Questions about IP

-do you get to wear your own clothes?
-do you have to trim your nails?
-how long is a usual stay?
-how much privacy are you given?
-do you get to have your phone?

............... Zx

Yes I can wear my clothes , just nothing with strings.

No I have never needed to trim my nails.

Typical stay is 3 - 10 days for me

Everywhere I have gone IP they need to lay eyes on you every 15 mins 24/7. If actively suicidal you typically are monitored all the time and a mental health tech has to stand outside bathroom door, once your deemed safe you can roam but again they need to check on everyone 15 mins in my experience .

None of the places I have gone allows for cell phones, they had phones that could be used to call family when your not in group sessions.

Not all IP's are the same,

Yes, although you can't wear clothes with strings and no shoelaces. You need some warm clothes and comfortable ones. It's generally cold in hospitals. Last year I forgot this and only took short sleeve shirts and wore a jacket without washing it the entire time I was there because I was freezing. I take comfortable clothes like yoga pants and fleece shirts and slippers.

I've never had them look at my nails but mine are short. I think others have had long nails.

3-5 days is typical for a lot of places. I go to a mood disorder unit that the average is 5-7 days. I've been in 9 days, 7 days, 13 days. 6 days and 14 days different times.

I've had a private room once and double rooms the other 4 times. The last time they kept me without a roommate because I was too sick to tolerate one. You can shower without supervision. THey will supervise if you want to shave. They do checks every 15-30 minutes but it's pretty low-key and you won't know. They check rooms once a shift but are respectful of your thing, they just look for things you aren't supposed to have. At night I think checks go to hourly.

No phones at my hospital. My unit has a computer for patient use but that's not super common. Some hospitals have different rules about electronics. Mine doesn't allow anything with a charger or cord. You can take some books or puzzle books or a deck of cards to keep busy with. Adult coloring stuff is probably ok if that helps you feel calm; my roommate was allowed colored pencils I know.

It's not so bad. I don't mind where I go at all. I mean I'd rather never need it but I'm glad it is there when I do and I feel safe and comfortable there. It's usually a relief to get there and be somewhere safe and where I'm taken care of.

Yes own clothes, strings and shoe laces (some places) removed.

I usually stay 5 days. It's usually based on insurance in my cases. They want to milk it.

I just got out of a place where they check on you in the shower by yelling over the door. The bathroom door at this place was cut at the top so they can look in if they have to. But they didn't for me.

In all my (about 5) stays, phone was always taken away but there's a communal phone for everyone to use and people can call you.

You can wear your own clothes.
I've never had to trim my nails.
My stays have been two to ten days, depending.
They check in on you a lot, so it's hard to sleep.
I've never been able to have my phone.

Overall it's really boring.

You have talked about going in patient before.....
Are you taking your meds?
How are you doing?
Have you talked with your therapist about inpatient?
I am sorry that you are having a hard time right now.....
How can we help?
bizi

Yeah, I just realized I posted about this before. My bad, sorry! I'm not too great. I'm off my meds by choice. I'm going to bring it up my next therapy session. I just needed reassurance before going to IP because it scares me.

If you're going to IP, chances are you'll be put on meds again which is probably what you need. I would go if I were you and off meds. Good luck.

I was only mentioning it because over the past year you have talked about going in patient but I could not tell if you ever did go?
You somehow were able to avoid going in the past what has changed? How did you cope in the past? Did meds help you then?
When do you see your therapist? Do you still see/have a pdoc?
How long have you been off meds?
Just trying to suggest that you make a call to your pdoc.

bizi

IP isn't so bad, the worst part I've experienced is the boredom. Try to take books or anything that will keep your mind occupied for a few days, at least.

If you're just going to be starting meds as you say, then there's a likely chance you'll be in for a week or so. Part of that depends on your docs, and part of it depends on your insurance carrier.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

I was able to avoid it. Going in terrifies me. My mom forced me to go back on my meds. They helped. I have a therapist and a pdoc. I'll talk to them next time I go in.

There was a certain place I like for IP because they have groups all day. I found this helped tremendously with boredom and mental health. They even had A group for people when they got out. The place I just got out of was a joke. I ended up sleeping the time away because they had nothing for us to do. However everytime I went into IP it was in an emergency situation and I ended up wherever there was a bed. This happens often. But since you have the ability to think this out then do your research on where you may want to go.

In patient really isn't scary.

You'll get to meet and befriend a lot of people in similar situations. I meet the best/most amazing people when I'm in the hospital.

Yes I've always made friends in there! The last place was the only place I've been in that allowed caffeine so I was up early with the coffee drinkers. The nurses hated us cuz we'd go through a pot in ten min lol.

When do you see them again? can you call to get in sooner?
bizi

I didn't know what to expect going IP myself and I just was there about a week ago. They kept my phone but did allow me to get phone numbers written down out of it. I have social anxiety so I was really worried about having to do the group therapies, but they would let me have a klonopin before hand and it wasn't to bad. I was only in for a couple of days though. If you feel like you need it, you just have to push yourself into going.

I see them the 12th and 13th of this month. It's the best I can get because of my mom's work schedule.

-You can wear your own clothes as long as they have no strings or laces
-You don't have to trim your nails, as clippers usually aren't allowed
-Stay is anywhere from 3 days on
-Every place I've been in has 15 minute checks and groups. So not much privacy
-I've never had my phone but there is usually a phone to make calls from

Definitely need to bring books to read or activity books to do because there is a lot of down time. Some places manage groups most of the time but often are quiet on weekends and holidays.

For me the biggest help was the pdocs doing med changes as needed.

I used to be terrified of IP, but when push came to shove and the only other option (or so I thought)was suicide, I went in and found it wasn't at all scary. In fact, I felt safe and cared for in there. I stayed a week, got a few meds changed up and got some good stuff out of groups. And there is something to be said for being in a safe place with other mentally ill people. There's no judgment. I made several friends on the inside and we're still in contact today.

That's my experience ... exact same for psych crisis unit. I've been several times.

I always bring adult coloring books...plus regular books but usually my concentration is too low for regular books. I just feel better bringing them. Rainbow is correct, it's very cold so I always bring hoodies, etc.

IP is cool.

could you call to get in sooner?
you are in crisis mode.
bizi

I might be able to get a friend to give me a ride. I don't know where to go though. Do I go into the emergency room?