Thinking of going to the ER.. anyone here have any experience with er visits?..
GoodPersonEffed
Brevity is my middle name, but my name was TL
- Jan 11, 2020
- 6,727
BPDbitch
Experienced
- Nov 10, 2019
- 248
squirtsoda
Fallen Eagle
- Jan 19, 2020
- 324
Yep. ER for psych I'm guessing? Basically they'll take you in almost immediately if you say you're suicidal. You may go to the drug detox area just in case. You may go to a room with nowhere you could possibly hang yourself, you may preemptively be handcuffed to the bed. That may take 1-3 hours, or until midnight due to insurance reasons. Then you'll be taken to their psych ward and admitted, or another psych ward in the area if there are no beds. During the intake you will probably change into a gown, all your clothes removed so they can check your body for any hazards or injuries. Your shoes and/or shoelaces will be taken, and any clothes you bring/have brought to you will have strings taken out. You will then get a bed, sometimes a shared room. You will be assigned a psychiatrist, or your own if they have privileges at that hospital. And then the psych ward stay would consist of daily session with your psychiatrist, several group sessions, relaxation time. This applies to the US. Generally no communication or electronic devices allowed.
BPDbitch
Experienced
- Nov 10, 2019
- 248
TheGoodGuy
Visionary
- Aug 27, 2018
- 2,999
Holy shit if a person didn´t wanna kill themselves before they sure as well would after that treatment.
UpandDownPrincess
Elementalist
- Dec 31, 2019
- 833
Around here, you'll be paired with a "patient attendant," who is basically a babysitter. Some are silent, some are chatty.
The hospital I prefer has a separate psych waiting area. Once you're in the regular ER, they'll have someone from psych talk to you. As long as there's room, someone will walk you over to the psych area. That's like a big dayroom with a TV and comfier seating. You'll have an intake with a dedicated psych staff member and they'll talk to you about where you go from there. If you need to be transferred to another facility, they'll send you by ambulance.
I did not have a full search and the like until I had arrived at the long-term unit where I stayed. The nurse was sensitive about it and allowed me to only disrobe one part at a time, so I never had to just stand there naked. I was there for a week, so long-term does not mean months or anything.
If you have shoes without laces, wear them. No hoodie strings or pj pants drawstrings, either. You may wind up without your bra (sorry, I forgot who I'm talking to) so choose your top/tops carefully.
Not all experiences are horrible and it's the worst the first time. Having said that, if you need to be there to be safe, then GO.
The hospital I prefer has a separate psych waiting area. Once you're in the regular ER, they'll have someone from psych talk to you. As long as there's room, someone will walk you over to the psych area. That's like a big dayroom with a TV and comfier seating. You'll have an intake with a dedicated psych staff member and they'll talk to you about where you go from there. If you need to be transferred to another facility, they'll send you by ambulance.
I did not have a full search and the like until I had arrived at the long-term unit where I stayed. The nurse was sensitive about it and allowed me to only disrobe one part at a time, so I never had to just stand there naked. I was there for a week, so long-term does not mean months or anything.
If you have shoes without laces, wear them. No hoodie strings or pj pants drawstrings, either. You may wind up without your bra (sorry, I forgot who I'm talking to) so choose your top/tops carefully.
Not all experiences are horrible and it's the worst the first time. Having said that, if you need to be there to be safe, then GO.
What if you dont have insurance but are a united states veteran?
Not being able to talk here while in a psych ward doesnt sound like fun
Not being able to talk here while in a psych ward doesnt sound like fun
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GoodPersonEffed
Brevity is my middle name, but my name was TL
- Jan 11, 2020
- 6,727
Makes no difference in how they treat you. You may want to go to a VA hospital, but I've never heard good things. Of course, I've had horrific treatment at other facilities, so take your pick.
What are you seeking to get out of this? I do not at all recommend going to an ER and getting put on a hold. The second they know you are suicidal, you are locked in until someone says you are allowed to leave, you are vulnerable to the whims of the facility and the one they transfer you to. I went to save myself many times and was not saved, I was at best put in ridiculous CBT groups and told to take meds or leave, and at worst, I don't want to talk about the worst. Seriously, you're more empowered and safer talking shit out here.
Does this really happen?
Sometimes yes.
I feel like i need to exhaust the "options" available for help, before feeling comfortable enough to ctb. I have never saught help. For 7 years. But this oast attempt. For some reason partial hanging btw, after my head stopped hurting, i felt like i needed to try.
BPDbitch
Experienced
- Nov 10, 2019
- 248
It's crazy to me how American ERs will lock you up straight away for being suicidal. After my attempt last night I was in and out in under 6 hours.
Anon2662
Just a girl trapped in a psychological prison
- Feb 13, 2020
- 366
!! Handcuffed to the bed!? I'm in the UK and have never had to strip off for a search! That would tip me over the edge as i'd find it so triggering! Anyone else in the UK who has had to strip off? I was searched with a metal detector wand thingy.. but wasn't even made to take my shoes off (although I was on 1-1 so even if I did have anything concealed in my shoes, they'd have seen it!)
rntmss
Taking it one day at a time
- Feb 7, 2020
- 197
I woke up handcuffed to a bed during one of my attempts. Bottle of sleep aids and alcohol.Does this really happen?
