For my manic episodes its other people that decide I'm not safe.
But what about depression? I don't want to make a needless ER visit, but then I don't want to wait until after I attempt suicide. Where's the line and when do you know you've crossed it?

[winter loneliness]

I have no line. I have never been hospitalized.
I have had "home" hospitalizations for mania.I have never been hospitalized for depression. I have SI pretty regularly. My therapist trusts me. I would never, ever, kill myself. I have 2 kids.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by winter loneliness

I have no line. I have never been hospitalized.
I have had "home" hospitalizations for mania.I have never been hospitalized for depression. I have SI pretty regularly. My therapist trusts me. I would never, ever, kill myself. I have 2 kids.

Neither would I but you should see my psych medical record.

[liveforsummer]

I really don't know. I've had moments this year where maybe I should have gone. But didn't.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

If I think I might need to be hospitalized I generally do. When I start to wonder I talk to my therapist about it and my pdoc and usually decide I can try at home but with increased therapy visits and my therapist can say it is time and I'll cooperate. I've gone in once or twice without the therapist, just directly contacting the pdoc.

[Amethyst_Stargazer]

It depends a lot of the time. Most of the time I talk to my therapist and I always make sure I take my medication. If I feel horrible about my life and see no future any longer is when I know that I need to go. Thankfully I haven't had any suicidal thoughts lately which I think is a good thing.

[bluemountains]

I have not known. It is my therapist and pdoc who have made the call. It is when I give up on life and fortunately for me the two of them are close enough to figure it out. The last time my pdoc refused to allow me to leave her office, threatening official steps if I did not allow my husband to come and take me to the hospital. The strange thing is that I can't pinpoint what let her know that I was so far gone. I ended up in the hospital full time for three days and then in the day program for three weeks this last time.

Bluemountains

[Need A vacation]

Originally Posted by bluemountains

I have not known. It is my therapist and pdoc who have made the call. It is when I give up on life and fortunately for me the two of them are close enough to figure it out. The last time my pdoc refused to allow me to leave her office, threatening official steps if I did not allow my husband to come and take me to the hospital. The strange thing is that I can't pinpoint what let her know that I was so far gone. I ended up in the hospital full time for three days and then in the day program for three weeks this last time.

Bluemountains

I had a similar experience. Went to therapist and ended up being told that he would call a family member and I could willingly go to the hospital or he would call an ambulance. The hospital was out of beds and they put me in a sort of holding room with three other women. Not a great experience at all, but I believe it saved my life.

[~Christina]

I honestly think I'm close, too many things are hitting me from all sides. I'm angry rage-y feels like 24/7.

I'm annoyed if anyone breathes too loud , ugh

Every September I have gone Ip the last 4 years.

I have increased my prn, if I don't find relief of any kind by Wednesday I will call my Pdoc there is no increase possible on my Latuda. This is 90% situational, none of which can change atm.

I'm not really worried about going Ip , this would be my first in Florida, Pdoc told me where to go for best care.

This is when I miss my old T so damn much.

I hope you can find whatever help you need. Stay safe

[WildcatVet]

When I'm severely depressed and any thoughts of hurting myself come to mind...BTDT.

[wildflowerchild25]

I try not to go IP for pure depression, simply because for me I know I'm in control even though the thoughts are really black. It's when I'm mixed that things take a turn for the worst. I know I need IP when I start seeing images of me hurting myself in my head. Once it reaches images stage, it's too dangerous to deal with on my own anymore.

[Guiness187055]

TRIGGER For me when I had a gun in my hand. Was scared to put it to my head because I knew what would happen. My wife caught me and I was hospitalized.

[winter loneliness]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

For me when I had a gun in my hand. Was scared to put it to my head because I knew what would happen. My wife caught me and I was hospitalized.

I will not allow guns in my house, for this very reason.

[Guiness187055]

TRIGGER I have also shot myself up with a ton of insulin and went to bed wasn't supposed to wake up but I did. That was another hospital visit.

