What Is It Really Like to Stay in A Mental Hospital?
I was diagnosed with bipolar about 16 years ago and it took years for me to find an effective treatment. At the time, I was very suicidal but I wouldn’t go to a hospital. I said, and I really meant, “I would rather die than go to one of those places.” But, much to my surprise, a few years later, when I was again very suicidal, I checked myself into one of those places. I stayed in a mental hospital.
What Are Mental Hospitals Like?
Mental hospitals, or psychiatric wards (which is, technically, where I was), are all different. Some offer the basic service of keeping you alive while others offer all types of therapies and treatment. Some are really designed for shorter term stays, like three days, while others are more able to handle longer stays such as those of a few months. It really does vary. And I would say that the quality of care available at different mental hospitals vary as well.
What Was My Stay at a Mental Hospital Like?
I admitted myself to the mental hospital after tearfully explaining to too many professionals in the emergency department that I was acutely suicidal. Doctors, of course, made the ultimate decision to admit me. Once there, they went through the few things I had brought with me, confiscated my medication (except the birth control pill) and showed me to a bed (it was late by the time I got there – hours in the emergency room to blame).
Not surprisingly, I was in pretty bad shape so every little thing seemed like an ordeal. I brought, quite intelligently, my own tissues and used far too many of them (those given out in the hospital are scratchy and unpleasant if you’re going to cry your way through the days).
The next day a general doctor came by to assess my overall health. Basic blood tests were run, my blood pressure was checked, that sort of thing. And then my psychiatrist (who worked at the hospital) came by. He promptly changed my medications drastically. Not surprising considering how badly I was doing but rapid medication changes are highly unpleasant under any circumstances. It seems to me, though, that this type of treatment is more common in the mental hospital as doctors know that any side effects that come up will be medical supervised and while unpleasant, are likely not dangerous.
The next morning I woke up to a nurse shaking me awake and yelling at me to come and have breakfast in the common room. I said to the nurse, “I can’t see.”
However, she didn’t hear me, she didn’t believe me or she didn’t care because the last thing I remember was her leaving my room yelling at me to go have breakfast.
At that point I realized something. I realized that if I looked straight down, I could see my toes. I didn’t know why I could only see my toes, but somehow, that day, I made it to the common room and ate breakfast, only looking at my toes.
What had happened, of course, was side effect. For me, the medication was so strong I couldn’t wake, and when I was forcibly awoken, I remained so stoned that my eyelids, physically, wouldn’t open. This gave me the impression of blindness but, really, it’s just that I could only life my eyelids a tiny amount and thus could only see my feet.
I saw my psychiatrist again that day and explained what had happened. While I was rather disturbed by the experience he didn’t seem concerned in the least. I can’t remember if we adjusted things at that point or if the side effect wore off on its own. I saw him most days and we tweaked things regularly.
I was then introduced to group therapy – an every morning event – and art therapy --- every other day. And that was it for the therapies offered. It was pretty lackluster.
What It Was Like for Me to Stay in the Mental Hospital
In my case, as I was in a non-locked ward and I had signed myself in, I could sign myself out for short periods of time too so while I was “in” the mental hospital, I actually spent a lot of time in the park next door.
I will say that while I was there, they mixed up medications twice – I have no idea why. Maybe a doctor who writes too fast, maybe too many changes at once, who knows. But the nurses never took kindly to being told that.
I will also say that I thought the nurses were mostly crap. While I’m sure it varies all over, my experiences with them were mostly negative. When I went to speak to them at the desk, they would literally ignore my presence and go on about their conversations as if I wasn’t there. And I, being extremely sick, was in no position to assert myself. It’s like they thought they should ignore me because I was “crazy.”
I was also allowed to use the phone (one per floor) when I wanted – not that I really wanted to talk to anyone.
I had visitors and I don’t remember there being any set hours for their visiting. Someone dropped off books and another took me home so I could shower there instead of at the hospital.
All in all, it was really unpleasant. But then, I was so depressed and so suicidal, I can’t imagine anything being anything but unpleasant.
I cried my way through two weeks there until I and my doctor thought I was okay to go home. When I admitted myself I never thought I would stay that long. I thought they would keep me from killing myself for a couple of days and that would be it. But, instead, my doctor did want to see an improvement of some sort before I left.
In my next article I’ll sum up what I learned in the mental hospital and whether I think others should go to mental hospitals.