Turns out I ended up "going for a walk" and the cops found me and called paramedics. Oddly enough, I just ended up walking out the next morning. They thought I was just drunk.
GoodPersonEffed
Brevity is my middle name, but my name was TL
- Jan 11, 2020
- 6,727
I hear you, and I really respect what you're trying to accomplish. But I promise you, this is not an option you want to exhaust. Seek a trauma-informed therapist for your underlying issues. Go to a psychiatrist if you must, but do not admit to self-harm history or urges ever. I'm from the States, I've sought that last-option help in two states and one was mild but definite shit, the other was torture, and that's not hyperbole. If you are in California or Florida, do not get caught up in their last-option systems ever, do all you can to stay away from them. Shit, call a domestic violence hotline for someone to talk to if you have a past history of abuse, they can potentially talk you down and give you therapy and other non-hospitalization resources.
squirtsoda
Fallen Eagle
- Jan 19, 2020
- 324
BPDbitch
Experienced
- Nov 10, 2019
- 248
That's insane. Last year I was in hospital for medical reasons, and the guy in the next room was smashing the bit up and never once got restrained. Hard to believe some places will restrain someone for admitting suicidality. I guess if you were actively trying to do something, but not if you were passively admitting to it.
sadbunny
Experienced
- Jun 7, 2019
- 249
This. It is painfully boring but if you feel the need to help yourself, exhaust all options, I say do it. I've seen a few people thrive after coming out from a stay at the psych ward
GoodPersonEffed
Brevity is my middle name, but my name was TL
- Jan 11, 2020
- 6,727
-Link-
Deep Breaths
- Aug 25, 2018
- 552
They look for three things:
- a specific plan
- the means to carry it out
- the intent to act on it (or if you're not sure whether or not you'll act on it)
You could bluntly open by just saying you feel you're in danger of killing yourself. After that, they should take the lead in conversation and you just answer their questions.
So the initial contact ismt scary? Just i am in danger of killing myself? I mean i have three different things to do so at my house.
Many more than that actually just three that are reasonable methods per say.
Many more than that actually just three that are reasonable methods per say.
Carina
Angelic
- Dec 22, 2019
- 4,005
Yep they will. Now the catch is some places will "restrain" you with video camera(s) with sound and dedicated nurse(s). As long as you don't try something, you're free to move about in the bed. Granted you have no table, no tv, no nothing, so they might as well have you restrained. And if you act suspicious, nurse will appear within like 15-30seconds depending. you even hint at something, and you hear the nurse seeing if you need something. Basically you're free to stare at a wall or sleep. But you at least get to move your arms. Do something though and you will be restrained.
Be honest. Pretty much as simple as that. Suicidal, don't want to hurt yourself, basically the same.
-Link-
Deep Breaths
- Aug 25, 2018
- 552
I think so. Your first contact is going to be a triage nurse. You could be more detailed and tell them what method you're planning, but either way, it's going to trigger a dialogue, they will draw answers out of you, and you'll be triaged to see a doctor.
Think of it as a glorified doctor's appointment. They ask you what's wrong, you tell them what it is, they assess you, and they prescribe treatment. In this case, the prescribed treatment is a psychiatrist-supervised hospital stay.
Your experience will depend on where you are and what kind of quality a hospital it is. If you are going to the hospital voluntarily, your experience there shouldn't be as daunting as it would be if you were being forced there.
Carina
Angelic
- Dec 22, 2019
- 4,005
Reactions from people afterwards. Them not taking me seriously. Beung locked up and not helped. Saying the words I am thinking of killing myself to a random stranger. Its all frightening
Carina
Angelic
- Dec 22, 2019
- 4,005
Well... their thoughts don't matter really, but they're professionals, and in the US they should've had psych ward as part of their rotation so it really probably won't affect them or phase them for the most part--if you're in a bigger area, it's probably a daily thing, might be even in a smaller town. Not taking you seriously? possible, but not that likely generally. Locked up and not helped? Well that can happen, although being locked up, given a script for an antidepressant and told to see a counselor would be more likely (even though possibly useless). There's good and bad places. So I can't guarantee--but to think of it this way, worst case, you end up the same, best case, you end up better.
Saying the words.... that's something you'll just going to struggle with. But you'll have to do it.
squirtsoda
Fallen Eagle
- Jan 19, 2020
- 324
There's an abundance of caution in the US...due to the litigiousness of the populous.
I feel you. I need help not to be treated like a child and imprisoned. Skip the ER and just talk to therapists and crisis centers. Tell them you're suicidal, but don't have a plan and won't try to die. You'll get talked to and handed meds, but you'll spare yourself the humiliation, boredom, and possible ill treatment.
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