State Hospital Experiences

Just curious if anyone else who has had the pleasure would like to share anything at all about their experience. I know it may be that noone will want to share and that's fine, but I thought I would open this up and see.

As I have been more than happy to share before, I was in our our largest state hospital for 4 1/2 years. The reason for the admission was an Adderall relapse (I actually had a longstanding prescription for it, but took it improperly for about four days). A mini-relapse, basically. Very long story. My state has a very strange system for supervising people who have pled insanity, as I had for a car crash I caused during a psychotic episode in 2007. Someone was injured in that crash and despite the fact that everyone agreed I was completely out of my mind psychotic, the DA prosecuted the living sh** out of me. Trying to make a big splash. I was forced to plead insanity and enter into this crazy supervisory program. I had no other choice, other than the penitentiary. That's how Oregon does it.

And the program owns your *****. They can do anything with you. Like send you to the state hospital for almost five years for a brief Adderall relapse. It was an incredible experience. So sad. So many people there who had no business being in any psych hospital, much less that one. Others so sick, they might never get out. There were many who had no mental illness at all who had languished for years and years, with no chance of discharge anywhere on the horizon. Clinicians slant diagnoses and testimony falsely in order to maximize length of stay. It's bad. Really bad. Totally unethical and illegal. Zero oversight. Like I said, they own you.

And yet, there were also heroes. Staff members who helped me gather information for my book (I started writing it while I was there) I would never have had access to otherwise. Warned us of misconduct they saw among higher-ups. Those people risked their jobs to try to protect us. I will never forget them.

Anyhow, it was obviously a very traumatic experience. I am doing pretty well with it now. Writing, though difficult, has helped me. I want to speak for some of the patients and staff who have no voice, no seat at the table, no one to advocate for them.

Anyway, that's the short version of my story. I survived. I am much stronger now. Not much frightens me anymore. When you've lived on the maximum-security ward of the Oregon State Hospital with extremely dangerous people for 45 days, as I did, and survived it, it can give you some confidence. Thanks for reading.

That is sad, I am sorry

I'm very grateful it is over for you now. That seems terrible.

Thanks for the support, guys--I am really grateful!!

I was in 2 state hospitals in different states. I do my best to forget.

I'm so sorry, Nammu. So glad that is all behind you now.

All I ever heard about State Hospitals is they are absolutely horrible and scary, I have known a few people that have been in one, I would never want to go to such a horrible place, I am so glad your out of there

Thanks a bunch, Twilight.

Reagan closed the state hospitals in Cal years ago. A good thing or a bad thing? Patients had nowhere to go so they lived on the streets.
I dont know how such bad facilities or the lack of any can happen in a country that can explore Mars or send astronauts to the space station. Bp, you have seen a lot of improvement lately and it will continue.We are all with you.

Thank you for the kind words, luvyrself--so appreciative!

The only time I was in a state hospital was - years ago - for a 72 hour hold. I won't say it was awful...but it was darn close. I had underwear (a bra) stolen; the staff said there was nothing they could do about it. No groups, a sadistic pdoc, mean nurses. Everyone just sat in a small room watching TV during waking hours. Some would go outside to smoke. There was one tech who was kind and friendly.

That you made it through 4 1/2 years in a state hospital - well, I admire you. Thank the universe that you're out now.

I admire your tenacity and the fact that you are working on that book!

How did you eventually get discharged?

Thank you, Bill I really appreciate that!

I am full of respect for you @bpcyclist because I could barely hack 4 days in a psych hospital that wasn't state run. In all honesty, I probably needed to be there longer but I kept saying that I wanted to get out and I put on a good show. HUGS Kit

You did the best you could, Kit. It's hard.

I was in-patient in a psychiatric hospital for a year. It was a long term facility but not run by the state. When I had exceeded the allotted time for treatment at this hospital the plan was to transfer me to an out patient day program to see how I adjusted. I was given no readjustment help. I couldn't manage even the most basic of living skills. When I failed to readjust properly, they planned to send me to a state hospital for an unlimited amount of time. I have a very unusual and well documented trauma history as well as bipolar 1 disorder with psychosis and DID. The state hospital is where the system sends you when they have no idea anymore how to treat you. It's like being the walking dead. There is no worse feeling than knowing the entire mental health system sees you as a lost cause. I was literally rescued from permanent confinement by a young newly graduated psychiatrist who saw something in me no one ever had...he saw potential. He fought hard to keep me out of the state hospital and ultimately, he won and gave me a chance at a future. 25 years later he's still my psychiatrist. I just saw him today, in fact.

Thanks, Beth. I appreciate it. Glad you had a short stay.

You found your hero. So happy to hear about that.

Yes, many state hospitals, those states that still have much of one, are the end of the line. I met people who had been living at the one I was at for more than 20 years. So sad.

Ours was recently investigated by the USDOJ Civil Rigths Division. Some things are much better, like overall psychiatric care and nursing care. Also, less use of restraints. Unfortunately, once patients are fully discharged from our state supervisory system, known as the Psychiatric Supervisory Review Board, there is absolutely zero follw-up support--of any kind. Often, patients who can do well in a highly structured and supported environment really deteriorate when they have no support.

I wrote a book about his and my journey as psychiatrist and patient. It was published by Trigger Press and released in 2018. I have a new book coming out in Sept. I'm so glad to hear you write also!

Wow! What a coincidence! Good for you! And best of luck on the new book!

Okay for me,I was always underweight my lowest weight was 7stone 5lbs and when I left home to go into care I became bulimic for about over 10yrs on and off. When I went to another care home I was a size 4 and my waist size was 26inch.I went to an eating disorder clinic for bulimia as an out -patient.AFter that I was prescribed medication for borderline anorexia. It was horrible.Anyways I went to hospital for" observation" with a window room with only a hospital bed. I asked to go to the toilet which was in the room I was in and they gave me no privacy and watched me use the toilet with the door open. I use to take laxatives.ANyways Im currently in a IP and Im on heavy medication for bulimia and self harm. The staff ring the doctor regularly to see if im underweight they will admit me again.I take movicol for dehydration.Im very happy here and I haven't purged in a few weeks. :P

I’ve never been in one but I knew a girl who was having really bad issues in a group home and they sent her to the state hospital instead of a regular psych hospital. She only spent 3 days there and I always thought it was because it was a really bad place and she just didn’t like it. Because she’d often be in the regular ones for 3 months. I don’t know now. Maybe she was only there on a 72 hour hold. But she must have been having a lot of issues at the group home to be sent to a state hospital.

Hi funny you should ask . I've got memories of Easter visits to the state mental asylum. ( I refuse to call them hospitals).In 1965 almost 55 years to the date. Then I worked construction on the Criminally insane unit. Yuk!!? Yuk!!? That was 1975. In 1995 etc. I worked there again in charge of daily oops at the Main Data center.Whats unigue I know what's its like to visit my mom . Build the darn place. Then be put in charge.while I'm a paranoid schizophrenic.labelled such in 1985need to talk post again I CAN HELP YOU..
PS I like Ike too. My pet name for Adderall