Again and soon, like probably within the week. Sigh. Anyway, this will be psych visit #4 and I’d like to be more prepared than I’ve been in the past. If that’s possible. So I’d like to ask you guys (of anyone who has been in or had loved ones that did) if you have any suggestions. I’m not even really sure what I’m looking for, but thought perhaps someone on the outside might have ideas that I hadn’t thought of.
Anything you’ve got at all will help. Thanks in advance.
I also meant to re-post this from another thread to add a bit in way of an explanation if anyone is interested:
"*The spouse’s insurance has taken a nose dive and the ‘professional help’ is no longer our network. Which sadly means I can’t afford it otherwise. < sigh > On top of that, right before the switch, my medications had been changed and we were waiting to see what happened to make adjustments. Unfortunately, there’s been no positive results and of course since that’s been a while now, I’m pretty much doing without.
Until we can come up with me a plan to start over again, I’m stuck. The only option at my disposal for immediate help is to go back in the hospital and, just like I was in November, I’m resisting the idea because of how damaging the last visit was. Regardless though, I’ve got to do something soon. I almost had a meltdown in the pit a week or so ago, so this has even begun to effect the one life I have… online.*"
I don’t know about suggestions but here’s some hugs: {{{{ }}}}} put them in your kit bag and take them with you. 
My sister went into a two-week inpatient stay a few years ago. I will ask her if she has any advice. It helped her tremendously, I think it was the time which actually ‘took’ if you know what I mean. You’re welcome to PM me if you’d like to talk about it.
Also: have you tried any of the on-line chat support groups? I know of one which is fairly good - sometimes flaky but populated by good people.
Thanks NinetyWt. You’ve always been so kind. I’d love to know which online support group you suggest. I’m not terribly good with that sort of thing (kind of like with email, it’s just another of many things that makes me feel overwhelmed), but I’m always willing to give it another shot.
Right now, I’m focusing on the when and where and trying to map things out from there. In the interim, I’ll try to keep in mind that these things certainly do “take” for someone.
You may say I’m nuts, but I’ve never seen you meltdown in the Pit or otherwise. In fact, I consider you one of the more stable posters in the Pit. I must not be paying attention.
I am left 
about the whole thing. I wish you well and hope you get the help you need. And the resources available for mental health in this country SUCK. Just sayin’.
eleanor, since you are one of my absolute favoritest people (here or elsewhere), you have no idea how much that means to me. Hell, I figured most folks don’t even know who I am let alone that I’m “one of the more stable posters in the Pit”! Thank you so much.
And sadly, I agree that mental health care in this country is absolute shit. But what else ya gonna do? It’s the best we’ve got, right? Anyhoo, I’ve spent all evening online trying to figure out which psychiatrist this time will be the best to go through that’s already tied to a good, local hospital. I’ve been reading reviews and fortunately, since we’re in the Dallas area, it looks like I’ve found someone that might fit the bill as far as specializing in the things I have disorders in and comes highly recommended. Tomorrow we’ll be making an appointment that my husband will attend with me and, hopefully, from there I’ll do better when I go in than if I didn’t have a doctor beforehand.
Again, I’m very grateful to the Dopers in this thread, all the ones I’ve encountered before over this matter and those that have PMed / emailed. Sometimes it truly is because of you guys that makes the next day possible.
Sorry, no experience in this area, but I just wanted to pop in and wish you well, in every sense.
I am not entirely certain what this is all about, but I can honestly say I wish you the best of luck in your predicament, and you’ll be in my thoughts.
Thank you Scarlett and Kate. Every little bit of encouragement and support indeed helps.
Do you mind sharing why you are going into the hospital? If it’s too personal I understand but I am curious.
faithfool, I know your name and posting style (and I always like what you have to say) but have missed any recounting of what’s going on in your life right now. You shouldn’t have to re-explain things you’ve already told the SDMB about, but if you don’t want to write a summary here, can you point me to a past thread that explains what’s up with needing meds/hospitalization right now?
Whatever it is, I wish you all the best.
I don’t ever mind explaining things (although I worry that members here probably get tired of reading about it) because I figure if any good will ever come out of any of this, maybe it’ll at least be in part by helping destigmatizing it for someone. So without further ado, here’s my most recent recap. Unfortunately, there’s been plenty more, but that’s the gist. If you all have any specific questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.
And Carol, thank you so much for that. Just like the others, it’s been the bright spot in what’s shaping up to be a week (at least) that I’m going to dread. I appreciate everyone’s interest.
Faith, I will keep you in my thoughts. It looks from the link that you’ve said you have bi-polar disorder, so they will look at your meds and try to get the right ones for you. This can be very difficult and time consuming from everything I’ve read. I’m not a medical helper of any kind, just a fellow traveler on the Big Blue Marble. My friends with bi-polar always do better on their meds than off of them, no matter how much they think they like the manic mode: it is awful for them and others around them.
When I had adjustment problems, I found Dr. Scott M. Peck’s book The Road Less Traveled to be very helpful. He makes the point that life is struggle and when we accept that it is struggle and always will be, the misery of it is a little less. There will be moments of joy, but don’t expect that all the time.
I don’t know if that is helpful at all or misses what is going on for you. I do wish you the very best.
faithfool, I read the post you pointed to and that is heart-breaking. It sounds like your brain chemistry is playing evil tricks on you and sadly, we are still in the Dark Ages with respect to understanding how to treat such problems. I admire you for continuing your struggle. From now on every time I read one of your posts it will have an extra meaning to me. Best of luck to you.
Sorry, no experience here either, but all my best wishes to you.
This may sound like a bizarre suggestion, but I would recommend that you bring clothes that are comfortable without being sloppy. Getting dressed every day may seem like one of those “fake it till you make it” woo-woo suggestions, and I’m not saying that it’s a cure-all, nor am I saying you have to do full hair and makeup every day, but too often I have seen people who let their personal appearance go to hell and it’s just one more symptom of being less engaged in real life.
Faithfool, thanks for that recap. I didn’t really know what was going on, because, as eleanor remarked, from your posts you appear to be a stable, considerate, kind person with a clear and funny style of writing.
This post prompted me to call an RL friend of mine. She’s 40, and in much the same straits as you are. She told me on the phone she has applied for an in-patient stay of a few months. Her depression, that has been there all her life, has flared up in the last six months and she saw that something had to be done.
I congatulated her on seeking help, as I do you. I have been depressed a bit myself these last four years, and I think it is so incredible brave to plough on, every day, when you are fighting a severe depression and everything is so hard, unpleasant and seems so useless. You really have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and do it all on your intelligence and ratio, because if you listened to your emotions and your level of energy, you probably wouldn’t do much at all, anymore.
It says a lot about you that you have that level of discipline, intelligence and ratio, even in the face of a (psychotic) depression. That is who you really are, and don’t you forget it. Good luck.
Ok, read link. I am left :eek: at practitioners who tell someone with an anxiety disorder to just do X over and over again and it will get better. That seems flippant and nonproductive and just wrong. I get that such an approach is supposed to reduce the anxiety surrounding X, but seriously, it’s a bit more involved than that. I have that same issue (not to the degree FF does)–just because I successfully navigated Y does not mean (to me) that I will successfully navigate Y2. That’s one of the hallmarks of an anxiety disorder, no>
I mean, DUH. WTF is wrong with mental health people? Sorry you’re going through this, faithfool. My best to you.
{{{{{faithfool}}}}}
Offering my support and prayers, too, faithfool. May your efforts at treatment be successful! We care about you here!