My first attempt at trying to help myself.

This is my experience that I went through a few weeks ago.  This was the first time I ever tried to do anything like this for myself.

July 25, 2014

Carla I believe her name was answered the door when I arrived. I have already spoke to her on the phone to tell her I was on my way. She gave me paperwork and put me in the locked room. She was with another client and didn't give me any instructions on what to do after I was done filling out the paperwork. I wouldn't see her again or anyone for that matter for at least an hour. When she was done with the client ahead of me she asked if anyone took my paperwork. I responded with no, we have been in here waiting. My husband came with me. She instructed me I was to ring the bell when I was done and I told her no one told me anything. I also said, “You gave me no instructions”. She took my paperwork and by this time I was very even more agitated and frustrated then I was after I walked in. Security took our belongings and we were left to sit in this nasty locked room. It was extremely dirty, smelled and looked like a jail. I continued waiting for another half hour. I was starting to freak out a little so I got up to ring the bell. An employee who was at her desk looked at me twice and ignored me. I rang it again. A nurse then came from around a corner and asked me very nasty what I needed. I didn't catch her name. I expressed to her that no one at all has asked me while I was there or anything and that I was ready to go back home now and deal with this the best way I could on my own. I asked her If I could have my belongings and she said no I can not. She then asked if I was suicidal and I said no, not at all. She said well you still need to wait and closed the door on me. Before she closed the door in my face, she told me that it is shift change. So I knew what that meant, more waiting. Now I was really panicking. I couldn't take it anymore. My husband started to yell because he was upset that no one would help me. An employee named Mary came barging through the door with security and said I have worked here for 10 years, who is yelling? My husband told her that he was and tried to explain our situation again to yet someone else who wouldn't help. She threatened to call the police on us because we were screaming. I told her to go ahead, at least then, maybe someone will help me. The security guy popped his head back in and said it will be a few more minutes. He was the only one who had the decency to check in on us and keep us updated. We had no way of telling time or anything. 20 minutes after that around 11:00 or so I am guessing Margen came in and sat down with me and finally asked what was going on. I told her my story again and about what I was experiencing while she was on her way into work for the night. She completely understood and asked me if I even wanted an assessment at this point. I told her no, I do not, I just want to go home. She said you are basically just done right? I said yes I am. It wouldn't have been so bad if I was taken at least after Carla was done with her first client. But I had to wait another hour because it was shift change and I guess no one wanted to take on another patient. They weren't busy except for whoever they were dealing with on the Detox side. I was neglected and felt very mistreated. I would like to file a formal complaint against Mary and Carla. Margen and the security guard were the only ones who took the time to help us. I have also reported all of this to Dr. Beth Hearn. She documented what I have said also. I do hope that this doesn't happen to someone else in the future. The way things are running there are not good for anyone else in a similar situation to mine. I did not have any experience with this before. This was a first for me. I will not ever be going back to that place because it was a nightmare for me. If I have issues in the future I will be attending my local ER.