[lilysunshine]

Hi, my name is Lily, and my girlfriend and I are nearly positive she is bipolar 1.

While the symptoms and signs and signals all affect our day-to-day lives, that's not why I'm here. At least not this time. I'm here because we are both at wit's end trying to figure out how to get a foot in the door of a psychiatrist.

Any psychiatrist.

She has insurance - though it's not the best. Visits to a p-doc are expensive, and she has a $2,500 deductible, which we've never come close to hitting. The insurance company has been less than helpful in trying to find a doctor - all the doctors in our area seem to not be taking new patients. I've been calling the insurance company and doctors as her - she's not good on the phone, and even less good with dealing with people she doesn't know. (Hopefully, she's not reading this. If you are, dear, I love you.)

The worst part of this for me, I think, is that she wants to go. She knows there is a problem, and she is ready and willing to get help. We just cannot seem to get her in - anywhere.

Lately, she's been exhibiting symptoms of psychosis while manic. Everywhere we've read say to call your doctor immediately - but she has no doctor. I'm not sure if I should take her to the emergency room the next time it happens - I don't know what they'll do, I don't know if they'll take her. If anyone has any suggestions - any at all, we'll both be unbelievably grateful.

--Lily

[Perna]

I would go to your regular doctor and ask for a referral. That can get you in the door. Or, yes, the ER could help too.

http://www.healthyminds.org/Main-Top...chiatrist.aspx

[lilysunshine]

Perna,

Thank you very much for your response to my question. A few days after I posted this, we did make a trip to the nearest emergency room, and she was admitted to their inpatient facility. It's probably working out to be the best decision we've ever made.