I need help.
July 24, 2009 10:12 AM Subscribe
I’m suffering from Cyclothymia. My Psychiatrist, who I’ve been seeing for the last one and a half years, could not be reached. My Question is, am I a danger to others?
Physically I mean. How much should a person be careful around me? Is there something that they can say to set me off? I know this is a broad question, but I need all the help I can get; I’m a very depressed person right now, and I really appreciate the help.
Physically I mean. How much should a person be careful around me? Is there something that they can say to set me off? I know this is a broad question, but I need all the help I can get; I’m a very depressed person right now, and I really appreciate the help.
I assume you were given the diagnosis of cyclothymia by a doctor. Have you called that physician for help?
posted by Carol Anne at 10:19 AM on July 24, 2009
posted by Carol Anne at 10:19 AM on July 24, 2009
No one here can answer that question for you. If you're worried, you should call a health professional or go in to an emergency room. Please take care of yourself.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 10:22 AM on July 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by otherwordlyglow at 10:22 AM on July 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
Your psychiatrist should have an emergency number or answering service if he's out of the office. I second the above recommendation to go to the ER if you feel you might be dangerous to yourself or others.
You can also call the national hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.
posted by threeturtles at 10:22 AM on July 24, 2009
You can also call the national hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.
posted by threeturtles at 10:22 AM on July 24, 2009
IANAD, but without knowing the specifics of your particular case, this seems pretty impossible to answer.
That said, isn't Cyclothymia basically just Bipolar Lite? Unless you're Bruce Banner, I wouldn't be overly concerned. If you're really worried about it, just try your best to avoid interpersonal relations if at all possible; keep to yourself for awhile. Watch some 30 Rock DVDs or something.
But, yeah, if you're really, really worried about it, just go to the ER.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:23 AM on July 24, 2009
That said, isn't Cyclothymia basically just Bipolar Lite? Unless you're Bruce Banner, I wouldn't be overly concerned. If you're really worried about it, just try your best to avoid interpersonal relations if at all possible; keep to yourself for awhile. Watch some 30 Rock DVDs or something.
But, yeah, if you're really, really worried about it, just go to the ER.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:23 AM on July 24, 2009
Response by poster: Carol Anne, she can't be reached at the moment, but I have made an appointment for tomorrow.
Solomon, et all, should I go to the Emergency room, or to the Police--isn't that where Criminals go (who've hurt people)?
posted by hadjiboy at 10:29 AM on July 24, 2009
Solomon, et all, should I go to the Emergency room, or to the Police--isn't that where Criminals go (who've hurt people)?
posted by hadjiboy at 10:29 AM on July 24, 2009
Cyclothymic disorder is not generally associated with being a high risk to the safety of oneself or others, but that doesn't necessarily mean you personally are not at risk for these things--you state that you are feeling very depressed right now (which means you and your psychiatrist need to work together to find out what's going on right now, and how to handle it). You can always seek immediate help if you are concerned for the safety of yourself or others, by going to an emergency room. What exactly is it that you're worried you might do, in being "set off" by another person's words, etc.? How long have you been trying to reach the psychiatrist without any response, and how often are you seeing him/her?
posted by so_gracefully at 10:31 AM on July 24, 2009
posted by so_gracefully at 10:31 AM on July 24, 2009
Where are you located?
Why can't your doctor be reached? They almost always leave an emergency number, or have an answering service that can get in touch with them.
Does your doctor share a practice with other doctors? Is it possible to get in touch with one of them? If the doctor who gave you this diagnosis is a psychiatrist, is it possible to get in touch with your primary care doctor? I think if you can talk to someone who knows you, it would be preferable, but go to a hospital if you've exhausted those avenues.
In this particular moment: make sure that you have eaten. Make sure you're adequately hydrated. Take a few deep breaths. Sometimes physical discomforts can reinforce feelings of panic and despair, for instance if you're tired, or you have a headache. Take care of those things, that you can take care of.
Lastly: it's okay. These feelings will pass, you're okay.
Leave a message for your doctor. Eat some food. Wait an hour. Go to the hospital.
Post back that you're okay.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:32 AM on July 24, 2009
Why can't your doctor be reached? They almost always leave an emergency number, or have an answering service that can get in touch with them.
