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Default Aug 27, 2017 at 12:47 PM
  #1
My depression's escalating and I think I'm going to have to voluntarily admit myself again.

I know that it's the Right Thing To Do but my first two hospitalizations were really boring and unhelpful--kept me safe while the worst of the depression passed, but I don't think I learned anything or experienced any healing.

Has anyone had an inpatient stay that was actually productive or helpful? (Outside of the realm of pure physical safety?)
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Default Aug 27, 2017 at 02:25 PM
  #2
I enjoyed the ip groups but meds can be adjusted op

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Default Aug 27, 2017 at 08:57 PM
  #3
Mine all (5) have been helpful. Some more than others but I've always left having gained something. I am able to go to a mood disorder unit which helps I think. Lots of groups and activities that were helpful. But honestly I don't know how much is that I felt safe and really needed help to feel that way and how much is something specific in there. Since I can't remember a specific answer I thing it might be that effect as much as anything. The only thing I hate is the weekends which are long and boring.

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Default Sep 18, 2017 at 01:13 AM
  #4
I had a really good connection with one superb nurse in one place… Actually a couple of places. The connection was healing to me.
My last hospitalization was really good because of how they did not react to my behaviors. They just let them be what they were and made sure that I was OK in a non-patronizing way, and I didn't get in trouble for anything. That in itself was huge.

Did you go in?

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Stories about good/helpful inpatient experiences?alt="Universal Life Church | ULC" border="0">
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Default Sep 18, 2017 at 03:56 AM
  #5
When I attempted, my temp job had ended 4 days before, my husband was unemployed, we had no insurance so after my 20 or 21 day hospital stay they sent me to an inpatient mental health facility that was nonprofit--served the homeless, etc. It seemed quite low budget. Mostly, we were just locked in a room together and monitored to make sure we didn't hurt ourselves. They did not change my dressings for days (twice during a 5 days stay and I had major wounds) plus I saw a psychiatrist only twice--short visits.

The one helpful thing was a man who taught the group classes. He did this as a volunteer. He had witnessed and survived a major trauma as a teenager which reared its ugly head years later and caused havoc in his life including alcohol problems. Only after hitting rock bottom, did he realize that it was unresolved. He kept saying to me that their must be some sort of trauma in my life that drove me to do what I did--especially given my background (my parent's were middle class--had enough $ to pay for my college education, until recently--after the credit bubble bursted--my husband and I were able to find sufficient work) and that I seemed so normal on the outside. He took the time to tell my husband and me his story and how important it was for me to see a therapist.

Earlier this year, my T reminded me that when I first went to therapy I said I really had nothing to talk about. But what this man said to me in such a kind way kept replaying in my mind. So I took a chance and brought up some things that I thought were probably unimportant but might be traumatizing. It turns out that there were some negative experiences that effected me more than I realized. It is easy to talk about good memories but not bad. If this caring gentleman had not laid the proper foundation--I do not know if I would have made as much progress as I have. For the most part, I don't even believe the people whom I have had traumatic experiences with meant me any harm. We all handle things differently, sometimes we need to learn better ways to handle things and allow ourselves to feel anger and sadness without guilt or forgive ourselves for our mistakes or we have developed negative coping mechanisms. Also, if we have been under intense stress for a long time, we may need a lot of rest. I still have a ways to go, but don't many of us? Life is messy....

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Default Sep 21, 2017 at 10:40 PM
  #6
My first experience inpatient was a surprisingly pleasant experience! The ER was scary (and boring) because no one really told me what was going on and there was like, seven guards watching over this small hallway with three psych patients. The nurses and doctors were nice though.

At the inpatient ward, I met a lot of really nice patients and staff members. A made a friend there and we would mess around with the therapist, who said we amused him but pretended to be annoyed. The psychiatrist would just laugh and let us do whatever silly things we wanted to do as long as we weren't actually causing trouble, which led to the therapist asking the psychiatrist, "WHY DO YOU ENCOURAGE THEM? THIS IS A BAD IDEA."

It was nice being able to get away from the stressors in my day-to-day life and since I was surrounded by nice people, I cheered up quickly and made a lot of the patients' and hospital staff's days with my antics.
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Default Oct 01, 2017 at 02:01 AM
  #7
I had a 7-week stay in a residential facility for OCD and depression. While there were definitely problems with the way they transitioned me out of the hospital, the treatment I received there was very effective in resolving my OCD symptoms. When I went in, I was so depressed that I was basically a walking zombie. I was obsessing and performing rituals every waking minute. I had dropped out of school and wasn't even living at home due to contamination fears. When I came out, I was about 90% OCD free and was able to resume my life. This hospitalization had a very specific purpose and involved a very specific treatment regimen of CBT/ERP.

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Default Oct 01, 2017 at 06:57 AM
  #8
I've been hospitalized for depression 3 times, all in the same psych hospital. They were all mostly good experiences.

The first time I was in was on a women's unit that speciallized in treating trauma and women with complex illnesses. The staff were all really nice and I was assigned a nurse for the duration of my stay, and I met with her a minimum of 2 times a day, and could go to her at anytime, if I needed to talk. I saw my psychiatrist every 2 days, and they had lots of good groups. I was in for 8 weeks.

The second time I was admitted was to a step down unit from the main mood disorders unit. It was much freer than the other ward. If we didn't have group we could come and go as we pleased, as long as we told the nurses where we were going, and when we'd back. On that unit, we had our own rooms with private bathrooms - that was the height of luxury. I was in 4 weeks.

