Going to A&E because of feeling unsafe?

[not_so_insig]

I feel unsafe and my CPN is ignoring me, and I think she hates me. Because of this I cant contact her or talk to her (which would happen normally).

What would happen if I went to A&E and said I felt unsafe? I know I would have to talk to a psych, but what else happens?

[Cedrus]

I think it would be good if you went considering you started new meds recently.

Sorry for the short reply.

[whirlpools]

It would very much depend on all sorts of things, for example, how you present, the professional you're working with, and maybe even the area you live in.

What would you 'hope' to happen?

I would recommend that if you're feeling immediately unsafe to go to A&E and talk to them. I know a lot of people feel ashamed for going to A&E without something physically medical to be taken care of, but they really don't mind. Mental ill health is just as much an illness as physical ill health. They also prefer people to go to A&E before it's reached the point of self harm - at least, in my area they do.

If you think you can wait until tomorrow, perhaps ring the CMHT and see what's going on. If you don't get a decent response, phone PALS - they can help get straight on to your CPN and see what's happening. If you're struggling tonight, but not at risk of hurting yourself, try the crisis lines. They're usually staffed by professionals and, in my experience, can be very helpful in the interim until morning.

[Bellatrix]

They're normally really good about it. They'll check you in, send you through to wait in a room and then you just sit there for a couple of hours while people pop in and out and ask you if you want tea/coffee until the on duty MH team come to talk to you. Then they'll decide what's best for you and probably have the crisis team come visit you the next day.

It's honestly really boring and mundane, but if you're in hospital waiting, you're not hurting yourself or others so that's helpful. Take a book, thats my advice.

[not_so_insig]

What would you 'hope' to happen?

If you think you can wait until tomorrow, perhaps ring the CMHT and see what's going on. If you don't get a decent response, phone PALS - they can help get straight on to your CPN and see what's happening.

I just want someone to talk to - that is all. My CPN said that she would text me on Friday, with the details of the appointment on Monday, and she hasnt. The only time she keeps on offering me is 4pm to come to her office, and I have told her repeatedly that I cant come then. Because it will be 5 pm before I leave, and the buses/town will be packed, and I will feel panicky due to the crowds (I cant cope with loads of crowds). She wont be there at 9 am tommorow, and I dont know if she has an appointment.

I also want to stop being on this merry go round. My SI/drinking has gotten considerably worse. My anger is getting worse because she wont talk to me, nor meet me. She made an appointment on Thursday for 4 pm, but due to the above reasons I couldnt make it. She also refused to see me on Friday, but said (on the phone) that she would text me to see either way if she could change my appointment to 3 pm, but she hasnt. I dont see the point of texting her tommmorow because I wont get an answer about an time, and I feel she wont text me either. So I am desperate to talk to someone, but she wont talk to me, so I feel as though I have no other choice. The more she ignores me, the worse my anger grows.


Also last week, twice I nearly commited suicide. I nearly took an overdose on Monday, and Thursday I nearly threw myself off a multi storey car park in town. I feel as though if I dont talk to someone soon I will throw myself off or the police will come and section me (just over a month ago someone else climbed over the same barrier iin the same car park, and the police came and talked to him. He didnt throw himself off, but he did get sectioned).

We dont have PALS in Wales, so I cant contact them either. I dont think we have an equivalent either - all you are told to do is phone the CMHT, and talk to whoever is on duty. Which I cant because of trust issues.

I am just desperate to be heard, and my CPN wont talk to me. I am just getting worse and worse. I feel that A&E is the best option though, but I feel I will go tomorrow if my CPN doesnt get in touch.

[whirlpools]

I think if your CPN is continuing to be unresponsive and unavailable (and the reasons you can't see her at her allocated time are understandable) it might be worth putting in a complaint to the CMHT manager.

It sounds like it might be worth going to A&E as it sounds like your risk of suicide is quite high. It would be a good idea to speak to a professional before you get to the point of being sectioned on a multi-storey carpark. They might be able to help slow things down and offer additional support, for example the crisis/home treatment team or an admission to hospital. They should also feed back to your CPN so she is aware of what's going on.

