Depression [When and Where To Get Help]

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Unfortunately, I don't really have any handouts regarding this information. All of us were being provided help by simply being in the Psychiatric Hospital and therefor it really wasn't information that they felt we needed. However, I can try and help guide you if you are uncertain by teaching you about when you really need help and what to expect after accepting it.

If you have any questions or would like an oppinion just slide me a comment or note and I'll try my best to help you out!

We'll begin with the levels of stress.




[Low Stress]
Lvl 1 - Relaxed, No apparent stress
Lvl 2 - Very Minor Stress, managed well
Lvl 3 - Normal Stress, no problems

[Moderate Stress]
Lvl 4 - Average stress managed well
Lvl 5 - Some distress but no dysfunction
Lvl 6 - Managed Poorly at times

[High Stress]
Lvl 7 - Over reacting or irritable
Lvl 8 - Detached "Spaced out" "In a shell"
Lvl 9 - Very defensive or angry
Lvl 10 - Out of Control or Overwhelmed. Unable to function

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If you consider yourself as someone who is almost always in a Low Stress level I would assume that you are handling yourself fairly well as it is. |

If you consider yourself as someone who is almost always is a Moderate Stress level I could suggest that you could visit your regular doctor and get prescribed an antidepressant. You are still doing okay on your own, but a little help couldn't hurt.

If you consider yourself as someone who is almost always in a High Stress level I would highly recommend you visit a Psychiatrist to be properly diagnosed. High stress can generally stem from trauma and therapy may be suggested by your psychiatrist.

If you are in between a Lvl 9 and 10 you've obviously hit the deep end. I would honestly suggest admitting yourself into a local private Psychiatric Center. I know the thought sounds scary, but fear not. I will explain what they are and how they work for you.

If you currently or frequently contemplate suicide admit yourself to a Psychiatric Hospital as soon a possible.

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Visiting your local doctor

Telling a parent or guardian that you are depressed is not an easy thing. But I promise you that it's all going to be worth it in the end. I myself had to text my mom because I was too scared to do it to her face. The doctor will ask simple questions, none too invasive, and will promptly start you on an antidepressant. It will not work the moment you start taking it, generally a week or two after you will finally be able to see some results.

If you happen to have the same misfortune as I, which is where your antidepressants actually make you even more depressed, STOP TAKING THEM IMMEDIATELY. Your doctor will not be upset and will praise you for being smart enough to stop taking something that is hurting you. 

Personally, I would visit a Psychiatrist if this scenario persists. There could be other variables that you need medication for that your local doctor doesn't have the capability of prescribing you.

Visiting your Psychiatrist

When you visit a psychiatrist for the first time they'll make you answer a plethora of questions. This is because there are different "types" of depression and it also helps them find out if you have any other mental issues. For me- I knew I was depressed, however I never really thought that I would have Bipolar Disorder. But there it was.

Depending on your depression and your own needs, they may refer your to see a therapist weekly or biweekly or even monthly. Generally, visits to your Psychiatrist might start out as once every few weeks to once every few months. It all really depends on the severity of your disorders.

It's important to be honest with them because lying isn't going to fix anything for you. I will warn you, that if you so much as mention that you've been thinking about suicide within the past 24 hours you will be send to a Psychiatric Hospital.

Admitting yourself into a Psychiatric Hospital

There are three ways that I know will get you inside one of these hospitals.

1- Someone called the facility or the police and informed them that you are unstable and need help. You'll probably be taken to the facility in a very uncomfortable van/truck. 

2- You visit the facility and fill out the paperwork necessary to be admitted and you fill their requirements. Requirements could include you not having anymore medication and you need somewhere to be able to be given some in a safe environment. Suicidal or homicidal thoughts are a guarantee to get you in and they will never refuse you if these are true.

3- You have attempted to hurt or kill yourself and have failed, landing yourself a trip in your local hospital. Once you're physically stable they will transport you via ambulance or constable to a Psychiatric Hospital of their choosing. You have no choice or say in the matter.

I would advise that you choose option number 2

Although I am no expert on these Hospitals, I'd like to think that I have more experience than the usual for someone of my age. I was suffering with severe depression and of 3/5 of my suicide attempts I was always sent from hospital to the ward. I can only share with you my personal experiences with both public and private facilities.

For starters I would like to start off with NEVER EVER ADMIT YOURSELF INTO A PUBLIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. EVER.

I don't want to scare you all off, so I'll come back to why you shouldn't later, after I tell you why visiting a PRIVATE hospital is a much better choice.

Private Hospitals
Unlike public hospitals, a private psychiatric hospital can legally divide their patients into similar units. I will use the hospital I stayed in for several months as an example.

