Page 2 | How to be honest with psychiatrist? (TW Suicide)

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 19:09

lookingforMolly · 08/11/2023 19:03

@Burgerexplosion I'm sorry that life seems pointless to you right now, it won't always feel like that in the future so you've got to hold on to that thought..

Thanks @lookingforMolly, I really hope life improves for you too.

OP posts:

overwhelmed2023 · 08/11/2023 19:13

Yes think it can just be a GP but there must be a psychiatrist with the certification for sections. And social worker usually I think.
Many people have suicidal ideation, but if you actively plan to do something to yourself you need help please access that

ilovemyspace · 08/11/2023 19:16

@Burgerexplosion I did go into an NHS hospital voluntarily once but then I was sectioned when I tried to leave.

Can I ask what happened? Why did they section you when you tried to leave?

overwhelmed2023 · 08/11/2023 19:22

They usually ask a person to go in voluntarily rather than formal section - if there is sufficient concern though about harm to self or others the person would be then formally sectioned if they wanted to self discharge

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 19:25

ilovemyspace · 08/11/2023 19:16

@Burgerexplosion I did go into an NHS hospital voluntarily once but then I was sectioned when I tried to leave.

Can I ask what happened? Why did they section you when you tried to leave?

I don’t know why I was sectioned because I wasn’t given any warning about it. A nurse tried to persuade me to stay in the hospital but when I said I wanted to leave then I was sectioned. I wasn’t given any chance to stay voluntarily instead.

OP posts:

ilovemyspace · 08/11/2023 19:35

@Burgerexplosion I have plans for suicide but it is proving impossible to be honest with my psychiatrist about it without him panicking and threatening to get me sectioned.

I desperately want help and to be able to trust my psychiatrist and therapist and it would be a relief to talk about how I feel but it is a no win situation as I don’t want to be locked up.

I’ve just spent a whole session trying to convince my therapist that I am not suicidal while hoping that she will realise how bad I feel and help me in some way

And trying to unpick this. You have plans for suicide, but you don't really want to go through with them?
If you were able to talk through your feelings and vent, would you be less likely to want to commit suicide?

It so helps to just talk about feelings without anyone judging you or wanting to 'put things right' for you - sometimes you just need to get it all out to help you feel better ..... x

Blarn · 08/11/2023 19:41

I wasn't honest with mine. I had planned how to take my own life for weeks, my head was telling me to do it, telling me how worthless I was and I nearly did. I am a very good liar and the same as you, wished that my psychiatrist would pick up on how bad I was. I should have told them, they are not mind readers. I am so much better now. I am not worthless, I never was, and no body would have benefitted from my death. But getting to this point would have been easier if I would have been honest with the psychiatrist.

ilovemyspace · 08/11/2023 19:41

@Burgerexplosion I don’t know why I was sectioned because I wasn’t given any warning about it. A nurse tried to persuade me to stay in the hospital but when I said I wanted to leave then I was sectioned. I wasn’t given any chance to stay voluntarily instead.

Yes, that sounds as if it's the NHS staff being ultra-cautious and not considering you to be 'well' enough to leave ......

When you say I have plans for suicide but it is proving impossible to be honest with my psychiatrist about it without him panicking and threatening to get me sectioned.

I desperately want help and to be able to trust my psychiatrist and therapist and it would be a relief to talk about how I feel but it is a no win situation as I don’t want to be locked up.

I’ve just spent a whole session trying to convince my therapist that I am not suicidal while hoping that she will realise how bad I feel and help me in some way

have you tried saying exactly that to your psychiatrist so he can understand exactly where you're coming from? And not 'panic' and feel he should do something

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 19:45

ilovemyspace · 08/11/2023 19:41

@Burgerexplosion I don’t know why I was sectioned because I wasn’t given any warning about it. A nurse tried to persuade me to stay in the hospital but when I said I wanted to leave then I was sectioned. I wasn’t given any chance to stay voluntarily instead.

Yes, that sounds as if it's the NHS staff being ultra-cautious and not considering you to be 'well' enough to leave ......

When you say I have plans for suicide but it is proving impossible to be honest with my psychiatrist about it without him panicking and threatening to get me sectioned.

I desperately want help and to be able to trust my psychiatrist and therapist and it would be a relief to talk about how I feel but it is a no win situation as I don’t want to be locked up.

I’ve just spent a whole session trying to convince my therapist that I am not suicidal while hoping that she will realise how bad I feel and help me in some way

have you tried saying exactly that to your psychiatrist so he can understand exactly where you're coming from? And not 'panic' and feel he should do something

Thanks @ilovemyspace and everyone else for your kind responses, they have helped me so much.
I think I will try to be honest because I am lucky to have the support of a psychiatrist and a therapist and they can’t help if I pretend I am OK.

OP posts:

Bandolina · 08/11/2023 19:54

If you are complying with a community treatment plan and you are able to make a safety plan eg say who you would call/ what you would do if you felt close to acting on suicidal tendencies thoughts then you would not be detained. Detention is a last resort
You would be offered crisis team and informal admission first.

If you say you don't want either more medication or the crisis team or admission then can you say what response you do want from the psych? It's a bit hard to know what they could helpfully do with the information if you do tell them when you seem to have ruled out a lot of options.

ilovemyspace · 08/11/2023 19:54

I think being honest about how we feel is often the hardest thing we ever have to do! ........ but in my experience it's also the most worthwhile because people are so much kinder than you think they're going to be.
You imagine all sorts in your head - how people are going to laugh at you or sneer because you're weak - when all the time, people usually know what it's like to feel the way you do
Well done on your courage to speak up!

