I landed back in the hospital
Posted: January 23, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: antipsychotics, anxiety, depression, emotions, genderqueer, hospital, lgbtq, media, medical treatment, medication, mental health, queer 30 CommentsThis week has thrown me for a loop, big time. Between Saturday AM and Wednesday AM, I was in the hospital for mental health reasons, on a psychiatric unit. I don’t believe I ever thought I’d be back there; in fact, it was my biggest fear. Scarier than heights, the tallest roller-coasters, the dark, spiders, sharks, germs, etc. etc. (I’m actually not afraid of any of those things.)
Just to summarize my history briefly, when I was a senior in high school, I suffered a psychotic break and subsequent major depressive episode (lasting 4 months, and then on and off throughout college). I was on a mixture of different drugs for about 6 years, and I weened myself off all of them after a certain point. I’d been med-free for roughly 10 years, and pretty proud of that fact.
I’ve written about mental health before…
Here: Depression and taking testosterone
Here: That specific trauma is still there
And here: Continuing to work through a specific trauma
…and also scattered throughout many blog entries.
Although this blog is mainly about taking a low dose of T and working as a janitor, it is undeniably also about mental health and self-care. I slipped up pretty big in the self-care department, slowly and gradually at first, and then fast and unstoppably. I went through a full blown manic episode / psychotic break. A lot of it was so fun it’s kinda indescribable. In fact, I can definitely tell I still haven’t come down completely yet – I’m registering a heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations, both pleasant and annoying, I feel keyed up / antsy, I need to be in control of the stimulation levels or else I feel overwhelmed within seconds, smells and tastes are waaaaay off (not constantly, but sporadically), colors and patterns are popping out, my thinking is still relatively disorganized…
But I’m sleeping well and eating well and engaging in a lot of different things and spending 24/7 with my partner for a few days, and that’s what’s important right now. I was prescribed ziprasidone, which is an atypical antipsychotic approved by the FDA in 2001. Am I happy about it? No. Do I think I’ll be on it indefinitely? A strong NO! But I can accept it for right now.
I’m sure I’ll return to some of what I went through, in an attempt to process things and just share where I’m at (it does feel like it’ll be an arduous rehabilitation process, and I’ll be out of work for roughly 2 weeks). For now though, I want to just write about a strange parallel. It might not mean anything if you haven’t seen Breaking Bad, but I’ll give it a whirl anyway (and there are no real spoilers in what is to follow):
Leading up to what I went through, my partner and I were watching a lot of Breaking Bad. Not really binge watching it, but watching an episode almost every night. Now we are not. Haha. We only have 4 or 5 episodes left, but we’re putting the show on pause. I suggested we start watching Malcolm in the Middle instead, largely because Bryan Cranston plays the dad in both shows (and I used to watch it as a teenager and thought it would be fun. It is fun). But – we just watched the 5th episode, and the family is getting their house tented and fumigated. They are in a camper trailer on their front lawn in the meantime. And the parents, at the tail end of the episode, put on gas masks in order to enter the house and get some alone time. I was flipping out. (I mean, my partner was too, but I was shouting and swearing and pacing and called it a night, basically). Haha. I’ll probably be in bed by 9pm.
janitorqueer 
I’m sure you have your own support network, but I’ve been there before. If there’s anything I can do, feel free to let me know. I was wondering where you’d been. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
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Thank you! I do have a really good support network – partner, therapist, parents, a couple close friends, neighbors who brought soup and cookies over even! Thank you for reaching out.
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Best of wishes for you. And sometimes it’s just best to call it a day and go to bed.
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Take care, hope it helps to know you have support far and wide. Peace.
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thank you!
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I had noticed your blog had gone a little quiet. I’m glad to hear you’re back and recovering.
Hang in there!
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thank you!
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Thank you for writing so openly about your mental health issues (and your previous posts about when you were hospitalized). I feel pressure to show I have it all together, and it is helpful to know how many other people struggle with control/impulse issues (and in my case paralyzing anxiety).
Glad you are home with your partner – and getting appropriate help that hopefully will really help and respect you for who you are.
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Thanks! While in the hopsital, they were nothing but respectful of my trans-status, and they were even moderately good at pronouns (meaning some people were excellent with it, others had not gotten the memo, or were poor with it). It helped a ton that this was the case, for me. Maybe hospital staff are starting to get some trainings or get educated one way or another. Pretty great!
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I too appreciate your candor. I am glad you were able to get the help you need and that you are able to recoup at home now with your partner. I have avoided hospitalization not because I didn’t need it at a point in my life but simply because the lifestyle I was living – it wasn’t part of the reality. And like Jamie Ray I too have pretty debilitating anxiety that I continually try to manage. You are not alone!
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Thanks! Have you ever considered writing about your past lifestyle in your blog? Was it something like communal living, or am I way off?
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*hug* Hope that you can be kind to yourself these next few days.
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Take it easy …
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I’m adding my online support and wishes too your other followers. My partner having major depression and GAD, I have an idea of where you are and have been on a mental plane. Best wishes to you and your partner, JQ. Take care.
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Sending good vibes.
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Love the parallels, hope you are ok
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One more parallel for you: both dad characters are in just their underwear in both shows, often!
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Best of wishes, and lots of thoughts and prayers go to you ..
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So sorry to hear about this & glad you are now recovering at home with your partner. I hppe you have all that you need. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
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Thanks – I do feel I have all I need, other than hovering anxiety about returning to work, but I’m gearing up slowly to face that…
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Thank you for sharing, hope you get better soon!
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Hey – thanks for talking about this. Be kind to yourself and you have all my good wishes x
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(((hugs))) I’m glad you’re back.
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Thanks for sharing this with us. I’m glad to hear you’re doing better. Take good care of yourself.
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Take care x
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Hey I’m sorry you ended up in the hospital, but glad you’re back home & recovering. Sending glitter & warmth your way! ❤
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Thanks! And I’ll send you an email reply sometime soon!
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Awesome! 🙂
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Adding to the well wishes. I had a close family member go through something similar. Though at the time it was very scary, we all came out of the experience for the better. Thanks for sharing. Know that you have our support, and give your partner some hugs from us too.
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Thanks for the support! Hospitalization was much easier the 2nd time around. 😉 I’ll probably send you an email sometime soon – it’s been a while!
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