Someone help

[Ang]

Look I got severe depression.. I'm thinking about checking myself into a hospital this moment and I dont even got insurance....

Last week I scheduled an appointment with a gp for the first time in my life to speak about this mental issue....I was actually given a diagnoses of anxiety and depression.... which I took with a grain of salt, that is until I meet with a psychiatrist.

Even though it took the week to have this psychiatrist which was on my referral list call me back, I had, in that time, felt an odd sense of calm that I've never felt in my life. I felt like everything was gonna be ok.. i didnt feel hopeless.

But these people called back just now and asked me if I wanted to schedule an appointment. I said yes and they shot back "what for?" I dont know what to say so I embarrassingly said " an evaluation". In her Loud NY accent ( as if I dont have one myself ) she kind of firmly said " she dont do those- but what for?" I was like....depression? She says " she cant help you with that!

I'm a little confused becuase this doctor is listed as a psychiatrist..umm.. I said something wrong or what? I'll call another one off the referral list but should I say something diff next time? I've never done this before.

 

[Gritches]

Oh my, you are new to the mental health system. Here, I'll try to help:

A psych hospital can be a good place to start. Before discharge, they'll almost always set you up with talk-therapy and med management. I don't know about New York, but my state has a program (I think it's our state's Medicaid) where while you're in the hospital a social worker will set you up with that insurance. Again, not sure about NY, but here it backdates medical bills 3 months so it covers the hospitalization. It would be worth looking into, if you wanted to get started in the mental health system a hospitalization isn't a bad starting point but there are a few things you should know about the mental health system that don't exactly fall under the category of "common sense":

1. Never, ever, under any circumstances whatsoever, make any sort of mention of wanting to harm/kill yourself or others. At that point, mental health treatment stops, and you're basically a prisoner. Keep it to yourself, don't even hint at it. You can be in charge of your own destiny in the mental health system until you verbalize harmful intent, because at that point you're an insurance liability and locking you down takes precedence over anything else.

2. You're not going to find a mental hospital that has good reviews. Just won't happen. Same with talk therapists. So you can't really go by the reviews; in the mental health system you have to just keep trying different places until you find somewhere good. I would drop that place you said you called like a hot potato, they sound like clowns.

3. Be in charge of your own treatment. Be assertive. Don't just "okay, sounds good" through the whole thing. Be your own advocate. Remember, nobody gives one flat damn if you're happy except for you. Nobody cares how you feel until how you feel becomes a nuisance to people with power. Be a nuisance. Be a squeaky wheel. If you let them jerk you around you'll probably get the same results as about 93% of people who seek help with mental health issues.

4. Build a network. If you find a good therapist at any point and in any context, latch on for dear life and don't let go. Ask them for referrals, because good therapists keep good company. This is how I ended up with my current network of fantastic mental health professionals; I met one good doctor while in a hospital and she referred me to people she knew who were good.

The mental health system is mean. Also, beware of antipsychotics/neuroleptics, and don't believe in that "oh, second-generation antipsychotics don't mess you up". It's ********. Antipsychotics should be reserved for people who cannot control their own conscious mind, and that is it. But doctors love to hand those things out like candy, because it makes people shut up and behave themselves. Don't fall into that trap.

Good luck.

 

[Ang]

Thanks.. I don't necessarily want meds because of family history. I just need someone to talk to and guide me with help and treatment. So calling and setting up an appointment with a psychiatrist isn't a step that one would usually take in my case? I mean If I knew that seeing a psychiatrist would be a step toward getting proper help than honestly I wouldnt feel as hopeless as I do at this moment.. I'm confused as to why she answered the she did though.. aren't psychiatrists for evaluation, or is it that there are psychiatrists who specialize in certain areas of mental health?

I mean like I said I'm feeling like checking myself into a hospital at this point because I just dont trust this feeling I have. You know It's like I'm trapped in a hole. However I dont want to miss work because I have a truck coming tonight and I'm the freight manager.

Sucks but I'm afraid if I lose my job I won't be able to survive. I mean then I could get medicaid but I'd lose my car and would probably be putting strain on the household. I mean I still live at home but contribute largely to the bills, rent, and food.

So again, is a psychiatrist a rational option ? If so what went wrong with the last call? Did I saY something wrong?

 

[LucyPurrs]

No you didn't . Agree with @Gritches that you should avoid that place. You can call another psychiatrist and say you want to be seen for depression treatment. That's all you should really need to say. These days psychiatrists don't do much counseling they refer out to psychologists and social workers for that and the psychiatrist does the diagnosis and medication if warranted. You might not need hospitalization if you're able to function (maintain daily activities and work) albeit with difficulty and are not thinking about harming yourself or others. But the hospital will evaluate whether you met hospitalization criteria and if not likely refer you to one of their attending physicians (psychiatrists). Hope that's helpful.

