[jtassar93]

I'm considering going in but weary of what to expect. Is it like a regular hospital? With beds in rooms? Or is it more of a group place?

I don't know what else to ask. If you could share your experiences I'd greatly appreciate it.

[raspberrytorte]

It's boring.

[BipolaRNurse]

All psych units, and experiences, are different so it's hard to quantify "what is IP like". I can tell you that my 7-day stay wasn't bad at all. I was treated with respect and the groups and activities were interesting to me. I was in a private room with a door that I was allowed to close at night, and there was this nice open floor plan in the common area which made being on a locked ward a lot less unpleasant than it could have been.

There is, however, very little privacy in a psych unit. Staff checks on you every 15 minutes, and they'll come in and toss your room for contraband at random times. I was permitted to shower without a staff member present when they decided I was no longer a danger to myself. We didn't get to have coffee after 11 AM (I've heard it's not allowed at all in some facilities) and were limited in our meal choices, but the food was plentiful and even good. The main gripe I had was that I couldn't have my phone or my iPod---how anyone could use those flimsy little earbud wires to hurt themselves is beyond me! Luckily there was a tablet at the nurses' station that we could use for ten minutes at a time, so we weren't totally cut off from the outside world.

Visiting hours were quite limited due to group and activities schedules. It was so hard to watch my loved ones leave, but I also knew I was safe there, and I hadn't been at home. Safety is everything in the hospital; they have a million and one ways to keep you from hurting yourself, from the way the clothing hook in the bathroom bends down when you hang more than a pair of jeans on it to the handrails that are flush with the wall. There are phones on the unit that have cords but they are watched closely by the staff and removed at night.

They don't neglect your physical health either. I was thoroughly examined by an internist during my stay, and of course the psychiatrist and psychologist/case manager came in every day to go over my progress and plan for discharge. All in all, it was a good experience and if I ever need it again I won't hesitate to go in. I used to be terrified of the hospital and swore I'd never go IP, but when I became so sick that I was more scared of being on the outside than whatever might be waiting for me on the inside, I knew it was time.

If you think it may be time for IP, it almost certainly is. Call your pdoc or just go to the ER. You'll probably have to anyway, the psych units usually admit patients through the ER rather than on a walk-in basis. The hospital where I lived didn't have a psych ward, so I had to be transferred via secure transport to the mental health facility in a neighboring town. That was actually the worst part of the whole experience; I was in what had once been a police cruiser with the barrier between the front and back seats and the doors that don't open from the inside. I'm terribly claustrophobic and thankfully the transport team was nice and they talked me down.

Anyway, that's a synopsis of my one (so far) hospitalization. Hope it's helpful to you in making your decision as to whether or not to go IP. God bless.

I have been in and out of hospital the last couple of years... But being in the UK my experiences are probably quite different to what yours might be. It's hard to go IP...like we can't just walk into the ER and then get sent to a psych ward. We have to go through the crisis team, who try to treat at home rather than send to hospital. I never get on with that so try to avoid as much as I can...

Length of stays have been varied for me, my shortest being about 3 days..the longest 6 weeks. The psych ward most local to me got shut down a few years ago...so I get sent quite a way from home each time. I've been on 5 different wards...4 based in one hospital..they all seem to know me now..so much so that if I go visit someone, staff on other wards start telling me to go back to my ward for meals etc.. a bit embarrassing!

I've always had my own room, with an ensuite toilet and shower. My normal hospital has been refurbed recently, now all the doors have sensors on them so if any pressure is put on them (for hanging) an alarm goes of and everyone comes running. I tried drying my towel over the door...that set an alarm off. The bedroom doors have a window which is normally closed, but staff have a key to be able to look in. Checks can vary from 10 mins to just as and when they feel the need depending on risk.

Generally not allowed any belts or cords. Some have no shoe laces. But again it depends on the risk...it never seems to have been one rule for all when I have been in.

Have always been allowed my phone/ipad. But not chargers...they stay in the nurses office and we have to hand them in to be charged.

There isn't much at all in the way of therapy while IP over here. There's art groups and similar, that's as far as it goes. I have never really taken part in them until my last admission...and it was more just to pass the time. It is so boring.

But if you are thinking IP then you probably need IP. And if you need it, you don't really notice how boring it is until you start feeling a bit better. My 6 week stint, 5 weeks of that I spent in my room, leaving only for the occasional meal. And somehow did not get bored. The last week though something clicked and I was like omg how have I sat here doing nothing for 5 weeks. It is so dull. I actually made a really good friend in the last week there.

