[addison5021]

In Feb. of 2014 I was hospitalized. I had a horrible experience. Because of this, I have made a promise to myself that I'll NEVER go in again. A couple of months ago, my medication for BP1 stopped working. My doctor scolded me for not seeking help at a facility, ER, hospital etc.. I think that it's because I was terrified to be put back in the same place. It's the closest facility to where I live. It was not beneficial. I probably would have been better off being at home. Has anyone else experienced this and have the same fear???

I don't fear going inpatient. I think I've been inpatient five or six times. However, I don't like inpatient mainly because I hate sharing a room. I need a lot of privacy. That said, I was suicidal those times I was admitted so crisis stabilization was priority. My goal is not to go inpatient ever again. But I will if my family thinks I really need to go.

You feeling better now?

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

I had a really bad experience with the psych ward here. I'm terrified of hospitals to begin with and of being inpatient for regular medical issues (which I have been A LOT) Hospital environments make me horribly panicked and often I have to be heavily sedated to tolerate it. It takes a lot to get me to go to the hospital because of my fear of them, and that fear even worse since my visits to the psych ward.

I totally understand where you're coming from. It's horrible to fear something so much when it's something that could be beneficial or needed to treat your MI or keep you safe.

[hopeless2015]

My impatient experience was good for me luckily and I've been 4 times in the last year. Yes my goal also is to stay out of the hospital going forward. I hope you feel better soon...HUGS

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[cincidak]

I've been inpatient five times. The place I go has a really nice staff, and the atmosphere is relaxed. I did hate sharing a room though.

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My inpatient experience has all been through one hospital, but many stays. It was always a positive experience. Great staff; my pdoc outpatient heads the department inpatient so it is excellent continuity of care. I was kept safe and meds were managed well so that I was in much better shape upon discharge than I was when I walked in.

[Nammu]

It's been a mixed bag for me. Some really great hospitalizations and some bad ones. Seems like hospitals are getting worse as far as psych goes. They don't keep you until your really stable, just long enough to mess up the meds( usually by adding more) then out the door. As a consequence there's rarely any therapy, no follow up plans, and the psych wards are designed to be prison like with no accommodations.

[Sliders]

In the fall of 2015 I had a horrific experience. I too think I will only go back inpatient if my family insists and we think I have no other option. However I will only go to a hospital where I had an OK experience and never back to the one where my horrific experience caused me PTSD in the aftermath.

[wildflowerchild25]

I've had mostly good experiences, too good honestly - it became a place of comfort for me and I went way more times than I should have. But I've had bad experiences too. It all depends on where you go. Thankfully the places near me mostly seem to be good.

[pirilin]

Virgin here. At this topic. And I'm a virgin with questions. Not horny or anything. Cold as ice. And inquisitive.

a) Is there any difference between a ward and a mental hospital and a regular hospital?.
b) Do you have certain freedom of movement or is it a straightjacket all the time. Padded room maybe?.
c) Can you sneak out to buy something, or pick something up that someone brought you?.
d) Who decides when you leave. The doctors or your family, or yourself.

I hate to ask these stupid questions, but I feel so left out in this respect in this community, that I had to let it out. My last hospital stay was at the age of 9 with apendicitis. 57 ****ing years ago. Thank you for your time.

[Daonnachd]

Originally Posted by pirilin

a) Is there any difference between a ward and a mental hospital and a regular hospital?.
b) Do you have certain freedom of movement or is it a straightjacket all the time. Padded room maybe?.
c) Can you sneak out to buy something, or pick something up that someone brought you?.
d) Who decides when you leave. The doctors or your family, or yourself.

Consider yourself lucky that you've been stable enough that you haven't had to go in.

• In my experience, a dedicated mental hospital was no different to the wards in regular hospitals I've been in.
• In all situations, there were individual or shared rooms adjoining a day room for group therapy sessions, and a dedicated occupational therapy room with paints, crayons, etc.
• Sneak out? No. Receive a treat or new article of clothing from loved one? Yes, but these things would have to be checked by the staff before being passed over to you.
• Doctors, family, and patient are all in communication with regards to discharge.

My experiences have generally been positive. Generally, because I don't like the forced group interactions. ...and one isolated incident: I woke up with another patient standing over me. It turns out, he was confused about rooms. His was next to mine and thought I was in his bed. Understandable, but a scary way to wake up.

Originally Posted by pirilin

Virgin here. At this topic. And I'm a virgin with questions. Not horny or anything. Cold as ice. And inquisitive.

a) Is there any difference between a ward and a mental hospital and a regular hospital?.
b) Do you have certain freedom of movement or is it a straightjacket all the time. Padded room maybe?.
c) Can you sneak out to buy something, or pick something up that someone brought you?.
d) Who decides when you leave. The doctors or your family, or yourself.

