[meccorad]

So I told my doctor about the suicidal thoughts and the whole wristcutting incident and so he wants me to visit a psychiatric center namely this one http://wpic.upmc.com/

Now my question to everyone is this: What can I expect from a psychiatric center? What's going to happen to me? Are they going to make me stay there ? Will I have to attend therapy, what? If I have to stay for awhile, can I bring things with me?

If you've been to a place like this, even if it was good or bad, please share...I'm seriously afraid of what's going to happen to me. I just wanted to go home and forget any of this happened...

[splitimage]

I was inpatient at a psychiatric hospital for 7 weeks last summer and it was mostly a good experience. We had group therapy several times a day along with recreational therapy, and we had the option of going to a gym to work out three times a week. I was assigned a nurse as my primary point of contact and I could talk to her whenever I felt I needed it. I also saw my psychiatrist almost daily which was important because we were making med changes. I was basically only allowed to bring clothes, books, and some craft supplies and personal toilletries. Anything sharp had to be handed in to the nurses, but you could sign out your razor for shaving. Since I was a voluntary patient I had full priviledges to leave the unit whenever I wanted (within certain hours) so I could go for coffee or walks outside. The biggest downside is boredom. Despite the group therapy, there is a lot of down time, so I wound up watching a lot of TV, and doing a lot of crafts. I learned to knit when I was in there. After discharge, I went into an 8 week outpatient treatment program called transition to community which had me going back four days a week for a couple of group therapy sessions (basically only a couple of hours a day) and meetings with a nurse and psychiatrist to discuss my goals on reintegrating into the community. Being inpatient helped me immensely and although I was really resistant to th e idea at first, I now consider it one of the better decisions I ever made. That being said, I was in a really good program in a really good dedicated psych hospital. They're a WHO centre of excellence site. I've heard of people having much worse experiences than mine in places where little or no therapy was offered.

Good luck.

--splitimage

My pdoc wanted me to go into the hospital at one point due to my paranoia & she thought I could get my meds worked on, but I refused. My mother was in & out of mental institutions (back then in the 60's-70's things were much more different than now) & I witnessed that with my visits & for that reason I have probably an UNREASONABLE reaction to any hospitalization--I just won't do it under my free will.

Have done the outpatient program where you go for 4 hours 4 nights a week. I went for about 8 weeks--very helpful when I was first dxed with bipolar.

Several friends from my support group have been in the hospital (some more than once, unfortunately), but they have found it helpful to neutral an experience. Good luck.--Suzy

[jbug]

I have been in and out of the hospital for years. Some hospitals were good and some were not so good. The good one is the one that if I end up having to go back I will go back to. They have groups during the day and most days I see my pdoc. Ours is a locked unit which means even the outside is locked and you are allowed to go outside to smoke or just go outside for awhile every couple of hours. Expect lots of down time. I spent my time either asleep (which was discouraged),reading or working those word find books. I spent most of my time in my room as I'm uncomfortable around people I'm not familiar with but was forced outside my room several times a day. I would then go sit on a couch with my word find book and do my thing. Smoke breaks broke up the day and were looked forward to. I don't think I was totally ready to leave when I did but it was very important for me to leave when I did. If you would like more on that PM me and I will comment more on that.

Jbug

[BalishBun]

I never have, but i wish you the best of luck, whether you go or not.

[meccorad]

That's what I'm concerned about; the down time. I smoke enough as it is..there's no way they're going to let me have 10 smoke breaks a day, nor will they let me smoke 3 cigs during a break...

I'm pretty sure the down time is what's going to get me, because all I do on a normal basis is sleep 12 hours a day and then do nothing. Especially when I'm in a foreign situation...But maybe this will be a good thing, if they make me get out and interact with people.

[Clandestine]

I'll just describe what's it like in the psych ward where I went last January 2008:

Mine was an in-stay one, for 8 days straight. It wasn't a pleasant experience AT FIRST because there's no contact to the outside world, except for a television in the lounge. No phone call, no visitors from family/friends.

Of course, scheduled meals, therapy sessions like baking, cooking, art and craft, et cetera. In my ward, there's a gym if you want to work out. As for the smokers, we have a smoking schedule every day. It's only twice a day, 30 minutes after lunch and dinner.

In my hospital, if you don't want to eat the hospital food served, you can ask for food delivery from nearby restaurants and fast food, but we do it on a scheduled time only.

You get talked to by psychiatrists and psychologists too everyday. You can also play with the nurses, PSP and board games. You can bring a book but only if your Doctor approves of it. I wasn't allowed to bring my iPod with me ;[

The ONLY thing that made my hospital stay good was meeting a friend who share the same problem as me... and we became real life close friends after we both got out of the ward. ;] It was wrong timing because I had to stop my studies in the University and all... and the year just started >.> So what a nice beginning of 2008 for me!! >.>

I hope it sort of answered some of your pondering ;]

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

[nightbird]

why can't you go home?

peace,
nightbird

[meccorad]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Clandestine said:
I'll just describe what's it like in the psych ward where I went last January 2008:

Mine was an in-stay one, for 8 days straight. It wasn't a pleasant experience AT FIRST because there's no contact to the outside world, except for a television in the lounge. No phone call, no visitors from family/friends.

Of course, scheduled meals, therapy sessions like baking, cooking, art and craft, et cetera. In my ward, there's a gym if you want to work out. As for the smokers, we have a smoking schedule every day. It's only twice a day, 30 minutes after lunch and dinner.

