[carly011]

Hello everyone! So i sent my T an email yesterday....it was basically my journal from the week of all the feelings and emotions that go through my mind. I was completely honest and even included Suicidal thoughts, SI, and lack of a passion to live anymore.

She emailed me back.... She wanted me to go to the ER if i thought i was in danger of harming myself, i didnt because at the time i knew i wouldnt do anything.

She also mentioned IP might be a good idea. I am very much in between. I really DONT want to do IP, but on the other side i wonder if it would help.

So i would LOVE to hear your experiences with IP

[yang0868]

Sorry, I have no experience with IP. I'm scared about this as well. I'm so sorry that your having such a hard time. If you feel that you need it then please do it. Do it for yourself. Take care of yourself.

over the years we have been IP dozens and dozens of times. it helped. best we can say right now♥

[Yoda]

I have been inpatient about a dozen times in as many years. My first time I stayed five weeks because I was very depressed and grieving the death of my BF. Being inpatient is like a cross of prison and zoo. I didn't like some of the nurses at all but others I did like and they were helpful.

It is a safe place to get your meds adjusted if you need that.

Bring a book or magazines because after dinner there is just socialization and that can get really boring. Also bring a phone card if you plan to make long distance calls on their payphone or lots of quarters if you will be calling local.

No pajamas or sweatpants or anything with strings are allowed. You will probably be in lockdown to restrict people leaving who may be dangerous or there by court order.

[minneymouse]

I have at various points. The best I can say is that it kept me alive when I didn't feel safe to be out in the world. It certainly didn't help me to heal though- was just a holding place until I could get back out and carry on the hard work of healing.

[splitimage]

I've been IP twice and both times were really good experiences. I was in for 8 weeks in 07, and 4 weeks in 09. I really needed to be someplace safe and found having the structure and all the group therapy helpful. Bring some books, or drawing materials, or some type of craft that doesn't involve sharp objects, as there's lots of downtime which can get boring. I was lucky both times I was in, the units I was on allowed knitting needles so I spent a lot of time knitting. I actually first learned to knit when in a psych hospital.

splitimage

[Thornsandroses]

I have also been in the IP about a dozen or so times. Four of them since last August. I guess the most it did for me was to keep me safe. I did not have the family support while in the IP or when I got out. So that made things worse for me. My therapist saw me for therapy while in the IP, and that does not always happen. But, I was happy to have had that option.

[carly011]

Originally Posted by Thornsandroses

I have also been in the IP about a dozen or so times. Four of them since last August. I guess the most it did for me was to keep me safe. I did not have the family support while in the IP or when I got out. So that made things worse for me. My therapist saw me for therapy while in the IP, and that does not always happen. But, I was happy to have had that option.

aww im sorry you didnt have the support system you need!!! my T told me she would come visit me well in IP, so that is one good thing that is if i do IP haha

[SpiritRunner]

I was in 4x last summer. I guess the best I have to say too is that it did keep me safe .... but yes, I did feel sort of like I was in prison of a sort, too - on a locked floor and could not go out, no phones/computers, limited visiting and phone times. It was not horrible by any means, but it really did me no good in the sense that I was better and more stable/healthy/capable/prepared to re-enter the world after a week or so stay. It was not a healing place. It really didn't address my issues - generic groups and such, which were sometimes boring because they had nothing to do with me, but I had to go to have privileges. A lot of people were there for med re-adjustment or waiting for admittance into alcohol rehab programs .... where I was was better suited for those groups of people's needs ... but I needed something different that I couldn't get anywhere around here.
I'd say though that if you are in danger of not being able to keep safe, then go .... if you need a safe place for med re-adjustments, then go.

I've been IP 13 times in the past 7 years. It has always been a helpful place to stay safe, be able to exist without any responsibilities for a few days, and get my meds straightened out much more quickly than could ever be done outpatient. I have never regretted going IP although making the decision to admit myself is always stressful.

The hospital I use is a locked unit which has never really bothered me. There are two patients to a room which is usually not a problem -- most people are pretty much like ourselves. Only once did I ask for a room change because the roommate snored horribly and I wasn't able to sleep. The staff is quite accommodating to these kinds of requests if they can possible make a change. Many times I have been roommateless just by sheer luck.

During the day a group/class of some sort is schedule just about every hour. You aren't forced to go, but patients who go rather than isolate in their rooms make more progress more quickly.

Check ahead of time for what you are allowed to bring in and what is prohibited. Most will not allow electronic devises, anything in glass containers, no strings, shoelaces, or belts. Some of it seems extreme, but these units have seen very creative ways of self harm.

If you are not feeling safe, it may be time to consider IP as a place to stay safe and make some movement toward improvement.

[Towanda]

I have been IP about 8 times in the last six years. One other restriction is not to bring anything that contains alcohol.

I did get a lot out of the times I was in. Felt very safe and supported - I SI so was safe while IP. I always feel that I have no responsibilities, and lack of high family expectations allows me to regroup. Days are fairly structured and med readjustments are quick.

All in all, helpful.

i've been in 20+ times (lost count) over the last 2-3 years. it can help, but can also be horrible. i can think of times i went in and it kept me safe and i left feeling a lot more stable and able to cope. but there were times i'd go in and then after a while they'd let me out then that day or the next day i'd attempt suicide and then they'd lock me in high dependency unit again.

so i'd suggest talking to your T about it in details about what your goals while you're there are and how staff can support you in them. also have a specific goal as to what things will be like for you to be discharged. either set a time frame or i will feel X and be able to X and X. not just i'll feel better.

good luck.

[KazzaX]

Inpatient was the most useless place I have ever been (other than the tax office, heh heh) for me. I can see how it would be great if you needed a hefty med change or you were psychotic but other than that... no.

We just sat around on couches watching TV all day. If you were lucky, once a week you would get to see the psychiatrist (there were no psychologists there) who had no regard for human life and obviously hated his job with a vengeance. All he was good for was to muck around with medications. He had a social worker and a few other cronies there but they didnt look like they were allowed to speak at all. They never spoke once when I was there until right at the end I needed a form filled out and he was above doing it, lol.

So yeah. My experience was that the inpatient psych ward is not conducive to recovery whatsoever. It seems only useful if you are in a situation where you have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, if you know what I mean.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by minneymouse

I have at various points. The best I can say is that it kept me alive when I didn't feel safe to be out in the world. It certainly didn't help me to heal though- was just a holding place until I could get back out and carry on the hard work of healing.

I work at an inpatient facility, and this pretty much describes what it is like there. It is a place where patients can stay safe. It doesn't provide healing, but perhaps you would learn some coping skills through the many group therapy sessions. Healing will come in your subsequent work outside the hospital. Inpatient is for crisis and stabilization. Where I work, the psychiatrists see patients once a day, the therapists about every other day (for individual therapy). Groups are daily. You can't see your outpatient therapist while there for therapy, but you can have visits from your T. There is a loss of privacy while there, as staff must make visual contact with all patients at least every 15 minutes, to assure safety. Many patients have reported to me that the best thing about their stay was meeting other people who had similar challenges and concerns. It helped them feel not alone.

[krisakira]

Ask your T if there are any partial hospital programs or intensive outpatient programs available in your area. It's great for when you need the extra help but don't intend on hurting yourself.