Not wanting to go to hospital

metalgal

I have long term mental health problems, mostly anxiety and depression. I have tried several different meds and nothing is working. I see a mental health social worker (like a CPN) at least once a week and things have deteriorated badly in the past couple of weeks. I have been given an urgent appt with psych. tomorrow to look at meds and stuff and other treatment options. My SW has warned me that from the way i am at the minute there is a high chance of hospitalisation. She says that i have been in the situation many times before that hospital treatment would be the right step but she has not suggested this to docs as she knows that i couldn't cope being away from my child. Im of two minds at the minute i don't want to go to hospital and be away from my baby but ive got to the point where i don't know what the eff to do any more and nothing seems to be working even the stuff that worked before. i have never been in hospital for psychiatric problems before. My mother had hospital spells several times when i was younger.
Has anyone else been admitted for depression/anxiety? Did it work? Are there any other options i can discuss with my doc? I can't keep calling my SW and the crisis team out all the time. I really need help.

Errata

It looks like there are three options -
Refuse an admission and ask for more support at home
Accept a voluntary admission
Be admitted involuntarily

Between you, the psychiatrist and your mental health workers you should be able to find an option which will be the best one for you. Best wishes.

blabberwort

I've been in hospital voluntarily for depression and it was the best thing I could have done. They will beable to go through your medication properly while you are there and you'll have 24 hour support. They can also offer other treatments to help alongside any meds, there are a number of classes available at different times and may be something to suit you.

It's not easy to choose to go in hospital, but I honestly believe that had I not gone in and received the 24 hour support available every day I wouldnt be here now.

Talk to the phsyciatrist and explain your reservations and worries, im sure they will beable to help and find something that works best for you be it hospital or additional support at home.

Savvy_Sue

I think Errata has summed it up well. And I can't help thinking that while you wouldn't want to be separated from your child, a planned admission might well be preferable to an unplanned section, so you need to give that some consideration.

I don't know how old your child is, but isn't there one unit for mums with severe PND where they can take their babies in? Probably hugely over subscribed.

But I don't think that going in means you can't SEE your child. And getting better sooner rather than later would obviously be best, long term.

I don't know, I'm wittering, just trying to encourage you to think about the positives as well as the negatives.

Saversue

It's very hard to say what would be best for you in your circumstances.
Only you and those caring for you have all the information about your particular case. taking into account your child and any support network /family you might have to help.
That might not be the answer you were hoping for, but bad advice is not what you need right now.
I do understand where you are coming from and have spent time in a psychiatric hospital myself, when you are that ill you are not always in the best position to make that decision.
I agreed to go in voluntarily because I didn't want to be forced and be sectioned. Good Luck

crazy_girl

i went in 'voluntarily' i.e. it was that or be sectioned and it was truly the worst thing that ever happened to me. inpatient treatment dioesnt always make you feel beter. i od'd before i went in there and the second i was discharged i took a bus to the local pharmacy and od'd again.

Katie1980_2

metalgal wrote: »

I have long term mental health problems, mostly anxiety and depression. I have tried several different meds and nothing is working. I see a mental health social worker (like a CPN) at least once a week and things have deteriorated badly in the past couple of weeks. I have been given an urgent appt with psych. tomorrow to look at meds and stuff and other treatment options. My SW has warned me that from the way i am at the minute there is a high chance of hospitalisation. She says that i have been in the situation many times before that hospital treatment would be the right step but she has not suggested this to docs as she knows that i couldn't cope being away from my child. Im of two minds at the minute i don't want to go to hospital and be away from my baby but ive got to the point where i don't know what the eff to do any more and nothing seems to be working even the stuff that worked before. i have never been in hospital for psychiatric problems before. My mother had hospital spells several times when i was younger.
Has anyone else been admitted for depression/anxiety? Did it work? Are there any other options i can discuss with my doc? I can't keep calling my SW and the crisis team out all the time. I really need help.

Metal Girl I can sympathise with you on this as this is the high likelyhood of what will happen to me today at my dr's appointment after 3 attempted overdoses and a week of not knowing who I was, has prompted my dr's to do something even though I am in the system and have had appropriate referrals to the right places this month it is a case of too little too late and has now got to the point of where there is now a rota system of people who are to in my words "babysit" me when I am to be on my own like this weekend I have to send texts to the inlaws and if I feel lonely I have to go over there but I have too much work to do (that is my excuse and sticking to it)

good luck metalgirl and drop me a pm with what happens chick :grouphug:(that looks a bit pervy but it is a hug)

sheeps68

Metalgirl. I really feel for you. I too hate hospital admission but on very practical levels I also know admission early tends to be a shorter stay. My admissions are for lung issues. Also looking at it from your childs view point would they want their mum well and getting help needed or remember a childhood where Mum didnt get help and they suffer the consequence. Also in a planned admission you get the best results for your child and yourself. On a final but not least important approach, if you dont look after yourself can you really fulfill all your childs needs. I am NOT saying you would neglect your child purposefully but by doing what you feel is best and being there all the time it may not be in your childs best interests on a long term view. Just making possible plans can help you even if they are not used. Eg my suitcase for unplanned admissions under my bed. I would suggest you look at options now and if you do need admissions its a planned and organised thing so you get well and back to your child very quickly. Hugs...

KeaneFan10

Hi Metalgal ... My mum and most of my family at some point have been hospitalized due to depression, i was 15 when my Mum was sent there but i knew in my heart we couldn't help her she needed proper treatment she was in there for a while but while she was there medication was sorted and relaxation techniques she learned also helped it was the best thing we did, my mums family didn't speak to my Dad for sometime because of the 'hospital' he decided for her but in the long run it worked and we got our mum back, no one knows about depression until they have had it i also have was nearly hospitalized wen my twins were born but medication worked for me. i wish you so much luck and think positive you will get there

skipsmum

Hi hun, I was sectioned last year, in hindsight if I'd gone in earlier voluntarily everything would have much easier on my family as they would have planned what they were going to do...obviously only you can decide, but its definitely best to get the help you need voluntarily rather than have it forced on you when you are too ill to make decisions. xx

heretolearn_2

I know it seems scary but inpatient care has changed a lot and isn't what you might be expecting at all. A young relative of mine was admitted to a secure unit a couple of years ago and when we went to visit (never having been to one before) we were imagining something out of One Flew over the Cukoos nest. Actually it was a really nice place, bit of peeling paint here and there, but very caring staff, good facilities (they had an on-site pool and gym and all!) and she got terrific care. Was out again 3 weeks later, much improved.

Could you arrange a visit to the unit you could be admitted to? That might help reassure you.