[rwwff]

Any tips for not melting into a blithering idiot. I kinda figured waiting list would be months.... not hours. So I'm good with basic stress management, but man this feels like a stress-test marathon, "pop the cork, get a video cam quick!"

[Moose72]

You'll be fine I'm sure.

[rwwff]

Thanks, I'm getting a real first hand taste of why no one wants to go in the first time like this. Everything in me is saying, "you're fine, chill, go make some mayhem, anything... but don't go in that office." I feel like I'm being dragged by the echo of a promise made in the darkness.

[Travelinglady]

Just try to remember that the psych person will be trying to help you. Be yourself, even if you end up being a "blithering idiot." You'll probably be asked a lot of questions. That's always been my experience the first time I see a therapist or psychiatrist. Be honest and answer the best you can.

You'll be okay.

[emgreen]

"Manic'ish?" Have you ever been diagnosed?

[rwwff]

Originally Posted by emgreen

"Manic'ish?" Have you ever been diagnosed?

No. I'm trying NOT to self-diag or use specific terminology, as some people seem to get offended, and I seem really good at offending people like this.

This will be my first time to see any mental health care provider.

My thoughts are darn near speed limit breaking out of control; but I made a promise, and I am going to keep that promise.

I have no idea how I'm going to handle this hour long appointment. Just the idea of hopping in my truck in a few hours gives me the shakes.

They literally found me an hour long slot with a psych in a big clinic in less than 24 hours. I'm hoping that was just coincidence, but I didn't exactly manage to mute the chaos on the screening phone call....

[emgreen]

I'm glad you were able to get an appointment in such short order...some folks have to wait weeks to get one. Good luck. I hope they get to the bottom of this.

[bioChE]

You'll be fine. Most psychiatrists are pretty easy to deal with. They know what they're looking for, and will know to ask the right questions.

[rwwff]

TY all very much for helping me get over this hurdle; once past main lobby most everything was exceptionally calm. Sent me home with depakote and renewed hope. I don't have to lose after all, just to get a bit of normal back.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by rwwff

TY all very much for helping me get over this hurdle; once past main lobby most everything was exceptionally calm. Sent me home with depakote and renewed hope. I don't have to lose after all, just to get a bit of normal back.

Alright! Sounds like it went well. Depakote: first psych med. I ever took for my bipolar. Works well.

[Nammu]

So you kept your promise and had a productive hour! Glad to hear your appointment went well with no major hiccups. Good luck with the depakote.

[rwwff]

I'll go ahead and put this here, but it was interesting to me at least, this first night with the first psychiatric/bp med. I know it'll take a little while to get going and really let me think and do my job well again, but after taking it, it made me a little uncomfortable, and then quite woosie. It scared me a little, but also reassured me that this wasn't just a little placebo. I relaxed a little and tried to help it, help me sleep, and it did. I didn't manage 8, but I did get 5; if 5 is way better than 2 or 3 like the last few nights. I'm awake now, can type here, done a good bit of work this morning at startup, actual work, the stuff I'm really supposed to do.

Course, thoughts are still racing, hard as heck to discipline, but I can hold a line of thought for more than a minute or two.

I'm really going to work hard on this sleep thing.

I also feel so much safer, knowing MH people have seen me like this, as just opposed to some random person showing up in a hospital depressed. That could go soooo badly; I really don't want to experience the stages above where I have been these last couple weeks.

Anyway, thanks again.