Testing Depression:
A journey through severe depression, hospitalization, and medication.

If this is your first time here, you might want to read in reverse order, from the beginning. "Testing Depression" is my true story about being hospitalized for depression.

A quick summary up to this point:

I arrived at the hospital in a police car. I was examined by the entry nurse, and then by a doctor on the unit. I met two nurses, Meg and Dorothy, and two other patients, Charlie and Louisa. I was on fifteen-minute checks. I struggled to remember the causes of my depression. My only medication at this point was Ortho-Tricyclen (birth control pills).

After dinner, we had a short break before group therapy. Charlie went to the main patient lounge, and Louisa followed him without being asked. I retreated to my room to close my eyes and relax.

Realizing theat I had no idea how long my stay at the hospital would last, I went out to see if I could call someone to bring me clothes from home.

I went up to the nurses’ office and asked if I could use the phone. The man at the front desk said that I could use the patient phone in the hallway anytime, but that I would have to call collect or use a calling card.

He then introduced himself as Jack and said that he was one of the nurses who worked mostly during the evening shifts. He reached out to shake hands.