[Thomi]

I am so depressed right now. Suicidal and depressed. I'm off of me Geodon and starting risperdal tonight. I haven't had a suicidal thought in a while and I don't trust myself. I tried talking to my husband about it but he doesn't understand. I feel so low. I don't want to go to the hospital because I know this will pass eventually. Also, I've never been to the hospital so I'm scared. Anyway, thanks for listening.

[Jifiner]

Please talk to someone, anyone. IMHO, the hospital is a last resort. Been there, done that. Do something, clean house, read a book, take a bath, anything! If you need someone to call, call me - I will listen.

[Moose72]

Hey- I'm here too. I've never been to the psych hospital either, but if you need it, you need it.

[AnnHertel]

Originally Posted by Thomi

I am so depressed right now. Suicidal and depressed. I'm off of me Geodon and starting risperdal tonight. I haven't had a suicidal thought in a while and I don't trust myself. I tried talking to my husband about it but he doesn't understand. I feel so low. I don't want to go to the hospital because I know this will pass eventually. Also, I've never been to the hospital so I'm scared. Anyway, thanks for listening.

I've been to the psych hospital twice... and it's been at the times when I was craziest, mixed episodes and inflicting self harm because it was "fun". Going to the hospital the first time was scary because I didn't know what to expect... but it's not bad. The group therapy sessions are helpful, you are surrounded in a very supportive environment with people who know how you feel and can relate and share with. It's very therapeutic. If you go in for suicidal reasons, they will keep you for min of 72 hours. The best part is you get to see a pdoc every day and they can help you get your meds straightened out. Its almost like a small vacation, relaxation away from the every day stresses while you regroup and get stable again. If you are truly scaring yourself with your suicidal thoughts and wishes... I hope that you do go in.

Have you thought about group therapy before? It can be very helpful... the best thing for me was just seeing people face to face who were going through something similar to me and understood how I was feeling. Knowing I wasn't alone was what I needed at that time.

Take care,
Ann

[theama]

I've been at a psych ward five-six times, my longest stay was one month, my shortest was one day.

It's not so scary, and if you're submitted by your own terms (and not forced) you usually get to stay in an open ward, as opposed to the closed ward where you might meet some really crazy people.
The one month stay at the hospital psych. ward was one of the best months of my life, I met so many nice people. I can't say that the stay helped me much though, cos two months later - I was back.

If you're scaring yourself and you think you need to be protected from yourself; get submitted to a ward. They'll take care of you, you'll talk to a psychiatrist, you might get some new medication or change the dosage of your current one etc.
I don't know about where you live, but here there are wards for the purpose of evaluation - so you stay there for some months and get a proper evaluation so that they can pinpoint exactly what your disorders are and how to help you.

And there's usually group therapy in psych. wards, I was really scared of going to one but I learned a lot from participating in them.
The first time in a psych ward can be pretty scary, but just open up and talk to the other "inmates" and try to make some friends and you'll be fine. Crazy people are usually fun people, as long as they're not psychotic. 0.o

PS. If you are going to submit yourself, you'll need to back a bag with clothes etc but there are guidelines for what you can wear and have access to in the ward.
Don't bring anything that requires a belt or a string (that includes sweatpants); bring shoes that don't require shoe laces and also bring slippers/woolen socks.
Bring plenty warm, comfortable clothes; bring a week's worth of underwear (you can wash your clothes there).
Bring a good face cream, hand cream and eye droplets (the air in hospitals is really dry); bring whatever hygiene products you need cos otherwise you have to use the hospital stuff... yuck!
If you smoke, bring plenty of cigarettes (more than you need).
Bring a water bottle and bring cash (sometimes there's a kiosk in the facilities).

Your cash, outerwear, clothes, hygiene products, cell phone etc will be locked in a closet if you're in a closed ward, but you usually get to keep your toothbrush. And you can have access to all your things (except cell phone) if you just ask. Most places have those phone booths that use calling cards. If you're in an open ward you're allowed to have clothes with belts and strings as well as full access to all your stuff.
I recommend bringing some make-up, cos after a couple days you really start feeling dirty and messy.
And don't tell anyone that you have cigarettes or cash, cigarettes work like currency in there "I'll give you my valium if you give me two cigarettes" (and they usually trade drugs). And keep your cell phone and whatever else hidden, cos people will steal it.

Yeah there's a lot of guidelines. :P I wish someone had told me all of that before my first submission where I had to ruin my sweatpants by taking the string out, and my jeans kept falling down cos I didn't have a belt.