[leighe]

So after 3 and a half very long months I have finally been discharged from hospital.
I now have a flat and things are supposed to be getting better....

The problem is, I don't think the professionals realise how quickly people become dependent on their environment, such as hospital, where there are people around 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, there is always someone to talk to and ways to keep active. I don't think they realise just how difficult the transition is...

I've rearranged my living room, put all of my belongings in their place, cleaned the flat, spent time on the internet looking at houseplants and other various bits to make the place feel more homely. Now I am bored and it's going to be more than 24 hours until I see someone from the crisis team who is coming by to check up on me, by which time it would have been 48 hours since seeing anyone.

In hospital they constantly talked about social inclusion and keeping busy and promised me things would be put in place when i get discharged so that I wouldn't be on my own and there would be things to do. But surprise surprise sod all was done and now all I have is time for my mind to race.....

Does anyone else feel like they are constantly let down by the mental health services?

Sorry, just needed to moan. At least it passed 5 minutes.

[hamsterdance]

Yes they are like bad pizza, they promise more than they deliver.

[medkev13]

Wow, rimshot for Hamsterdance (which, btw, is one of my wife's favorite songs ^_^ just sayin').

I worked in a crisis unit for a (very) short stent, and can totally understand the difficulty in making a transition. The biggest thing you can do for yourself is get out into the world and be active. Socializing can ground you, so long as you're medicated. I see on your profile that bipolar is the main battle for you. I live in a family of bipolar people, so I know the ups and downs of social dynamics. Too much time alone can spark OCD symptoms (which are comorbid), or push your bipolar into depression. At the very least you have a little socializing here ::cheezy grin::

[gma45]

I just saw your post today. I hope you have been trying to stay busy. I know how hard it can be to try and keep busy when you are by yourself. Did they come and check on you or give you any ideas how to pass the time? I know being on the internet helps me also I like to do crafts which is a good way to pass the time. I wish you well

[Tamster]

I too was DCd from hospital just this week. I have had a string of hospitalizations and yes we become very dependent on the institutionalization. I need desperately to break the cycle I am also bored and surfing the net. I have shrink and T appointments next week as well as a home visit from crisis intervention but I'm full of nervous energy and can't calm down. I wonder if changing our environment alittle when in hospital would help the transition, if we didn't see the same four wall for weeks, ya know.

Originally Posted by Tamster

I too was DCd from hospital just this week. I have had a string of hospitalizations and yes we become very dependent on the institutionalization. I need desperately to break the cycle I am also bored and surfing the net.

I went through a period of this years ago. My hospitalizations were starting to harm me, and I had to find to another way.

It is very possible to break the dependency cycle.

How, I broke free and became independent was to find something to do, that did not involve psychiatry or any of the people I befriended, in there. For me, it was school. At the time, I did not have my high school diploma, so I choose to work on that. Other things to consider are volunteer work, a part time job, a social club, etc...You can even request help from a community agency, that specializes in helping people with mental illness. Once, one builds a life outside of the hospital, it gets easier.

Another approach, I used, was to keep my distance. After discharge, I refused to visit other patients, I befriended, until they were released. This boundary really helped.

Slowly, my dependency faded away.

[Tamster]

My pdoc wants me to volunteer in the worst way, but it has to be my choice of what I do he won't even suggest. I have some ideas but I am strangely scared I used to do lots of volunteering at asthma camp, BMT camp, reading with adults, soup kitchens. But now I can't grasp onto anything. I just stare into space and zone out. I feel wasted not doing something.

[possum220]

Yup in the same boat. Moved to a new place. Spent months in a clinic and now I am home. Silence. I signed up for a mentors program where they help you to do something of interest. Only there are 11 people ahead of me so it will take months to get in. I can't find any community programs that interest me. I have done volunteer work in the past but not sure where to go from here as I am in a different area.

I was able to keep myself busy by buying things for the first week, but I do need to be sensible with my money. So I need to find something to do or depression will kick me in the butt again.

[Tamster]

I was busy moving for awhile as well but now that things have settled down its like fighting the same old boredom. If funds were unlimited then I would be fine but let's face it they're not. Wow keep me posted about the mentor program I've never heard of one for adults that would be so neat.