[desertrose1993]

My new GP I saw today is sending me to the hospital tomorrow for an evaluation. She said I was in need of pretty immediate intervention. I have never been to a place like that before and don't know if they will keep me or not. I am having a host of mental and physical symptoms and she said my meds need to be straightened out. This Depression is kicking my *** and I can't pull out of it. Not to mention all the stress in my life and believe me there is alot. I think she was most afraid of the not eating, weight loss and stomach aches and the fact I have really let myself go.

Has anyone ever gone to a psych hospital for an evaluation? What can I expect? I am scared and alone and feel awful about myself. Please help me!

[RunningEagleRuns]

Originally Posted by desertrose1993

My new GP I saw today is sending me to the hospital tomorrow for an evaluation. She said I was in need of pretty immediate intervention. I have never been to a place like that before and don't know if they will keep me or not. I am having a host of mental and physical symptoms and she said my meds need to be straightened out. This Depression is kicking my *** and I can't pull out of it. Not to mention all the stress in my life and believe me there is alot. I think she was most afraid of the not eating, weight loss and stomach aches and the fact I have really let myself go.

Has anyone ever gone to a psych hospital for an evaluation? What can I expect? I am scared and alone and feel awful about myself. Please help me!

I've been evaluated at the emergency room before. It's pretty routine. Its normal not to look forward to spending time in the mental hospital. I've been in quite a few. If you do go, just take the meds and be good, you'll get out soonest. See you!

[nannypat]

I have been evaluated and admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital for depression and PTSD more than once. Though it's never where you really want to be, I have to say they helped me a lot both with medication adjustments and giving me sometime away from a lot of stress. The staff was nice and willing to talk when you felt you needed to.They also had some groups on coping skills for different situations. I know every place is different but this place helped me get through some really tough times. Good Luck.

[turquoisesea]

Good luck. I have not been, but I've heard of positive outcomes ((((desertrose))))

[(JD)]

Don't worry about if they will keep you or not. Hospitalization actually is a perfect choice for getting medication balanced and your system stabilized on it.

I'm sorry you're having a tough time right now. Glad your GP cares about you.

[desertrose1993]

Ok, I really don't know what that was yesterday. This lady talked to me for a few minutes, she was really nice. Then hands me a card and I'm supposed to go back on March 29th for an evaluation that could take up to 2 hours. I thought that was supposed to be the evaluation. So, I ask her "do you think i am in a severe depression" and she says yes. Make sure you take the new script of Zoloft your PCP gave you. I did tell her I was afraid of medication and that I was still taking the low dose Lexapro and she says they usually react in the same way on the body, so I should be fine. Then she tells me they have no beds and she would see me on the 29th. Later that day she calls to check in and asks if I still had the card with the Psychiatrist appt. on it. I never got a card with a Pdoc appt. on it. Anyways, she said she would take care of it.

It def was different then what I expected it to be and a little confusing too. I guess I'm not as jacked up as I thought, but I sure feel like it. Still scared of the Zoloft though.

[Rohag]

Hello, Desertrose1993!

General Stuff about Medications:

An Introduction to Mental Health Medications (PsychCentral)
Antidepressant Medications (PsychCentral)

Zoloft:

Zoloft/sertraline (PsychCentral)
Sertraline (US National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus)
Sertraline for Depression (UK National Health Service)
Zoloft/sertraline (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Just My Opinion: Having a healthy suspicion of psychtropic medications is a good thing. March 29th is too soon to be able to assess the effectiveness of the Zoloft, and it's possible you may experience initial side-effects that will wear off, but do try to keep at least a mental journal of what you are experiencing. The more hard data you can give the doctors about your personal reaction to Zoloft, or any medication, the better they will be able to judge and adjust.

Wishing you health!

[Leed]

i was evaluated and admitted to a psych hospital, and it was the BEST thing I could ever have done. I was having the EXACT same problems as you're having. I was losing weight, my stomach hurt, there was so much stress in my life, my meds weren't working, I thought i was going crazy! So I committed myself for 2 weeks, and I actually wished I could have stayed longer -- but the doctor thought I was ready to go home. I sure didn't.

It did do a lot for me tho. And I kept seeing my doctor for over a year afterwards ~ and then later I went back into therapy and i've been in and out of therapy most of my adult life. i think now I've "graduated." LOL I've been doing quite well for the last 15-20 years.

You will be fine ~ it's really a good experience. I wish you the very best. God bless. Hugs, Lee

[online user]

This actually might be very prompt scheduling if your area is anything like mine--it's like pulling teeth to get a psychiatrist's appointment here. I had to wait 6 weeks, and was severely depressed at the time. I finally had to go to the emergency room one night, suicidal and having a panic attack that felt like a heart attack. They hospitalized me for 2 weeks. I missed my Pdoc appt. and another was made for me while in the hospital--the first one available was 3 weeks out--and she did that as a favor for the hospital folks with whom she had worked previously. So, don't feel because you are being put off a bit, that they are not taking you seriously. They may not have beds and may not have an appointment for you until the 29th. That really isn't very far away. They are taking care of you, I'll bet, as promptly as they can. The only way to get seen sooner is to show up at the emergency room as I did, suicidal and needing to be retained for protection. Hopefully you aren't that desperate and can hold on until they can get to you.

And, yes, do take the Zoloft and note any side effects. You won't get relief from that by the time of your appointment, so your pdoc will probably see you again in another month. Also will probably get you hooked up with a therapist as well. That's the gold standard now for depression--usually meds and therapy.

We all need to learn to control our moods and take charge of our depression to manage it. Just like we would have to manage any other illness, like diabetes or lupus or arthritis. Take meds when needed, and control our lives to lessen the effects of the disease.

With mental illness, this can be tough. Great to have PC friends to unload to--we all understand. Take care!

[turquoisesea]

((((rose)))) I'm proud of you for being so brave, hang in there