PSYCH WARD?

[BrightApril]

How y'all doin? I wish I could say i'm better.

To those who have been at this point: When did you know it was time to:

1. Change psychiatrists (she's quite frustrated because she hasn't found the right meds that work for me this time (I've been with her for 26 years and it has been a great relationship. And for the last 15 years i've been an easy patient---simply talk for 15 minutes and refill same prescription.)

2. Check yourself into full hospitalization

I spoke with a crisis counselor who advised me to a) get a 2nd opinion; b) get a full assessment; c) get my blood levels checked . Anyone ever did this?

Surfing the web I came across a genetic testing site where their kit includes a swab test and from it they can determine the class and approximate dose of meds that is probably right for you. Any of you ever did this? Was it accurate?

Would really appreciate your input!

[Ellamaye]

No answer to the other questions but please pay no attention to a website that can make a promise like that? You may have mental health issues but don't fall for that

[Hidden]

Hello Good Morning

Obviously everyone is different. I finally went and looking back some 11 years before I almost did, but thought that answers could be found like you are doing. I changed docs due to retirement, twice looking for better and moving to Texas. The reoccurring theme was not finding relief for my extreme anxiety. It sure didn’t help that when asking my family for a little more distraction time with grandsons and other possible helpful solutions, I was ignored. That help manifest into a really heightened state of anxiety. From a 9 out of 10 to a 15 and for the first time in my life awful insomnia in 2022.

That’s why I went to the hospital. I had told my current physcatrist to increase my main anxiety from 5 to 10 mg, but no real help. She remained pretty passive, like all before.

Hospital check everything from blood pressure and meds for it, along with meds working on my mental health challenges . Elevated kidney readings was immediately addressed by removing Lithium for this bipol and moving to a new med for both depression and anxiety . Increased my current anxiety med to 10 times what we what had been tried.

4 day stay was also amazing for peer support

Also your own person on the therapeutic side discussing and offering those real world environmental challenges I was finding.

Cutting edge breathing ideas.

On and on

Absolutely, unequivocally saved my life.

Couldn’t take the pain anymore and not a damn thing was working and believe me I had tried it all.

Been almost a year. After 27 years of trying everything , for me, it was very obvious that I was under medicated. Do I still suffer. Yup and many things can alter or trigger things so all the other techniques, therapy, prayer, etc are so important for balance; that I have to stay on guard there also.

Don’t expect flowered wallpaper, but I was there with many others just like me just looking to find the best answers

I thank God every day for all the good and the bad.

He gets extra gratitude everyday for that hospital trip

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oops- should say “ that lack of help and my symptoms “

[BrightApril in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for keeping it real.