[MtnTime2896]

I'll share this post about my experience and I won't repeat it otherwise because I really only need to go into once. I'm pretty fresh out of IP, only about nine hours. Keep in mind, the hospital I was at this time wasn't my usual IP (one that I can actually trust). To describe it with as little triggering as possible and in two words, these ones come to mind: Psychological torment. Sure, I'm not depressed or dealing with SI anymore, but that really just shifted with the swing. I wasn't ever actually treated. No meds, no therapy, nothing. I was housed. I was still dealing with SI and depression for the first two days and when it was gone, I was simply feeling those two words I already listed. I saw my social worker once, and that was today, and my doctor a grand total of twice while I was in there. The first time I saw him and was describing that I believed "this place is making me feel worse. I haven't had symptoms from my PTSD like this since before I knew what was wrong with me," but was simply told, and I quote: "I don't believe you're of sound mind enough to make that conclusion." Not of sound mind? Seriously? I was of sound mind enough to get some **** ing help, wasn't I? It's not like I was manic or some ****.
Honestly, writing this is just pissing me off at the moment, so I leave it alone for a bit. I might talk about it later, but I don't know if I'll make another thread about it. All I know, is the next time I'm required to go IP, I better be **** ing manic. That place doesn't treat crazy, it creates a lot of it out of thin god damn air.

I am sorry IP was so bad for you. <<<extra hugs>>> I was committed once. Acted completely cooperative and pretended everything was OK in order to deemed stable enough to "return to society" with all my rights intact. I am a very talkative person but this place truly made me very quiet for 5 long days. They didn't even let us have caffeinated coffee (that is a completely torturous thing for me). There were group activities plus a daily meeting with a psychologist or T. Plus had to fill out a worksheet 3X per day stating whether or not you were hearing voices, wanted to harm yourself, etc. etc. If I was hearing voices or wanted to harm myself--no way I would have told them--it might have prolonged the stay. Hope this isn't to triggering. Personally, I will never commit myself to IP after that experience. So I can imagine what you went through but it's over now. You know to stay away from there. It is terrible that they said, "I don't believe you're of sound mind enough to make that conclusion." After all, who knows what goes on in our own heads better than us? Especially in your case. If anything, you overthink--in other words, you more thoroughly evaluate yourself than many of the doctors that are supposed to help you. It is unfortunate when doctors don't listen to their patients. You have to take everything anyone says "with a grain of salt". We have a right to free will even if we have so MI!

I've had two completely opposite experiences; they were in different provinces.

My first hospital was running on a string budget. The mental health wing was sadly in need of repair. Yet, the staff did their best to offer a superior kind of care. They were very involved with the patients. And, there was a wide assortment of activities and classes. We were always busy. There was always something to do hence down time was kept to a minimum.

My last experience was opposite. The ward was brand new and I know much better funded. There was double the staff yet all they seemed to do was sit together with coffee or were glued to their smart phones. Any request for anything was met with irritation. Worse, there was not a damn thing to do except for an art room 45min a day. 'Art' meant colouring nd childish crafts. There was absolutely no support, no therapy, nothing to try and enjoy.

[Unrigged64072835]

I've been in several IPs, each with their own experiences. I'm sorry that you had a terrible experience with this one.

[Nammu]

I'm sorry that happened. No excuse for that, they need a new director that encourages patient integration, not that us vs them attitude. In America you can make a complaint to PAIMI (protection and advocacy for individual with mental illness) which is under the disabilty rights organization. It's a national federally funded program that offers legal options. For NM I found 2 numbers. 505-256-3100 and 800-432-4682. They make sure hospitals are looking out for your rights. If you received no help they may be able to advocate. They ( if they accept your case) will investigate the hospital and may require the hospital to change some of its policies. Like specific action like requiring that staff must interact with the patients and supply groups. They are a legal aid type of organization and can investigate schools hospitals without a warrant.

All hospitals are required to supply you with the phone numbers for advocacy, those numbers should have been among the papers they gave you when you were admitted.

[Fuzzybear]

Grrrrrrr! Such a patronising stupid statement from that "doctor"
You're better equipped to assess your mental "state" than he was.
I'm sorry you were in that place and it was so ... "sub optimal"
I've never been inpatient - I don't think they would accept bears any more than I would accept them

I think we need to take anything these "doctors" say with a bucket load of salt - far too often they don't listen, and utterly fail to understand... it pisses me off!

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm really sorry you've had such a bad experience..

At least it's all over now. No need to worry about it anymore

[*Laurie*]

WOW. I am so, so sorry your IP experience was rotten. That pdoc sounds like a real jerk. I had such high hopes for you to have a good, effective IP experience. Please feel free to post about your experience as much as you're comfortable with. We're here for you, So leigheas

[Shazerac]

That all sounds like a horrifying experience. I'm glad your out of there.

[passionfruit3]

Had a similar experience i didn't see the doctor for one day on the day id acted outed and hed got angry at me for not listening to him and stormed out i never saw him for the whole time after and during that stay paients kept coming into my room no one did a thing about that.i locked myself in the bathroom once i was so scared by the time i got out i was diagnosed bipolar after that who diagnosis bipolar after one sit down i swear he had bipolar.