To go to A&E for mental health? I don’t feel like I’m properly me

[shouldigotohospital]

I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. Have tried 111 but an hours wait. Am known to crisis for post traumatic stress, but they shut at 8. I know where I am, date, time of day, who I am, but I don’t feel like I’m in my own body and feel weirdly scared of everything. Put the big stuff light out to see if I could sleep and had to turn it straight back on because I was scared there was something waiting in the dark.

Everything doesn’t feel real like it’s all in my imagination, heating and sight aren’t right and hands don’t feel right

I’ve never had this before

I’m not sure if I should go to hospital or not. Am only 10 mins in to hours wait. A&E is across the street. Can they do anything in this?

Can you call your crisis team? This time of night, they will be the ones seeing you in A&E anyway.

They shut at 8, it just automatically goes to 111

Your feeling anxious & having a sense of derealisation. How horrible but it will improve. No need for a&e - life not at risk and nothing they could add. Have you had counselling for ptsd/anxiety previously? Practice the techniques if you can. If not would self reverse to your local service. Hope improves soon.

Hi OP, I have experienced something similar which turned out to be a panic attack (depersonalization). It could be something different and mine only lasted about an hour. Obviously could be something totally different

https://www.chrismackey.com.au/depersonalisation-in-panic-attacks/

Sorry but it's neither an accident nor an emergency, so no.

I appreciate how awful it must be, chat on here as long as you like, anyone you could ring for a chat?

I honestly think you should follow your gut. If A&E isnt the place for you, they'll tell you that.

If you feel you can wait an hour or so, then I would. Just to see if things improve. Have a glass of water and stick a feel good programme on, see if your mind and body settle and come back to normality.

If not, and you can't sleep, then yes, seek medical advice in A&E.

Don't feel worried to ask for help, that's what the NHS is there for (and the only service available at night for the public is A&E).

All the best.

From experience, A&E can give you a benzo if appropriate, then they tell you to call your GP/CPN/Crisis team the next day.

What could a&e do though?

My son had this; he thought he had Dissociated Disorder. It is linked to major trauma from what little I know about it. It turned out he has brain fog from Covid and eye problems with the muscles in his eyes. I’m so sorry this is happening to you; no medical advice to give but his diagnosis was made with a an eye specialist.

@Whatt

Quite a lot actually. Many have MH nurses on shift 24/7. Personally OP I do think you’re on slightly dodgy terrain in that this what it feels like before you enter a psychotic episode. You still have insight but it’s beginning to sort of slip through your fingers. It could be derealisation, dissociation or indeed incredibly severe anxiety. In which case they could actually prescribe diazepam.

Listen to your instincts OP and don’t hesitate to seek help whilst you can. Wishing you well.

Look up Unreal charity which provides support for depersonalisation and derealisation.

Things that help include physical exercise and social contact. So doing stretches or running or dancing to silly music around the house. Whatever makes you feel connected to your body. Familiar smells too - coffee or laundry detergent or whatever scented thing you have in the house.

Folks please can you refrain from diagnosing OP over the Internet and discouraging her from seeking help.

Hopefully A&E's Psychiatric Liaison Team (hospitals in my region all have them 24 hours) will be able to offer a proper assessment and appropriate treatment.

Hey OP, sounds like you are disassociating with reality - this used to happen to me when my anxiety/panic disorder was at its worse. What really helped was grounding techniques - if you’re in a really weird place right now mentally then you may be best going for the ‘distract’ method first to calm yourself down a bit so the grounding is more effective - I.E put on something comforting (comfort tv show, film, game, smell, noise etc). And then when your brain has focused a bit more on those things try to just tell yourself what you can see - the 5 things method. But start with things you can see - it will help ground you back in reality a bit. X

@shouldigotohospital yes go to hospital, don't worry about the judgement of posters here who probably don't understand how frightening and distressing this is for you.

Your safety comes first and you feel at risk - so keep yourself safe and go to hospital.

However I should say if you are feeling like you are in a crisis then that is entirely different and you should seek emergency support - have you tried Samaritans?

@Yellowflowerr a&e is more appropriate than the samaritans when a person is in crisis.

You are indeed correct, and that would be ideal - just concerned on the waiting times but you’ll only really know once you go so it’s probably your best bet. If they cannot help they can at least hopefully direct you to other services to try.

please text Shout. It’s free. They have trained volunteers that can help you either get to a calmer place or advise you to go to A&E. sometimes just talking it can help get you through the moment until you can call your Gp in the morning. https://giveusashout.org/

If A&E is just across the street you may feel better just going over to talk to them, even if their advice is to contact your crisis team tomorrow. They would also check your BP and heart rate and a few basic reflexes just to rule out a physical cause.

Or if there is someone you trust who could come and sit with you until you can call your team tomorrow that might click things back to normal.

Basically speaking in person to someone in real life will help.

Call the mental health line

Speaking to a mental health worker just now. She said thinks it’s some sort of dissociation.

Do you have street triage? Our area has 24 Hr mental health services.

would the Samaritans help if you need to talk? I’m sure they will know what MH services are available ooh.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Hi there @shouldigotohospital . We're so pleased to hear you've got hold of someone. We hope it all goes well.

If, in the meantime. you need some other numbers to call, you can try some of the contact details on our Mental Health Webguide.

I’d go to a&e, you could be starting with a psychosis and I think better to be on the safe side. Hope you feel better soon x

I did this recently. I had a mental health crisis and they were really kind. Calmed me down no end and I was unable to go to A and E as I was home alone with the children.

OP you must do what you feel will help you. We are all here to support you. 💕