Thanks Leslie. I appreciate your thoughts and questions. Not sure if there will ever be a magic pill. It would be a dream come true. Probably not in my lifetime. I've been a recluse since Wednesday when my husband left for NE.. where do you live in NE? I was born and raised there and now live in Florida. I love my bed more than I should. It's been my best friend for a very long time. I do have a question for any of you. If you know or think you need to be in a hospital setting would you go even if you know the outcome. The few times I've been in it was basically to keep you safe for 3 days and then say good luck. Door shut. Have any of you experienced this? Leslie I hope you are up and about. Keep up the great work! Jim, hope you are doing better as well.
Thank you for your thoughts. Let's fight this demon together.
Lynn
Oh Lynn, I think I've been on almost every medication and combinations of meds the docs can think of. I refuse ECT.

Where I live they do not even try and keep you the 3 days. There is an extreme shortage of mental health providers and mental health beds. As a result there is little in the way of good mental health hospital care here in Minnesota. Mayo is the only one and of course their small number of beds cannot handle all of the state. I refuse to go back as I see it as a waste of time and money. I just tell myself I have made it through a long life of this so I can make it through the rest. I too have been through all kinds of depression meds and they do work to some extent, but not fully. I still have days I do not want to get out of bed. I believe that life is precious so I try to stay away from thoughts of ending it. I try to think of how I have problems all my life, but so do others and we make it through. I firmly believe that some life is better than no life. We all effect others for good sometime in our life so we would have been missed had we not been here. This is not to denigrate feelings people have of hopelessness, but just to say that it is possible to make it through.

Thanks for your input. It was greatly appreciated! I too wish they would do mor for mental illness. Will it happen in our lifetime?

@lesbatts Hi Leslie: I applaud your tenacity when you said, "spent most of the day in bed yesterday. I will not let myself do that today." Breaking the habit of inactivity is a good first step for overcoming depression. Depression is one of those illnesses that does not respond well to "bed-rest." A short nap can be good, especially when dealing with the fatigue that comes from meds, but activity will help lift the depression. Thanks for your insight, input and example! Teresa

@johnhans I like what you said, "We all effect others for good sometime in our life so we would have been missed had we not been here." This is so true! You are to be commended for seeing your value in our world (and especially at Mayo Connect). Depression sometimes blinds us to our value and keeps us from seeing our true self, but you have managed to avoid that pit-fall. I'm so glad that you chose to post. I wish you well as you affect others for good today. Perhaps we all can make this our goal - to make one positive contribution to life today! Teresa

I''m lucky I have some of the top hospitals in the country in my area. I went to Silver Hill in Connecticut. I was there a week but if I told them I was suicidal they would keep me, I believe for two weeks. I know you can stay there as long as you want but my insurance will only pay for two weeks. After that you pay by the month which is approximately $200,000.
I made some friends while I was there and some of them were staying for a month or two. New Canaan is an area where many people are very wealthy and can afford to pay. I would love to be able to go for two months, I could do one but I don't think my husband would be very happy.
Another thing about going to the hospital is that you always end up with a roommate. I hate sharing a room with a stranger. I've been in the hospital three times, this last time (about five years ago) in Belmont Ma. and my roommate was pretty scary, I didn't feel safe therefore if I have to go back in I'll go to Silver Hill. Most of these programs offer day programs that are pretty helpful. My insurance will pay for that as long as I need to go. Enough babbling I just hope that eveyrone is doing the best that they can out there today.
Take care all,
Leslie

@lesbatts Thank you for bringing up the topic of day programs. I hope the rest of our group is aware of these programs and can take advantage of them. Teresa

I'm sorry I meant to put down the cost for a month as being $20,000 not $200,00 DUH!

Thank you Teresa for your kind words. You accomplished that goal for yourself today and all other days you work here on Connect. Thank you for your volunteering here.

@johnhans It is a privilege to be part of Mayo Connect and I'm sure that you feel that way as well! Teresa