Injustices for the Mentally Ill

I'm wondering how many people out there may have similar things that have happened to them or if I'm alone.

I have the ordinary level of bad treatment and betrayals due to people reacting to my diagnosis, but I'm thinking of all the times when serious injustices occurred.

Many of these happened either at the hands of police or in the hospital. Once I was put in 5 point restraints because I pounded my fist in frustration when repeated denied medical treatment for a severe case of pneumonia. I couldn't breathe and was feeling like I was going to die. They let me soil myself because they wouldn't let me get up and then on the way to seclusion I asked to clean up and they led me to a bathroom with only cold water. When I asked for a towel and warm water, they just scoffed and threw me into seclusion where I sat in my own stuff for a day and night.

After I got out I insisted on an X-ray. They tied me to a gurney in full restraints and I was yelling to turn me over so I could breathe. A big guy over 300 pounds put his hands on my ribs and used his body weight I guess to get me to shut up. I lost consciousness. Then I really was scared and started screaming about what he had done so he took a blanket and covered my whole head again to shut me up. Again I lost consciousness. I could have died.

Another time on a welfare check where I was actually okay a cop handcuffed me too tightly and then used a choke strap to strangle me twice. Both times I lost consciousness except I heard his sadist laugh. Then he proceeded to kick me down the stairs. I could have fallen and broken my neck. I was terrified.

I could go on. There are many more examples. People seem to think they can get away with stuff like this just because you have a diagnosis so no one will believe what you say about what actually happened.

((iota))

I have seen some poor behavior by "professionals" in the treatment system, but it has been many years since this occurred. My tendency has almost always been to internalize my rage. I have witnessed many others let their anger out & throw things, and hurt themselves...especially as they got taken down and got a shot of thorazine in the arse, hands and legs tied together like a distorted bull - tummy and head face down. I like to believe that things have changed since the 80's. I sure do hope so!

I've been back in the MH system a few times in the past few years and my experience was thankfully much better.

That's one of the scary things for me. You express anger (not violence, just maybe yelling or even not yelling) or being upset, and some people with the power to restrain you and otherwise control you (because their judgment as "professionals" is simply accepted), do just that. It's never happened to me, but I always worry, what if I had a panic attack (and I'm not violent), and they put me in handcuffs? Being in handcuffs would send me into a panic attack, but how do you explain to a cop that it's the cuffs making you freak out, and you have to get out of them to calm down and be okay?

i sat on a Professional Input Committed for transporting people with Mental Illness Involuntarily to the hospital, which is 4 to 7 hrs from here, and the law mandated that and MI transport be in full shackles, hand, foot and waist. "Prisoners" were denied music or other distractions and were known to be beaten if they protested. this was common practice, spoken of openly.

in the public "MI detention center" in Sacramento, people who admitted themselves voluntarily were beaten and even raped, and not as a rare instance, either. staff knew who did these things, and protected their co-workers.

i, myself, was medicated into incompetency and then thrown out to fend for myself, with no follow-up, no help, no safety net. the first, tho not the worst thing that happened was rape. then loss of car, then panic and other PTSD symptoms, which i had never had before.

it is not rare to be abused physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, financially, legally, and chemically, once you have been labelled "Crazy".
even the ADA, enacted because of the lack of protection for us, is honored mostly in the breach (not at all).

so, if you wonder if you were just snubbed by a "social worker", denigrated by an officer, mistrialed by a judge, or over medicated by a Pdoc, there's a good chance you were.

I am sorry for all the fear and grief that these things have caused everyone. The system is broken and needs to be fixed or thrown out and started all over again.

When I went into the details of things that have happened to me, my therapist who is also a psychiatrist was horrified. He had once run a locked ward and people actually were trying to get into the hospital not trying to get out. But he is a kind and gentle man who would never let anything even disrespectful happen to anyone.

He suggested that I write an account for advocacy reasons. I'm considering it because I think there needs more accountability and serious changes so that people aren't permanently harmed.

Hi Iota,
I'm so sorry you were treated in such an abominable way!
I hope that you were able to pursue legal action against that hospital.
Or at least try to.
Around the early 90's I can't remember what year I was in the ER for suicide ideation or an attempt I can't remember why but I was checked in at Providence hospital.
I was agitated & this real ***** of a doctor she had blonde hair started yelling for security & the next thing I knew I was in 5 point restraints.
On another occasion which preceded the last incident I was checked into the same hospital this time it was as an inpatient for a few weeks & I was seen by this really obnoxious psychiatrist Dr Strand, who was very verbally abusive. Dr Strand talked down to me, was demeaning, and kept telling me to shut up when he didn't like what he was hearing.
We all need to band together march to Wash D.C. to put something on the books that better protect mentally ill patients. The "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" way of treatment needs to be abolished!

Never went through any of that myself - but I can tell you why...
I had hear of those things happening, so made it a point as long as I can remember not to say too much of anything to anyone - and at a pretty young age, also how to read people - to tell what they are thinking to a point, and more important, what do they want to see/hear to go away when I am not liking where it looks like something is going - and to change subjects if needed, without it being apparent that was the point.....

I believe that is why I have suffered with many symptoms in silence because I have always been afraid to tell anyone how I really feel for fear of being treated badly. I remember being in my teens and hospitalized, I tried to act like every thing was fine so I would not be labeled and could leave that place.

If we could all go march on Washington, imagine what might happen. Our civil rights and just plain old decent treatment should be respected even more because we are more vulnerable. It's quite sad to me. It's why I think that advocacy work is important.

