What happens if I get admitted to the psych ward?

I've never been hospitalized before, but I think I need to be. Everything is falling apart. I'm not coping with the demands of every day life and I am quickly reaching a crisis point. But I am so scared to get admitted to the psych ward. I don't know what happens, how it works. Please, if anyone knows about hospitalization in Canada, could you tell me what happens? I'm so scared.

I don't know what happens if I get admitted to the psych ward. This probably sounds like a really stupid question, but do I bring clothes and stuff with me? I really don't want my parents to have to go to my apartment and get stuff because it is such a disaster and it would be hard for them to find anything that is clean. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is chaos in my apartment, or in my head. I can't think clearly, I can't organize myself or my head or my apartment. I feel like I am spinning out of control. Can I bring my crocheting with me? I think this is the end of uni for me. I think I am going to have to withdraw from my program. I am so scared. I don't know what is going to happen to me. I don't know I am going to live. I'm so scared of the process of applying for disability and of not having enough money to pay rent and bills and groceries. I'm so scared.

I live in the US, but since no one in Canada is responding right now, I'll post then you can see later on if it's different in Canada.

Yes, you can take your own clothes and anything else you want with you. If the staff at the hospital feel like an object isn't safe, they may lock it up while you're there and let you only have access to it intermittently or not at all.

I think this varies greatly from hospital to hospital in the US. But my experience was that if I took something with me that the hospital wouldn't allow me to have, they would lock it up safely and return it to me when I left.

Please try not to think too much about things that are not under your control right now or to think that anything anxiety-causing that happens will last forever. I know that's easier to say than to do.

It's very upsetting when our mental health problems derail our life plans, but I think that's a time for us to learn to be flexible.

As far as fearing what the future might bring in regards to lack of money, applying for disability, etc., I won't say that it can't be difficult, but I always found that the feelings of fear and dread that I had anticipating what was going to happen were worse than the actual events themselves.

I have only been in the hospital inpatient one time. It was very helpful for me, and was not scary once I got there. The nurses were extremely well-trained and helpful and kind, and I got to talk to my psychiatrist every day.

Hugs.

It varies a lot from hospital to hospital and even within hospitals.

If your in the psych ward of a general community hospital, the unit is likely to be locked, meaning you can't leave, or need permission to leave. You may or may not be able to wear your own clothes. You will probably not be able to bring a laptop, but most units have a computer for clients to use. Do not bring in anything sharp, it will be confiscated. Expect to have your belongings searched. Crochet might or might not be allowed depending on the policy of the hospital. I take my knitting to my psych hospital and in one unit I wasn't allowed to knit, in another I was. But I could only knit in the public lounge area where the nurses could see me.

The degree of therapy you'll recieve will again vary between types of hospitals. I find that there's less therapy if community hospitals than in dedicated psych hospitals which typically have more therapy.

Keep in mind if you're in a general unit, the patient population will be mixed, meaning you could have many diagnosis present at once which sometimes can be quite irritating since it's almost impossible to get any privacy.

Overall the experience is pretty boring - lots of downtime and not much to do, except watch tv, play board games with the other patients and maybe colour mandalas.

A good hospital will set you up with a reasonable discharge plan that typically includes 4-6 weeks of outpatient group therapy.

Being on a psych ward, is not a walk in the park, but it least keeps you safe.

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Before you admit yourself, pack maybe a weeks worth of clothes (If you stay longer, they should have a washer and dryer) and maybe a notebook, mp3, stress ball or anything else to help you cope. Try to use maybe one bag and leave it near the front door so your family can just grab it and go. Anything that the hospital doesn't want you to have (such as sharp things) they will take out of your bag and give it back when you leave. This is from my expirience. Good luck!

This is helpful. Last time I knew things were getting bad and everyone was telling me I needed to go. I packed a bag and had it ready. I kept trying to put it off and when I called the crisis team they came over., they really wanted me to go in and I really didn't want to.....they .decided to call the police mediator to get another opinion. He agreed with me but then he said that since I called out for help I could go to a crisis center as long as I promised to stay. The crisis center is a lot more run down and no real groups...but it's open meaning no locked doors. You have to stay for a week. Once they decided I really needed to go it was very helpful that I was already packed since there wasn't much time.

