[Under*Over]

Ive never been, but I am fairly young and did have a few times where... I really should have been (would have probably made months long delusional/suicidal/horrible periods a bit... less), but my therapist wanted to use it as a last resort because the nearby hospital is kind of not great. A different therapist told me that had I been under her care I would have immediately gone in-patient. I was really scared to go inpatient though, so I really fought against going too.

I know if I ever get as bad as I was- ill go. But I really hope that never happens. But I know its better to just go then to suffer.

So. Have you guys ever been? How... did it help?

[Guiness187055]

4 times and yes they all helped

[cool09]

15 times for depression and I'm close to my 16th. No hospitalization has ever helped me except for the last in February. I hate psych wards. I had residents working on me at Johns Hopkins last year and did a terrible job and I've had horrible doctors and nurses in the 90's. I've been put on terrible anti-psychotics and I've never had a break with reality. Three trials of ECT which didn't help.

[Nammu]

I stopped counting. The problem was they keep giving me ADs which kept me in mania or mixed episodes and that exacerbated my PTSD. The best place was a ward for trauma. It was a small unit with mostly single rooms and much more relaxed than the other units. The majority were helpful. Back in the 80's and 90's they kept you longer. Now days I hear there's not much therapy and you're out before you get stabilized. I thank god I'm stable now cause I hear terrible things about the hospitals near me now.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

5. All of them helped a great deal. I don't enjoy the hospital but I appreciate it.

I've made it 2 years without needing it since I've been on clozapine but every time an episode starts I wonder if this is the time I have to go back. However my current meds kick in or respond to a dose change and so I've managed at home.

[HALLIEBETH87]

My last time was 16 I think.

[possum220]

Lost count......

[scatterbrained04]

Have never gone...

[Wander]

Checked it up recently and this IP stay in my 26th. Sigh ...

Never. My voices never got that bad, except...

Possible trigger:

when they told me to kill myself that one time

But I went to work anyway because I knew they were liars, and I had to help my family because I knew they needed me

I've also gotten...

Possible trigger:

talked out or suicide by my online friends who care deeply about me.

But my pdoc insists the hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc that occur with my elevated moods are indicative of mania. He just doesn't think they're harmful... yet?

[franz kafka]

10 or 11 times, I'm not sure. I got what I came for: stabilization. But being in the hospital is pretty miserable.

[stopchewinggum]

Last time I think was my 15th. A couple psych units were terrible, some human rights violations in one. Some were mediocre. Some of them treated were really good. It all depends. Most of the time just sucks, but you just have go through it, when you need it, to get stabilized. If you find one that is decent, my advice is try to go as walk-in instead of going through ER, if possible. This way, if there's a bed at your choice of ip, you will get it.

10, with 3 for depression, 2 for pure full blown mania, and 5 for mania with mixed features.

I had an additional 2-3 close calls, too. Once I was just sent to an IOP instead of the hospital, but I've been in IOP many times since they always followed my hospitalizations.

[wildflowerchild25]

I think I’m up to 21. They didn’t always help. My problem used to be that I just kept pretending everything was fine until I broke and did a grand gesture of self harm. I also loved the hospital. I loved the safe feeling I got there. I could be my regular self and not hide or pretend. So I used it as an escape. I don’t usually do that anymore. This past hospitalization I tried very hard to stay out but unfortunately wasn’t on the right meds and went psychotic. When I’m psychotic I go willingly because I’m so terrified. I was in a terrible hospital this past time, but they got me on the right AP at least.

5 for suicide attempts, some for self-harm, others for episodes... maybe 11 or 12 over the years

when I was first diagnosed (back at school age) I was in and out of hospital more times than a nurse

eventually cost me my education

as for if they helped... well, I guess it's a tough one

one stay actually did save my life, but worth it?

I don't know

since then my life has just been nothing- oh wait, it's always been nothing.. who am I kidding

12 maybe 15. Most were helpful in that they could make a lot of med changes in a short amount of time, which back when I was hospitalized 2-3 times a year was needed. Gotta love rapid cycling and being treatment resistant.

Twice. Once for threatening, once for attempting. Both times saved my life.

[LadyShadow]

When I tell you its been over 25 times on and off during an 11 year span, I am NOT EVEN exaggerating. I don't want to scare you, (because the staff was helpful but the other patients were GOD AWFUL UGH!), but you DON'T want to end up in the hospital, and it should be an ABSOLUTE last resort.

Through all my years of battling with my Bipolar 1 diagnosis, being hospitalized (mostly due to complete manic psychosis), has HINDERED my Bipolar recovery by a factor of 100!! No joke! Every hospitalization is a MILLION steps backwards in any progress you make because they "Medication BOMB" you with SO MUCH CRAP that you are literally sent home with at LEAST 10 new damn medications that you never had to take before. UGH!

Every single time has been a NIGHTMARE for me, truly. If you can, find yourself the BEST pdoc or therapist you can to help you manage your Bipolar. EVERY EFFORT you actively make to avoid a hospitalization will be life-changer for you, I guarantee it!!

Best of luck my friend, I wish you the best on your Bipolar Journey.

[MRT6211]

4 times, 1st time was helpful, second was meh, third time actually made me worse, 4th time was after a suicide attempt and was scary and unhelpful but they put me into a great outpatient program from there and I’ve been stable ever since.

[Under*Over]

Im afraid to ever go because my parents... just couldnt handle it. I deal with everything on my own. They would freak out if I ever checked myself in- demand to take control of my life and well... thats my greatest fear.

They wouldnt understand and it would hurt. Theyd probably make me drop out of school and just- no. But I do wish I COULD without being afraid of that.

My dads a narcissist so... it would end up being all about him if I ever went. There would be no regard for my feelings and it would just be bad. Controlling. I dont want to be controlled long term,

[Unrigged64072835]

I've been about 11 times, maybe more. I've been stable for over a year and a half now. I hope to reach the 2-year mark in July. All were for suicidal thoughts/plans with bipolar depression. I also have borderline PD which makes it hard for staff to believe me sometimes.

There's only one good psych ward in this area, unfortunately.

[stopchewinggum]

Originally Posted by Under*Over

Im afraid to ever go because my parents... just couldnt handle it. I deal with everything on my own. They would freak out if I ever checked myself in- demand to take control of my life and well... thats my greatest fear.

They wouldnt understand and it would hurt. Theyd probably make me drop out of school and just- no. But I do wish I COULD without being afraid of that.

My dads a narcissist so... it would end up being all about him if I ever went. There would be no regard for my feelings and it would just be bad. Controlling. I dont want to be controlled long term,

I know it's hard, but if you are in a crisis do not let your parents get in the way of you getting help. It's not all about them, sometimes it is about your needs.

[BipolaRNurse]

Just once so far, but there have been a couple of times I was threatened with it and probably should have gone. The time I went IP saved my life. It was actually a good experience for the most part even though the bed was hard and I wasn't thrilled to be locked up. There were groups and individual therapy, activities, good nurses and decent food. I'd always been terrified of the hospital but I'm glad I went and found out it's not anywhere near as awful as I'd imagined. They kept me safe, and I was able to rest and leave my stressful life outside the walls of the hospital for a little while. Well worth it.

[Armos]

I would go because I think it might help. But I'm too afraid too. I've toughened it out this long. But all the stress and anxiety im dealing with making it worse. Is too much. Just need to find a good hospital I guess. And I fear hospitals. XD