[not_so_insig]

It sounds like it might be worth going to A&E as it sounds like your risk of suicide is quite high. It would be a good idea to speak to a professional before you get to the point of being sectioned on a multi-storey carpark. They might be able to help slow things down and offer additional support, for example the crisis/home treatment team or an admission to hospital. They should also feed back to your CPN so she is aware of what's going on.

Thanks, and that is what scared me. I never had that thought before and it is now pretty strong. It didnt help also because I read an article about someone (not locally, but it's an area I am pretty familiar with) threatening to jump off a road bridge, and the police being involved (that person didnt jump either, but is in custody due to other reasons according to the article). I am also a bit worried about this week because I am due my antipsychotic injection and my CPN is the only one that can give me. So I am worried about that either.

My depression is also increasing, and that is not helping my SU risk either. I know the chances are that I will end up back in the psych unit are quite high, but at least I know where I would stand.. A couple of months ago I would have said no way, but at least I wont fight it. Because it's better than being sectioned, but I really dont want to end up in hospital either.

I just wish my CPN would talk to me that is all. I just feel as though I need support, and nobody is wanting to help. I have always resisted going to A&E but I feel I cant go on without involving the car park (which means that I will end up being sectioned) and although going to A&E sounds scary, that is the only safe option for me.

I think I will just give my CPN one more chance tomorrow, unless I am really unsafe tomorrow morning, then it's the only option.

[whirlpools]

How are you feeling tonight? Do you think you will be safe tonight? Remember that A&E is always there, so if you feel your risks increasing tonight, do head down there. Get a taxi if you're not feeling safe to travel another way. Do you have any plans about how you're going to manage through the night? It can help to think about what you're going to do to stay safe.
I hope your CPN takes you seriously tomorrow, she sounds like she's being rubbish. It's very concerning that she's not arranged a time to give you your depot - that's very important, as I'm sure you're aware.
Many hugs.

[not_so_insig]

How are you feeling tonight? Do you think you will be safe tonight? Remember that A&E is always there, so if you feel your risks increasing tonight, do head down there. Get a taxi if you're not feeling safe to travel another way. Do you have any plans about how you're going to manage through the night? It can help to think about what you're going to do to stay safe.
I hope your CPN takes you seriously tomorrow, she sounds like she's being rubbish. It's very concerning that she's not arranged a time to give you your depot - that's very important, as I'm sure you're aware.
Many hugs.

My CPN is aware of the depot issue, so it's not like she has forgotten or something. But her lack of communication or seeing me as a priority really is worrying, because like you said, it's important that I end up getting the depot.

Right now, I feel ok, but that is because I am in my parents. I am going home later though. I will end up taking the quetiapine (since I am not fully on the injectable antipsychotic I am still prescribed that) because that will help me sleep, but I am also prescribed diazepam, so that is a short term help. But I dont even know if that will work, because my nearly OD happened during the night. So I guess I will end up and see how it goes, but like you said, A&E is there. Taxi (unless I end up going in the day) will have to be the only option, other than ambulance of course.

So I am not sure about later on tonight. On the other hand I could be ok (taking only what I am currently prescribed and no more) but on the other hand I could not. Time will tell.

[ella1]

Thinking of you! I'm in wales too and I completely sympathise with the state of mental health system. Hope you can keep posting and stay safe if not then a and e is there z

[not_so_insig]

I can imagine they would send you away unless you posed a real danger to yourself but they might get the crisis team to check on you the next day.

Thanks. Even if that does happen, at least I will have someone to talk to, which is what I want really.

[startingagain]

If you are ok about going to hospital, then do Wales have NHS direct? The nurse was brilliant when I called-miles better than the crisis line that told me to make a cup of tea. They can call an ambulance for you if they think you need it or get an out of hours GP.

[not_so_insig]

If you are ok about going to hospital, then do Wales have NHS direct? The nurse was brilliant when I called-miles better than the crisis line that told me to make a cup of tea. They can call an ambulance for you if they think you need it or get an out of hours GP.

NHS Direct is available throughout the UK, and I think (I will double check just to be sure) it is the same number as the rest of the UK.

I never thought of that, but in reality because of the SU issue, I think I may need someone to take control. I dont know, but thanks for that as I didnt really think of that. I am slightly worried because I have only a mobile (no landline) and it's might be really expensive though.

