Is this typical? Need advice! stuck in inpatient

Hi there, can you tell me if this is typical?

I went to the ER with paranoid delusions of reference. I was hoping to get a neuropsychological evaluation since my psychiatrist recommended I go to the ER in order to get that type of deeper assessment.

I ended up staying overnight in the psych ward ER, then rapidly committed to the regular inpatient ward. It was awful because if I am crazy, I'd rather be crazy in my own apartment with my creature comforts. After a few days I was released and put into a partial treatment program (I get to sleep at home), but the paranoia had increased in scope and I thought my handlers and other patients specific to my hospital ward were TELEPATHIC. Yikes! Talk about the cray-cray volume going way on up. Well I told the doctor this during the partial program, while fully admitting it was "crazy-sounding," but I hoped telling him would take the burden off my chest and relieve me to move on effectively. Instead, they threw me back into the inpatient program and said I'm bipolar going through a manic episode.

Being in this particular hospital is triggering in so many ways, within my psychosis, there's a negative association with the patients and staff within my psych ward (about 40-50 people total). I'd be much happier at home and to receive treatment that way, but they REFUSE to let me go, citing I'm a danger to MYSELF. I am not suicidal, and I never expressed suicidalality (is that a word?). In fact, I just want to hold my cat and drink a chai latte. Farthest from suicidal.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Can someone help answer me:

1. Do they truly have the right to keep me as an inpatient against my will or can I put on my shoes and walk out?

2. Based on the symptoms I told you and my story, does it sound typical for a psych program to be so trigger-happy to keep me as a patient (feeding me salmon dinners and art therapy programs, mind you--this isn't cheap to keep me as a patient, although insurance is paying for it).

3. Does the Mania portion of Bipolar feel like tripping on acid? I'm coming to conclusions about deep rooted issues from my past that I haven't been able to before, in a really profound way.

About me: 32, Female, NYC, high functioning and otherwise very stable and calm

Yes, they can keep you inpatient if they consider you a danger to yourself. How long depends on each state, I think. As long as you are psychotic, you probably need to be there so they can adjust meds easier and safer. And yes some times the bipolar mania can be really bad.

Sound like they are making progress with some issues and that is good. They will get you stable soon, I'm sure.

You have a constitutional right to freedom, and unless they believe you're a harm to yourself or others they must release you whenever you request. However, I don't know the specifics of your state, but in most states they have a right to hold you for up to 72 hours for observation. After this point they must release you, or initiate civil commitment proceedings in court, typically in front of a magistrate, justice of the peace, or associate level judge. If this has not happened and you feel you're being unjustly held, you can file a writ of habeas corpus. Simply write on some paper: this is a writ of habeas corpus, I wish to be brought before the court of this jurisdiction as soon as possible; have yourself and a witness sign and date it, then hand it to your doctor. If they continue to hold you after this point you may have a right to bring a tort claim against them for damages in court, as this would now constitute false imprisonment. Even if you have signed yourself in voluntarily you still have a right to be release whenever you want, you simply sign yourself out.

This has happened to me, the last time it was because I had good insurance. They kept on saying I was sick and needed to stay another day, until one day the hospital administrator said my insurance was refusing to pay for further treatments. She proclaimed I was, magically, heeled and told me to vacate the room before 5pm, or I would be charged for another day. It's a game to them.

Each state is a little different regarding civil commitment procedures, you'll have to google the details. Generally its bad to be involuntarily committed, because you loose the right to govern yourself at that point, on the other hand the state, county, or city usually picks up part of the tab if they commit you. Whatever happens, remember you're in a psychiatric hospital, they can strip you naked, strap your *** down on a table, and inject you full of haldol if you become violent with them. You're best course of action is to simply document all of your requests and then talk to an attorney once they let you out.

