How do I tell if it is appropriate for me to seek hospitalization I've made 2 major suicide attempts in the past, the most recent just 15 months ago. Some days I feel okay & reasonably stable. But other days, I have all I can do to keep from taking another stab at it (no pun intended!)

All of my previous attempts have been spur-of-the-moment affairs. I didn't really have any idea I was going to do it until just before I started swallowing the pills. So I never know from one day to the next if tomorrow will be the day I'll make my next attempt or not.

But I also know that if I can just hold on, another day or group of days is coming when I'll be okay... not great... but not suicidal either. My pdoc never asks me if I need to be in the hospital or if I ever think I do. (He's probably afraid I'll say yes... I doubt I would.)

I've always said that if I'm rational enough to know I'm in trouble then the chances are I won't do anything. But if I'm really in danger, I won't be rational enough to call someone. It's a conundrum!

[reesecups]

I would think because of the laws, and previous attempts, they would hospitalize. The problem is, you have got to get enough control of your thoughts to at least call 911. I know it's tough. I just had to do something similar. Good luck.

[jesusplay]

I walked into my pdoc office randomly and said If i go home I'll kill myself.

if you feel you're gonna hurt yourself or another go to a hospital.

[Hellion]

Id say if you feel like harming yourself or are worried you might...hospitalization is a good idea. I personally consider that even if I am a bit unsure....but yeah when I feel impulsive about it like getting random thoughts of ways to attempt and wondering if I can stop myself I defiantly would either call 9-11 or have someone take me to the ER if possible.

I understand just trying to push through another day because you know something that might make you feel a bit better is coming up...but what is more important is if you can make it safely.

[Rapunzel]

What would be the purpose or goal in being hospitalized at this point? Are you in danger now?

You should definitely talk to your treatment provider(s) about this question. If you still think that there is a chance that you would become suicidal and act impulsively, then you need to have therapy to learn how to manage those feelings, thoughts, and impulses. DBT is designed just for that, and is something you could definitely ask about. You should also have a safety plan, written out, with phone numbers for your treatment providers, emergency services, and support people and outlining clearly what you need to do if you have those thoughts and feelings and impulses.

The purpose of psychiatric hospitalization is to keep people safe when it is not safe for them to be elsewhere at that time. Or, sometimes when there is a specific treatment goal that is best served by being in the hospital, such as rapid adjustment of psychiatric medication, or detoxification, or some intense treatment programs. If your last suicide attempt was more than a year ago and you don't know when you will feel suicidal again, there is not a good reason to hospitalize you now, unless you feel that way now or if you know that for some reason you are going to be unsafe in the immediate future. But if you are still afraid of feeling that way, then you should be in therapy and getting appropriate support.

[QUOTE=Rapunzel;3575003]What would be the purpose or goal in being hospitalized at this point? Are you in danger now?

Thanks for replying to my post Rapunzel! You see... this question of what the point would be of being hospitalized now is exactly what I struggle with. There is no point to it except that I know from my history that I'm almost always in danger to one degree or another. But I'm also just a day or two away from a point in time when I'll be okay for a while. So why push the panic button even if I'm feeling out of control at the moment. It's not like I haven't been there before... many times. So I just tough it out & wait for the feeling to pass. And, so far, since my last attempt 15 months ago, it has... tomorrow time will tell...

[Rapunzel]

Ultimately, you have to live your life, and you can't do that in the hospital very well. That includes learning to recognize if you are in danger and take action appropriately. We don't hospitalize people because they might become suicidal at any time. You have been able to get through those times so far. That's a good sign. Recognizing that it will pass is a good skill.