[ErinBear]

Hi everyone,

I think I need to visit my doctor this week about something - I'm having some health problems. My counselor, I think, would like me to think about trying antidepressants, and I guess since I'm going there anyway, I could try asking about antidepressants. I don't even know how to bring up the subject without getting myself in trouble possibly....I don't want to end up in a psych ward or something. I'm scared about this. And I've been on antidepressants before and they didn't help me. I don't know what to think. Things have been so bad lately and even I have wondered about trying them again, and yet it seems so pointless when I know they haven't helped in my case previously. I really don't know what to do. Does anyone have any ideas about how to bring up this subject...um...safely? I don't have any brilliant ideas. I guess I am feeling frightened. I thought about trying to contact my counselor. My appointment isn't until Thursday with him, and I had thought about trying to see my physician before then. I guess I would have to make an appointment with my counselor before I saw the physician if I wanted to talk to the counselor, which is difficult. I wish I could just ask a question over the phone but I don't believe he would do that. I don't know what to do.

Thanks for listening.

Take care,
ErinBear

[Serenity]

ALl I knwo is if you say you're going to commit suicide , then theres the chance of the hospital. It was always a fear of mine as well...especially when I was with my kids. I was sure they would think I was crazy and lock me away forever lol(not funny, Iknow) And my kids needed me more so I was very very careful what I said.
My advice is tell the Dr exactly what you said to us here. Tell him how you're feelign emotionally...why...if you know...and also your past exprience with antidepressants and not feeling that they workedfor you.There are so many options anymore...maybe it was the one you had that didnt work for "you". You knwo best hwo you feel. If you feel this is an issue..hoenstly..then yes...Id explore the options. WHile you're online do some research I find knowledge is very powerful.
Serenity

[PlanningtoLive]

You do need to talk to your doc about this. More than likely you haven't found the "one" yet that will help you. I have tried so many meds that I think I'm running out.....lol.

Seriously, it will help you and hopefully stabilize some things for you.

Glad to see you, Erin *******hugs***********

[ErinBear]

Hi Serenity,

I don't have children, so that's not a concern - and you're right, if you do have children, that would be a worry! However, I did end up in a psych ward overnight once before and I don't want to do that again. I was really scared there, and it is the last place I would want to go again. It was because I was having trouble with wanting to commit suicide. I'm not going to hurt myself now, but I am having a lot of trouble with suicidal thoughts, and if the doctor were to ask me about that - it would be hard to know what to say that wouldn't risk landing me in a psych ward. It's also hard because I have been on a lot of antidepressants, maybe 10, and none of them helped...some of them made thigns worse. So it's very confusing. Anyway thanks for listening. Maybe I should try to contact my counselor. I don't know.

Take care,
ErinBear

[ErinBear]

Hi Mary Alice,

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm really unsure about this, and frightened. I know from your comments that you've tried some medications, too. I'm still debating about what to do. I wouldn't even consider this at all right now, given my track record, if things weren't so bad! sigggghhhh.

Hugs to you - the days are getting closer to when you can go home to Alex for real :-)

Hugs, ErinBear

[Rapunzel]

That is a very hard thing to bring up. I'm not sure I'd trust a GP to deal with psychotropic medications, because they aren't really qualified and often don't get it right. It seems to be trial and error anyway though, and sometimes you don't have a pdoc available. Do talk to him about it, even if you will go to a pdoc later. One way to make it easier to bring it up would be to ask your therapist to write a note to your doctor. Or you could even write your doctor a note and give it to him. Once you've written it down it's much easier to just ask him to read the note than to try to bring the subject up verbally.

They don't usually hospitalize people just for suicidal thoughts. If you don't think you are going to act on it, and you can give a reason why you are not going to act on it, they won't lock you up. Go ahead and talk about it - it's one of the symptoms that needs to be treated. As long as you aren't actually a danger to yourself or others they won't take away your freedom. Last February when I was picked up because I had hurt myself, they let me go after a couple of hours even though I had already hurt myself, I admitted to feeling suicidal, and had a method. But I said that I wouldn't do it because it would hurt my family, so they let me go. The fact that you are asking about medication to get better is in your favor too. Doctors and therapists are there to help you, not hurt you, right? It will be okay.

{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}
Wendy

<font color=red>"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." -Harriet Braiker</font color=red>

[Serenity]

From the way you talk,umm "type" I think you already know Youre jsut scared,...and thats very ok...yes...go ahead...talk to him

[ErinBear]

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for your thoughts. I could write it down, and I'll think about that. You're right that a letter from the counselor might help, and I'd thought about that, too. I'm starting to wonder more about seeing the counselor before seeing the counselor, or at least talking to him. I'm not sure how to work that out yet.

I'm sorry that you, too, had a difficult time where you worried about hospitalization. I had hurt myself also but wasn't allowed to leave like you were. I am thankful you were released. But I'm sorry that you were in so much pain as to hurt yourself in the first place - it must have been a rough time.

Thanks again for your reply.

Take care,
ErinBear

[ErinBear]

Thanks Serenity...yes, I am scared....and I am beginning to think about talking to the doctor anyway. Thanks for your note.

Take care,
ErinBear