Psychiatric Assessment

My husband suffers with anxiety and occasional self-harm & hypochondria. His GP, at the request of my husband, contacted mental health to see if they could offer a therapist for him. They called 2 weeks later and arranged a date for them to call back and have a phone interview to establish what type of therapist he would be best to see. They called today and were on the phone for about 45 minutes, asking various questions about how he feels and past history etc. They have given him a date to attend a psychiatric assessment, which has scared him. He thinks this means they think he is crazy and needs to be put on a psych ward and/or will force him to take medication. I don't believe this is the case. I think its much like the phone interview but with his input on whether meds would help and anything else that could help. Please can someone confirm or correct my belief? Thanks

[MrGreen]

They just want to find out his full story face to face and from there they will able / should be able to say what they think is wrong with him. Nothing more. Tell him not to worry. We have all been there. That first trip can be the worst nightmare because you wonder what they are going to do with you. Fact is they are not going to do anything with you. Except say what they think is your condition and what medication they think might help you out. And maybe a bit of theraphy. He'll be coming back home with you. Tell him not to fear they will want to place him anywhere. That won't happen. Routine checkup is all it is. Hope this helps in some small way.

[MrGreen]

For the record. They can't force him to take anything. They can't force him to go near a psych hospital. He has to want to do such things. No twisting of arms go on. I have been in one. But I had to fill in forms saying I wanted the treatment. I discharged myself as well. They can't make anybody do anything against their will.

[Hegarty]

Thanks Mr. Green. You have confirmed what I thought and put my mind at rest.

[greenlydia]

Our MrGreen is absolutely correct and I hope his words will help your husband truly believe that nobody can force him to DO or TAKE anything against his will. EVER! The "in person" assessment is just going to be a far more in depth interview than the phone conversation was. Nobody is going to jump out of the closet with a straight jacket! As MrGreen said, you will BOTH be sitting in front of the telly that night!
I believe these people at the assessment will give your husband a great deal of encouragement and support but far more importantly.........HOPE. These issues he is struggling with and which are making him so unhappy, are fixable.
I hope you will keep us updated on your husbands progress. And be sure to take care of yourself along this journey.
Peace
Greenlydia  

[Hegarty]

Thanks Greenlydia. Just one more query, would they request my husband to bring me, his wife, along to the assessment? I certainly will keep you updated on his progress.

[Marin600]

Sounds like your husband will need your presence before and after.  As for during the session, if you're invited into it, or if your husband requests your presence, fine, but after a while you need to insist that you leave the meeting so that your husband can discuss anything that might be difficult for him to discuss in your presence.  Incidentally, except for a few people who just want to appear unique to others, I've never encountered a hypchondriac.  I do know people who've been labeled hypochondriac because the reason for their problems hasn't been found, but they still have their problems, so they wouldn't fit the definition of hypochondriac, in my opinion.  Perhaps your husband is one of these individuals.  Just a thought to consider.  Best of luck to you and your husband.  

[MrGreen]

You can be there if your husband wishes. But most of the time they like to talk to the patient alone for a period of time. Just in case he might not want you to hear certain things. So you may be asked to wait outside for a while. Then they would bring you in. Just to comfort your husband even. Be there for support. On many occasions I asked for my mother to sit in with me. On other occasions they asked to talk to me alone. So ask when you go along. I would say it would be 50 - 50. Half without you. Half with you in the room.

[kristine9190]

I think you and your Husband are taking the first step in the road to recovery! Help him realize that they are here to help him, and if he sticks with it, he will more than likely see comforting results.

I think when this all started for me, that was my fear too, "Do I need to be in a hospital somewhere"....."Am I crazy"......I felt like I was going to lose it, and it was really scary! I think most of us on here know what your husband is going through, and find comfort in knowing that there are so many helpful resources out there for us to utilize. As resistant as I was to begin taking meds to help me, I realized that I need to now, not forever, but I needed to get through this "hurdle" in my life, and work really hard to get back to the old me. And if that means taking meds, than I am OK with that, as long as I set reasonable goals to get better, and be off of them.

Best of Luck to you Both!
Keep us posted!
Kristine

[mrscharming]

Hi,
As someone who has been through this many tiimes, I can assure you they are only concerned for your husbands welfare. They only want to do an assesment to determine iif he is a danger to himself or anyone else. Once they have established that ge he is not, they will tell him what options are vailable to him, and it will be his decisuion to decide if he wants to accept any of them.  For me, a mild medication for anxiety and therapy from an understanding therapist who was familar with self harm, and its real meaning was the best answer for me. I was the one who chose those treatments however, and only after speaking to a second therapist to see if their opinion was the sane. When it was, I returned to the origuinal assesment team nearer to my home and they helped me find a therapist who specialized in self harm, and was the first person ever to not blame me or make me feel ashaned or guilty, which was a huge step towards healing that woumd The only time they will place you in the hospital for your own safety is if you tell them you have a plan to commit suicide. Every public employee has this obligation, Morally, every human being has this obligation. But anytime someone comes in on their own asking for resources, they take that as a positive sign that that person want s to get well and is seeking help to do so. So it is really no different then going to the doctor when you have the flu and seeing what can be done. You ate not forced to take the advice ior medicine that is offered to you, but it is there. The important thing is to get yioutr husband some help. Take Good care and let us know howw he is doing.

[Hegarty]

Thanks all for you advice and help. Fingers crossed he gets on well and finds something, which will help him. I will keep you updated. Cheers!