Posted by antennastoheaven on June 16, 2013, at 1:14:52
In reply to Re: Is partial hospitalization right for me?, posted by baseball55 on June 6, 2013, at 22:03:09
> I also wonder if it's worth your while. I was in a day program and occasionally we met together with the dual diagnosis program. The people there were really drug and achohol addicts and were very different in their needs and problems from the rest of us. I think you should hold out for a regular program.
I just started a regular program (not being considered a dual diagnosis patient) and it turns out a lot of the patients are dual diagnosis. Maybe a majority of them. I think the program content is probably about 85% the same (for the group therapy component which is the main part) and the dual diagnosis patients are in separate groups for only a few hours a week. Of course the dual diagnosis patients are probably obligated to attend addiction support group meetings, and they are subject to "random" drug/alcohol tests too. Is "random" whenever the people running the program suspect something? A random day every week?
Had I known the two programs were so mixed together at this hospital, I might have checked with one other hospital to get the details on their program. I would have attended a (non-dual) program either way - but I'd have preferred to go to one with less dual diagnosis patients in it.
It's really hard to relate to the dual diagnosis patients' stories. People talking about going to NA/AA meetings? I can't connect with that. 12 step programs? Talking about a "higher power"? I feel like I'm in church. I'm already distant from society, and I feel that having to going to addiction support groups would make me feel worse and further push me away from people... So I'm glad I refused the dual diagnosis. I can at least relate to experiences of withdrawals, but the only withdrawal problems I've ever had are from substances readily provided by the hospital: psychiatric medications (used as described) and caffeine.
I am doubtful that the program will directly help with my primary complaints (not wanting to do anything and not enjoying anything). But those are effects of a bad mood, and having a better mood won't hurt. It's hard to call the program a waste of time when I'd probably be spending 12 hours a day in bed otherwise (and possibly losing my job), but will it be a waste of my insurance company's money? Maybe. I'm hoping for improved interpersonal skills. And maybe it will get me leaving my apartment to do things more often. I'm already feeling better about myself if only because compared to a lot of people in the program I'm doing well. Ultimately I think it will be the medications that get me going back to work again, though.
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One other complaint. I told them when I started that I occasionally drink, non-abusively. All patients are expected to abstain from drugs and alcohol, and subject to "random" drug/alcohol testing. They didn't tell me that until after I started, although I should have guessed that this would be the case. Would they drug test non-dual diagnosis program patients without a reason? I don't intend to stop drinking as this is a social activity. Every morning each person has to say whether they've used drugs or alcohol or not. Will I say "yes I drank last night" or lie about it?
poster:antennastoheaven
thread:1044771
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20130309/msgs/1045363.html