A question....

[S n o w b a l l]

How dangerous is it to tell your dr you're having thoughts of suicide? Will they immediately commit you? Yes, I've been having lots of suicidal thoughts but, I doubt I'd do anything about it and I sure don't want anyone trying to save me. But, I feel like I should tell him to let him know how serious the depression is. He has me on Wellbutrin & Lexapro but, I stopped the Lexapro cause I couldn't afford both. I only see him about once a yr...I feel like a total loser when I go in and see him and tell him, yes, I'm still depressed.

I just wanted to give you some background info but, my main question is how honest you should be about the suicidal thoughts.

Thanks for any comments.

[ThingsGottaChange]

1. I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad

I've always been totally honest with shrinks & therapists. They usually ask if I've had suicidal thoughts in the past - and I say yes. Then they want to know if you are having those thoughts right now. I always say no because that's the truth. The thoughts (for me) come and go. I also tell them that I don't think I could really do anything like that.

I think in this day and age the men in the white coats are pretty much gone, unless you're having some sort of psychotic break or something. I think your doc should know how serious your depression is. Perhaps you can try a different med or start some therapy to go along with the meds. But, I wouldn't get all anxious about them "Coming to take me away, ha ha."

Also most drug manufacturers have prescription assistance programs for people that can't afford it. If it's not generic you can find the manuf. web sites and they will tell you how to apply.

Good luck with everything! :hug:


(edited for typo)

[Pharaoh]

2. yes tell him!

they won't lock you up or anything, but they get a better understanding of just how depressed you are. I understand getting off the lexapro is difficult and that might be alot of your problem, how long ago did you quit it?

I'm 50 and am having problems getting on an even keel right now too, it is an on going problem for us depressives, nothing to be ashamed of.
Our healthcare system is broken unfortunately, hopefully the new congress will do something about it.

Keep your chin up Engi:grouphug:

[mopinko]

3. it is hard to get someone committed, even when they want to

be. don't worry about that.
is this doc just your primary care doc? once a year is not enough to get these meds straight.
hang on.

[EFerrari]

4. Hi there, Engi. You know, being on the Wellbutrin alone

might be making you feel worse.

Do you feel you can trust him to be careful with you? To be respectful of your choices and your boundaries?

If you do trust the guy, I'd tell him right away. If you feel that you don't trust him with those thoughts, you could still call him a and let him know that your meds aren't being helpful to you -- without being specific about the content of your thoughts.

It's always your choice to tell people what you think or not to tell them, imho. You can still get the message across that the current protocol isn't working for you.

[S n o w b a l l]

5. Thanks all...

for your replies & support. :grouphug:

I'm paranoid about this because I have some experience in it. A friend of mine going through a horrible breakup confided in me that she had stockpiled pills and was ready to end her life. I knew she was serious and I called her ex (who happened to be my father in law)and on the guise of taking her to lunch, he took her to a mental facility and had her committed on a 3 day suicide watch. I don't know if I helped save her life or make it a more living nightmare but, I feel terrible to this day that this happened to her. It was a horrible experience for her.

I've attempted suicide before and after spending a glorious night in the hospital getting my stomach pumped & charcoal funneled down my throat, they immediately took me to the state hospital. I had no choice in the matter. Fortunately, I convinced the Dr to let me out the next day.

I guess my thoughts have been so serious they frighten me and I seriously think if I'd have had a gun in my house, I might not be here right now. Because it is so severe, I'm afraid to tell anyone for fear they'll take me away. My two dogs are saving me right now cause I couldn't leave them alone but when I start thinking about taking them with me, it really scares me. The fact that my biological father committed suicide 2 yrs ago really worries me about the genetic aspect of it too.

About 5 yrs ago, I lost everything...our house (in a landslide), my dog of 14 yrs that had been with me through everything, my husband who left me after I made a terrible mistake by having an affair with my best friend, a woman and then my business that I worked so hard to build.

The loss itself is overwhelming but, the guilt & berating of myself is killing me & I can't seem to move past it...even after 5 years.

I've tried every medication there is and I know I should be seeing my Dr more often. I've given up on anything helping really, but, I know I need to go in and talk to him. I just don't know what to say and I absolutely don't want anyone to freak out and take me off to a hospital.

Well, I see I really needed to get this out cause I didn't mean to write this much. I just wanted to thank you for caring, listening & your replies.

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

8. ...

:hug:

[ceile]

6. Yes, tell him.

And being on Wellbutrin alone may be contributing to your thoughts. I was on Wellbutrin and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I felt that there was an "edge" and I was about to go head long over it. As soon as I got off the W. I felt fine (well, no more psychotic thoughts anyway). He may be able to prescribe something else.

[SPKrazy]

7. Here's My Two Cents

as someone who suffers from depression, and as someone who is a licensed mental health professional, I can say that if you are feeling like committing suicide that a) it isn't something that you should beat up on yourself about and it doesn't mean you are a failure; and b) it doesn't necessarily mean you will be committed. It does mean that you probably need to be on meds that work and are affordable.

You aren't a loser Engi, I don't care what you've been through or think, you just aren't one.

We all feel that way sometimes, but the reality is that we've all done things we feel good about, and things we feel bad about. We're just human.

As for being honest about it. If you have other symptoms of another illness (like blood in your sputum when you cough or something unrelated to depression)would you tell your doctor about it or tell them you were fine?

Assessing suicide risk is important for YOU and your doctor. Please talk to someone.

:hug: :loveya:

[S n o w b a l l]

9. Thank you....

:hug:

I'm happy to say I'm out of that dark place now. I see now that I was sinking into a pit from not working and sitting at home isolating myself. I'm not exactly a super social person, but do need social interaction & get my rewards by the work I do. Transitioning careers left me feeling lost and hopeless & pining for the past, but I've got a new job, starting at the bottom in a new field and the challenge of proving myself and working my way up is exactly what I needed. I hope anyway.

For now, it's working and that's all I can hope for..one day at a time. I've weaned myself entirely off my meds because my insurance isn't effective until after 3 months. I hope that's not a mistake but, I just can't afford them right now. Time will tell.

Thanks for caring, Southpaw.

:loveya:

[hedgehog]

10. ASk your doctor for samples to tide you over until the insurance kicks in.