I kind of recommend two small bags. One with clothes ( comfortable, no strings and warm. Shoes with no laces or slippers)and small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste. Most hospitals have the toiletries but they're generic and I don't like them. Maybe a book, small amount of money for snacks if that's allowed. Take that one with you.

In the second bag you could put stuff like the crochet stuff, computer and other stuff you are not sure about. Just leave the second one by the door of your apartment and ask a friend or your parents to bring it if it's allowed. Most hospitals don't want you to bring much or expensive things.

It's generally best to go in though a doctor, it goes smoother. This last time I didn't have a pdoc or therapist but the crises team was nice. I think it might have helped that I called in the morning, I get the impression most people call at night...but mornings are the worse for me. After days of no sleep it's hard.

Most of all be easy on your self, going to the hospital doesn't mean your life is over or that you'll end up on disability. Most schools will work with the hospital to arrange leave or an extension or other arrangements. It probably feels like it's all over and it's going to all fall apart but that's the depression and anxiety talking. Do talk to someone honestly about how you feel. It's really not the end.

Good luck! It is scary because you don't know what to expect..and we have all seen it potrayed diff ways in the movies! I don't know aboutr Canada-but in USA as mentioned, it varies depending on comminity hospital with psych ward vs psych hospital. Community hospital will usually have many diagnoses mixed together while trying help everyone sort out which meds they need, control immediate crisis...maybe some therapy. Psych hospital has different units for different issues and activities scheduled throughout the day/therapy related, as well as group therapy meetings and one on one talk- this why they try figure out best meds/doses for you. I was wrongly dx by psych md and therapist outpt-it was inpt/hospital who really listened and sorted it out. In usa it also depends on type of unit if floor lcked/not locked. In us, depending on your condition on arrival is whether or not you admit yourself/voluntary admission-can sign self out or you are committed/admitted by md. I was only inpt-once-and I admitted myself. Meds I was on made me feel crazy after few days and I knew I needed help.
When you are feeling that out of control-inpt is sometimes best. I wore my own clothes, shampoo etc, but no sharp objects allowed. I think I was afraid"everyone would know". In usa its private, thy can't tell anyone, not on your permission list that you are there. I also felt like a failure-don't!!! My fellow pts were from rich to poor and from students to housewives, doctors, nurses, cops, heads of companies, worked at local market, etc-o it can affect anyone, anywhere, anytime..for me, made me feel better!!

When I went to my local Psych hospital, they took me to a small room with a female nurse and searched me thoroughly for any item I could possibly use for self harm or harming others. I was asked to undress to my underwear (not even my bra was allowed because of the underwire) and put on the provided patient scrubs and booties. During this time I was assessed for any possible scars resulting in self harm. My belongings were safely locked in a patient locker for later retrieval.

I then went to a day room with a tv and maybe a handful of other patients being accessed for admittance to the upper level which was the ward itself. There I was allowed to watch tv or read provided materials until I could see the evaluation doc. It took several hours as other patients came and went, but I finally was told to go into the evaluation room and see the doc.

He prescribed me a treatment plan and deemed me safe to go home. I was then brought to yet another room where I was then allowed to change back into my own clothes again, retrieve my belongings and be fully discharged with a print out of my treatment plan.

Oddly enough, I was evaluated on Oct. 31st of last year. I guess the date was not foreboding in the least. Lol.

Good luck and get well soon. We will be waiting when you come back.

What I recall most clearly about being inpatient was the tremendous feeling of relief because I could finally stop battling my internal demons and just get help. Besides that, LOTS of down time (I read) and chatted, a bit, with other patients.

When I was in the hospital (several times) I wasn't allowed crochet stuff because the hook can be used to hurt yourself or others. There are a lot of things you cannot have that you wouldn't even think of, that are capable of use to harm yourself or others. But I would just bring what you want to bring, and if they lock it up you will get it back once you discharge.