[purplebutterfly]

What happens when you admit your self to the hospital? I am scared to do this, can anyone tell me. I am really scared to admit myself, but I think it is time.

You normally have to be evaluated so they can make sure that you will benefit from an inpatient stay.

I can give you a lot more detail, but you have to narrow your question down for me a bit-- what exactly do you mean by "what happens?" I'll be glad to help you.

[purplebutterfly]

Do they just drug you up to make just sleep, do they make you go to therapy, do they make you take your meds, what if I feel like I want to cut while I am there, what do they do in a case like that. Can I leave after a day or two, are they just going to stick me with tons of needles to calm me down. So many questions. sorry im really scared

As far as the rules for leaving when you sign yourself in voluntarily, that varies by state. Look up the volutary admission rules for your state online.

There are normally many groups to go to. Sometimes there is individual therapy as well. Groups are normally catered towards short term goal therapy such as coping skills, managing emotions, and that type of thing. There may also be art therapy, music therapy, or other types of expressive therapy.

Are you already on medications? If you are on meds and you prefer to stay what you are on, then no one is going to force you to take anything different. If you are looking for the hospital to be a safe place in which your can start meds or your meds can be switched, then they will do that-- but they are not just going to give you something in order to knock you out!

In the year that I interned at a psychiatric hospital, I only witnessed one person stuck with a needle in order to calm him down. This was a 300 lb man, well of 6 feet tall, who had just punched another patient. Something tells me you will not fall into manner of behaving. Of course, it happened more than the one time I saw it, but all incidents were similar-- AND my view is a little skewed because I did most of my work on the intensive care unit.

It is completely okay and normal to be scared! Call the intake department of the hospital that you would be going to and ask lots of questions. Ask about how they split up the units, ask about what you should and shouldn't bring, ask about the criteria for admissions.

Any other questions, I would be happy to answer.

The hospital is a safe place in order for you to focus on yourself, your treatment, and your safety.

If your p-doc does not arrange for your inpatient stay, you most likely will not get inpatient unless you are a danger to your self or others, or you literally try to kill yourself.

If you walk into the ER, you will have a psych assessment. Then they decide if you will be admitted.

The best way to go in if it is not an emergency is to arrange it with your p-doc who will get you admitted. If your p-doc does not have floor privelges, he/she most likely works with someone that does.

If you are suicidal, you share a room and during the evening they do bed checks every 5-10 minutes, which can take some time getting used to. If you are not suicidal, you may be given your own room and your bed checks are usually every 15-20 minutes.

You attend groups that include therapy, coping skills, and crafts. You eat alot. There are TVs and movies and games. Most people are decent.

Your meds will be altered more quickly, because you are in a safe environment. You may have blood tests, blood pressure checks, and other physical exams occasionally.

It is scary, but works. But in most cases, you don't admit yourself.

[Merlin]

being brought in my the police usually gets you admitted faster too

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Merlin said:
being brought in my the police usually gets you admitted faster too

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LOL Merlin!!!

You are so right. Been there done that....Love those manic police related deliveries to the hospital!

[Merlin]

in my case it was a rather public interrupted suicide attempt. Niagara Falls probably not the way to go (though it would be effective and that's what drew me to it.) I was very agitated though. Mixed symptoms I guess, not quite manic, but depressed plus.