HI Razorback 713! Welcome to pc!

Elaborate? Well it is a controlled environment, you have crafts, and T.V. time, and, of course; medication time and Therapy time.Dependent on your good behavior, you may be allowed to go outside on the grounds in some facilities.

Staff-Nurses, Social Workers , Head Psychiatrist meet once a week most places and they talk about each individual case. You know: Who conformed to the rules (was good) and who had to be put in the "Quiet Room" (screaming and yelling, being naughty and not taking their meds).

You are not to disturb the "Milieu" or you are re-evaluated, based on how much coverage you have; and whether or not you signed yourself in, or someone else did (based on if you were a threat to the safety of others, or to yourself--they can admit you involuntarily)---you must conform to the daily rituals.

It's not at all unlike "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"--you have no rights, you are to conform. All autonomy is taken from you. Many need this type of therapy--it helps them; as they are overwhelmed and cannot make their own decisions at one time or other in their lives.

If you smoke, some facilities will take you for a smoke break at certain times.

Your life is organized, and planned for you on a daily basis.

I am a non-conformist myself, so this sort of institutionalization would enrage me, just as it did the main character in the book I mentioned. OOOOO, they'd definitely have to perform a labotomy on me!!!

Many scream, cry, some will threaten you---it can be quite frightening if you are in there for depression, or are just incapable of functioning in the world.

The ritualized way of living is very helpful to some.
But the more violent patients can be very frightening; as Jessy May, and splitimage have stated.
They are not separated.

Wow! Byzantine!!!--them were the days of the actual asylums----Like the movie "The Snake Pit", and the asylums Francis Farmer describes in her book "Will There Really Be a Morning?"-----------creepy that they treated the Mentally Ill that way;
Cruel!!!------------------------------what I know of MHU's----theo