I hate to ask these stupid questions, but I feel so left out in this respect in this community, that I had to let it out. My last hospital stay was at the age of 9 with apendicitis. 57 ****ing years ago. Thank you for your time.

a. There are stand-alone psych hospitals but they aren't necessarily better. In fact, in our city the worst ones are the stand-alones. My mental health unit is one part of one floor of a regular hospital -- a department so to speak.
b. At my hospital the unit is a locked floor which means we can't leave the unit. One the unit though, we have freedom to go pretty much where we want. There is a room, sort of a cafeteria room, with a tv and a snack station. Most rooms have two patients per room. Most of the time I've never found this to be a problem. The one time I had a roommate who snored really badly, and they were able to move me to a different room since there were some empty beds. They do have a few single rooms, but they save these for the really severe patients who need to be a bit more isolated and supervised more one-on-on (usually these are patients who are psychotic) No padded rooms. There is one quiet room where the occasionally place a patient temporarily if they have become volatile, but they aren't locked in and are supervised constantly for the hour or so they are confined there until they are calm. It doesn't get used all that often.
c. As I said, my unit is a locked, secure unit because there are patients who are dealing with chemical dependency, some who are psychotic occasionally, patients who are suicidal and require close supervision. They do take patients down for a fresh air break during the day but I was never one to do that. I'm in Texas and our fresh air tends to be either 20 degrees or 100 degrees -- neither sounded appealing to me. Family/visitors can bring in some items -- everything allowed is on a list and is inspected before being given over to patients -- again, this is a safety measure that I understand.
d. Who decides? Hopefully it is a decision reached in conjunction with your attending pdoc. If you signed in voluntarily, you can sign yourself out against medical advice but they can have you involuntarily held if they feel you are a danger to yourself or others. I've always gone in voluntarily and have always waited to leave when my doctor felt it was time. My stays were as short as 3 days and as long as 3 weeks -- the average was around 10 days.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I've been in 5 times, always to the same Mood Disorders Unit. It's small, just 10 beds. 2 are private, the rest are shared although my last time they kept my shared room private for nearly a week because I genuinely needed to be alone but they wanted me on a more monitored part of the hall than where the private rooms are. There are 2 conference rooms and a room that is used for both meals and groups.

a) Is there any difference between a ward and a mental hospital and a regular hospital?.

Most psych units are in general hospitals. State hospitals are still separate (although those are becoming quite rare) and some private hospitals are psych only. I know medicare limits your days in private psych hospitals but the regular IP unit is just counted toward your lifetime days

b) Do you have certain freedom of movement or is it a straightjacket all the time. Padded room maybe?.

My unit lets you move freely but only on the unit. That's becoming more and more common due to liability being greater with unlocked units. Honestly I'v always felt safer once that door locked and I knew I was past the point I could harm myself. There isn't a padded room on my unit although other units in the same hospital have one. I've been taken to my unit from the ER in a padded elevator.

c) Can you sneak out to buy something, or pick something up that someone brought you?.

People can bring you things. My unit posts a list of "no's" (caffeine, bottles, belts, drawstrings, money, cigarettes, don't remember the rest) and the nurses check anything brought in. You can't go off the unit to get anything. I always take a lot of anything I might want because I live too far to make it logical for anyone to come for a 1-2 hours visitation.

d) Who decides when you leave. The doctors or your family, or yourself.

It's a collaboration. I've stayed or left a day or two earlier than the team suggested to line things up with my therapy appointments before. I've been allowed to choose to go home when I might have benefited from a few more days that were weekend (boring as can be) so I went home knowing I might need to come back immediately. They do work with you within a day or two; insurance won't approve a lot more than that usually.

I'm glad you asked because it gets the answers out there. When I first went IP in 2009 I was TERRIFIED and couldn't find much online about what it was like. The more people know the less they'll feel that fear.

I would say if one place is bad don't give up on all of them. It's worth it to me to go 2.5 hours away because it's a good place and the more local ones wouldn't be so great.

[Nammu]

I've never seen a straight jacket used and I've been in many hospitals including to state hospitals. Restraints used to be used quite often but now thanks to legal protection advocates are becoming rare.seclusion rooms how ever are still used. But mostly forced meds are used as the method for restraining unruly patients or those that are out of control.

[pirilin]

I'm truly sorry for having hijacked this thread. But, as Beyond said, this is very important to us newbies in hospital matters.
My doubts have been dissipated. And I'm very grateful to all of you. Talking frankly about this topic, is no walk in the park. Even I clowned a little at the intro, 'cause is really strong for me too.

Without any intention of abusing the panel, I have a last and final question:

In your estimation, what is the most common illness found in this mental facilities.

