When it's urgent but not emergency

I'm crashing. I am NOT OKAY. But I am also NOT SUICIDAL. I promise. I am absolutely positively 100% NOT a threat to myself. So therefore I do not belong in the E.R.

But I just switched to a new psychiatrist and therapist and neither of them will give me a cell phone number that I can call them after hours or on the weekends. My only options are to leave a voice mail and they'll call me back on Monday, or call a crisis line or go to the E.R.

So what the heck am I supposed to do.

I ended up calling my previous psychiatric nurse practitioner and she gave me some advice, specifically on the medications which I was concerned about. But I'm still messed up, and in the phone call I discovered that she's actually on vacation so I really shouldn't call her. So I'm stuck.

I'm in the middle of a medication change. And a psychiatrist change. And it's not sitting well with me. We had to switch from Invega to Risperdal because I was getting free samples of Invega but my new psychiatrist doesn't get samples and it's $300 bucks a month even with insurance (yes, I've tried to get assistance, can't get it) I really thought it was working. But I think I was just fooling myself.

Then last night my husband and I had a huge fight at midnight after he got home from work. Multiple issues. And it just reminded me that all I do is bring him down with me. I need to set him free. I'm ruining him.

And I've spent all day today pretty much ruminating over how I think I'm going to get divorced. All over one stupid petty little fight. There's your black-white all-or-nothing thinking for you.

I really want to spend a day at Phoenix Place, this local psych respite place where you basically just CHILL OUT. But the problem is, they won't let me in unless I go to the E.R. first to get a psych eval. That's going to cost a crapload of money that we don't have. And my husband is working tomorrow and we'd have to figure out childcare. And then what if they don't release me and I miss work this week. Then it costs even more - I've burned all my sick pay so it would be unpaid time off.

But maybe the mere fact that I'm sane enough to know that I want in there means I'm not insane enough to need to be in there. I don't know.

I can't sleep. I took my meds, even took them early, and I can't sleep.

Everything is just messed up.

(((Martina))) I wish I had some advice or words of wisdom for you I'm currently feeling very similarly, wanting to be in inpatient, but not suicidal so I can't be, no money, etc...
Just wanted to let you know I feel for you, even though this is a totally unhelpful reply otherwise. Stay strong and take care of yourself.

Hello Martina,

What are your coping mechanisms? Your breathing techs and self talk comments? You should use them every time you get to feeling this way.

Months and months ago I went into a real bad downward spiral; I gained some really powerful techniques which were helpful but not always successful because nothing is 100%. But When you feel yourself on the edge thats a good time to use the techniques you have learned to calm you down some.

Although I really feel for the way you are I don't blame the doctor or therapist not giving you their private numbers because making you dependent on them is not healthy for you at all. And that is why there are emergency lines there. Can you imagine how many patients they would have calling them?

There are also drug lines you can call to get advice on medications and you can call the crisis lines, that is why they are there too, they are trained to help you through times like this.

But I offer you my support and hope that you can settle soon and take back control,

Rhiannon

How are things looking today? Please know that with the new meds it will take time for them to work. Having a new pdoc is mostly difficult (I'm going to a new one tomorrow, so I know all about it!) so you need a good social network to get you through those days.
Things will get better, keep you chin up.

I would not concern myself about the issues with your husband right now - you need to look after yourself first. He needs to support you right now.

I know they have a lot of patients and they want a private life outside of their practice. But how can a complete stranger give me medical advice regarding my medications that someone ELSE prescribed?

Plus the psychiatrist really didn't give me any kind of options as far as someone else to call. I asked him.

It scares me.

So what do I do? Pay $75-$115 bucks a month extra to see my previous psych nurse out-of-network? Or just suck it up and see this guy in-network, and deal with having no one to contact?

What do you all do when you hit a low point on a weekend - and specifically when you have a medication question and you're not sure what you should do with your meds?

I try and sleep through it. and post on PC asking for support and words of encouragement.