Referrals to psychiatric wards or treatment?

This article scared me - https://time.com/7206080/long-covid-psychiatric-wards/ - because tho' the anxiety this all causes is horrific, committing someone to psychiatric in-hospital treatment seems far too much, esp. the over-medication.

Monday night, 1/13, was a night that I could've been committed if my spouse had chosen to. I went into my bathroom and closed (but didn't lock) the door and just sat and read for hours. The tinnitus/musical tinnitus noise was overwhelming. Absolutely horrible. The new symptoms (the ones I feared most - brain fog, forgetfulness, blanking - I don't think blacking - out where I simple just "am" and don't know time has passed. I do not think I have a brain tumor - I think this is all long COVID.

One of the many new docs I've seen said he thought I just wanted to be "listened to" - which seems still condescending from a young person to someone older! - and YES, I do and I want to be HEARD and for someone to understand what we all are going through. In the US, I esp fear the new Administration and those who may be confirmed for the Cabinet positions. They are deniers even of COVID let along 'long' and seem to hold science in disdain. What if all w/ long COVID who could on a specific day marched (or rolled) onto their statehouse lawns and we protest that we ARE sick? That no one is helping us?

I'm soon to be 78. Most people in my profession retired long ago. I don't want to and I am afraid this will force me to do so. This is no way to live but you all know that.

JE