How do you feel about IP?

Do you absolutely hate it? Or do you find it gives you space to heal?

I have really mixed feelings about IP. When I'm there, I will do and say almost anything to get out. But looking back on the times that I went, I realize now that I was in a dangerous situation and needed to be kept safe. A couple of times I managed to find space to chill out and heal, but predominantly IP has been a stressful space for me.

My attitude in the past has just sucked too bad to make IP reasonable.....it just made me worse. This last episode was so bad that I have reframed the whole experiences and now will consider IP if needed and probably get more out of it than I did previously. With my issues I would need a private room though. This sounds prissy but sleeping with a toothbrush gripped tighly in my hands because I fear my roommates doesn't add to the possibility of healing. (((Hugs)))

I don't like it. The 2x I have been there. I'd rather ride it out with the safety of others around me then go IP ever again.

I did the same thing. Told them what they wanted to hear... a little smile... I even convinced one dr to let me go early cuz it was my boyfriends birthday!! But the things I DID to get there still haunt me. [trigger]. Stabbed myself in the forearm, pulling a knife on people, multiple on purpose OD's, self harm. All in my 20's and now that I look back I'd wish I'd take my life, and my help seriously. But all I wanted was to get out.

IP was good for me. I needed to be kept safe, and I needed some coping skills. I'd go in again if it became necessary. Fortunately, I was in a unit where they specialized in crisis care for suicidal patients, and they were very good at what they did.

I don't mind the hospital at all. In fact I like knowing that when I need a safe place it is there. When I walk into that hall and the door latches behind me I know I'm finally safe and that is a big deal. I'm very comfortable there and wouldn't hesitate to return (although it's not like I want to or look forward to it.) I just know I'm likely to need to go back and that is fine with me.

For me it depends on what hospital I end up in. My last inpatient stay was just awful. I hated it so much. But the ones before have been mostly positive.

Inpatient was where I needed to be at times, and fortunately I was in a good hospital under my own pdoc's care. The staff was caring and I always left in my better shape than when I went in.

Honestly the ip down here is not very supportive because they dont have real theperist just a dr to diagnose you and get you out. Dont follow up with you. maybe ip in other places are diffrent?

My hospital has an OT who does groups a few times a day. There is nutrition weekly, pharmacy education weekly, some random guy from IOP does a group weekly, sometimes there is art therapy (my favorite). NAMI comes in and does a presenation a few times a month; I've managed to hit the same with 5 admissions. I skip it now. There is a computer and exercise bike for patients to use. There games, simple crafts, coloring out all the time. They want us to be busy. Before anyone is sent home the social worker sets up therapy and pdoc visits for them if they aren't already in place. so yes, there are much better experiences.

The only time I went IP it was involuntary, so I was upset about going. I wasn't prepared and had my phone taken away before I could tell anyone I'd be gone for awhile. I ended up at a hospital near home and received excellent care. I was angry and humiliated at first, but I soon realized it wasn't so bad. I enjoyed most of the groups and made some nice acquaintances. My pdoc and the PCAs were great to work with. There was a patient who tried to attack me though, which raised safety concerns.

Most hospitals are designed for crisis management and stabilization with the goal of transferring patients to outpatient care as soon as possible, so it is pretty normal that they don't have individual therapy. Follow up is expected to be handled by your outpatient pdoc and therapist. Many hospitals do have transitional group programs such as intensive outpatient programs that are usually a week or so of follow up/transition back into your usual routine, but again, these are generally groups, not individual therapy.

It wasn't but just some months ago that I thought any contact with a hospital would "destroy my life and leave me in a cycle bouncing between street, prison, and hospital." Now I can see them as the safety net they are. Maybe I won't need catching any time soon, but just knowing someone is there makes it that much less likely I'll need to be rescued anyway.

I've been inpatient one time back in 2003 and in the outpatient program twice dating back to 2010. I cringed to even think of going and didn't want to be realized it was necessary. Once I was there, it wasn't so bad and I did come away much more stable and even happy. It was a good thing although I didn't by any means of the imagination consider it as such going in. In other words, I hated it. There have been times since that I have probably needed to go in-patient or out-patient but just couldn't bring myself to do so.

I had a problem with IP. I used it as an escape from my life. I felt safe and cared for. I also felt like I didn't have to hide how awful I felt. As a result I've been ip 21 times and only about half of them were necessary to keep me safe. Thankfully I have matured and I am more able to stick it out without ip. I have not been ip in two years. That said, if I were to get mixed or psychotic again I would absolutely go. But I won't go for depression anymore. I'll go to the partial care program instead so I can still be there for my son.

It depends on which hospital I go to. Usually it's pretty dull. I'm usually there for a med change, and how long I stay depends on how well I adjust to the meds. Some have more groups than others. All of them have me followup with T and pdoc after release. I haven't been since July of last year, and I'm hoping to stay out for a while.

I've never had a bad IP experience. It's a much needed relief when I go because I know I need to be stabilized if I'm admitted. And I've been to three different hospitals.