This is not Sam, but me, that is, Leigh, or Chad, or whatthehellever.
I've been browsing this thread for an hour or so. Certainly not what I expected to happen, if you'll forgive a little morbid understatement.
I may not have a chance to respond to some or any of the personal messages sent to me today, but I will, even if that is not until I am fully discharged from the hospital.
I cannot express, yet, or perhaps at all, what I am feeling for all of you and what has been done on my behalf, said to my family, and to me, both here and in private.
I am still technically hospitalised, and in the psych unit I am on, they do not permit electronics; some nurses say there are concerns about cords - but there are several heavy-duty cords around, so I am more inclined to believe the ones who say it is because of privacy concerns: so many things with cameras nowadays, and it can be a particularly sensitive ward to be in, of course.
However, today I am given a day-pass, so as long as I return by a certain time, I am out of the hospital for a little while, and at my apartment, and I can post here.
I don't really know what to say.
The evening of, and day after are quite fuzzy to me. I posted here, placed my written suicide note at the side of my bed, and overdosed. I went to 'sleep' afterward as normal, bothering even to brush my teeth.
From there it's a fog. My best friend's face, screaming about my hat, crying. I had some quite interesting things to say, evidently. Even funny, at times, the dark situation, and yet some of the things I desperately 'needed' to say: "The codes! The codes!" whatever that meant; I also gave my friend permission to pat my head, every day, for the rest of my life.
Currently, I am an inpatient at the University of Alberta Hospital, in their psych unit. I counsel with a psychiatrist every day, as well as check in with nurses (twice a day) about my mood and general state in-the-moment. Though my psychiatrist agrees the auditory hallucinations I experienced are not typical of depression (it is a 'psychotic' symptom), I haven't experienced any since reporting them here, and since my admission to the hospital about a week and a half ago. Unless I experience them again, fatigue and stress are considered the root cause. As a result, I am being treated for depression, specifically Major Depressive Disorder.
Pharmacologically, I am on the same antidepressant, but a changed sleeping medication - it doesn't seem to be working, but also it is just really hard to rest on an uncomfortable hospital bed with a noisy roommate, so we will see how things progress.
I have also begun to receive ECT - electroconvulsive therapy- which is something of a gold-standard in depression treatment. I've undergone two of ten-to-twelve treatments. It's quite an experience; very fascinating, and I'll post about it later.
Mood and behaviour wise I am feeling better -something observed well enough by my doctors for them to trust me to leave the hospital for the day.
I am reading a lot, and that has been good for me. I love to read, but in the last few months, that joy has somehow eluded me, or I have avoided it. It is good to rediscover.
I am bored a lot, and have starting keeping a log of how much money I can make playing solitaire. I'm up $220 as of last night, but was up $450 yesterday morning, so, you know.
I could be in the hospital for as little as two more days before being discharged (but continuing treatment and therapy as an outpatient) or as long as the end of the month, but my main psychiatrist thinks that the latter is unlikely.
I am going to spend some time with a friend and my parents for the rest of the day, but I will be back, whether it's Monday or later.
I will post more some time, both about this incident and my treatment, as well as some of my thoughts on myself and my, uhm, climactic behaviour, for anyone interested. I have much I want to say, as well as much to say that I feel is almost owed to you all.
As earlier noted, I am reeling with certain feelings I cannot quite express for this place and you all. Positive feelings, I promise.