[GirlOfOz]

I have been off of my meds for 8 months now. While I still have some of my anxiety meds left and occasionally take one every now and then, I have come to the realization that I need to go back on them. All the meds, not just the ones for anxiety. Yesterday, I was so tempted to take all the pills I had, so I dumped them down the toilet.
I just recently started a new job, about 3 weeks ago. I have also been having a lot of nightmares and suicidal thoughts. I am a cutter and have gone back to that. And not just my regular cutting, but deeper and more frequent. I really know that I should be hospitalized, but I am so worried about losing my job that I don't. If I lose my job, I'll be worse off than I am now. My question is, can my job fire me for a medical reason? If I AM hospitalized?

[Martina]

I wish I could give you better news, but since you are new on the job, you may not have a lot of protection. If you had been working at the company for 12 months, then by law they are required to give you up to 12 weeks of medical leave per year and retain your job. It's called FMLA - Family Medical Leave Act. It's federal - entire country. Some states have similar programs that kick in after 6 months of employment. I found out the hard way that this only applies to companies with more than 20 employees.

So the unfortunate thing is, legally, they can fire you. But if you explain to them that you are hospitalized, MOST employers have a bit of sympathy. Under HIPAA rules, you do NOT have to disclose to them the nature of your hospitalization (your diagnosis). It's none of their business. Your HR department may request a letter from your doctor, but if so, only the HR department - and not your boss or coworkers - will know your diagnosis. If they tell anyone, they're in violation of federal laws.

I wish you the best of luck. I know money is important (boy do I know!) but do not let money be more important than your life. You can find another job. If you commit suicide, that's the end. There's no second chances. Get the help you need, and worry about the finances later.

Is there a Phoenix Place in your area? They allow free respite care, not really a hospital but just a safe place to hang out so you won't harm yourself. It's free.

[Irine]

Did you ever have a therapist? I know it all seems very urgent but you can at least try a therapist so that he says if you MUST be hospitalized. An hour - i remember -- helped me a lot. Even though i felt like i MUST be hospitalized and the sooner the better.

[beautifuldisaster78]

I would talk with your boss. If you are a good worker- and especially if you just need some acute crisis care to get back on your meds they may be willing to give you a week or two off to take care of yourself. Really- as Martina said, do not let it be more important than your life! Congratulations for flushing all the pills when you were tempted to take them all. That takes a lot of strength. Hang in there! If you feel you can't go to a therapist and get back on meds on your own and need more intensive care, please seek it out. Even if your boss isn't understanding (again you can just tell you have a "personal health problem" and leave it at that) then there are other jobs. Take care of you.

[GirlOfOz]

The problem is, there ARE not other jobs around me. I live in a really little town, like one stop light little. There's maybe 4 places to apply at. And I don't have a vehicle to where I could go further away to get another job.
I have an appt with a therapist on the 19th of April. It seems like a million years away. I just want to go back to bed and stay there with the blankets pulled over my head until then. I AM trying. I get up in the morning, I function, and I go to work faithfully everyday that I'm scheduled. I have really good work ethics. In the past 5 months, I've had two jobs that I only called off once on.

It's just getting a tad bit harder to get up in the morning. It's getting a little harder to keep the smile on my face.

[Perna]

If you are sick and need hospitalization, it's not a "choice"! Your health has to come first. You can't work a job if you get so ill that you can't work, I would find that the worst that could happen.

I would try to make a bit of a plan; maybe hospitalization, getting stable, therapy, maybe some college courses and then revamp your resume so you were working on "personal projects" (that's what I used when my resume had too many part-time jobs or portions of time unaccounted for; I just lumped them all together. I was often taking college courses and that made me look responsible and like I was interested in education/getting ahead). I would decide where I wanted to work, doing what, and take some courses when I was better that would help me get a job close to what I wanted/planned. Then you could sincerely point to the courses and say you really wanted whatever job and were trying to prepare for getting it.

[Martina]

At the very least, find a doctor - even family practice type doctor if you can't get a psychiatrist or psych nurse quickly enough, and get your medication working for you correctly. If you can do that without going to the hospital AND BE SAFE - then you might not miss too much work. And call that therapist you're seeing in April and tell him/her that you're suicidal and trust me, your appointment will be moved up immediately!

If you're compliant with the care and doing what they tell you to do, they won't necessarily put you on a 72 hour hold just because you're suicidal. So PLEASE be honest with your therapist and your doctor about it. You're worth it.

Best of luck.

[Omers]

Where I am they usually do a 72 hour hold max especially if they get you back on meds. Could you go inpatient on a Thursday after work, take friday off and get out on Sunday?

[lotusflames]

how are you doing now?

I think even if you're new, most places would be fairly understanding if you had to go to hospital

[GirlOfOz]

The hospitals out here don't discharge a psych patient on weekends. In fact, if you go in on a Friday for a 72 hour hold, they don't count Saturday and Sunday in those 72 hours. At least that's been my experience.

Originally Posted by Omers

Where I am they usually do a 72 hour hold max especially if they get you back on meds. Could you go inpatient on a Thursday after work, take friday off and get out on Sunday?

[kmj221]

Originally Posted by Omers

Where I am they usually do a 72 hour hold max especially if they get you back on meds. Could you go inpatient on a Thursday after work, take friday off and get out on Sunday?

FYI:Weekends and holidays don't count towards a 72 hour hold. kmj221