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How do you find a therapist when suicidal?

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Abigail7

How do you find a therapist when symptoms are severe and you have suicidal thoughts?

I'm scared that nobody will want to treat me and they will tell me to go to the hospital because I'm too severe. The hospital has a history (three times now!) of releasing me once I'm medically cleared (after a suicide attempt) and I never even see the psych ward. (Full up Ward or do they think all that really was an accident? I don't know.)

I fear that I'm stuck in no mans land of too serious a case for a therapist but not serious enough for the hospital. It's preventing me from moving forward and I'm just stuck.

I don't know how to move forward at this point or what to do. Thanks.
 
have suicidal thoughts
I appreciate how difficult it is when your needs haven't been met in the past, but if you are actively suicidal then you need to reach out for crisis support.
do they think all that really was an accident?
Are you saying that they thought your previous attempts were accidental? Did you tell them you were suicidal at the time and that these were suicide attempts not accidents?
 
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Yes, I was vocal about how much I took, every time. They have all my records. They knew it wasn't an accident. It's a mega hospital-health care system. They have records going back many years.

I am asking how to find a therapist when suicidal in order to not scare the therapist away. A hospital stay would only help me for a day or two. A crisis line would only help me in the moment. I am struggling with finding longer term care to work through the issues. I fear being rejected because I'm not stable. Too unstable for therapy yet too stable for the hospital. This is where I am.
 
I fear that I'm stuck in no mans land of too serious a case for a therapist but not serious enough for the hospital.

Sounds like you're perfect for IOP or PHP, then. Maybe even inpatient?

Have you tried researching PTSD & Trauma units (inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient), &/or specific programs (like DBT, for example) that could help stabilize you enough to do 1:1 therapy? They usually have wait lists, and need to be pre approved by insurance, so they aren't things that most ERs are going to send you to, but are things you have to seek out yourself.

I'm scared that nobody will want to treat me and they will tell me to go to the hospital because I'm too severe.

- Is this a rational fear? Meaning have you actually been told by trauma therapists (with high levels of training) that you're too severe for them to work with?

- Or is it an untested fear?

- Or a 1+1=82 fear? (Someone who doesn't have the requisite levels of training and experience, or an unrelated field -like substance abuse, or religious counseling, or a marriage & family counselor, crisis line, etc.- has told you that you're too severe for them to treat, so you've extrapolated that means you're too severe for anyone to treat)
 
The hospital has a history (three times now!) of releasing me once I'm medically cleared (after a suicide attempt) and I never even see the psych ward.
Do you need a psych ward? If so then you probably are too high need for a weekly/bi-weekly therapist appointment. It would be worth looking for a partial/full in patient programme.

What have you done so far to find therapeutic support?
 
I understand the question here.
I don't think you will scare away a therapist, rather they will ask you to make a type of verbal contract where you promise not to hurt yourself before you call him/her. If you become acutely suicidal under a therapist care they will have you admitted for some inpatient treatment to help keep you safe. This contract once saved my life - I took a load of pills and intended to shoot myself in the woods one night, but I dropped the gun, and while I crawled around in the dark looking for it, I remembered my promise, and didn't want to die a liar. So I went home and called my t, the rest is a blur but it save don't my life.
Don't be afraid to go talk to a therapist and tell them what's going on. They really can help you with this! Always be honest with your therapist.
BIG LOVE

Sorry about the typos I don't know how to edit
 
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I came across this website yesterday, and I hope it helps you. There's a post in the blog section called "the panic free therapist" that might help you figure out what to look for in someone. I'm sorry I don't have better advice or more words of encouragement right now, but I'm sending you positive thoughts and gentle healing! Keep reaching out!

www.speakingofsuicide.com
 
I understand the question here.
I don't think you will scare away a therapist, rather they will ask yo...

I'm in agreement here. When I found my therapist, I was having very intense suicidal thoughts. I wasn't really actively suicidal, though, if that makes sense. I desperately needed to talk with someone who would allow me to safely express those thoughts and, at the same time, be able to assess the difference between actively vs not actively suicidal. I was worried he might get scared away, too, but he was totally cool with it.

This is what they train for. Esp. therapists who have training in trauma and PTSD. Better to trust that someone will take care with those thoughts than to hold onto them until they become unmanageable, don't you think?
 
Sounds like you're perfect for IOP or PHP, then. Maybe even inpatient?

Have you tried researching PTSD...

I know of two trauma places in my region. One requires you to already have a therapist and psychiatrist. So that one is a no-go for now. The other place says on its website that a referral from a therapist isn't necessary. It would be one heck of a commute (but doable if they let me go 3 times a week, as I can get there by train). Closer places aren't trauma focused and I'm waiting to hear back from one of them.
 
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Hi,
My psychologist lets me talk openly about my suicidal ideation and manages and monitors me well.
She is a clinical trauma psychologist who runs the trauma unit for the NHS so expensive but very very good and has been crucial managing me during my crisis situations so there are people out there who help and will help and are experienced and trained enough to do this. However it took some time and about a year before I really trusted her enough to believe she could actually hold me during this time and not over react. She has 25 years experience and writes lots on the subject so my biggest recommendation is seeking it someone who truly understands ptsd and all it's evil bi products.
Good luck.
 
IME all therapists are different and so you need to find one that meets your needs specifically if possible. But it's definitely not a reason to be ineligible for therapy. My first T took me on because I was suicidal and she knew it meant I needed help. We made a contract that she could talk to my GP about it when things escalated. Ultimately it didn't work out because I felt she wasn't equipped to manage/contain it and wasn't specialised in trauma so didn't have the background knowledge or skills to understand or offer coping strategies. My current T almost "under" reacts! She is well adept in risk assessment and management and works with a large specialised MDT so it doesn't phase her. She has given me her number though to help me when in crisis. Just having that seems to be helpful. I definitely second the idea of specialised programmes / treatment facilities. I wonder who initially diagnosed you and what kind of supports/treatments they offered if any? I'm surprised they never offered referral.
 
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