[SunnyD]

I have not gone to the hospital but I was wondering how to know when it is time?
What happens when you go in?

I know it is time when I am no longer safe on my own, when I am suicidal, not thinking rationally at all. The hospital puts me in a place where I can feel safe from myself while my pdoc works on adjusting meds. It is a place where I don't have to make any decisions; they're all made for me, and that is a good thing at that point.

[Merlin]

I called the crisis team and they decided. But I couldn't promise not to kill myself at the time.

[Anneinside]

I went in when I had a plan, had the means and I wanted to suicide. Usually it is after weeks of fighting the urges. The hospital is not fun but once I enter it I already feel better as I don't have fight the urges because I have no way to carry it out.

[CesarioRose]

I just did a week in a psych ward. I went in when i knew i couldn't trust my self not to harm my self, nor promise either my self, T, or pdoc. when i know i'm having a suicidal depression.

i've never had any psychotic breaks from reality, so i cant speak on that end of the spectrum. But... i know when to; when i cant guarentee my safety.

this is what happened for me. i talked to T, i talked w/ pdoc. pdoc called the hospital, and told them to expect me. i spend 2-3 hours in the emergancy room going over my plans. then a specialized nurse from the psychward interviewed me. cleared insurance, and i was in. they give you a bed, they feed you. you go to group like the other patients, or not. they give you meds, and discuss the issue with you.

with voluntary admissions... you're technically able to leave whenever you want. but they will discharge you when they think you're stable.

[sugahorse1]

I'm also battling to understand when the time is right. Think there have been a few occasions I should have gone, but then didn't. And I felt terrible.
But luckily I'm still around to tell the story
When I was first diagnosed my pdoc wanted me in the hospital - in hindsight, I'm not sure why.
The next time was after a sui attempt, to make sure I was physically stable - but they didn't seem to worry too much about my mental stability. My pdoc did change my meds a bit

[lovelystars]

Originally Posted by SunnyD

I have not gone to the hospital but I was wondering how to know when it is time?
What happens when you go in?

Hi SunnyD,
I found that looking back other people were trying to help me by encouraging me to talk to someone. When I had passed the point where I could have/should have set up a psych. appointment my husband and mother brought me to the doctor's office and then they referred me to the ER. If you ever have thoughts or hurting yourself or someone else I would say it is definitely time to go to the hospital. Otherwise, if you are just wondering if you need to be hospitalized I would think it would be OK to just set up a doctor's appt. and ask them what they think. If you are worried you won't be rational enough to do this, go ahead and reassure someone close to you that it is OK for them to bring you somewhere when they think they need to. I know I protested when I was in the ER and in the psych ward but afterwards I saw it was the best thing for me. Since then, I have told my mother and husband what I want and where I am willing to go in advance should I ever become manic again.

[RRU96]

Here is a question to those who have went, but maintaining this same thread.

Someone mentioned you go to therapy like everyone else. Now, I was in the US Army. I was self-admitted twice to inpatient psych. The therapy discussions were only group. Is this the case in the civilian world. I would really only be able to open up in a one on one basis. Hell, it took me 10 years damn near to open up to my wife.

[disguise123]

ive never been, sometimes maybe i should have but i would say when your not 'safe' any more, when u have had enough.

Originally Posted by SunnyD

I have not gone to the hospital but I was wondering how to know when it is time?
What happens when you go in?

If you're wondering if it's time to go, it's probably time to go. Farmergirl's response was perfect - you don't have to think or make any decisions, it's kind of like a mental holiday/vacation from real life, which we all know can be really neccessary.

i think what happens when you go in depends on where you go and what your situation is. if you are suicidal, you will probably be watched 24/7. the more stable you are, the less you are watched. there are usually a lot of group therapy sessions, and some kind of arts & crafts...at least where i've gone...@ RRU96 - the places I've been usually had an individual therapist as well as group - it's definitely hard to share in a group setting but sometimes it's helpful just to listen to others share and know you aren't alone.

If you are feeling that badly that you are thinking of going to the hospital, you should go.

[SunnyD]

Thank you everyone...it was interesting when I was having a physical and telling my doctor about the bipolar, she asked if I had been hospitalized. I was glad to let her know that I was doing well.
My pdoc practices out of that hospital and there is also has a psychiatrist on call.
You have given me the information I need to know if the bipolar goes south.

[Petunia111]

When and if you become a danger to yourself or others, it's time to consider a hospital, that's for sure.

[sugahorse1]

I was hospitalised in a 'normal' hospital, and my therapy consisted of a 1 hour session with my T daily