Buspar, Visteral, Trazadone. She started me on a low dose of Lamictal & will raise the mg up every 2-weeks till reaching the amount that is hopefully working for me.

Anywaz, I am wishing you all the best and hope that you will get turned around and heading in the direction of feeling better soon.
Your Healingwell Friend,
Serenitee

Bipolar 2, Borderline, Anxiety-Panic Disorder, Ptsd

Did you tell them your symptoms?  I call in inbetween appointments.  The nurse takes my symptoms down.  She talks to the pdoc and calls me back to tell me my med adjustment.  This usually happens when I'm all a mess and have appointments every 2 weeks.

12 days.  You can do that.  :)  Please check in with us.

I think you need to talk to her a little bit. Does she even know the range of suicidal thinking? Tell her you are safe. Tell her she and your kids are safe. Tell her you love her. Tell her you love her enough that you will go to the hospital if/when you need to. Pack an emergency bag with pajamas, toiletries, a book to read. Put it in a closet, tell her, and forget about it.

Allow her to feel mistrust. Avoid situations that scare the hell out of her - like you driving "alone" with the kids. She should be nervous!

11 days.

Introverted,

Just wanted to tell you how sorry I am that you are having such a hard time right now, but we are all here for you. I have also been in a psych ward and have to say if you can stay at home it is much quieter. I only got more manic there. I understand about the spouse and kids thing. I have had a horrible (my sister calls it my "Valley of Death") year of depression and have had times of getting better only to go back down to dark depths and anxiety which I've never felt before. I'm actually at my folks (a little embarrassing at almost 49) to try to relax and give my meds a chance to work. We have twin girls who are 7 1/2 and my husband is very concerned about them and has told me in the past he didn't feel I was "safe" around them. I do know that hurt feeling. I'm hoping for an appointment that is sooner and more understanding from your wife. Try to do anything that helps you keep the anxiety and wild thoughts down. Again, we are here for you!!!!!!!!!!

2 days! Happy for you! I know you can make it until then. (((hugs)))

Thanks for the good thoughts. 24hrs to go! I am sure I will make it now which is good because I am equally sure that I wouldn't have made it till the 22nd.

I am hoping that the appt is productive. I am making a list for him today so I don't have to try to remember everything and I also have a to do list to keep myself
busy and distracted as much as possible.

Well the pdoc officially changed by dx to Bipolar today. He took me off of Zoloft and left Seroquel at 300mg for now. He said that even though I
am depressed I shouldn't be on an AD and that it could be causing or making the mixed episodes and rapid cycling worse. He seems pretty sure that
removing it will make me feel better. I hope he is right. I can't go another 3 weeks like this.

I go back in 3 weeks and I don't know if he plans to change my meds then again or not. He will only change one med at a time so I expect he will. I
don't seem to remember seeing anyone on seroquel alone as a mood stabilizer but that's what he says it is even though I know it is an anti-psychotic.

I don't know how I feel about the official dx. I mean I was pretty sure that I was bipolar and wasn't shocked when he told me but it felt different actually
hearing it from him. I know as long as it took for him to decide that he is very sure. Been seeing him almost a year. Anyway, I know it isn't the end of the
world. I just have to let it sink in.

Thanks for listening. I really appreciate you all.