[Jordy]

Saw T yesterday and while it did help me cope a bit, I can also sense how frustrated T is with me. My downwards spiral keeps getting worse... I nearly got into a car crash before christmas, spent the last two weeks binge eating or drinking to cope, planning suicide though I'm not ready to go through with it.

I hate my situation, unless I move out I will never get any better, and yesterday T mentionned being really worried about me, and for the first time in two years we mentioned me maybe not making it...

Anyway, I'm doing everything in my power to change my situation, but there are so many unknown factors that I don't if ow when that will be possible. But if I go on like this, I worry I'll have to go in-patient at some point to keep me safe.

If that happens, what are such stays like? What should I expect? What's the best way to go about it if at some point I feel it's needed?

If you don't mind I'd like to hear about your experiences, as I've never been in-patient before though I probably needed it on some occasions.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I've been in-patient twice. The first time, 19 years ago, won't help you as I'm sure things have changed greatly. Plus, I was a teen. The last time was 14 years ago, and for some reason I actually cannot remember any of it.

I wish I could be more helpful. But if you need in-patient to be safe, then you should do that.

[RedSun]

Jordy, I don't have my experience or words of wisdom to pass on, sorry. But I wanted to say that you are being so brave, and strong. Amazing.
Hugs if you want them xxxxxx

One suggestion, talk to you therapist and Pdoc (if you have one) about what hospitals are options under your insurance, etc. ahead of time. Not all psychiatric hospitals are created equally, so if you can plan ahead, it will make actually having to make that decision easier. If you know your options, you can do a bit of research into them and hopefully go to the best option available rather than going into it blindly.

Some hospitals will have someone you can talk to ahead of time about how their program works, rules, etc. They can fill you in on what you are allowed to bring, visitation rules, daily routines, etc. The hospital I use will even walk a prospective patient through ahead of time before they make a decision.

Avoid hospitals that place patients in holding areas for observation ahead of time. There is one notorious for that here in our area; you don't want to be in that situation.

The hospital I use is a very good situation. I go directly to their ER because they are used to handling psychiatric emergencies. It is a regular hospital with a mental health floor rather than a free-standing psych hospital. If you go to the nearest ER and they don't have a psychiatric unit on the premises, you may get sent to whatever unit has a bed within their districting, and that is often not the best situation.

The kinds of restrictions you will have vary with the particular unit. My hospital currently does not have the facilities to separate patients who are a danger to themselves from patients who are not, thus, the restrictions for safety are probably more stringent than they would be otherwise. They are currently expanding, creating a unit for the most severe patients (often those in psychosis) and a separate unit for patients that don't require that level of intervention. I think they are also working on a separate unit for chemical dependency.

Because of the safety restrictions, it is a locked unit which means patients cannot come and go. You are able to go outside on supervised breaks after you've been on the floor for 48 hours, but honestly, I rarely bother (Texas weather is generally too hot or too cold for comfort.) Clothing cannot have strings, no shoelaces, no belts (pretty standard). No electronics. There are phones available for use if needed. Rooms are semi-private, so I usually have a roommate. It's generally not a problem. The one time it was (horrendous snorer), the charge nurse was able to move me because there were extra beds available. Psychiatric techs keep track of what you are doing about every 10 minutes; you get used to them with their clipboards and don't give them much thought after awhile. All doors remain open at all times except for bathrooms of course. Food was actually pretty decent as hospital food goes. A schedule of groups and classes throughout the day, including on weekends, led by social workers and/or therapists. No individual therapy as this is an acute care unit meant only for short-term stabilization.

The goal is to stabilize you for outpatient care, so most hospital stays are only a few days; mine average about 8-10 days which is on the longish end actually. Many patients are in and out in 3 days; the most severe may be their several weeks, but that isn't as common. Generally, if you require long-term care, you are moved to a long-term facility like a state hospital (not something I would have want to have to do). Social workers work with you to find an outpatient pdoc and therapist if you don't have them already. They also help patients find alternative housing if they cannot return to the situation they are currently living in. They have a wealth of resources that way. In my hospital, you see your pdoc every day, including weekends. When my pdoc has had days off, one of his associates in private practice has come in to see me.

[Jordy]

Thanks for the support.
I know that my T/Pdoc will avoid in-patient treatment for as long as safely possible. I also know from DBT group about a couple people she did send into hospitals. Both times the process took a couple weeks (no acute situation) and both went to different hospitals as she got them into the one that most fitted their needs.
Being from Luxembourg I'm lucky to have a wide range of possibilities: as long as my T/Pdoc does the paperwork any hospital in Luxembourg or in France, Germany and Belgium is paid for. So I have an incredible range of options.

I hope I won't need it, but will still start looking around a bit, maybe I'll fins something that could be helpful.

[growlycat]

I found inpatient stays extremely boring---not enough therapy or group for my expectations.

I've heard good things about hospital day programs--way more therapy and support. Maybe look into that option?

[Jordy]

Actually the main issue is getting me out of the house I was abused in. So day programs won't be of much help as I'll have to go back to my old bedroom every night. Less therapy but in a safe environment would be the better option.
I'm pretty sure that if I could just find some affordable safe place to live I wouldn't even need that much more therapy. But I can't have that because I'm not in an acute abusive situation and I don't earn enough to pay for other places.

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