I think that is terrible. My pdoc has just suggested I go in as inpatient and now I am scared to death to go. I can refuse to go to inpatient right?

yes same for NY state
how long does it typically take to step into a court room after the initial 72 hours?
only do this if after 72 hours, re: next steps, I don't get either (a) released or (b) a court hearing?
what is a tort claim, is that short for torture claim?
sick! i wonder if they are keeping me here for the insurance money. i'm not doing anything productive here, and am not benefitting from the "time out" effects, except it's nice to take a break from work during this insanity, but i'd rather do it from home instead of @ hospital.
insightful, thank you! do you have a friend/resource that would know NY state? should i start researching a lawyer to get me out???? how do i find out which lawyer to use, and is there a "quality" level of the types of lawyer i go with in my situation..?

IDK about most of the questions you just asked, however, tort is not short for torture! It means a wrongful act or infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability.

That sounds awful!! You came in pretty coherent of the fact you needed help -- not to be imprisoned, but just watched until you got your sealegs back! I don't know about the rules. I know they can only forcibly keep you if they think you're a danger... Maybe they think your judgement would be questionable because you're experiencing psychosis, which makes most people "out of touch with reality" & possibly logic? That is horrible & I hope you feel better soon.

And yes. My manic episodes feel like acid... Well, I've never done acid! But I've had hallucinations & revelations & a wibblywobblytimeywimey feeling from a combination marijuana/PCP. And my manic episodes feel like that sometimes!

You can ask to sign out AMA (against medical advice) and then they can decide if they want to take you to court to be involuntarily committed. At the hospital I go to (been there many times) they have 12 hours after you sign AMA before they have to let you go. That gives the doctor time to get in to talk to you. I did it once and after talking to the doctor I decided to stay voluntarily.

As to your desire for in depth testing...The ER is not the place for that. It is definitely for Emergency treatment. They don't do tests for people coming in for mental illness problems. Their role is to find an inpatient bed for you or determine that you don't need to be admitted. Once you are on the psych ward, their roles are to keep you safe, and get you stable, or at least not actively suicidal or homicidal or psychotic, with medication.

What should you do to get out? Follow the instructions of the staff and take your medications. Participate in any groups offered. Clearly explain your situation of having psychosis but safe to the psychiatrist. As to having neurological testing done, that is rare in a psych ward. You could ask the psychiatrist but I would be surprised if it is done as insurance only pays if there are symptoms, such as half your face drooping, that justify having tests done.

Hospitalization doesn't have to be a bad experience. When I am admitted and the ward door locks behind me I feel immediate relief as I know that I don't have to fight the desire to suicide as much. I understand that because their job is to create a safe environment I won't be able to have my shoe laces or a spiral bound journal. I am willing to give up some things to be safe from myself and my actions. Hospitalization can be a good thing and the right thing to do.

I am actually surprised that any inpatient facility allows internet access or cell phones etc.. I have never been to one that allows that . Because the focus has always been to "declutter" your life and focus on you. Work on feeling better and dealing with what issues brought you to needing impatient to begin with.

Anne gave great advice about what your rights are. I do believe if you approach your Doctor in a calm manner and discuss your stay would be much more effective than being defensive or angry. Do keep in mind many insurance companies will refuse payment for heath services rendered if you sign out AMA.

To be honest hospitals really dont just keep people to milk there insurance company. Most hospitals are full and have no empty beds because there are many people in need of inpatient.

I wish you luck .

Just so you know, if you sign out AMA, your insurance won't cover the stay. At least in my stay. But I wish you the very best of luck!

Oh yes, at the last private hospital I was at they let me have my MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. They would keep the devices, charger and cord behind the nurses desk; during the daytime they would allow you to use the device. The hospital even had in-room wifi. However, they didn't allow the patients to have chargers and cords, even something like headphones. They would charge it for you behind the nurses desk, and ask for it back before lights out. The doctors had discretion.

Wow ... Thanks for the info .

I totally agree with Anne and Christina. Great advice. My hospital doesn't have a psych ward to admit to so it is just an emergency stay which really feels like prison. It is awful.

I am also surprised u can have a cell phone to communicate.

Great advice from Anne and Christina.