how do I get help?

I did psych nursing and while I won’t begin to claim all of us are caring, altruistic people, you’ll meet lots and lots of people who are. If I can, let me give you a little advice. If you feel you want to hurt yourself or someone else, sign YOUSELF in. By taking the initiative and asking to be evaluated, at least you will feel more in control. It also will mean that you will likely retain the ability to walk out if you feel the treatment isn’t helping you. (Unless you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, in which case, if you try to leave the staff can obtain a temporary, limited commitment order).

Even those of us who do psychiatry work along with patients as partners in their own treatment plan. That means this: it’s not about a group of people throwing you in a “rubber room” (no such thing) and coming up a plan without your input. A treatment plan without your direct input is doomed to fail from the outset.

As the other poster said – it is highly unlikely you will be medicated without your consent. Even in inpatient psych facilities, patient’s rights still apply.

If you do not feel like you want to hurt yourself right now, please think about getting yourself into some kind of counseling with a good therapist. It’s less threatening to find treatment on an outpatient basis, although it may be less intense and take more time. But at least with outpatient care you are free to seek out the therapist of your choice.

Good luck. These days, with our current technology and level of knowledge, no one should live in pain – whether physical or emotional. The problem with profound depression is that you have to push yourself to believe that treatment is possible; and bc of very complicated brain chemistry, that’s a leap of faith that probably feels very out of reach. I’m sorry that you’re having such a hard time, I hope you’ll give others the chance to help you feel better. 🙂