Who visited you during your psych hospitalizations?

Perhaps this question seems out the blue, but I have a reason for asking. Anyway, who in your life ever visited you during any of your psych hospitalizations, or sent anything, or really even followed up with you later?

My husband. Period! And that's during 10 separate hospitalizations with the average length three weeks each.

Cards and the like? Again, only Hubby, including during one hospitalization that included my birthday. I will say that fellow patients were super sweet, giving me art therapy works, etc.

Calls or emails? Only Hubby, though I will say no cell phones or computers were available in my hospitals. There were pay phones. Hubby called sometimes, but he visited every possible day.

Follow-up? No one beyond my husband, really. When my husband would inform my father about my many hospitalizations, his response was always "Tell her to give me a call when she gets out and feels better." Workmates? Total and utter silence. Definitely no fruit basket!

My mother was not alive during any of my hospitalizations. Her unexpected death was actually one of the reasons for my first. I know she would have visited me.

When my youngest nephew was hospitalized I visited him three times and brought him snacks and candy. I wanted to visit him more, but my sister would often tell me not to. Either that he was soon getting out, or some other reason. When I visited him, he always seemed so appreciative. Obviously my sister visited him, and even my father once. That was curious!

I visited my father and brother several times during their hospitalizations and even a few of my brother's chemo treatments. I visited my sister once during one of hers. And of course my mom's.

@Soupe du jour

I was a 13 and 14 year old kid for most of my hospitalizations and I was at childrens psych hospitals so I had various teachers and my principal and staff from treatment centers and family who came to see me. I still remember feeling very alone though.

I visited my dad all the time at the hospital and rehab center he was at. Pretty much daily. Often we would bring fast food. We even brought our dog one time to see him.

Just my mom for most of them. My girlfriend visited me during my first IEA (which she caused).

Oh and once I got into ACT my case manager visited me once a week

I’ve had many, many hospitalizations. My mum mostly, dad was uncomfortable with hospitalizations, of any kind. My husband the first two, although the hospital would not let us be alone because he was an abuser. Friends from when I worked the first couple, even though I had quit. We were a close bunch, we have softball and volleyball teams after work.

Later when I disappeared from me home state. I had various friends that would come see me. But for most of my hospitalizations I told nobody and had no visitors. I really wasn’t in a place for visitors. I’ve been in hospitals during holidays and was glad not to have to socialize.

In the early years my therapists would visit but things changed and hospitals no longer encourage therapists to visit. And stays got shorter. Insurance wouldn’t cover them to visit anymore. The focus became shove meds and push out the door.

My
Cousin and
Aunt.

Only people
I trust

I've been very lucky and haven't been hospitalized, but my family members have. I find it very important to show support and love for your family by visiting/sending gifts. I would feel my treatment plan would be hindered somewhat if I didn't have anyone on the outside showing me support and love. I'm glad you have a caring husband who can understand.

You have an amazing husband!!!

Just my husband and daughter (in the hospitals where they allowed kids). Most of the time I don't get visitors though because of my husband's work schedule. This last time I was in the hospital I didn't get any visitors at all. Boo hoo!

Just my husband. I don't tell anyone when I'm in the hospital. If my parents call my husband makes excuses why I can't talk. I'm certain my son will visit me now that he's old enough.

my mother once, but was forced to leave the ward for abusing me on sight

other than that, other patients and nurses

I don't really know many people, and when I say no many people, I mean in general- not even as friends

Nobody but that's my choice. It's a 2.5 hour drive to my hospital and I don't want anyone driving 5 hours just to see me not feeling well or having some reaction to meds. I also like to feel like I can feel as bad as I want in the hospital and having family around makes me pretend to be ok.
I do get phone calls and am able to call my mom and my sister has called and put my nieces on. When I was in for Christmas my mom sent a "safe" bouquet. I also have computer access so am able to email and facebook as much as I want to. It works for me although I know lots of people feel really alone without visitors. Last time my roommate brought me into her visits and even had her family bring me candy bars which was sweet. I've also had other family members offer to bring me things from the real world when they knew how far away I live.

@emily1890, I'm sorry your mom was so cruel that they had to do that. You deserved a safehaven.

I remember as a teen (15) in therapy for the first time, after a traumatic experience. Since I was still so young, my parents were asked in be in the room. The whole time, my dad complained how I was stressing him out (for lack of better words). My issues then had little to do with him, so I saw that as self-centered and uncaring on his part. It made me refuse to return to those sessions. I loved my dad, but everything was always "all about him" most years of his life.

@BeyondtheRainbow, I understand you wanting privacy at times. I, too, had some when it would have even been scary for some to see me (psychotic/violent). But also, as you mentioned, it is nice to have the support during the rest.

One point in my posting this thread is the occasional difference in support for psychiatric hospitalizations versus other types. Stigmatized illess versus not. It's nice to read that some didn't experience this discrepancy.

Thanks to all here for sharing on this topic!

My mom and step dad whose now deceased. My mom has always been there for me except when she had a heart attack and was in the hospital when I was in the hospital.

I always really struggle
Bc I don’t really
Feel
Up to phone calls and my bossy sister wants to
***** about me not there
And gets mad I don’t call everyday even though I’m usually psychotic and not aware

no one came to visit me, maybe they were not allowed. I spoke on the phone daily with my hubby. I did not receive any cards from my family. I could not have a phone there or other devices. I thought I died and saw myself in a coffin. I kept saying where is jeff, I could not see him this really upset me.
I went in for a medication switch because mine stopped working. I was there a month and was psychotic a lot of the time, it was terrible. Then I went to IOP Which helped me some but not for very long I asked if I could leave the therapy and not get into trouble. I needed to get home and reopen my business.This was all during covid. So I could use that as an excuse for closing my business. for 9 weeks.
anyway
I opened it up and now I am busier than ever, I have a waiting list.
bizi

Not to mention my last ip was at the height of covid and we weren’t allowed to have visitors

@bizi, congratulations on the success of your business! Yea, I think different hospitals have different policies. And/or different wards. When I detoxed once, the dual diagnosis ward only allowed visitors on a day (Saturdays) of "family addictions education", while the regular psych ward allowed visitors every night.

Thanks for your nice note/post to me.
hope you are settling in.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi