I know how this sounds - i am not crazy and i am not seeking attention. I have been struggling with my mental health since I was about 12, and recently it has gotten so bad that I have been struggling with suicidal thoughts. It got so bad a few weeks ago that my bf took me into the ER to get help, because i could no longer be trusted alone. We went in, i told the triage i was there because i wanted to end my life and was scared. They made us wait over 5 hours in the waiting room, during which my bf went over to them multiple times asking what was taking so long because I was threatening to just leave and go home cause the wait was ridiculous. We were respectful the whole time, but also frustrated because my life was literally on the line.
After about 5 hours, it's now around 11:30pm. They move us to the psych holding area. A nurse comes in to 'evaluate me' - she kicks my bf out of the room and then starts asking me questions. It is made really obvious really quick that she is not listening to me and is just doing it to check a box. She immediately accuses me of seeking meds and tells me they don't do that in emerge and she doesn't even know why i came in (i have not mentioned meds once. I just asked for help in staying safe), but that i guess i could see a doctor if i insist. We wait another several hours - it's about 3am now. Me and my boyfriend are pissed at this point, i am feeling even worse than before i came in, i'm barely awake and i'm upset about being dismissed so casually. The doctor comes in. He sits down and asks what i want. I tell him idk - you're the doctor. I'm coming to you for help. HE SENDS ME HOME. My boyfriend tells him 'listen she needs help, she cant be alone, you're being so dismissive and this is ridiculous - she should be admitted'. THEY DIAGNOSE ME WITH SITUATIONAL STRESS AND DISCHARGE ME. They never even let me chat with the psych or anything, just basically diagnosed me with hysteria and sent me home to fend for myself.
Am i just overreacting for being so pissed about this interaction? I get that it wasn't a traditional 'emergency' so it takes time, but I feel like patients in active crisis should at the very least be respected? I am so disgusted by the interaction that I am deterred from ever seeking help like that again, even though my condition has gotten even worse since then. Not to mention the disrespect and dismissal from the staff i interacted with, who didn't even give me a chance to explain myself.