Thank you again for your invaluable information. I think it will do a lot of good.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

In my mood disoder unit almost everyone has depression and/or anxiety. I'm usually the only one with bipolar, which makes it really fun when I'm manic. I tend to irritate people. The worst times for that have been when I was mixed and so nobody knew what to expect. The last time I just stayed shut in my room avoiding stimulation while my body figured out the hug med changes. Usually I participate in every group (not exactly required but skipping is definitely frowned upon without good reason) and that time I barely did.

Groups range from blah to great. I wish they did more talking therapy but they changed social workers (the one who left did therapy group where she was kind of mean to people so I'm glad she is gone) but the last of therapy group was sad. Hopefully someone will be on the unit permanently and will resume that.

Originally Posted by pirilin

I'm truly sorry for having hijacked this thread. But, as Beyond said, this is very important to us newbies in hospital matters.
My doubts have been dissipated. And I'm very grateful to all of you. Talking frankly about this topic, is no walk in the park. Even I clowned a little at the intro, 'cause is really strong for me too.

Without any intention of abusing the panel, I have a last and final question:

In your estimation, what is the most common illness found in this mental facilities.

Thank you again for your invaluable information. I think it will do a lot of good.

At the hospital I was in, people were there for a variety of reasons, but I'd say bipolar disorder and seriously suicidal depression (and many of those were probably bipolar patients) were most prominent. My hospital is a dual diagnosis unit though that also treats chemical dependency in patients also holding another psychiatric diagnosis, so many patients were there for alcohol or drug withdrawal, but again, many of those held a dual diagnosis of bipolar disorder with the chemical dependency. There were always a handful of schizophrenia patients but usually quite fewer as this was a crisis stabilization unit, not a long-term care unit.

[Nammu]

Bipoar and major depression seems to be the most common though there's the alcohol and drug patients too, far fewer schizophrenia and eating disorders but there seemed to be quite a few BPD but they were mostly treated badly and get kicked out before stabilizing.

[Travelinglady]

I've been hospitalized a number of times, and I had good experiences, all things considered. I've been in five different hospitals!

[passionfruit3]

Ive been hospitalized a number of times and had terrible experiences but mostly cause of my own behavior that being said doctors dont see you for very long groups go on on for the day time till the afternoon there's two quiet rooms usually or seclusion rooms usually located near the nursing station m3ds three times a day and meals three times days sometimes theres a gym or at my last hospital we had a swimming pool

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My only visit with hospital, which there have been numerous other times I needed to be in a facility if economics wasn't a factor, was quite pleasant. Three meals a day, air conditioned, and clean, the only thing lacking was a lake to fish in.

Quite honestly, I would have as much human interaction in a hospital as I do in real. Actually I would have more, because I am literally a hermit. I have often thought that I would like to take up permanent residence at a mental hospital if for nothing more than three meals a day. If I can only find one that has a lake on its premises and allows patients access to it.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by Lsswwdictb

My only visit with hospital, which there have been numerous other times I needed to be in a facility if economics wasn't a factor, was quite pleasant. Three meals a day, air conditioned, and clean, the only thing lacking was a lake to fish in.

Quite honestly, I would have as much human interaction in a hospital as I do in real. Actually I would have more, because I am literally a hermit. I have often thought that I would like to take up permanent residence at a mental hospital if for nothing more than three meals a day. If I can only find one that has a lake on its premises and allows patients access to it.

I know one jailbird that prefers to be inside. He has lived 3/4 of his life in jail. His world is all inside there.

(Note to self.) "When you build it, include a lake full of trout for Ls."

[Unrigged64072835]

I've had a lot of experiences in the psych ward, both good and bad. I agree with getting a roommate. I usually get one that snores very loudly, and I'm sensitive to sound.

Most of the time I've seen people in for depression. Occasionally manic and a schizophrenic thrown in for good measure.

I've been inpatient 3 times and all 3 were traumatizing for various reasons. I fear being impatient with every fiber of my being. I get very paranoid around strangers and fear they will harm me. Being in the hospital, around all the strangers is one big panic attack in motion. the last hospitalization was the worst and I left there with some additional psychological trauma. If I were actively suicidal, I would agree to impatient again, if I had my wits about me. During mania, I do not believe I need to be locked up and treated like an animal. It only makes things worse.

As a side note, when I told the doctors I couldn't sleep because of my roommates activity in the room, they told me they were required to give me a space of my own if it's needed for my mental health. I got to sleep on a mat in the gym by myself which was nice. My paranoia makes me think my roommate will do something to me if I fall asleep. Not sleeping is a recipe for disaster and the docs know it. If you have valid concerns and need for a private room, at least mention it, they might accommodate you.