Wow, sorry you had to go through that...its stuff like this that scares me away from resorting to hospitalization when I get suicidal. I haven't experienced anything like that though.

I think some kind of advocacy is important, things like that simply should not go on.

For reassurance sake, I have to say that I did have good experiences at one particular hospital so this doesn't happen to everyone all the time.

I was also thinking of non-hospitalization issues, like other sorts of bad treatment in work settings or school or even in friendships and other things like that.

I know that I've decided to become quiet about my diagnosis because even if it appears to be okay to reveal it, later on something always comes up that shows me the people really couldn't deal with it.

I hear all of you. I've been there, afraid to speak the truth about how I really feel lest I be locked up for no good reason. Treated weirdly, scorned. I had to fake my way out of an involuntary when they were trying to commit me without the grounds to do so. The attorney they appointed for me lied through her ****ing teeth.

The truth is the only people who care about us is us. We have to stick together.

Stories like this scare the crap out of me. My son has been hospitalized and every time I pray like crazy for his safety. He's very vulnerable and gets paranoid. I worry about him advocating for himself. I make sure my presence is known and they know I'm advocating and watching out for him. I swear it makes a difference if they know family is involved.

So far I've been able to visit the hospital wards he's in, speak with all doctors and staff, and tour his room and the floor he's on. Makes me feel better too.

I have been hospitalized twice and had good experiences. I was never fearful of my safety.

I hate to hear these stories of abuse. Mentally ill people need more advocacy and protection, especially being so vulnerable.

The one time I've been in a psych ward it wasn't too bad except I loathe not being able to go outside, but I don't exactly want to go to one naively thinking nothing bad can happen...better prepared that way.

I tend not to talk much about my diagnoses outside of mental health forums like this or outside of therapy(though sometimes I tone things down in therapy even) or whatever. I don't even like talking to family about it really. They don't usually handle hearing about it to well. Hence why I end up relying on 'professional help' though I know the mental health system could be much better.

I hear you about outside time. I was in a place that was supposed to let us out every day for an hour and half the time they wouldn't let us out. I felt like I couldn't breathe.

mostly try to follow this approach, too, Red, to stay out of trouble, but I know sometimes it's easier said than done. . . .

This is also true, not to remain silent, but to find a T or someone helpful you can speak with, not someone who will cause you harm or disrespect. Again, easier said than done. . .

I have a feeling, just a feeling, but a pretty strong one, that we will be seeing things like this in the future, more--and not just for mental health. A good thing, because otherwise, many people will literally and figuratively be trampled or something like that!

I had a hospitalization similar to that years ago, just terrible and traumatizing. Then years later, I worked as a teacher on an adolescent ward, and saw a lot of bad things. . .

I like what you've said and glad you had good hospitalization experience. I did have good outpatient experience, myself, several times, and have mostly chose not to divulge my diagnosis, usually a good idea. Hasn't worked out so well when I did, unfortunately!

glad you could be there for your son!!!!

Unfortunately you are not alone. I've experienced the sadistic part too and agree advocacy is very important. Things like this continue to happen and will go on happening in the future until the stigma is addressed and those with serious MI issues are given the same understandings and rights as a cancer victim, a person with diabetes or any other disability.

As long as MI is treated as different from US, by those in authority there will be those who feel justified in their cruelty. I believe the key is in unmasking the myths around mental illness and making it less feared. To do that we need more science in psychiatry and less throwing of "we don't know why this works but sometimes it does help" drugs at the symptoms.

Yes, it sure can be...So far I have managed though, from time to time, come close, but always manage something before it's too late...I apparently am real good at talking my way out of a hospital stay - I really don't even know total how meany times I could see that's where it was headed, a few times even transport was on the way - but I reversed that, and ended up going home....
None of those times involved police though, and I can GUARANTEE it NEVER will - reason is, I have a standing thing - I refuse any hospital treatment of any kind as long as there is any sort of uninvited guest - so if a cop is present, or even waiting outside the building - I will not accept anything from anybody.
And it doesn't matter what type of hospital either, Psych or Medical, they leave or you don't treat period. Farther it absolutely must be the ones I wold normally use, or treatment refused there too...And even the ones of my choose - BETTER not share info with them under any condition or they are history - meaning if bought there, and they do leave just like I want and all that - they also will be prohibited from calling to tell them anything at all, including when they plan to discharge, or if I am being admitted - follow that, or even my own choose dose not touch anything.

There's so much to learn about MI, but until they make great strides, people will treat MI like anything else they fear: They'll think MI can lead to any kind of behavior, violence or "crazy" behavior. Just like with strippers/exotic dancers. I know, you're thinking, what did she just say? But hang on...a lot of people think if a girl will strip for money, she's just as likely to go straight into prostitution. But one thing doesn't always lead to another, and some dancers won't cross that line. Just like MI comes in many forms, and not everyone is dangerous or "on the edge." They want to take away the rights of the MI because of things they think we might do.

i would like to encourage people to stop using the term "Mentally Ill" and change to Brain Chemistry Disorder. it seems that when someone says "Mental" an avalanche of preconceptions falls. IF one has a Brain Chemistry Disorder, it might cause seizures, migraines, dizzyness, or a host of other perfectly understandable symptoms.

the brain is an organ, like all the other ones, after all,, but no one has yet been able to point me towards a "Mental".

further, brain performance is well known to be affected by many causes, internal, external, traumatic, chemical and temporal. this leaves one open to many plans of action for changing brain performance. i can find no fault with discussing my brain functions with properly qualified people, but just as i would not discuss my liver with an officer, i would not discuss my brain functions with one.