My mother ended up in the ER because she 'couldn't breathe' but what no one seemed to pick on was that she was having a huge panic attack and was hyperventilating. They were going to do nothing for her, because her oxygen was fine, but I called and managed to get her seen by a behavioral health nurse (she lives in a small town and they have no pdocs at the hospital). She was nice and supportive and gave my mother a list of therapists. She's had referrals before from her PCP and not called.

This time, when she got home, she called, but they haven't gotten back to her. Per her PCP's office, it is very hard to get appts to see therapists over there. She desperately needs one. She has a history of depression and anxiety, both of which are getting much much worse. I do breathing exercises with her on the phone to try and get her to slow her breathing, but she says it doesn't help much.

She also has MS, COPD and a mess of lesser disabilities, but will now hardly ever get out of bed and into her wheelchair, which is only making her weaker.

So she's agreed to go to a sub-acute facility for about 3 weeks. I left a message yesterday, they didn't get back to me, will call today. I had been speaking with the admissions coordinator for an acute care facility, but she wasn't accepted there, so now I need to start all over with another facility. Still, I think this place would be best. It's less intensive, but longer.

It's been a rollercoaster ride and I've been very stressed. I had a couple of drinks two times this last week, which is very unusual and NOT helping.

I'm very worried. I feel like this is her last chance. She needs to get out of bed and do the hard work of PT/OT to get better at this place and I think her depression and anxiety are telling her to give up.