In my hospital, if you don't want to eat the hospital food served, you can ask for food delivery from nearby restaurants and fast food, but we do it on a scheduled time only.

You get talked to by psychiatrists and psychologists too everyday. You can also play with the nurses, PSP and board games. You can bring a book but only if your Doctor approves of it. I wasn't allowed to bring my iPod with me ;[

The ONLY thing that made my hospital stay good was meeting a friend who share the same problem as me... and we became real life close friends after we both got out of the ward. ;] It was wrong timing because I had to stop my studies in the University and all... and the year just started >.> So what a nice beginning of 2008 for me!! >.>

I hope it sort of answered some of your pondering ;]

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Not to sound ignorant, but when I think of arts and crafts the only thing that comes to mind is macaroni valentines cards and popsicle log cabins....I'm pretty sure I won't be attending. I'm not exactly artistic. I can play the piano, but that's it. I'm pretty sure the whole not smoking as much thing is going to put a damper on my day, not that actually being in a mental ward isn't going to put a HUGE damper on my day...just that smoking is the only way I can really deal with stress.

I'm getting closer to return day....I get more and more nervous about it.

[Clandestine]

Hey meccorad, how's it going lately?

In my ward, we have the option not to attend those therapy sessions anyway. I didn't attend like half of them. Cutting papers and stuff isn't my thing. I think I just attended the cooking ones. I don't know how to cook. The therapists wanted me to do it myself, I told them "No, I'll just watch over here."

Regarding the smoking thing, I don't know if you can make arrangements with that with your doctor. But I suggest you talk to him about it. The last thing they want to happen is you getting manic and restless.

I hope you're fine...

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

[meccorad]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Clandestine said:
Hey meccorad, how's it going lately?

In my ward, we have the option not to attend those therapy sessions anyway. I didn't attend like half of them. Cutting papers and stuff isn't my thing. I think I just attended the cooking ones. I don't know how to cook. The therapists wanted me to do it myself, I told them "No, I'll just watch over here."

Regarding the smoking thing, I don't know if you can make arrangements with that with your doctor. But I suggest you talk to him about it. The last thing they want to happen is you getting manic and restless.

I hope you're fine...

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Hey Clandestine,

Everything's getting hectic here. I'm freaking out about everything. I have so much to do before I can leave this wednesday and I haven't done any of it. I've just been so down that I haven't been able to get out and function like I should be. I'm nervous all of the time now. I want to go home, but I don't want to.

I'm nervous about traveling this time. I don't know how I'm going to do it. Every possible bad scenario is just running wild through my head. Ugh..

[Clandestine]

Of course, you'll feel that way. The place you are about to go is so unfamiliar, and you really don't know what's going to happen next. BUT BUT BUT. You're gonna be fine in the end. After all, that's the purpose of going in there, to sort things out with yourself ;] When everything seems dark, keep your chin up and hope for a better tomorrow. ;] I have a feeling you'll do fine.

Just work on the things you have to do. You have to be strong for yourself too, you know.

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

[314159pi]

what you can expect from a psychiatric hospital is that they will heavily medicate you to keep you from killing yourself and then theyll adjust the meds until you are somewhat functional and then theyll let you go home.
If you are crafty youll find a way to sneak cigarettes in the bathroom with other smokers who have organized a plan to do this. you wont like being under other peoples control. but if it keeps you alive until you get better then the hospital is a good idea and a necessary evil.
do it and live. bite the bullet.
g'luck
-pi

[bigdizzle]

I have a question about this to, Does anyone know if you can get fired from your job is say you do a inpatient stay? That is a huge concern of mine. TIA

[Merlin]

You should not be fired. You have the right to medical leave (at least if you are salaried.) I have been given medical leave before, though I was only in the hospital for 2-3 days (I can't remember exactly since I was still focused on the medical results (the doctors were talking about sending me to a ICU if my stats didn't improve.) There is a limit to how long they will keep your position open, but it will be longer than a week or two.

[mylife254]

where are those hospitals located?

[314159pi]

the laws that protect you from job termination differ from country to country-- and we dont know where you live so i cant begin to advise you.
i live in the usa where we have a law called the americans with disabilities act that was signed in 1992 by george h w bush. i dont think they can legally fire you for seeking treatment for a mental health problem. if you are really worried then you should consider lying about the reasons for your hospitalization.
good luck
pi

[Merlin]

I don't know that you need to disclose the nature of your disability; just have a doctor use a generic form.

[splitimage]

Last time I was off on medical leave, for rehab, the insurance forms demanded to know what I was being treated for, so I don't think it's possible to hide the nature of the problem from the insurance companies and they had to go through work to be processed, so there was no way to keep my company from knowing what I was for. They were cool with it though and in Canada at least alcoholism is considered a disease and you can't be fired for a medical disability.

When I was in the psych hospital, I wasn't working so I didn't have to worry about anyone finding out. My only challenge was explaining what I'd done in the year I had off of work, when I was job hunting.

--splitimage

[kebsfroggy]

yes and no.....how is that for no answer.
I was put on what was called "family leave" for 8 weeks. After that time my pay and medical insurance coverage would continue for 3 months on a sliding scale.

When I couldn't return after 8 weeks I received a letter from the company saying that I was terminated however I could return any time during the next 12 months and they would guarantee me a job. Not necessarily the same job or at the same pay scale I had been doing but I would be guaranteed a job.

All things considered I thought that was pretty generous of them. The company I worked for was a very good company for its workers. I think that doesn't happen very often.