[Cavegirl]

I am also considering checking myself in as well. I feel like it may be the only place to clear my head. But, at the same time, I have been in intensive, and it can be very boring.
I'm online trying to find photo's of hospitals in my area...which is proving rather futile. One of the big reasons I believe for them not allowing phones or tablets on ward aside from harm and disturbance is privacy. They don't want you taking photographs of the patients and the ward. I learned that in rehab. It is a violation of privacy. So, be prepared with reading materials. DVD's were allowed, but were held at the front desk. But, everyone has to want to view that dvd, or you won't be watching it. At one hospital I was fortunate enough that one of the tv rooms seemed always empty, so I used it at my leisure. Other hospitals I have been in only had one tv room, so that's where everybody was. Walking up and down the corridors is your exercise. It is done by a lot of the patients. I suppose we all get restless. In all of the hospitals, coffee was permitted with our meals, although it is de-caf only. If you are a smoker, they will most likely supply you with some form of nicotine replacement. No outside once you are in, at least not the hospitals I have been in. There are groups, you can attend if you want. Art therapy always interested me. It can get noisy, depending on the other patients. Pray that you can get a solitary room. I've had a solitary room only once. It was a blessing. Other times I shared with other disturbed patients, some not so pleasant.
The hospital is a safe place to be. If you feel there is no other way for you to re-coup, then it could ultimately prove to be somewhat beneficial. There are limited visiting hours. Lights out at a certain time. I was permitted to shower as many times a day as I wanted, as well as do my own laundry.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. I hope this finds you ok... I have had stays that were 3 days (Bellevue Hosptal NYC - NOT recommended) and others lasting a month that were ok. Waiting on an actual bed though can prove quite difficult at some busier hospitals when going through the ER

[Crazy Hitch]

IP was never too bad for me ...

It consisted of being regularly monitored by staff as we could go to an enclosed outside area so they'd do a "head count" every 15 minutes (for real).

No caffeine ... well that was hard!

Smoking ... yeah we could smoke IP as they reckoned psych patients probably weren't in the best frame of mind to go cold turkey

Activities ... there were a range of scheduled activities that we could choose from daily from light exercise (there was even a small gym), art classes, cooking etc

Food ... well that was a bit dodge but I swear the desserts were always to die for (I'm a huge dessert fan so that was a bonus)

On the down side there was a male patient who used to freak me out by getting into my personal space and following me around everywhere ... and he clearly had some kind of issues going on

[jtassar93]

Thanks everyone. I have a few questions.

If you go in as suicidal are you strapped down? This is something I'm scared of.

Do you get to wear your own clothes?

How long is a typical visit?

[Nammu]

No they don't strap you down but they do watch you closely. In the us my experience has been that you share a room with one other person like a regular hospital unlike a regular hospital there are not curtains and the beds are different. You get blood pressure monitoring every morning. Three meals a day lis snacks. You see a doctor everyday, and can talk to someone.

If you are feeling suicidal please call someone, a friend a hotline or go to the ER.

I only ever go in because of being suicidal...never been strapped down, even when going in involuntarily.

[Victoria'smom]

I've gone twice. The first time 3 days. The second time 10 days. The first time I was in a mixed episode. The second time I was suicidal.

The first time went well. They changed my meds made sure I was no longer having strange thoughts before letting me go home.

The second time they were less patient. I got the feeling suicide is looked down upon there. They insisted my husband and I were having issues. They were pulling at straws trying to find the reason I was suicidal. I spent most of my time crying in my room which I shared with a room mate.

We got to wear are own cloths but everything else was provided. No shoes, electronics or anything like that. There were about 4 groups and the nurses were always available to talk. They have a quiet room but they tend to use benzos and APs to calm people down.

[youngm357]

If you and or your pdoc are talking or thinking about IP than you are probably at some place where you need it. Go if you can.

[MBM17]

Inpatient saved my life - three times.

It's time to go to the hospital when you aren't sure you can be safe with yourself. The purpose of inpatient is to keep you safe when you can't do so yourself.

