Already Back Home

Well, I went to the "hospital" and I was supposed to stay until December 2nd. I got there on the 28th. But they put me in a room with someone else. I had to share a room with someone else. I told them before I entered the "program" that I was not comfortable sharing a room with anyone. Well, THEY decide that it can't be worked out that way... but only AFTER my hubby has already dropped me off and left. If I had known this before he left, I'd have never stayed. So, even though I was uncomfortable, I tried to make it work. They had me roomed with an 18 year old girl that had just been transferred from another facility because she took a piece of glass and sliced both of her arms from shoulder to thumb. She had more stitches in her arms than I have ever seen on any one human in my life. I felt really sorry for her.. We talked for awhile.. just about regular things like our families, and kids, and things we like or dislike. Everything seemed to be going well. Then night came. This poor girl completely lost it. She was screaming and yelling... I couldn't understand a word she was saying. She took all of her clothes out of her closet and was throwing them out all over the room. She was crying hysterically. Needless to say, I was COMPLETELY freaked out. The staff came in and got her calmed down. I immediately asked for another room.... ALONE. They explained that they didn't have any single beds open. They assured me that "she" wouldn't hurt me, that everything was fine now, and to just try to get some sleep. HA! There's no way that I could have gone to sleep after that. So I tossed and turned all night. Morning came, and I went through the day talking to some of the other patients and everything was ok for a little while. THe staff told me that they were working on getting me another room. They still had nothing worked out by bedtime, so I had to spend another night being terrified. I understand this girl probably has many problems that she can't help. And I did feel sorry for her for having to go through the things she has to go through. But I was there to get BETTER...not to have my nerves and and anxiety all worked up. I think I was more nervous in the place where I was supposed to be getting help than I am at home. Needless to say, I called my husband to come and pick me up early this morning. I couldn't handle another night like that. This "program" that I agreed to do was called the Crisis Stabilization Program or CSP. My new pdoc even recommended it for me. I did at least get my new meds. So, that's the good thing that came out of all of this. I'm just at a loss for words. I don't know what to think about this place... or if I should give this program another chance. ughhh

(((((((((((((((((((((((MP)))))))))))))))))))))))) I'm sorry that you weren't given what was promised and expected in such a necessary step in your life. That can be so disillusioning on its own.

I'm so sorry that it worked out that way. I WOULD tell the p'doc how it was there. He needs to know since he's referring ppl's there.

I'm glad you're home and safe, with the new meds. We're here for you.

KD

(((((((((((MP)))))))))))))) I'm sorry that your hospital stay was so traumatic. I can see why you would want to leave early.

I'm sorry I missed your other post when you said you were doing poorly. Hope the new meds help and you feel better soon.

Geeze Louise, My Gott, talk about counter productive. Hello!!!
Mental, I'm so glad you got out of there. I can't wait to hear what your doc has to say about your experience....... I am so sorry it came down like that. B U M M E R . Geeze, what can I say? Geeze. Better luck next time??? I don't know if I could go back there either. Geeze.

i'm another one that cannot share a room in any hospital. jeeez........i'm so glad that you got out of there! and you got meds!

I do not blame you one iota. I would have been furious. Glad you got out -- so sorry -- but welcome back

Sorry this happened to you. I take it this was your first hospitalization on a mental health unit. It doesn't matter what type of program you are in private or public mental health units dont place their clients in single rooms unless they need suicidal watch with a camera and t way mirrors for observation. The reason they do this is because all mental disorders have a symptom where the client isolates themselves so they don't allow the client to isolate themselves as a part of the treatment plans. And what you experienced is normally what goes on on mental health units. there is no guarentee who or what problems or what your experience is going to be like. During one of my "stays" in a hospital my roommate picked up her mattress and threw it then slammed her bed around until she broke a window I was luck I had the bed by the door and got out of the room fast. My last "stay" I was in the solarium alone when an orderly came in to let me know he was locking up. (all the rooms that didn't have beds and clients had to be locked at night) anyway I finished up my journal writing and got ready to leave when he came back to lock up. He locked him and I in and raped me threatening that if I caused a ruckus I would be restrained to my bed for refusing to leave the solarium and attacking HIM and I would be on ECT list for the next morning. So it was either he had me in the solarium or he had me while I was restrained. I gave in and the next day punched a wall so that they had a reason to put me in a windowed/ two way mirrored/ camera room. I was released a week later and I will NEVER go back to a mental health unit alive again. So Im glad you got out when you did and am sorry for what happened to you. take care. and my suggestion to anyone else thinking about hospitals try working the therapy plans with your therpists first and leave hospitals as a last resort. They are no day at the spa.

Oh my goodness! Myself, that is so terrible! I am so sorry that you had to go through that. It's scary to know what REALLY goes on in some of these places.

Actually, I was allowed to stay in a single bed unit on my last stay in a mental health hospital... But to keep us from isolating ourselves, we had to be out of our rooms at 8:30 AM, and we couldn't go to bed until 8:00 PM. And that's the way this "program" worked, too. I'm very hesitant to go back to another ever again, too. I can understand what you are saying.

OMG - Myself.... omg omg omg

This thread is hurting me... I almost put my husband into the hospital when he was in bad shape. I'm now so glad I didn't.

((( MP ))) ((( Myself )))

Thank you. It sure is scarey. Tv glorifys hospitalizations and so does alot of people who hve never been there so alot of times people think MHU's are a great place to go when they need a break, or for attention but boy when a person really needs them and lands in one its not a glorified idea any longer. The first night in there can shake a person into a complete reality check. I hoppe you are doing ok since being released. It took me a long time to get back into the swing of things after being released.

