Hello,

What have I got out of a Psych Hospital as a Voulentary Patient?

I have been hospitalized numerous times over the years. For me I am not exactly sure what I really got other than safety and life in some sorts of sense.

I do know having been in different types of Psych Hospitals or 'Behavioral Health Centers' that they all differ in there ways of treating the patients.

I have learned that the Community Non Profit type of Psch Hospital where I live is more or less a holding station for those who are strictly and evaluted and determined to be a direct danger to themselves or others and most admissions are on an emergency type basis.

Thus having one basic goal in keeping and medicating the patient or adjusting the paitents medications as quick as possible with the main goal that they be able to go back into society without being a direct threat to themselves or others.

The community Psych Hospital where I live lets you sign yourself in 'Voulantary' only when you or if you try to 'Sign yourself out' there is a clause...the Psychiatrist has up to 5 days to make a decision if you are stable to be released back into society.

If during the 5 day period while the patient is being detained, then if the Psychiatrist feels you are NOT ready to be discharged...The patiented is transported to the Court in which a hearing is held in front of a Judge as to why the Psychiatrist is requesting a Temp. Commitment (which is 90 days in which they are responsible for you) and the Judge makes his or her decision and most generally always sides with the Psychiatrist...thus gone from a Voulentary Patient to a Commited Patient.

Once commited they can simply call the Police and have you 'Picked Up' and put into the hospital without any consent from the Commited individual. They can also place the Commited person in a half way house or Group Home as long as they see fit.

Once it is time for the Temp Commitment to expire you have to go in front of the courts again and then the Mental Health People give their recomendation as to if the person needs no longer to be Commited to there care or If they feel a Regular One year Commitment is in order.

I just know in my experience I just agree with what they want and take my medications and pray to stay out of the hospital and not be commited.

Hospitalization has benifited me when I was experiencing full blown Psychosis and was unalble to care or make rational decisions regarding my own personal well being or my had no idea where I was or what I was doing or what was going on.

Peace