Unit 1 - "Intensive Care" AKA the crazies, mentally challenged and those who lost their cool and their doctor sent them here to scare them into acting better. I am guilty of the latter. Don't ever ever ever ever get sent into a unit like this. Please. I literally cried the entire time I had to stay in there. Also why I don't like public facilities.

Unit 2 - The teens and young adults

Unit 3 - A step down from unit 6. A nice mix of the high functioning and the not so high functioning. 

Unit - 4 - Pretty much just like Unit 3

Unit 5 - "Detox" The druggies weaning off their drugs. They can get pretty testy but are generally pretty cool

Unit 6 - The depressed, anger issues, or people just needing meds. Probably the highest functioning unit

What unit you're placed in is also affected by availability. I've been placed in unit 3, 4 and 6 before. You might even get moved if they need room and you're making improvements or you fucked up like me and you've done a no-no. If you don't like your unit you can make a request to change with your doctor, however a change is not guaranteed.

Your day will be planned out by the hour. Routine really helps with the healing process. You'll go to Breakfast, Goals groups or group therapy Lunch, down time, More therapy though usually you have the option for physical therapy around this time, Dinner, More group therapy and then finally sleep time. Depending on your medication you might get meds in the morning, after lunch, or before bedtime.

The one downside to having to stay at these hospitals in general is just how absolutely boring it can get. No matter what unit you're on you're restricted to having anything you might be able to hurt yourself or others with. That means no spiral notebooks, underwire bras, plugs (They made me take them out, seriously) ect ect. You can have things like markers, coloring pencils, any body cleaning products that don't contain alcohol brought to you by family and they will keep the items behind their desk. On that note- you'll probably only be allowed to bring around three sets of clothes when you are first admitted. But like I said before, your family or friends can bring you more. If you are a reader I would suggest asking family to bring you some the day you're admitted. The only other activity you can really do is draw with their cut in half shitty pencils and watch TV. Also- no erasers allowed. You'll also have to ask from practically every little thing. Sometimes even water. It takes some getting used to but there really isn't any other option.

Some good things that come from this are being in a safe environment with people who are suffering like you. You really get a chance to bond and create amazing friendships. There are going to be people there for you to encourage your improvement just as much as you'll be  doing for them. I really cannot describe how extremely grateful I was for all of the people that I lived with during my stays. You also get a good chance to really talk to a doctor about your problems, since you're visited by them almost every day.

Public Hospitals
I have only been once, for one week, and never am I ever going ever again. I did something so severe that all of the other private hospitals REFUSED to take me in. And so I was sent to HCPC. Harris County Psychiatric Center. If you live in Houston never go here. Never ever.

Public hospitals are similar in what you can bring and what they provide for you. However during my stay the therapy was very lackluster and the staff was a hit or miss. They might have been down to earth or cool, but at the end of the day they weren't really doing anything for you. Now, a public hospital would be fine if that was just it. However that is not just it.

A public Psychiatric Center cannot, or at least this is what the nurses told me, separate patients by the amount of care required for them. A therapist even challenged my knowledge of private hospitals grouping their patents and said it was "unethical." Unethical my ass. I can only provide you with examples to the madness I had to endure. And for anyone who was just starting off with trying to get better, I could only imagine it would make them worse.

My first roommate was an older woman who couldn't even make it to the restroom to relieve herself half the time. Not only that, but she would stay up all night playing jenga and talking to herself that I wouldnt get any sleep. Did the nurses make her go to bed at 1 in the morning? Nah.

I also had the pleasure of sharing a unit with a younger boy who was easily excitable. Spilled things constantly, was obsessed with Justin Beiber and Usher for whatever reason? And if provoked somehow would run around screaming and taking his shirt off. He'd occasionally get sent to the "bubble room" aka the silent room.

Then my next roommate who was in constant pain because something was wrong with her back. She screamed and moaned all night and was given tranquilizers during the day. Lucky me.

Then a 3rd time offender who was some Jewish messiah. He got heated very easily and would scream from his room at the nurses until they knocked him out with a tranquilizer.

HCPC really like their tranquilizers.

The thing that really sucks though is that- given that environment all I wanted to do was stay in my room. But that's not what they want to see. They want you out in the common area and participating in the shitty therapy. It's the only way you'll get out. And you'll have to look at allllllllll that bullshit every day.

I can't say that this is something true for all Public Hospitals. And I can't say that all Private Hospitals were as nice as the one I went to. Make sure you do your own research on the ones near you and make a decision.

© 2016 - 2024 Florapi
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Paintsnap's avatar
Thank you so much for doing this >.>