Just got out of psych ward and don't know what to do!

I just got released from psych ward. Was locked up for 48 hours due to paranoid delusions. I feel that I may still be out of touch with reality. I cannot figure out what is happening and what is not. Help me!

Hello lostandconfused,
Can you talk at all about what's been going on for you, either before you went into the hospital or since you've come out?

If you can't talk about that right now, here's a few ideas that might help you...

- Getting centered: These sorts of experiences can be disorienting so it can be helpful if we can re-center ourselves. Taking some deep breaths or focusing on something in my exterior environment (a candle flame, a picture, a tree in the distance) are simple measures I've used that can help center me.

- Finding calm: Are there any self-calming measures you've found helpful in the past? Things such as listening to music, thinking of a person who loves you, letting water run over your hand?

- Addressing emotions: Paranoia is about fear so it can be helpful to address the fear aspects. I notice that your mood right now reads as "angry" so it might be possible that you need to deal with your anger too. Sometimes anger rises up as a protective measure because behind fear, there's usually pain. The purpose of the anger is to help protect us from the pain.

Those are probably the critical issues: you need to be able to feel safe and you need to be able to feel comforted because you didn't feel safe. Whatever you can do to help you feel safe and help you feel comforted will probably help you to feel better. Do you have anyone with you -- a friend, family member, or partner -- who can help you feel safe and comforted right now? If not, is there anyone you can call or go stay with for awhile?

Did the hospital release you with any medications or with an appointment with a Mental health out patient clinic? If not, call the hospital to find out why not and ask for help in finding the nearest mental health clinic. When you reach a mental health professional, or even just the receptionist, tell them what you said below. If you were released with medications or prescriptions, keep taking the meds. billieJ