Roll Call 41

Follow the rule of power naps... if you nap set an alarm for 45 minutes later... that's what I do & it doesn't affect my sleep too much. Kinda need the nap almost - usually feel much more awake after.

I know that might not work for the more sedating meds but still...

That's an excellent idea, thanks! I never really think of setting alarms because it was impossible for so long because of that voice. But now I can.

Anxiety is definitely a valid reason for hospitalization. I've been admitted for extreme anxiety. At the time two major life events were happening and it was hard to cope. I also had a really bad case of cold sores that made me quite ill. The psychiatrist felt a stay in hospital would help and it did.

I have moderate to severe GAD. It doesn't cause me to self-harm at all probably because I have been struggling with anxiety since childhood. I've had suicidal thoughts from it especially when my stomach flares (gastritis). The chronic nausea and pain are hard to cope with.

I self-harmed a bit when I was a teenager. A fellow patient taught me how. Stupid. I discovered the behavior frustrates hospital staff. Most don't know how to deal with the issue and they often judge those who do it. The assumptions that staff make often lead to misdiagnosis especially if the self-injurer is a young lady.

My behavior alienated me from clinicians, friends and family so I stopped. It was so out of character for me. Actually I disliked myself for doing it. I used the behavior to communicate my distress. One day I decided to stop and haven't done it since then. It has been over 16 years. Words are so much more effective and they don't leave nasty scars that are constant reminders. Now I tell people what I need and express myself frustrations without harming myself.


No. Most people on the unit I was in were not psychotic. A lot of them seemed to have gone through nasty breakups, were grieving the death of a loved one or dealing with a chronic medical condition.

What I don't get are people who admit themselves every year around Christmas. I don't know what they say or do. This is misuse of the hospital. I guess they get dependent on the service (which is only a problem if you were diagnosed with BPD).

Well my p-doc appointment went well... I'll be starting on 10mg of Abilify on Monday hopefully & he said the target dose was 15mg, although just the minimum that had enough effect.

He also said today he thought my anxiety problems, which pre-dated my current period of psychosis were caused by underlying-psychosis... I didn't pry into what he meant by that, although it makes sense.

Some concern my akathisia might get worse, it's just mildy irritating occasionally at the moment & mostly a non-issue but it could get worse. Hopefully not since Abilify seems to be working a bit despite the low dose.

glad to hear it all went well loial. underlying psychosis.... maybe if you couldnt identify anything to be anxious about then its a likely cause. Ive never been envious of people with isolated periods of psychosis. i rather like knowing ive always had it and consistently, that situation leaves no room for doubt.

I am such a stress ball today---T appointment, pipette calibration to set up, experiments, journal club and pdoc appointment tomorrow. Then on the way to work this woman was hogging the whole sidewalk and grass with her dogs....I said excuse me twice and she didn't move so I went to pass and the second dog ran up to me so finally she turns around and I'm right there----she sort of freaked then I realized she had headphones in and didn't hear me at all. So then I just pass and once I cross the street there is one of her dogs beside me again---perfectly friendly dogs but it's still a bulldog you know why not give me 15 feet before you start walking again so I don't have to be in the middle. I was kind of miffed then when I went to get on the bus the driver is all no I'm not loading, for some reason she wanted to circle the bus depot again before loading-----just every little thing is getting to me this morning. I realize it's minor but its not registering as minor---pretty sure the PMS is not helping.

im surprised but i got good sleep last night.
i wish all this stuff wasnt happening around me in my extended family.

oh SometimesP you sound so wound up! Hope you begin to relax a little as the day goes on. Im sure after your presentation some of the stress will disappear

I'm feeling better now that the pipette guys are here I get most wound up with unknown social interactions and I think I've been eating too much sugar due to the holidays and it may be impacting my anxiety levels, going to discuss that possibility with my T I think.

im having a lot of anxiety. im not sure about taking my medicine cuz itll just make me fall asleep.
idk what to do today.

Sounds like a busy day. Hope all is well. Just think when the day is over you can look forward to fallen asleep in your own bed... that's what I think about when I have a long stressful day.

A death of a love one is stressful for everyone of the family. I just hope you can find some peace with you and your family.

Well I slept until I'm not sure when but I didn't get out of bed until well past 11, despite setting my alarm for 7. The alarm worked great though, I just didn't want to get up. This is a much rougher winter than I anticipated.

Y does everybody hate me???????????????????????????????????????

I don't know what's going on, Bean, but I don't hate you.

Well T said it's probably not the sugar etc----she recommended self-soothing so it's kind of like the self care box I have at home but mobile----nature sounds on my phone/pictures of fun times/something for smell maybe a vial of perfume or small bar of soap. A piece of cloth that is fun to touch/soft/velvet whatever. Small piece of chocolate or candy for taste. All in all sounds good and just talking about it calmed me down a lot plus half of it is done.

I did nothing wrong people hate me now i hate me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't hate you either-----

I don't hate you.

Roll call moves too fast for me

On the subject of anxiety and hospitalizations, I see what you guys are saying regarding having to pay thousands for hospital stays. It is clear that people who go in for less serious issues can do so if they're not paying or have that kind of money to throw around.

It's really unfortunate that the US system is like that. Do you even have to pay for state hospitals? Or are State hospitals really bad? I know over here public hospitals aren't all that bad and are completely free if you earn under a certain wage. Generally means you'll be on a ward with up to 6 beds and all you have is a curtain to divide you, but it could be worse.

I don't think you can just go to state hospitals---I think they are more for long term care and while I'm not 100% I think they can directly collect your disability as partial payment----

Just to clarify I have no personal experience with state hospitals so if anyone does please correct me....

I don't hate you. Hugs.

Roll call moves very fast for me too chickenfoot. Someone like me who has both medicare and medicaid for the poverty stricken can get the whole hospital bill paid especially at a municipal hospital. There are some hospitals that might not take me. State hospitals as sometimes said are more for longterm care.

So where do you go if you're really unwell and have no money to pay?

Edit: just seen your reply angelique, that makes more sense. At least there is some cover out there for people without the funds! What are municipal hospitals like?

i was told from almost being sent there from a psych hospital that (at least in texas) they take your disability. all of it if not most of it. and if your not on disability they put you on it so they can use it to pay for your stay. i get 1100 dollars a month. so if i went they would only leave me with maybe 100 dollars or so if not take all of it to pay for that.

but theres a hospital in dallas i been to that send people to Terrell State Hospital very very very frequently especially someone like me who goes there a lot. last time i went to the hospital there there was 4-5 out of maybe 15 or 20 people who were getting transfered to the state hospital from that local psych hospital every 2 days.

ill be really honest here...
i suffer through some if not most of my illness.
when i cant take it anymore i get picked up by police because im so bad OR i goto the hospital BUT in the end im still unable to pay for 75% of my bills.