Where to Get Help ❧ 273Primary Care Physicians
The explosive person’s primary care physician should be your guide in
emergency situations. He or she knows the medical history and many of
the available resources. Always call the family doctor first.
That said, I must point out that there is a good deal of variability
among primary care physicians as to their experience with mental disorders.
As you might expect, physicians lean heavily toward medical treatment.
In an emergency, that’s probably what you want. Longer term management
should involve the psychological aspects of explosive disorders as well.
Crisis Hotlines
The crisis hotline number listed at the front of the phone book is a good
resource if someone is considering suicide. Hotline volunteers will listen, and
they often have some knowledge of treatment resources. Hotlines can be life-
savers in the short run, but they are in no way, shape, or form a substitute for
therapy. They require little from the explosive person except the desire to talk.
Mental Health Centers
Public-funded mental health centers are usually listed in the phone book
as well. You may get an emergency appointment, but don’t count on it.
Often, funds are restricted to the chronically mentally ill, and centers
cannot provide service except under certain clearly defined conditions.
There is enormous variability across states and cities, so in an emergency,
a mental health center might be worth a call.
If mental health centers will give an appointment, they usually have
facilities for longer term care as well, especially if the person can’t afford
private treatment. Unfortunately, there may be long waits, considerable
crowding, and many opportunities to fall between the cracks. If a person
in your life is being seen at a mental health center, you’ll need to make
sure that patient and the center are maintaining regular contact.
Employee Assistance Programs
EAP programs provided by businesses are often an excellent source for
quick advice and referral. Usually, there is a 24-hour hotline number to
call. You may reach a person who is far away, but he or she will have a list
of resources in your community and will know something about when and
how to use them.