I remember when my husband was in his worst MDE - I went to a NAMI meeting. They had a guest speaker, and on the agenda, it said that the topic was going to be "commitment". I thought to myself "how nice... this is a good reminder that we need to be committed to helping our partners through their depression, or that they need to be committed to getting and managing their treatment".

Was I in for a shock. The "Committment" presentation was about being committed to a state facility. That's when it really hit me how serious my husband's situation was -- he would have been a good candidate, according to the criteria that the speaker presented. I bawled uncontrollably during the entire presentation and couldn't stop through the NAMI meeting. I am sure I made everyone very uncomfortable.

Sorry to hijack -- the memories are flooding back...

My stay at a hospital wasn't anything like that. I had a good experience.
I suppose it depends on what hospital you go to.
MP, that girl needed to be in a room by herself. They did not handle that well. No way in hell would I have stayed in a room with someone who was wigging out that badly. Even if they had to pull someone out of the single rooms and put that person in with you and give the girl the room to herself-that would have been more appropriate.
I don't blame you for leaving.
Try another hospital if you can. Ask if they have separate bedrooms for people who are in violent distress mode.
It's one thing not to have your own room, it's another to have to sleep with someone you're afraid of. Dag.
((((((Mental))))))))

Mental and Myself, One bag of dark chocolate for me and one bag of donuts for the bears..... I'm heading for the woods, don't let "them" get me. I'd rather be recyled into a bear.

I've never understood the mandatory mingling treatment criteria. Why does forcing us to "act normal" make them feel better? So far, the only creature I have been able to roommate with, ie: actually be able to sleep in the same room with, are rabbits.
If I ever got locked up, I would never sleep again. Scares the bubbles right out of my soda. And the sexual assault stuff, oh Geeez, is so common...... "Here bear, here bear........",sayeth me-eth.

LOL I'll join you in those wood if anyone EVER puts out another commitment order on me. Ill bring the pan of slops for the racoons and a port a potty.

What a beyond horrible experience some of you have had ..I was lucky I guess when I did my time on a psychward it was a nice regular hospital with a psychward on it...all nurses , no guards....you were allowed to NOT do stuff and I oddly got my own room down a wing by myself cause I needed some sleep...otherwise they did make you room with someone...though I bet if one had bucks they didnt have to.....my point is not all of these places are bedlam but man I hope I never go in again after reading a few of these...also if you don't have mental health insurance you get out faster ...sad but true

(((((((((((((((((((((Jenn)))))))))))))))))))))))

all three of my "stays" was on a normal hospital with a psych ward on it. the ward had a total of 20-25 bedrooms. 2 beds per room and 2 observation rooms that had one bed, one chair and camera mounted on the wall and 2 t way mirror in the door. Other than the experience the ward was "heaven' for what it contained - 2 solariums (one smokers and one non but now both non) 2 group rooms that was also for "rounds" and sometime individual therapy with 2 way mirrors, a "rec room" with outdated books and a pool table and tv, a lounge with tv,VCR where only approved movies were shown, laundry room with a washer and dryer so patients can do their own wash (wearing normal "street clothes was manditory unless on suicide/escape watch) Kitchen that was stocked every morning with goodies and healthy food and a dining area, and also the occupational therapy room which was basically an art room where you created and took out your emotions or like me just created. LOL. Given the heavenly items do I change my mind on going back? Hell no. I have a decraration of mental health care in place that state if other options are available I am NOT to be hospitalized. And it is legally binding.

From this thread it seems like psychiatric hospitals are a mixed bag. I'm so very sorry {{{{{MP, myself, and anyone I missed}}}}} had those experiences. They sound like horrible nightmares!

Sleeps, your mention of *bedlam* reminded me of a book I read while I was in grad school: Bedlam: Greed, Profiteering and Fraud in a Mental Health System Gone Crazy by Joe Sharkey. It was a good read - fiction but making valid points. I highly recommend it.

Again MP...soooooo glad to see you again!!!!!!

Well, A long time ago in a state not so far away I was committted to a state hospital. It was pretty traumatic in many ways, including being victimized by an orderly but not raped. There was nothing that helped me there, only the crap got scared out of me so I will never tell anyone if I amsuicidal, I'll just handle it. It was the place and the time. My husband spent time when he was an adolescent in a psych ward. His was not a state run place and was much better and very helpful. Again,I am speaking of many moons ago. Back than they kept people for months in the private hospitals.

Hubby has also been modern hospitalized x 2 at 2 different hospitals and all it did was keep him safe, I guess it's good enough. Me, give me a king bed with my best friend and let me snuggle and I will be safe.

They have their roles but in my opinion, they are overly used.

So after this hijack, sorry this happened to you. I wish I could do something to help take the trauma out of it for you. Good luck.

AFter reading all of this, I had to post my experience. A few years ago, I presented to my T and told him I needed help. Taht I was cycling down really fast and I couldnt' control it anymore, and that if he didn't find a place for me I'd be dead by morning. Straightforward, right?

Wrong. He came and picked me up, and took me to the facility that cares for professionals in a suicidaly state. Well guess what? They wouldn't take me. They dumb effers told me I was too young to be so miserable, gave me a Valium (which incidentally had me climbing the walls all night long) and sent me home. It was only through the consistant, HOURLY checking in with T that I was able to get through the next several days.

What a load of crap. I detest MHU's.