Getting Help For Your Self –Voluntary
Mental disorders are treatable, but many people do not seek out help until their symptoms become severe. If you have come to the point in your life where you feel that you need assistance, then you are not alone. There is hope and support for you. If you present to the hospital, seek help and are admitted then this would be considered a voluntary admission. Voluntary admissions can help to identify symptoms, clarify the diagnosis and stabilize symptoms.
What You May Experience at The Hospital
Your experience at the hospital will vary depending on your insurance, the hospital, the time of the day, your symptoms, if you are admitted involuntarily and if you are already on medications. But just because you make it to the hospital does not mean that you or your loved one will be admitted. For example, if you are already on medications, the hospital staff may call your outpatient treatment team for information, make adjustments and send you home with a follow-up appointment.
However, while at the hospital waiting to be seen keep a few things in mind (again this list will vary).
1. You may be seen in the emergency room first unless previous arrangements were made or you are in a jurisdiction like the District of Columbia that has what is called a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Admission hospital.
2. You may have a long wait (but don’t let that discourage you)
3. You will be asked many questions so be patient and if possible know what medications you or your loved one is taking
4. The first Doctor you may see may not be a Psychiatrist, many times the Psychiatrist or another mental health professional will have to be called to the emergency room to see you. So be prepared to tell your story more than one time.
5. Even if you feel that you or your loved one is experiencing a mental health event that requires admission into a hospital, the doctor at the hospital may not feel the same way. So be prepared to make a case. Yes, sometimes you have to make a case for admission. If there are very few beds, if the Doctor thinks that you or your loved one can be stabilized with a medication change and sent back home the same night or you have insurance issues, then you or your loved one may not be admitted.
But if you feel that admission is needed, then say so. But be prepared to explain why you are seeking help. Describe the symptoms you are experiencing and explain how those symptoms are negatively impacting your life. In the case of a loved one be able to speak to what you have seen, don’t worry about using the right psychological terms. Just describe what you saw or are seeing. Unfortunately, many people feel that the only way for them or for someone that they love to be admitted into the hospital is to wait until things get bad or to say that they are suicidal, while this is still true in some cases, just know that there are other ways.
For example, if a person already has a chronic health condition, are the symptoms associated with the psychiatric illness such as not taking their medications keeping them from recognizing the need to take their diabetes medication? Are the symptoms of their mental illness causing disruptions to others around them to the point that if not managed could cause harm to your loved one? Is your loved one sleeping and if not what are they doing when they are awake? Are they losing weight? Are they not eating? Do you or your loved one already have a Psychiatrist in the community who you could call and ask to coordinate a direct admission on your behalf? Do you have a crisis team in your area (a group of mental health professionals who will respond to you at your home or your location)? The Crisis team can help you to process your symptoms and help to navigate you through the mental health services in your area.
At some point during the admission process, you will receive a medical workup and be escorted to a room or bed (if there are no rooms, you may have to sleep in the emergency room). You may be assigned a single or be in a room with other people. Either way, you are in a place with others who are seeking help just like you. While at the hospital you may be prescribed medications, treatment options will be discussed and you will meet the members of your treatment team that will include the Doctor. While your Doctor and other members of the team will make recommendations just know thatas a patient in a hospital, you have rights. You have the right to be treated with dignity and care, to know your treatment options, medication side effects, to say who should or should not receive your information and to be involved in your treatment process. Please if you have a loved one who cares about you, give the treatment team permission to contact and to speak with them. If you are a family member, ask your loved one to do this as soon as possible.
Being admitted into a Psychiatric Ward is not a sign of failure or the end. In fact, an inpatient hospital stay can be the beginning of your recovery and could save your life. While in the hospital medications can be adjusted, diagnoses given or changed, and you can get answers to questions. No, I am not saying that a hospital stay is the best thing that will ever happen for everyone, and many people do not like being admitted. Some hospitals are better than others and sometimes getting admitted can be a problem. You may be in a room with people who you are not comfortable with, be surrounded by some not so friendly staff and even have to eat lousy food, but focus on you and why you are there. Take advantage of the time to ask questions, to learn from the other people around you and to get better.COPY RIGHT 2019. IT’S GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME! MHO & A. LEGREE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED