Poll Has The Mental Health System Ever Failed You?

[Britt.f7]

I was recently in the psych ward because I was on the verge of suicide and it prevented me from acting on

Inhell11, I had a similar experience. I think it helped more that they had a program after you got out when you were actually a day patient. I think if I would have just ended up seeing a therapist once a week, which is what happened after the program, I probably would have ended up back in there.

Meds tend to need a ton of tweaking before you find the right combination, or one to work. I think it is probably the same with herbal supplements. Finding what works for you is not easy. I've heard from someone on here that those type of dogs really help. I can believe that because, even though my dog isn't a service dog, she brings me great comfort.

I wish you well.

 

[raven123]

Sorry you've had such a bad time. :(

 

[Jack Bauer]

Yes. Incomplete diagnosis. Lack of understanding in my opinion because of arrogant dispositions or over assumptions without making sure I wasn't hiding something else. I did hide out of shame. People in the hospital were peering at me in judgement for what I was already saying and to expose myself to even further humiliation was impossible at that time.

My therapist told me that talking about my issues just made me worse and he change his direction to simply moving forward without discussing the details of what was bothering me. He recommended a book "Life Mapping" to get going. I did and left my job to return to school but things just got worse. This is only the tip of the iceberg. I don't expect all knowing, but I do expect more.

The psychiatrist was lame too. Hind sight 20/20 on my part made me realize I was exhibiting all the signs of PTSD and she told my commander I don't know why he keeps talking about the military and all. Duh... I told her I had been nearly killed in a severe accident that left a major impact on my life. Don't you think a psychiatrist would know something's up with that?

Recently I've been using on campus therapist. The intern was great. But since she was a female I just couldn't expose the weaker side of myself out of fear of looking weak I guess. The lady I went to see after the intern left was flaky, the church lady type.

I have several bad stories dealing with medical professionals. I think their all mostly lame. Until I find one that knows more I won't be comfortable, but rather extremely skeptical. Some of them are just mean.

 

[InHell11]

Meds tend to need a ton of tweaking before you find the right combination, or one to work. I think it is probably the same with herbal supplements. Finding what works for you is not easy. I've heard from someone on here that those type of dogs really help. I can believe that because, even though my dog isn't a service dog, she brings me great comfort.

I think I am likely to go the more herbal/natural route, don't think I can physically or mentally take anymore med tweaking for a while.

I think the service dog could help with my mental stability, and it would prevent me from doing anything stupid/harmful if I am headed down that road(sometimes I don't really see it coming, or I've been triggered and don't quite realize it till I am on the verge of self destruction or have already lost it and freaked out on someone). It would also help if the dog could somehow know when I am getting too stressed/overloaded or whatever and indicate to me I need to take some time to un-stress.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I think I am likely to go the more herbal/natural route, don't think I can physically or mentally take anymore med tweaking for a while.

I'm unsure about what I'm going to say here about tweaking meds. But I tweaked meds a few times and the first time ended up in intensive therapy for 2 months plus a year of weekly therapy for over a year. I terminated therapy only because of the time and money as well as the fact I thought the PhD Psychologist might be giving me wrong advice or direction with the "Life Mapping". Just this past year I scalled down to nothing, felt physically better with an alergy, but my anxieties went through the roof as before. I've wanted to admit myself again for a long time, but fear of telling the rest of my symptoms and it becoming a permanent home. That would leave my wife without a husband to help take care of the home front while she works. Fear overcomes me too often. I'm with the VA now, but do not trust any of them.

 

[Britt.f7]

Tweaking meds involves my nurse practitioner. I learned the hard way not to do it myself. However I do have say about what goes into my body.

I think I am likely to go the more herbal/natural route

I believe this to be fine. However, it is important that you are careful with these products too. May take some trial and error. I guess we are taking a chance with anything we put into our body. It is important that you find something that works for you. I think that makes all the difference, not that it works(which is important), but that you are comfortable with it.

One of the ladies on here has a dog that is trained to help her in the same ways you need. I think that is a good idea, to hold out for one of those dogs. Besides, you can bring it places that dogs otherwise can't go.

Good luck, I wish you well!

 

[Changing4Best]

I was getting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy over a 5 year period of time. During this time I planned and carried out a suicide attempt. I planned it for 4 months, didn't tell my therapist or anyone (she did not recognize any of the signs) and I took 4 months of meds all at once! I was in the hospital for 2 weeks, unconscious 10 days out of it all. Not a good time in my life.

I later parted company with the boyfriend who was abusing me at that time and have been pretty well since then. When I left him, I did not turn to my therapist for help, but turned to a pastor. He did a lot and was instrumental in helping me get away from the guy. Our church even gave me some money to help me out until I could get back on my feet. (About $200 American dollars).

 

[Marie10]

Yes, many times but I will not go into all of them.

Recently, the one that disturbs me is when I was raped 3 years ago. I was taken to a hospital from another hospital that has a rape crisis center and the kits. I went through the whole thing and afterwards they said I could go home. I told them that I'm scared and afraid I will kill myself. Long story short, I felt abused again in a way.

 

[Cat Herder]

Yes, I live in Canada and our mental health in this country is not that great. My psychiatrist left and I have been on a waiting list since then (October 2012). In that time, I have been getting worse and have had trouble performing at work. Just a downward spiral.

And when I see somebody, they just write prescriptions and send me home. I have never been in any kind of therapy. Just "You have PTSD, here's some Prozac and Zyprexa". I don't take the Zyprexa cos it makes me gain weight and I told them that.

 

[dnp]

Yes, I can't believe how much it costs if you don't have insurance. $150+ per hour just to talk to you? And that is the bottom rate. I have seen as high as $500 per hour for a psychiatrist. I can understand why a dentist charges a lot, they have tremendous overhead like X-ray machines and expensive materials like gold crowns. What overhead does a therapist have--two chairs? I wish I could find a therapist in India who will work for $40 per hour. Heck, that is a lot of money in most countries.

I also hate that a lot of therapists don't post their rates on their websites so you have to call to ask them how much it costs and try not to sound shocked over the phone when you hear how much they charge. Even when I was suicidal, it still made me angry how much they charged. My attitude was like, I'm going to take my money to my grave rather than pay those kinds of rates!

 

[Liana]

Yes. At my very first appointment with a psychiatrist, after numerous appointments with doctors and therapists, she first of all, barely listened to me, secondly, told me I was just being a teenager. And again at the second appointment a month later, even after I told her I have been getting much worse, she said I was fine. And she said the words 'You are fine." No joke. -_-

That's the NHS for you though.

 

[Survivor2Thriver]

Yes. I should sue the mental health facility for preforming electric shock therapy on an 8yr old child. Me! Then give the proceeds to the police dept to help fund education about the dangers of aiding and abetting a crime.