And wishing you love to help you along the way xx

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 19:58

Bandolina · 08/11/2023 19:54

If you are complying with a community treatment plan and you are able to make a safety plan eg say who you would call/ what you would do if you felt close to acting on suicidal tendencies thoughts then you would not be detained. Detention is a last resort
You would be offered crisis team and informal admission first.

If you say you don't want either more medication or the crisis team or admission then can you say what response you do want from the psych? It's a bit hard to know what they could helpfully do with the information if you do tell them when you seem to have ruled out a lot of options.

That’s a fair point @Bandolina

I don’t know what I’m doing really, I’m not behaving totally rationally at the moment.

OP posts:

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/11/2023 20:00

If you're suicidal and not engaging with the crisis team or taking medication, one might wonder if you are in a place where a section is in your best interests as not taking your medication might suggest you cannot do what you need to keep yourself safe.

Although, I spent all day dealing with a suicidal customer, who kept calling our service saying he was overdosing but then refusing to allow access to the ambulance (we a not a medical service at all) and when I called his GP I was told its not their problem and to call the crisis team. I called the crisis team and they said its not their problem and to talk to the GP. Ambulance and police kept leaving as he wouldn't let them in.

He is someone who needs sectioning! So clearly it is a hard thing to have happen.

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 20:07

Blarn · 08/11/2023 19:41

I wasn't honest with mine. I had planned how to take my own life for weeks, my head was telling me to do it, telling me how worthless I was and I nearly did. I am a very good liar and the same as you, wished that my psychiatrist would pick up on how bad I was. I should have told them, they are not mind readers. I am so much better now. I am not worthless, I never was, and no body would have benefitted from my death. But getting to this point would have been easier if I would have been honest with the psychiatrist.

Thanks @Blarn I’m so pleased you are feeling much better now.

I get the exactly same thing with my head telling me to do it and telling me I am weak and a fraud because I haven’t done it yet. I thought I was the only one who got that. It isn’t a voice in my head, it is just my head.

OP posts:

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 20:09

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 08/11/2023 20:00

If you're suicidal and not engaging with the crisis team or taking medication, one might wonder if you are in a place where a section is in your best interests as not taking your medication might suggest you cannot do what you need to keep yourself safe.

Although, I spent all day dealing with a suicidal customer, who kept calling our service saying he was overdosing but then refusing to allow access to the ambulance (we a not a medical service at all) and when I called his GP I was told its not their problem and to call the crisis team. I called the crisis team and they said its not their problem and to talk to the GP. Ambulance and police kept leaving as he wouldn't let them in.

He is someone who needs sectioning! So clearly it is a hard thing to have happen.

I think the threshold for sectioning might be a lot higher these days due to the state of NHS MH services.
Hopefully I am worrying unnecessarily but it doesn’t help that my psychiatrist keeps making threats when I don’t do what he wants.

OP posts:

Startingagainandagain · 08/11/2023 20:10

I received support from the crisis team after to told my GP I had just had a complete breakdown, was feeling suicidal and had started making actual plans to end my life.

After an initial assessment the crisis team visited me at home everyday for about 10 days to give my medication time to work and so they could monitor me. I was not admitted to a mental heath ward thankfully.

I think you have to be honest about how you feel so you can get the help you need.

Defiantlynot41 · 08/11/2023 20:18

I'm not sure how to help but I'm thinking of you and hoping you are able to get the help you need.

You are so articulate and even though you are in a desperate place, your consideration of other posters and solidarity with them shines out.

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 20:18

Startingagainandagain · 08/11/2023 20:10

I received support from the crisis team after to told my GP I had just had a complete breakdown, was feeling suicidal and had started making actual plans to end my life.

After an initial assessment the crisis team visited me at home everyday for about 10 days to give my medication time to work and so they could monitor me. I was not admitted to a mental heath ward thankfully.

I think you have to be honest about how you feel so you can get the help you need.

I’m glad that helped you @Startingagainandagain

I don’t want to engage with the crisis team though so I don’t know what can help me.

OP posts:

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 20:19

Defiantlynot41 · 08/11/2023 20:18

I'm not sure how to help but I'm thinking of you and hoping you are able to get the help you need.

You are so articulate and even though you are in a desperate place, your consideration of other posters and solidarity with them shines out.

Thank you, that is so kind.

OP posts:

Original poster

Burgerexplosion · 08/11/2023 20:37

I’m quite overwhelmed by everyone’s support and kind messages, thank you all so much.

OP posts:

Blarn · 08/11/2023 20:43

Don't be scared of the crisis team. My experience was like a PPs, they visited daily for a week while my higher dose of medication started.

The 'voice' in my head was my depression. It was so bad that my own brain was telling me how awful I was. But you will get there. Recognising that you are in a place you don't want to be is a really good first step.

Startingagainandagain · 09/11/2023 09:36

I commented above but I really would not be afraid of engaging with the Crisis Team. They gave me a lot of practical advice, really listened to what I had to say and were non-judgemental.

The GP and the crisis team literally saved my life and I would not be here today if it was not for them as I had reached the lowest point in my life and my mind was telling me there was no way out and I had started to make plans to go...

I would clearly tell your psychiatrist, or speak to your GP if you don't feel you can open up to that person, that you are struggling and really need urgent help from the crisis team. Then, make it clear to everyone that you had a bad experience with staying on a ward and would like to be cared for at home with daily visit.

But you really need to try to take that step of accepting help and medication.

Section is really the last resort and would only do that if they see that you are not engaging in any other way and are really worried for your welfare if you were to be left on your own.