Posted by joslynn on May 30, 2006, at 12:20:47
In reply to How do doc's react to suicidal ideations?, posted by jealibeanz on May 29, 2006, at 12:28:00
A couple things to answer your question, just based on my experiences:
I have spoken about passive thoughts of wanting to kill myself (don't have those thoughts now, thank you God) with pdoc and he did not put me in the hospital. (I don't think he has that power anyway?) He just suggested a med adjustment if it didn't go away in a few days, as I recall. He did ask very specific questions about if I had a plan and if anything was holding me back from trying, and some other things. For me, the thoughts were just thoughts, so he didn't talk about the hospital for that.
About the hospital....Before I was in treament for depression and was just trying to deal with it on my own, I actually did walk to the ER with persistent, constant suicidal thoughts that were going on for weeks, which I resisted acting upon, and they did recommend that I go into the hospital for a few days. (I also had not been eating and sleeping for a couple weeks as well.)
However, they said they couldn't make me, it was my choice. I chose the hospital and now I am very glad I did. (I got lucky and it was a really good place with good pdocs and counselors.) Once in the hospital, I supposedly could have left when I wanted to, by signing a form saying I was leaving against doctor's orders.
My point is, nowadays, at least in my area, no one is making people go into the hospital just for the thoughts.
Now for you, the hospital may or may not be a good choice. I am just saying that even when I DID admit my suicidal thoughts, they still couldn't force me to go to the hospital.
And once in the hospital, your insurance company is constantly checking up to see whether or not you are still suicidal, because if you are not actively contemplating it every moment, they want you in some less expensive step-down treatment. So, for a lot of people, the problem is not being in the hospital for too long, but not being in long enough.
I hope you find some peace real soon.
poster:joslynn
thread:650094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060530/msgs/650451.html