[Twitch99]

I have tried explaining to numerous people how bad in patient is and no one seems to get it. Every time I think my wife gets it she brings it up again. I can't put into words how Horrible & humiliating it is. Just the other day my wife said "It's not like you were beat up or raped while you were there." It is so much more than that. How do I explain how bad it is?

[bpcyclist]

I am sorry you are struggling with this. Look, Twitch, I don't know where you live and so I have no idea what the hospital situation is, say, within a 90-minute drive of your home. But I do know this much. I have spent more time in the hospital than anyone I know since 2005. Years, quite literally, years, have I been in the hospital. Let's just say, more than three years total. Some were lousy and clearly below the standard of care. But others have been awesome. It's never fun to be in the hospital, I agree. But not all psych hospitals suck. Some are superb. If people think you really need to go to the hospital again at some point, why not find one that doesn't suck? They are out there, irrespective of where you live. I live in Portland, but I have been hospitalized in Chicago and Santa Fe and some other places as well, because folks thought that was where I should be. Without getting into it, I spent over a year in a hospital well outside of my city. Chicago and Santa Fe were great. The other place was great. So, they are out there.

I am not failing to heard your clear disdain for your past experiences, but I am telling you as an expert in the matter that there are good psych hospitals available to you should you need them. Maybe you ought to look into that. All the best--

[mwaxy]

Sounds like you were admitted to a hospital that is not operating well. Perhaps exploration of other alternative options would be ideal. Your experience, while experienced by others, is not the norm for inpatient mental nor physical health stays.

[Twitch99]

Originally Posted by mwaxy

Sounds like you were admitted to a hospital that is not operating well. Perhaps exploration of other alternative options would be ideal. Your experience, while experienced by others, is not the norm for inpatient mental nor physical health stays.

The thing about it is that was one of the best mental hospitals in my (large) city. Did some digging and found the "best" psych facility in my city. Found out it was located in the hood. (I don't use that term lightly.) So I got to thinking. "How can they good staff if they are in such a bad part of the city?" Started looking at their reviews and saw things like patient meds frequently getting mixed up, if you voluntarily check in you can't leave AMA, if you try to leave AMA the "process" takes over 12 hours, staff calling wrong numbers and divulging all of your personal medical records to complete strangers. The list goes on. I just stopped reading after the reviews went back 7 months. I saw what I needed to see by that point.

Had a therapist describe our city's mental health care as the arm pit of America. So there are no good options for me. I am not going back to in patient. Should have done this last time but next time I go somewhere wither it be a new psych or IOP or whatever I am not giving them my real address. I will also sign up for 1 of those internet phone numbers so I can disconnect it at any point.