For me it's a relief. At the point when I go to the hospital, I'm feeling literally crazy. There's so much going on in my head and body that I feel completely overwhelmed. It takes so much energy just to try to stay alive in my house with all the possible self-harm implements around me that it's a relief when I can get to the psych ward and KNOW I'll be safe no matter how insane I feel inside. Then I can focus on what's happening in my head without worrying about my physical safety and having to put so much energy into staying alive.

[Cavegirl]

I have been in for

Possible trigger:

suicide attempts as well as self harm

I was never strapped down for that reason, nor were any others that were in there for those reasons. The times I have seen people strapped down was for acting out violently, and one guy got it because of running through the halls naked and frenzied. They basically got a shot of ativan and stayed in a locked room until they slept "it off". So, keep your clothes on when in common areas and try not to act violently
In regards to wearing your own clothing. Yes, absolutely. Along with being able to wash them yourself. You might want to bring flip flops or something similar to wear in the showers. Although, they're pretty clean, eh...i personally don't like my bare feet touching the shower floor. All, in all...although at times very boring. I an effort is most certainly made to keep you comfortable while you are there.

PS. I agree 100% with what some of the others have said. It can definitely be a life save...If you feel you need it, then go...nothing bad will happen to you.

[st0psign]

I got taken in by the cops about a month ago for using the word suicidal in an email to a prof. they cuffed me bringing me in even though I said I would go and was being compliant and rational.

**** do I hate cops

[Pikku Myy]

I needed to be IP several years back.... It was not easy. I would have killed myself otherwise. I like and love me now. Toughest times I went thru in my life. There is future and support there

[MusicLover82]

I was hospitalized once due to severe mania. The first night was hell because I was paranoid that the night nurse was going to try to rape me (I was really bonkers at the time), but once I gave in to them giving me a shot (Ativan I believe), I calmed down and slept.

The experience overall was very comforting. I felt safe and my doctor got me straightened out quickly (3 days). The group therapy and occupational therapy was nice and the food was really good considering it was hospital food (they made sure to accommodate my dietary needs as a vegetarian). There was a lot of downtime where we weren't doing much, but I felt like they monitored my progress with interacting with the other patients (I have memory of doing puzzles with one of the other patients).

I would go back in a heartbeat if my condition was ever critical again. Best wishes!

[jtassar93]

I have another question: Do they make you cut your nails?

[Nammu]

Its never happened to me and I've been in a lot of hospitals.

I've never had to but I think last time I was in they cut someone else's. But that was only because she was using anything possible to try and self harm with, nails being one of them.

[Cavegirl]

Originally Posted by jtassar93

I have another question: Do they make you cut your nails?

As mentioned by Nammu and HalloweenSkye, I was never asked or had anyone cut my nails. But, I would imagine if they felt that you were using them for SI or hurting others, they would trim them. They would have someone come in once or twice a week to help with grooming if someone wanted. They would cut or trim hair, help with shaving as well, trim nails. We weren't permitted razors. I've had my mother bring me Nair, and smuggle in some tweezers, this way I was able to get the hair off my legs and pluck my unruly eyebrows - I needed to feel somewhat "normal".

How are things going with you?? How are you feeling today? Are your symptoms any better at all?

I've been in two different hospitals across the country from one another. The first had shared (2 - 4 beds) rooms. I did not mind this. There was something soothing about not being alone. The ward was extremely structured with constant activities including support circles and group therapy. The second hospital was completely the opposite. Single bed rooms and no actvities whatsoever. No therapy either. No one talked to each other and all there was to do was wander the halls aimlessly or read. Watching tv was pointless as all that was on were mindless morning talk shows and soap operas.

[raspberrytorte]

I've never been strapped down.

You can wear your own clothes.

This last time I was in for eight days. Honestly, it's like being in prison. You can't go outside. You're locked in the ward. You can't smoke. By the fifth day I was going ****ing insane!!!!! Lots of pacing. Up and down the ward. Blah!

[gina_re]

I went into IP on suicide watch. So I was stuck in a room on a bed, with a camera on me for I don't remember how long. I went the overdose route so I was really out of it.
No shoelaces. No strings in your sweatpants. Nothing sharp.
I had a roommate who had schizophrenia. We shared a bathroom with the room on the other side, like a suite type of setup.
Lots and lots of coloring, group therapy, and meeting with the psychiatrist. Just comply with the orders, you'll get out faster. The more you resist, the longer you stay. And it gets really really really boring at that time. It's like you're in jail.
Pretty standard I guess.