Does your doctor share a practice with other doctors? Is it possible to get in touch with one of them? If the doctor who gave you this diagnosis is a psychiatrist, is it possible to get in touch with your primary care doctor? I think if you can talk to someone who knows you, it would be preferable, but go to a hospital if you've exhausted those avenues.
In this particular moment: make sure that you have eaten. Make sure you're adequately hydrated. Take a few deep breaths. Sometimes physical discomforts can reinforce feelings of panic and despair, for instance if you're tired, or you have a headache. Take care of those things, that you can take care of.
Lastly: it's okay. These feelings will pass, you're okay.
Leave a message for your doctor. Eat some food. Wait an hour. Go to the hospital.
Post back that you're okay.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:32 AM on July 24, 2009
You don't say specifically that you are thinking of harming someone. If you are thinking of harming someone, including yourself, are the thoughts specific or vague?
As I was typing more, I realized that what I want to say is this: You're suffering. You're scared. Go to the emergency room. They can assess your likelihood of harm. Or, call a friend who can take you to the movies and keep you company until you see a professional.
posted by theora55 at 10:40 AM on July 24, 2009
As I was typing more, I realized that what I want to say is this: You're suffering. You're scared. Go to the emergency room. They can assess your likelihood of harm. Or, call a friend who can take you to the movies and keep you company until you see a professional.
posted by theora55 at 10:40 AM on July 24, 2009
Response by poster: so_gracefully, I see her once every month, but wasn't able to see her for the past several, since my accident. I tried to reach her two hours ago.
Thanks Llama.
posted by hadjiboy at 10:40 AM on July 24, 2009
Thanks Llama.
posted by hadjiboy at 10:40 AM on July 24, 2009
If you're worried about it, then you probably aren't a danger. When you stop caring about it, that's when you're dangerous.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:41 AM on July 24, 2009
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:41 AM on July 24, 2009
The emergency room. Quit reading the rest of this sentence and GO THERE.
The doctors and nurses there are going to be able to do FAR FAR MORE for you than words on a screen.
posted by Solomon at 10:50 AM on July 24, 2009
The doctors and nurses there are going to be able to do FAR FAR MORE for you than words on a screen.
posted by Solomon at 10:50 AM on July 24, 2009
hadjiboy isn't in the states. I don't know that the ER is the right place in other countries. Is there anyone here who knows the answer to this?
posted by small_ruminant at 11:02 AM on July 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by small_ruminant at 11:02 AM on July 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
From a quick googling, it seems that the ER is still probably the right place to be in a mental health emergency.
Hadjiboy, if you've made an appointment for tomorrow, you've probably done the right thing. Try to calm down, take some deep breaths and relax. However, if you continue to worry that you might harm someone or yourself, please go to the ER. I see people in the ER all the time for psychiatric problems and it's better to be safe than sorry.
posted by threeturtles at 11:27 AM on July 24, 2009
Hadjiboy, if you've made an appointment for tomorrow, you've probably done the right thing. Try to calm down, take some deep breaths and relax. However, if you continue to worry that you might harm someone or yourself, please go to the ER. I see people in the ER all the time for psychiatric problems and it's better to be safe than sorry.
posted by threeturtles at 11:27 AM on July 24, 2009
Solomon, et all, should I go to the Emergency room, or to the Police--isn't that where Criminals go (who've hurt people)?
No one else has addressed this, so I will (if you're still reading this....I'm really hoping you're on the way to get help instead of sitting at your computer at this point):
You sound like you're having some pretty scary, irrational thoughts about being a bad person, or thinking you might do bad things. Please let a friend or family member who lives nearby know you are feeling this way, and ask them to help you find emergency care or counseling in your country. Don't try to do this alone with internet people-- we don't know what's really going on, and I'd hate to lose a(nother) member of the MeFi community over a treatable mental health issue.
posted by availablelight at 11:41 AM on July 24, 2009 [2 favorites]
No one else has addressed this, so I will (if you're still reading this....I'm really hoping you're on the way to get help instead of sitting at your computer at this point):
You sound like you're having some pretty scary, irrational thoughts about being a bad person, or thinking you might do bad things. Please let a friend or family member who lives nearby know you are feeling this way, and ask them to help you find emergency care or counseling in your country. Don't try to do this alone with internet people-- we don't know what's really going on, and I'd hate to lose a(nother) member of the MeFi community over a treatable mental health issue.
posted by availablelight at 11:41 AM on July 24, 2009 [2 favorites]
Thirding availablelight. Go to a hospital. Do not wait until tomorrow, do not wait for internet strangers/acquaintances to calm you down. The hospital has staff to help you in real time.
