Psychiatric hospitals

[ljwwriter]

Have you ever been in one? If so, how was the experience?

 

[Klaus]

I've never been to one but there is one at my neighbourhood.
When they are getting sun, at lunch time, I can see they shake a lot and have difficulties walking. And they clearly have real bad issues.

They are not just social phobic or depressed.

 

[StonedBob]

Why would you like to go in one of these?

 

[miss_amy]

Yes and it was horrendous experience. It was some years ago and it as for drug misuse (crack and heroin). I was off those before I went in but I was suffering from not coping with some sort of prop and bad anorexia rather than my current issues.

I was bullied and pushed around by staff. I was abused by other patients and no one gave a stuff about the background reasons for me being like I was. Basically it was get your target weight then bye bye with no aftercare. I was in there for 8 months and Id rather die than ever get put back in one of those places. It did me no good what so ever.

 

[no1]

yea I was there. First time I called the cops on myself, I was feeling suicidal, and I kinda actually WANTED to get locked up because I genuinely believed I had become insane and a sociopath, and was good for nothing.

stayed there for a week because I was baker acted and it suckd. No help whatsoever.

second time I went there for outpatient services, I wanted to see a psychologist. They said I couldn't see one unless a psychiatrist first recommended me to one. I said ok fine.. I saw the psychiatrist and SHE decided to baker act me without my knowledge and I had to stay there for 1 night, and threaten to press charges if they didn't release me because I had a right, and they were trying to convince me that I had no rights.

It's not a good place to stay even if you do need treatment. the place is filthy, the beds suck. you gotta sleep with crazy people in fear that they can fuck with you. you do nothing all day but pace and pace and pace around. people go in there normal and leave "crazy". I've seen pretty normal people in there that shouldn't have been there.

 

[ljwwriter]

Why would you like to go in one of these?

I wouldn't. But I've been in one against my will before. It's amazing how easily you can end up in there when certain doctors misjudge you as extremely depressed/suicidal. I am very wary of talking to some doctors because I know if I say the wrong thing they could take it and run and have me escorted to a hospital for a few day's stay. I never would have believed how easy it can happen until it happened to me. The memoir "Girl, Interrupted" by Susanna Kaysen has some eerie similarities to my own experience in one of these places, which, I might add, could easily do more harm than good to anyone unfortunate enough to get stuck there.

First they try to make it seem like everything is fine, that they understand you're just severely social phobic and a bit depressed, but if they make up their mind that yourself someone a danger to yourself or even just too dysfunctional in your life, (agoraphobic), perhaps the next thing you'll know is that a band with your name is being wrapped around your arm and they're taking your shoelaces, belt, and dignity.

Anyway, the reason I brought this all up is because tomorrow I'm going to a crisis center to see if I can get a referral to speak to a therapist and get medication and that sort of stuff. But I'm dreading it because the crisis center is located right next to the hospital I was put in, and my father is insisting that he comes with me so he can "tell them everything" that's been going on with me. I'm not usually so defensive, but in this case I can't help it.

 

[ljwwriter]

yesterday i tried looking up some psychiatric hospitals. im starting to worry that i wont be able to see a therapist with my type of medical insurance. I looked online and people kinda in my area with the same medical insurance are having a hard time finding therapists who will accept their insurance... which I think is bullshit.

So I kinda figured that it would be easier to get help if I went to a psychiatric hospital. And I also thought it would be good to get away from this environment and get away from the internets so I can focus on getting better. And I also figured that I wouldn't like it there and would wanna come home like less than 1 week after I went there... so it would kinda help me appreciate living with my mom and her husband more.

But theres not many hospitals in my area and ive pretty much given up on that crazy idea. It would be better to find like a rehab place for anxiety and depression instead of going into a place with all kinda of mental illnesses. But I know I wont find anything like that either.

I just have to try to find a therapist, which i really dont think i'll beable to.

It's very good that you're trying to get help and get better, but for the love of God do not try to do it through the aid of a psychiatric hospital. If they decide you need to stay overnight you really could find yourself much worse off than ever before. Being surrounded by people who've tried to set themselves on fire and boys who like to throw their feces at their roommates can't be healthy for anyone.

 

[StonedBob]

But I've been in one against my will before.

Wow, it's pretty scary to see that this kind of institution can keep you against your will. Is this psychiatric hospital private or public? Is it possible to lay charges against this hospital?
Anyway, maybe it can be a good idea that your father comes with you. I think he should not be with you when you will be speaking with the therapist because what you will tell him is private. But he should stay nearby in case they try to keep you in the hospital again.

I'm not sure my idea is the right one.

Shit, I'm really shocked by what happened to you!

 

[miss_amy]

Forgot to say I was there against my will too.. for 8 months. Only takes doc to sign a form and you are screwed.

 

[Walk]

Being surrounded by people who've tried to set themselves on fire and boys who like to throw their feces at their roommates can't be healthy for anyone.

Whoa. I thought I had problems.

 

[kyle]

That's the problem with North American perceptions on mental illness. It's horrible. Thankfully I live in Canada where there are many aboriginal healers I can turn too, and if that did not work I could always go to get spiritual guidance, or talk to someone into eastern medicine/healing.

 

[Noca]

Ive been to them 4 times so far. 2 times in the depression treatment facility helped but the 2 times i was in lockdown sucked.

 

[kyle]

What did you do to get locked down?

 

[Remus]

Noca I noticed you are on Stemetil in your siggy, they gave me that for my balance disorder, do you have it prescribed for the same thing?

 

[GetMeOutOfHere]

Yeah, I've been in a public one and a private one. The public was awful, I got thrown in there after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, they made threats because they wanted to drug me up. I HATE ANTI DEPRESSANTS. Didn't matter if you were depressed or psychotic, everyone got thrown in the same looney bin. The private one was different, it was sectioned off depending on what your issues were. I was in the depressed ward I think. Or maybe suicide watch, I dunno. All I know is that everyone in my ward was getting ECT except for me because I refused. So all the other patients would walk around like zombies after getting zapped with electric shocks to the brain. It was a real eye opening experience actually. It showed me how backwards doctors are. Not that anyone would take my word for it as a psych patient.