How to survive a psychiatric ward

Kiya · Sep 20, 2014 at 01:46 AM

Yeah - nooooo joke. I spent 17 days trying to get out after day one!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atypical_Disaster

Best. Thread. Ever.

I needed the laugh tonight. Hahahahaha!

"Rule # 8- You're not leaving in three days- Upon admission you may be told you will be going in for a "a few days". Only to find out you are freed 2 weeks later, pasty and atrophied. "We'll see about Monday" will turn into Wednesday and Friday and next Monday. When you stop asking, they'll tell you. They all sit around a table and discuss things like "Surely when a patient wants to get out this bad, it means they're still ill. It's absolutely amazing in here and these raccoon nuggets are the best". If you push enough, asking him in the hallway, through the nurses station door and while he's eating lunch, causing a psychiatrist to pull out his own hair, you may win. Or you may have to result to rule # 1. "

This is so ****ing true and this was the most frustrating thing to me about the whole damn experience.

Kiya · Sep 20, 2014 at 01:54 AM

I finally did check in with Snickerdoodles nurse - she wanted to know how I was doing - and said she'd let everyone else who had been thinking about me know that I'm "fine". "You sound good". Oh good. Wait - there's people thinking about me? "Yeah, we heard about the incident and I came in the next day and you were gone, so I was worried about you - so were the others. They ask, you know." Huh. No i didn't know.
Best advice - find the best nurse and do everything in your power to stick with her/him - they're your best advocate, especially when trust is reciprocal (spelling?). Mine fought to have me on her schedule - makes her life easier knowing I won't cause trouble on her shift because I trust her and don't want her in trouble for covering my butt when I screw up.

Flour · Sep 20, 2014 at 06:41 AM

wow, that was awesome. I especially liked number five, too freaking funny. Actually, your post was really well thought out. I have been hospitalized like 33x's, a lot of that really rings true. It was a good laugh though. Thank you for that.

Restin · Sep 22, 2014 at 06:00 PM

Hey, just watch "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". All you need to know.

Just kidding. The first place I stayed was just like that one in the movie and was the notorious "3 West" in my town. Later, they tore it down and built a psych unit like a resort hotel..a real healing place, I found. But some said it was too nice for patients because they would never be motivated to get well...bah!

ravanger · Sep 23, 2014 at 01:06 PM

Wow thats great advice!

Sep 23, 2014 at 03:10 PM

I would never participate in group therapy. ugh.

Terabithia · Sep 23, 2014 at 03:29 PM

bring a comfy robe and slippers - it gets chilly and it makes it more comfortable walking around the unit in your scrubs or your own night clothes.

Terabithia · Sep 23, 2014 at 03:33 PM

another thing - if you ask, someone might bring something for you from the cafeteria late at night. I had never thought to ask until I saw another patient eating some French fries and a candy bar.

pachyderm · Sep 23, 2014 at 04:28 PM

Psych hospital cafeteria serves French fries and candy bars?

The_little_didgee · Sep 23, 2014 at 08:12 PM

Ask friends and family to bring snacks, Tim Horton's coffee and a package of Cottonelle.

notalone11 · Sep 24, 2014 at 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (JD)

oH THAT reminds me.... you won't see a psychiatrist the same day, and maybe not until the 3rd day... and that means you don't get any meds...so take all your meds (no, not all of the pills; each of your meds lol) right before going in so you at least have that in your system.

This is really good advice. I'm glad I took mine before going in. I asked every day to see a psychiatrist when I was admitted and finally on the third day I was able to meet with them.

I would suggest trying to be your own advocate when you need help, or need to ask where to get help. Even upon discharge, be sure the caseworker has a follow-up plan with you.

If you are allowed to have visitors it is better to meet where you are away from other patients. Some don't ever have visitors, and the like. When my partner visited, another resident came over to meet him and was very aggressive in his handshake and demeanor, not like he was at dinner... It made my partner really, really uncomfortable.