I'm afraid of the hospital. I was sure a psychiatrist was lifting the phone to have me committed. I ran like hell.

I probably should have gone. After I crashed down from the mania, I was going to stores fondling the sleeping pills. Thank god I didn't hurt myself. I didn't actually buy any pills.

I guess it is best to do what your doc thinks you should do.

[opwhite]

Originally Posted by escapeartist

For my manic episodes its other people that decide I'm not safe.
But what about depression? I don't want to make a needless ER visit, but then I don't want to wait until after I attempt suicide. Where's the line and when do you know you've crossed it?

I think you know when the mania is bad enough - like after being crazy manic for about 3 months and convinced that we lived in a 3 dimensional world only I had the power to control I ended up somewhere on the street outside my compound and the receptionist called my mom who immediately took me to the hospital and then the doctor saw me and decided I had to stay in the hospital (another branch) for a month.

Every time I'm really manic it's very easy to tell, I stay up all night, find crazy solutions to problems I invented myself or suddenly I'll believe I know the reason for why we exist etc etc and I won't shut up about it, I'll talk to anyone and everyone I meet and spend hours trying to convince them and get SUPER frustrated because of course they dont believe me (once I even went to the local university to talk to professors there about my theory of life) and usually the people that encounter me call the psych ward or my parents. Just because I am sooooooo persistent when I'm manic, I could talk to you about why sheep are blue and get sooooo worked up about it until I feel like I'm about to explode from my own body.

And from going to the docs after these manic episodes it automatically takes care of the depressed / low time that comes after cuz you get mood stabilizers etc etc. Like the docs HAVE to pay attention if you've been manic - and they usually find that you are bipolar and give you medicine so you wont have either the mania or depression.
But thats just my experience..

[franz kafka]

When I'm at the point where I will hurt myself if left to my own devices, then I go IP.

[Sunflower123]

I have SI frequently and have gotten pretty good at surfing that wave. There is a fine line between where I can work through it and when I've gone over the line. I've miscalculated twice so I guess I would say when you feel that you have a strong desire to harm yourself...be safe and go IP.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by winter loneliness

I will not allow guns in my house, for this very reason.

I think that is wise thinking. I have a few firearms in my safe, but I never had the desire to try to harm myself with them. I am very fortunate in this way. My concern is handling a firearm when I am manic where I am impulsive with a lack of judgement.

As far as the OP is concerned, I have heard here on PC that thoughts of sui is one thing. However if you have made a plan, that is when an IP visit may be warranted. I may be wrong here, but that is what I heard from posters here in your same situation. Take this for what it is worth.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've only been hospitalized once, for SI, but there are a couple of times when I was manic that I should have been, and almost was. I'm not sure I'd have the insight to go in during a manic episode, but I have no problem spotting a major depressive episode and I won't hesitate to admit myself if I ever get to a place again where I can't trust myself to be safe.

[Fuzzybear]

I really don't know..
I'm afraid of doctors
Hospitals ... almost everything about them scares me, I doubt if inpatient would be therapeutic for me

[Carmina]

Originally Posted by winter loneliness

I have no line. I have never been hospitalized.
I have had "home" hospitalizations for mania.I have never been hospitalized for depression. I have SI pretty regularly. My therapist trusts me. I would never, ever, kill myself. I have 2 kids.

I'm not sure where the line is, over the summer during my really bad periods I think I may have come close and was seriously considering it. On one occasion I phoned the Samaritans as I was an inch away from harming myself and trying to hold it all back as I also have a kid (grown up though) so could not do that to her. It's hard because mostly you're just about clinging on in some way, the really really bad peaks come and then mellow a little as you manage to carry on another hour, then that hour becomes a day and so on.

[scatterbrained04]

I'm not very good at knowing. The thought of the hospital freaks me out. I'm not sure that I'd go unless someone strongly pressured me to. I'd suppose the line for me personally would be when I'm mixed and SHing a lot. Usually I have strong SI and impulsivity during that time.