Posted by baseball55 on November 30, 2015, at 21:13:10
In reply to Re: suicidal ideation, posted by joe f on November 30, 2015, at 12:14:51
When to get help? If you are suicidal and feel you might act on it, are making plans and feeling overwhelmed by these thoughts, you should either make an emergency appointment with your provider to decide whether going to the hospital is a good idea or simply take yourself to the emergency room. Suicidal planning is not a med adjustment issue. It is an emergency.
However, if you do seek emergency help, you must realize that you will be placed on a locked ward and, in most states, kept for three business days without being able to leave, even if you want to. So you must decide - how much a danger am I to myself and others? Do I want to be safe? am I willing to be locked up to be safe from intrusive suicidal ideation for a while?
People complain about locked psych wards all the time. I have been locked up for days or even weeks at a time on several occasions. I never regretted this. It kept me safe and alive and I would not have remained alive had I not been hospitalized in a locked ward. I found the doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors and aides almost all helpful and kind, despite the fact that I was out of control a few times and had angry interactions with the staff. Of course, I was in highly regarded teaching hospitals in Boston, so they were well staffed and the staff well trained.
My two cents. If you feel you are in danger, get emergency help.
poster:baseball55
thread:1084285
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20151119/msgs/1084308.html