Kiya · Sep 24, 2014 at 11:06 PM

yes I have learned the hard way to take my needed meds either right before I go in or right as I am changing in to scrubs (yes I hid them in my pocket) or even take some hidden in my bear because they are so against Ativan that they won't give it to me even tho it is scheduled. -you didn't hear that from me

-
I also had a chocolate bar snuck in to me once - and then did the same for someone else once. Right under the tech's nose. Kinda spices up the day. As does sneaking eating it right under the cameras

notalone11 · 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiya

yes I have learned the hard way to take my needed meds either right before I go in or right as I am changing in to scrubs (yes I hid them in my pocket) or even take some hidden in my bear because they are so against Ativan that they won't give it to me even tho it is scheduled. -you didn't hear that from me

-
I also had a chocolate bar snuck in to me once - and then did the same for someone else once. Right under the tech's nose. Kinda spices up the day. As does sneaking eating it right under the cameras

A healthy dose of harmless mischief! They wouldn't give me my Deplin, which I had brought in the bottle with the prescription. They said they needed to order it from the hospital pharmacy, but you can't get it from anywhere but Alabama where it's distributed, I guess. Eventually they let me have my own pill. I wish they were able to listen to us when we say things about our meds to correct them; but we're there for a reason, so I guess everything we do is going to be scrutinized. When I'm not thinking clearly I do appreciate the outside help, though.

Kiya · Sep 25, 2014 at 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notalone11

A healthy dose of harmless mischief! They wouldn't give me my Deplin, which I had brought in the bottle with the prescription. They said they needed to order it from the hospital pharmacy, but you can't get it from anywhere but Alabama where it's distributed, I guess. Eventually they let me have my own pill. I wish they were able to listen to us when we say things about our meds to correct them; but we're there for a reason, so I guess everything we do is going to be scrutinized. When I'm not thinking clearly I do appreciate the outside help, though.

I keep thinking I can hit "LIKE" on posts. I was trying to LIKE this one

for 'harmless mischief"

(yes!) and for listening to us. Nothing like being in benzo withdrawals for 30 hours as a teacher.

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Flour Junior Member Member Since Sep 2014 Location: United States Posts: 15 9 3 hugs given	Sep 20, 2014 at 06:41 AM #143 wow, that was awesome. I especially liked number five, too freaking funny. Actually, your post was really well thought out. I have been hospitalized like 33x's, a lot of that really rings true. It was a good laugh though. Thank you for that.

ravanger New Member Member Since Sep 2014 Location: winnipeg Posts: 10 9	Sep 23, 2014 at 01:06 PM #145 Wow thats great advice!

Anonymous100185 Guest Posts: n/a	Sep 23, 2014 at 03:10 PM #146 I would never participate in group therapy. ugh.

Terabithia Grand Poohbah Member Since Aug 2014 Location: vA Posts: 1,592 9 47 hugs given	Sep 23, 2014 at 03:29 PM #147 bring a comfy robe and slippers - it gets chilly and it makes it more comfortable walking around the unit in your scrubs or your own night clothes.

Terabithia Grand Poohbah Member Since Aug 2014 Location: vA Posts: 1,592 9 47 hugs given	Sep 23, 2014 at 03:33 PM #148 another thing - if you ask, someone might bring something for you from the cafeteria late at night. I had never thought to ask until I saw another patient eating some French fries and a candy bar.

pachyderm Legendary Member Since Jun 2007 Location: Washington DC metro area Posts: 15,865 (SuperPoster!) 16 2,857 hugs given	Sep 23, 2014 at 04:28 PM #149 Psych hospital cafeteria serves French fries and candy bars? __________________ Now if thou would'st When all have given him o'er From death to life Thou might'st him yet recover -- Michael Drayton 1562 - 1631

The_little_didgee Grand Magnate Member Since Apr 2013 Location: Ontario Land Posts: 3,549 11	Sep 23, 2014 at 08:12 PM #150 Ask friends and family to bring snacks, Tim Horton's coffee and a package of Cottonelle. __________________ Dx: Didgee Disorder