 

[Gritches]

Thanks.. I don't necessarily want meds because of family history. I just need someone to talk to and guide me with help and treatment. So calling and setting up an appointment with a psychiatrist isn't a step that one would usually take in my case? I mean If I knew that seeing a psychiatrist would be a step toward getting proper help than honestly I wouldnt feel as hopeless as I do at this moment.. I'm confused as to why she answered the she did though.. aren't psychiatrists for evaluation, or is it that there are psychiatrists who specialize in certain areas of mental health?

I mean like I said I'm feeling like checking myself into a hospital at this point because I just dont trust this feeling I have. You know It's like I'm trapped in a hole. However I dont want to miss work because I have a truck coming tonight and I'm the freight manager.

Sucks but I'm afraid if I lose my job I won't be able to survive. I mean then I could get medicaid but I'd lose my car and would probably be putting strain on the household. I mean I still live at home but contribute largely to the bills, rent, and food.

So again, is a psychiatrist a rational option ? If so what went wrong with the last call? Did I saY something wrong?

Ahh, I see. Hospitalization might not be your best option then. Grab a phone book, start calling mental health clinics. The one you talked to sounds like a dumb, unhelpful chooch. Usually if you call and express interest in talk therapy, whoever it is that's answering the phone will point you in the right direction, or direct your call to the right place, or schedule an appointment.

If all you're after is talk therapy (not meds) you don't need a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a doctor who took two semesters of psych courses and they typically spend their time swamped with writing out prescriptions; appointments with them are typically less than 15 minutes.

If you're looking for someone to talk to for an hour at a time, you're looking for a "talk therapist". You don't even necessarily need any sort of formal evaluation; you basically just need to make the appointment with someone (a psychologist or social worker as opposed to a psychiatrist) who's accepting new patients/clients.

It's really, really easy to do. Just call around, maybe give whoever answers the phone a line like "this might sound dumb, but I'm looking to do talk therapy. Are you accepting new clients, or how do I go about that?" If you talk to someone who isn't a complete lunchbox, they'll help you get from Point A to Point B on that one.

 

[Ang]

I guess what I'd want is something like cognitive therapy, but want a formal diagnoses to make sure I'm being treated in the right area.

I feel that a diagnosis by the walk in clinic of anxiety and depression was too vague, and it was understood mutually by both I and the doctor at the walk in clinic that she didnt know much about the subject and further assesment was needed.


I mean I may just end up speaking with a social worker then to sort sh*t out.

Wouldnt a psychologist also be able to diagnose or no?

 

[Fitzo]

A psychologist who is experienced in ASD would definitely be able to diagnose you and would be a better option than a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists these days essentially just dispense drugs.

 

[SusanLR]

A psychologist usually will start off with a long, question/answer test that will give them an overall view of states of depression, anxiety or psychosis.
All the personality disorders are mixed in those questions too.
Answer them truthfully, but, as Gritches pointed out,
the one thing to never imply is that you are wanting to harm yourself or others.
Not if you are just looking for a diagnostic test and talk therapy unless you are ready for a lock down ward. If someone feels they really need that, then ask and be truthful.
It will possibly get you Baker Acted for 72 hours, but,
in some cases this is what it takes to kick start a plan of help.
And it is true the mental health system is mean.
Be prepared for ridicule and even neglectful treatment from nurses and some psychiatrists.
@Gritches : your post is excellent on how to navigate the mental health system.

 

[Ang]

Im confused.. what about seeing a doctor who is labeled as a psychiatrist slash psychologist.. i found one and have set up an appointment.. he has focus areas in adhd , autism, anxiety, and depression.. Hope he can help me

 

[Bolletje]

Im confused.. what about seeing a doctor who is labeled as a psychiatrist slash psychologist.. i found one and have set up an appointment.. he has focus areas in adhd , autism, anxiety, and depression.. Hope he can help me

Sounds like a good start

 

[Ang]

Sounds like a good start

Im confused about how it works though . Really. If someone is labeled as that , do they act as both at once. Do you set up an appointment eith one or the other?

 

[Bolletje]

Im confused about how it works though . Really. If someone is labeled as that , do they act as both at once. Do you set up an appointment eith one or the other?

I think he or she will use all of the expertise they’ve gathered as a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Since both can diagnose a depression, it seems to me like you’re in the right place.