You do not necessarily need to tell your family where you are going. Just go and leave everything else for later, for the hospital to sort out.
I know you are in India. Go to the nearest large and/or teaching hospital in your area. Try to avoid a privately run clinic where they might not be equipped to handle your needs.
Mention your past diagnosis but also be very specific when describing what you are feeling in the here and now.
posted by vincele at 12:35 PM on July 24, 2009
You do not necessarily need to tell your family where you are going. Just go and leave everything else for later, for the hospital to sort out.
I know you are in India. Go to the nearest large and/or teaching hospital in your area. Try to avoid a privately run clinic where they might not be equipped to handle your needs.
Mention your past diagnosis but also be very specific when describing what you are feeling in the here and now.
posted by vincele at 12:35 PM on July 24, 2009
The fact that a person has a mental illness, doesn't preclude that they may also have anger and confusion for other reasons as well, including as a response to immediate or prolonged stress. If someone has made you very angry, for some plausible, proximate reason, and you are not used to being angry, and handling yourself in a smart way when angry, then the intensity of that emotion can feel like it has put you in a loss of control situation.
Rage can happen, even to the mentally ill, without all incidences of rage being caused by that mental illness. My point being, to hadjiboy, that if you have recently been in an immediate confrontation with someone, try limiting your efforts to controlling yourself to that immediate situation. Remove yourself from that place (after telling someone where you are going), or, if that is not practical, isolate yourself with music, television, or other mental distraction. Do some deep, controlled breathing. Drink and eat something.
But if you continue to feel unbalanced, seek immediate help. You can certainly call the police for help, without being a criminal, if you cannot manage to get yourself to a medical facility. Any course of action, short of violence to yourself or others, is a better outcome, than losing control of your actions.
posted by paulsc at 1:45 PM on July 24, 2009
Rage can happen, even to the mentally ill, without all incidences of rage being caused by that mental illness. My point being, to hadjiboy, that if you have recently been in an immediate confrontation with someone, try limiting your efforts to controlling yourself to that immediate situation. Remove yourself from that place (after telling someone where you are going), or, if that is not practical, isolate yourself with music, television, or other mental distraction. Do some deep, controlled breathing. Drink and eat something.
But if you continue to feel unbalanced, seek immediate help. You can certainly call the police for help, without being a criminal, if you cannot manage to get yourself to a medical facility. Any course of action, short of violence to yourself or others, is a better outcome, than losing control of your actions.
posted by paulsc at 1:45 PM on July 24, 2009
hadjiboy, I hope that your physicians have mentioned that often one consequence of head injury is the development of mental illness in, according to one paper I read in trying to discover the whys of my son illness, almost 60% of males (not so much in females). The mental illness can be in the form of mild delusions or can be schizophrenia and all variations in between. Your personality might have changed after your head injury, but not so radically that you would hurt somebody now, if you were not likely to hurt somebody earlier.
One thing that might have changed is impulsiveness, so try to think twice before doing something, and be guided by family and good friends in your actions. I'm sending good thoughts your way, hoping for your complete recovery.
posted by francesca too at 4:41 PM on July 24, 2009
One thing that might have changed is impulsiveness, so try to think twice before doing something, and be guided by family and good friends in your actions. I'm sending good thoughts your way, hoping for your complete recovery.
posted by francesca too at 4:41 PM on July 24, 2009
And when things get better for you (and they will, promise!) would you please be so kind as to let us know here that all is well? Thanks!
posted by fish tick at 8:27 PM on July 24, 2009
posted by fish tick at 8:27 PM on July 24, 2009
Response by poster: Yes fish tick, paulsc, francesca too, and anyone else out there--all is well. I've just come back from my doctor, and was able to talk to family too.
Thank you, all!
posted by hadjiboy at 8:45 AM on July 25, 2009
Thank you, all!
posted by hadjiboy at 8:45 AM on July 25, 2009
glad to hear that, let us know how things are going with you.
posted by francesca too at 4:07 PM on July 25, 2009
posted by francesca too at 4:07 PM on July 25, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Solomon at 10:18 AM on July 24, 2009 [3 favorites]