My 3'rd admission was a bit more of a mixed bag. I went in through the ER and they didn't have any beds in the women's unit, so they stuck me in the General Psychiatric Union. It was pretty scary. There was no therapy, and seemed to be a holding pen for people who were involuntarily committed. And you had everything represented - lots of people with psychosis. My main objective was to lay low, and not get noticed. I was in there 5 days, and then got a move back to the women's unit I was on the first time I was in. It was good, and I was in 4 weeks that time.

If I was ever feeling unsafe, I wouldn't hesitate to go back to that hospital.

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Stories about good/helpful inpatient experiences?
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Default Oct 17, 2017 at 02:55 PM
  #9
I went in to a Trauma Unit. It was helpful. The most helpful thing was being safe, but there were lectures and therapy sessions that were helpful. Everyone there was kind and supportive. I was very isolated at the time, so having the support was nice.
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Default Nov 05, 2017 at 12:57 AM
  #10
Quote:
Originally Posted by chihirochild View Post
My depression's escalating and I think I'm going to have to voluntarily admit myself again.

I know that it's the Right Thing To Do but my first two hospitalizations were really boring and unhelpful--kept me safe while the worst of the depression passed, but I don't think I learned anything or experienced any healing.

Has anyone had an inpatient stay that was actually productive or helpful? (Outside of the realm of pure physical safety?)

Had a horrible experience first time I was inpatient for a med reaction. Really bad second experience at a different hospital for attempting suicide. Then my most recent experience for second attempt at another hospital was good. They helped me and had therapy groups and caring staff. Do your research on local hospitals if you can. They are not all good or helpful.

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Default Nov 05, 2017 at 01:59 PM
  #11
It depended on the hospital for me. Some were good some were bad. I was at a children’s psychiatric hospital several times and I had good experiences there. That was the hospital where I got on Geodon.

I was at 6 Different hospitals and 2 of them were pretty bad. The other 4 were pretty good.

The last time was in 2015. I had overdosed and I was put in the nicest unit. I guess the other units were pretty bad except this one. It was my first and only time being in an adult unit/hospital. So it was a huge difference. But In a good way.
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Default Nov 06, 2017 at 09:33 PM
  #12
Was in the psych ER center last 2 days.... thankfully I had two great nurses (to make up for 2 really sucky drs). I knew one nurse and she really advocated for me. Drat- I meant to leave her a good comment card; same with the other, but I can't remember her name. The second lady, I praised her for handling a difficult patient well, unlike her co-workers.
The first lady told me I am a pleasure to work with as always.

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Default Aug 03, 2018 at 03:04 PM
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The last few times I went IP I feel I got a lot of help. There were groups all day, your "contact staff" checked in with you at each shift. They was very kind and listened to what I had to say. The psychiatrist used psychotherapy which made me decompensate a bit. But on the plus side, he knew it upset me and ordered extra meds and a closer watch afterwards.

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Default Aug 17, 2018 at 06:58 PM
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I also was in a pediatric psychiatric unit In the 2nd best hospital in the state. It was pretty nice. My insurance would only pay for it twice. It was private insurance too.

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Default Oct 08, 2018 at 10:05 PM
  #15
I love being inpatient I would live at my hospital if I could,I usually stay three months and have been going there for seven almost eight years.I have nicknames for all the staff and I had one great nurse who was spiritual and would talk to me for hours,but a lot of the staff are spiritual there,they were like a family - the staff.I fell in love with two of my psych nurses one was a hippy musician that would talk to me about goddesses and poetry.We have a nice yard and a radio that plays out there and I would dance wildly with my friend in the evenings,This is in Australia and the hospital is nice and new with your own big rooms and in nature,doesn’t cost anything either.I loved not having the web so I could paint or write poems,dance,read,listen to the radio.I always made great friends there,I like getting up to have tea in the mornings.I always get dressed early, and do better in hospital there is a good routine,lots of support and I feel safe which makes a big difference to me.

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Default Oct 15, 2018 at 11:08 AM
  #16
Sometimes safety IS the helpful part. Yes, it can be boring, but you come out alive. That's IS helpful.

Most hospitalizations are designed really only for that purpose. They are short-term crisis intervention units, so they really aren't trying to "heal" you; they are simply keeping you safe and beginning medication management for stabilization. The expectation is that you will see a therapist for long-term work on your issues and healing.

That said, my hospitalizations were generally positive. The classes were sometimes actually rather informative (not all of them), the food was decent surprisingly enough, and I was able to take the time to not have to be responsible for anything but myself -- that was a major positive for me. Generally there were one or two other patients who I got to know fairly well and spent time visiting with. The staff was attentive and respectful. I usually left feeling more positive about my ability to manage and move forward than when I entered.
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Default Oct 29, 2018 at 01:11 AM
  #17
I have had only one inpatient hospitalization this past April 23-29. It was my first one, and not planned. I had OD'd on whatever i could find. I drunk posted to Facebook and my mom saw my post and called 911. They took me to the first hospital where I was assessed and detained in a private concrete cell with a mattress on the floor. Meals were brought but never eaten. After 2-3 days there i was transferred to another hospital that had an actual psych floor.I was there for five or six days. I saw my shrink a couple times for ten minutes each. He took me off all the medication I had ever known. They did not have any kind of healthcare progress or therapy resources while in the hospital. Also no cell phones, tablets, or smart watches.They basically sucked us of our will to live. I slept day and night. My mom brought me food I'd actually eat,. They basically gave you a safe space to get over what is ailing you and then they boot you without having done any work with you or providing you with appropriate services.

Having said that, I am seriously considering going back the week before final exams. I was able to get such an incredible amount of studying done that week - it was like being on private retreat - just hang in bed and study.
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