I also got CALL (it's a Wales wide mental health helpline which you can talk about feeling suicidal) but I tried them before, and they are rubbish. So I dont think I will be bothering them.

[random.swirls]

Going to a & e is a really good idea if you aren't safe I haven't been so can't give you any personal experiences but the thing that is shining out at me from your post is the issues you are having with your CPN.

I really think that you need to talk to her about how your feeling, maybe edit this post into a letter so you have it to hand if you aren't able to physically speak to her.

It's great that you do have support in the community but absolutely crap that you are feeling so let down by that support. Whilst A&E is great in the short term in the long term you want continued support especially with the upcoming change to depot.

xox

[musicmad123]

Have you tried the samaritans, or any other helpline? I know Samaritans do drop-ins in person and email as well When I phoned NHS direct they were quite nice and helpful but basically told me to go to A&E. x

[not_so_insig]

Have you tried the samaritans, or any other helpline? I know Samaritans do drop-ins in person and email as well When I phoned NHS direct they were quite nice and helpful but basically told me to go to A&E. x

As I said before, I tried CALL, which is a Wales wide mh helpline. I found them unhelpful.

http://www.callhelpline.org.uk/Default.asp

I tried Samaritans email before also, and they took like ages (over 24 hours) to get back, and when I did get a response, it was as if they had not read it. Luckily at that point I didnt do anything drastic, but if I had, it would have been really bad. I dont expect an immediate response, but I do want an response within a reasonable time frame, so I found it a bit bad.

I got an response from my CPN. I have an appointment with her Wednesday, but I still dont feel safe. I havent hurt myself so far, but I still dont feel safe. I guess all I can do is try and battle through tommorow, but I know if I cant, there is still the A&E. Besides, I dont think calling an helpline will help - I need someone else to take responsible for me, and take the pressure off I feeling. I really cant see how an helpline can do that. I feel the home treatment team (what the CMHT call the crisis team) or me ending up in the psych unit is more appropriate.

[not_so_insig]

I didnt see my CPN in the end, but I did see my social worker. My CPN ended off being sick, so I missed my injection.

Things are still not great, I ended up SIing pretty badly. But my social worker does know about me not feeling so great and pretty much unsafe. She knows about the increased SU thoughts & the increased drinking. I have an appointment on Monday afternoon with her, and she said that she will meet me later on in the week too (probably Wednesday). She offer the home treatment (crisis) team, but she knows how much I hate them, so I refused.

So things are getting better because I am getting calmer, because I can offload to someone now. Rather than it all being kept inside, and me getting more anxious and more unsafe. I didnt go to a&e in the end, because of this. I feel better, but still not brilliant, but less unsafe. I have still the weekend to get through though.

[whirlpools]

I'm glad to hear you're feeling calmer, and that there's someone to talk to and take you seriously.
Very worried about the missed injection - does your SW know? There might be someone else on the team who can come round and give it to you.

[not_so_insig]

Very worried about the missed injection - does your SW know? There might be someone else on the team who can come round and give it to you.

Yes my Social worker knows about the missed injection. She did mention that she had a quick chat with my psych about it, and he said that it would have been preferable that I had it done this week, but it doesnt matter if it gets done next week (when hopefully my CPN is back in). It's only if it doesnt get done next week then he said it gets a bit more of a problem. I am still taking the quetiapine so at least I am not totally without an antipsychotic.

She also got me to meet a nurse who does injections during our meeting, but they (both my social worker and the nurse) said that they werent going to force me to have it done. I also explained that I am highly needlephobic, and also because of trust issues I wasnt happy with having it done, especially as I never met this person before. Which they were fine with.

I think on Monday I will ask (just in case my CPN is still ill) if there is anyone else who is around (I think there is another nurse who also does the injections, but I am not 100% sure) that can do injections. I wasnt 100% comfortable with the nurse I met this week, and I know I wouldnt be happy with her doing it. I would rather try and see if I can get along with someone else and then there be a possibility of her doing it. Otherwise it will be a case of me refusing again (because there is nobody I can trust), which could be problematic.

My social worker said she will come with me when I am having the injection done so at least there is someone I am familiar with in the room, rather than being left alone with some total stranger (I ended up crying as soon as the word injection was mentioned, I am that bad).