[HurtinginOhio]

Was wondering if anyone would share thier own expierience on going to the hospital? How were you recieved? How did you get out? I am alone, 2 hours from family, have just taken double my script of meds and and contemplating a third because 2 did not help. Might go to hospital but fear how i will be looked at?

[Jennifer1084]

I have gone to the hospital on my own free will many times. Actually about 17 times, but my situation is a little severe. The ER will most likely take you seriously and if you need help, deffinitely go get it. All it takes if you really need to is a phone call. But if you are able to take yourself I would do that because otherwise they may take other actions. But I do actually the way it sounds agree with your thought of getting some help.

[jbug]

I have both admitted myself and been committed by a family member. I personally thought my time in the hospital this last time was the best I'd ever been in. If you check yourself in most of the time you can check yourself out but don't do it without the consent of your doc or you could be labeled as AMA (against medical advice) and then your insurance if you have it may not pay at least that what I was told.

If you think you need to be in the hospital I'd go and give it a shot and to me it sounds like you might need to be there but I'm not a doc so I can't say for sure.

Good luck.

Jbug

[FireBird]

I have been in the hospital a total of 3 times and tomorrow will be 4. I am going in tomorrow on my birthday, what a nice present. Not!!! I am prepared to be bored out of my mind. It is very boring at the hospital. The good news is that there are many groups that you go to. And at least with my hospital that I go to you also meet with a psychiatrist everyday. The only problem with that is that they only spend about 5 minutes a day with you and you feel very rushed. Sometimes a stay in the hospital helps me and other times it didn't really help. I hope tomorrow's stay will help me out of this suicidal thinking. I want hope in my life. But all I see is darkness and hopelessness. They also change your pills a lot. That is what I hope happens with me, I want to get off the anti-psychotics. I am not psychotic so why would I need them? That is the question of the day. Everyone is out to get me. I love the government. I love how they spy on people. Now they know I wrote this! How exciting!

[splitimage]

I went voluntarily inpatient this past summer for 7 weeks. I was in a major depressive episode and feeling suiciadal. I had what was called a planned admission, in that I didn't come in through the ER but it was all prearranged about a week in advance through my psychiatrist who worked on the unit I was admitted to. It was overal a positive experience. Lots of group therapy, saw my psychiatrist almost daily, got my meds adjusted, and because I was in as a voluntary patient I could leave the unit whenever I wanted, within certiain hours, so I could go out for walks or for coffee. There was a fair bit of free time though so it could get boring. I coped by making friendship bracelets and learning to knit.

If you feel a hospital stay will do you some good then definitely go for it.

--splitimage

I definetly have done this.

Not for depression in quite a while, but for other mental health issues I deal with.

Simply put, when I feel that my issues are out of my control, I find it extremely calming to hand my issues over to a team of people who know what they are dealing with - I know that they will keep me safe and help me to get things back under control. And when you are overwhelmed with what is going on with you, sometimes handing that control over for a break where you know you will be cared for can be a godsend.

[timeforsleep]

I did not go voluntarily but I can tell you you will be bored. Hopefully you like to read and they have books. You get interviewd by nurses a lot and a doc a couple times. You will be heavily medicated more than likely. You will be supervised and have little privacy and set times for eating and sleeping and waking. You will wear hospitle clothes more than likely

[sujunew]

I know you wrote this a few hours ago HurtinginOhio but I hope that by now you have been able to get yourself to hospital. Taking double your meds and contemplating a 3rd dose will not make you better. If you haven't already asked for help, PLEASE do so now and check back here when you can. It might seem scary but the drs and nurses see patients who have taken too much medication because of mental health issues (and other issues) all the time, and they will be able to get you the help that you need. Please take care. Thanks, suz.

[silver_queen]

I kind of voluntarily admitted myself - I had an appt with a mental health nurse and she wanted me to go to a psych at the hospital for an assessment and once I was there they wouldn't let me leave, lol. If you feel it's something you need to do, better to admit yourself voluntarily rather than be admitted involuntarily.

