Board certified shrink here.
Most people are not that hard to treat safely and effectively if you know what you’re doing. She could most likely be stabilized within a few weeks outpatient, a few months max.
She’s not in my area, not even in my state, but I’d be happy to see her if she were. Send me mail if she may be headed my way (Puget Sound area), and if she wants to strictly follow my recommendations: I’m willing to work with patients in a reasonably flexible manner, but I’m not interested anymore in going through the charade of trying to treat patients who want to do it “their way.” I’m not sure whether your friend is willing to do that after the loose follow-up she’s now used to - not sure of her part in the loosey-goosey care she’s currently getting, but I’ve found such care is all too often the result of an overt or tacit agreement between patient and doctor, unfortunately. I’m strict, but I know what I’m about, and I get results.
Hope she gets better care.
I’ve found such care is all too often the result of an overt or tacit agreement between patient and doctor,
This is what I've always thought. She scared me today, though. And her openness with giving me her doctor's name and showing me her prescriptions and her "right on" when I told her I was going to call him up and give him hell, gave me pause.
I guess I'll just take it a step at a time and see what happens. You all have calmed me down considerably and for that, I thank you.