[bipolar_bear]

I hope you are feeling better after getting their help. I am so glad that you used self care to get it.

BB

[HurtinginOhio]

WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR THEIR ENCOURAGEMENTS AND THOUGHTS, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT I SPENT FOUR DAYS IN A GREAT FACILITY WITH A GREAT STAFF THAT REALLY CARED. I AM DOING MUCH BETTER AND AM NOW TAKING PART IN AN OUTPATIENT PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, THANKS AGAIN!!!

[freedom123]

I've never really done this but I know what goes on. They can hold you there until they know you won't hurt yourself. It could really help though if you feel like that's what you need. Try it. Everything is confidential and theyunderstand how tough life can be.

[silver_queen]

I'm glad you admitted your self and got some benefit from it

I also hope the OP program is useful too.

[mysteri]

I work at a Mental Health Hospital. One thing you need to be aware of is that laws vary from state to state. One person mentioned that because she was voluntary she could come and go as she liked.

I am in Florida and our MH laws are not set up that way. You may be admitted voluntarily but if you decide you want to go home you do one of two things. If you haven't seen your doctor yet, discuss it with him/her and he/she may write your discharge or you will come to an understanding as to when your d/c would be better. The other option is you request a BA51 - that is a formal request that the doctor must respond to in <24 hours. Again, if they agree you are ready, they will discharge you. If they think you aren't but you insist on leaving - they might put you on an involuntary if they feel you are danger to self or others or you may be discharged AMA and your insurance may not pay.

Our emergency room has special area with psychiatric nurses and a psychiatrist that assess all admissions - voluntary or involuntary. Explain your situation to them and then ask all the questions you need before being admitted. (Write them down before your go so you don't forget important ones)

Good Luck! get the help you need

[nina52]

Dear Huntington,

Sorry you are feeling so down. I have never been admitted to a hospital for reason of depression. I have come close, and thought about admitting myself to a rehab place of sorts for my depressioin.
Basically, I have been depressed even as a young child. I always wished the pain
I was feeling would go away. It really never did. My brother and sister felt the same way but had no idea that what we were feeling was depression. Also that was kind of hard to believe.
We grew up in a very dysfunctional home. My father was overly controlling, had a bad temper, argued everyday with Mom and us.
My sister and brother decided to deal or keep from dealing with their unhappiness by drinking by the time they were 13. I was pretty much a loner,
and had no idea what to do about our situation.
I married the first guy that came along when I was 20, and had a daughter by the time I was 23, divorced at 25. The rest is a long story. Maybe someday we can chat about it. Sometimes now when I find myself having a hard time coping, or feeling overwhelmed, I still feel like checking myself in somewhere. At least today there is so much more help available. I find that there is a lot of support here. If you need someone to chat with or pm, I will be there for you. Nina52

[zacharytyler]

I didn't admit myself, but my surrogate brother and I were the only ones there, and my family didn't get there until the next day. Truthfully, I rathered that my family didn't see me- a pride thing, I guess. But my brother is my rock and was glad he was there.

[ziggy1]

Hurting in Ohio, sorry your feeling Down. I was Hosptalized last
May in 2007.

It was not voluntary though. When I first got there I was quite
scared. After 2 days or so, I felt better.

We had group meetings to attend, and we all ate at the same time.
With snack hour around 8p.m. We also had a library and a Tv room.
This is in massachusetts. After 15 days I couldn't wait to go home.

I know how you feel when you say your afraid how u will be looked
upon, I think alot of depressed/anxious people worry about that?
I think its normal, because of the stigmatism attached to Mental
illnesses. Its gotten better but Unfortunately it still exists.

But talk to your doctor first if your meds aren't helping. Get his approval first, if your feeling way low and are suicidal go to E.R. right away. Good Luck...and peace to you

[clskrock]

Hope you continue to improve.
Dennis