You can find Natasha Tracy on Facebook or Google+ or @Natasha_Tracy on Twitter or at Bipolar Burble, her blog.
APA Reference
Tracy, N.
(2015, January 20). What Is It Really Like to Stay in A Mental Hospital?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, April 26 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2015/01/what-is-it-really-like-to-stay-mental-hospital
Author: Natasha Tracy
i have always wanted to see one.i have but i want to see the inside of one
That's just rude Caratucker. you have a morbid curiosity. They are merely hospitals with ALL physical dangerous possibilities removed.
I can't take medications, so I find these places intolerable. There is no such thing as voluntary really once those doors close behind you. I don't want to discourage others from going if they feel they need assistance, by all means, but for me and especially in my state, inpatient hospitals have traumatized me. When the article made the statement that some people would rather die then go to one of these, I would be one of those people. The whole system is broken and unfortunately, inpatient stays for some people lead to death. Statistics show that the week after people leave inpatient hospitals, they are at a staggering high risk for suicide.
I have never been to a mental health facility or hospitalized. But I do get outpatient services for mild bipolar illness, PTSD, Social Anxiety, and ADHD. I'm on Vistaril 25 mg. And Ritalin 10 mg. 2x daily. After hearing the poor and horrible treatment that to people in mental hospitals is not only a disgrace but surely disgraceful to those who practice the healthcare profression. I will be going in a place like that especially when some of the most dangerous phychoic murders or killers happened to be. Not all mental illnesses are equally the same or effected nor anyone who has them is alike: Everyone is different and should be treated individually. Not the same as everyone with same diagnosis. I would encourage anyone who wants help to get outpatient treatment services than to get admitted to impatient services. If no one is threat to society than there is no need to be hospitalized. Unless you need a short evaluation of less than 2 weeks to update a mental health or second opinion then it would be different.
Went to one voluntarily for depression and was put in lock down. Left after the second day. It was the most horrifying experience ever. I left more depressed than when I came in. I felt as an adult on time out and was being punished. And this was at an upscale hospital. Shame on them.
This crap has always went on at any of the mental health hospitals iv ever experienced. The nurses are rude and there is a BIG lack of respect. They think ur not important because your one of the "crazies". I went to one when I was 14 and there is always lack of respect from the staff but it's worse when your underage. the staff is stricter and you receive less respect than an adult in a mental health hospital would. I know this because I visited my mother in two separate mental health hospitals and they are less strict on the adults and have some respect for them. BUT adults in mental health hospitals ARE still mistreated. They get somewhat more respect, but it still isn't right how anyone is treated in those places. I was more depressed in there then when I was outside.
Plus on top of disrespect, they never stayed on top of my medication. I was supposed to have it twice a day and instead I'd get it once a day or skipped days or none at all. These people don't care about mental health they're just in it for the money. Also NEVER GET ADMITTED WITH ANYTHING VALUABLE!!!! It will come up missing and never found I can promise that. I had four earrings I had to take out for the nurse and what does she do? She puts a paper towel on the counter, puts my earrings in the center of it, crumples the paper towel up like a piece of paper and walks out. I never saw my earrings again.
I've worked as a psych tech in a state mental hospital for 4 years. I was also a patient in a acute private hospital psych ward for three weeks. So i know both sides.. It can be a difficult job, also rewarding for the most part. Being punched, spit on. [moderated] on, (litterally) is the downfall. Alot of the staff are burnt out. That's why they treat patients [badly]. It's alot easier to come to work and maintain the basics of the job. Rather than to be a good staff member and actually do your job 100%, or at least try anyways. Being understaffed is the biggest downfall. It's a difficult job, most of these people downing on the staff in the comment thread couldn't walk 1 week in staff shoes lol.
I searched for this and there you all are the voices of person's who have undergone that experience. My sister talked me into one as I was going to move back to Wyoming and they, family, thought I was going there to committ suicide and would be alone with no one to bother me or stop my self destruction. What I will say is that i was having a damn fine time living out there far away just wanted to come back to family roots, take a breather. They in turn convinced me I was Krazy and Suicidal, one night (they set me up to come over for dinner). Now, I believe am Krazed and my brain is not functioning well and no words actions I do should be trusted. I no longer trust myself. First 2 nights in a lockdown unit as no rooms available in the unit I was to go to. Ahhh lawdy that's a story unto itself those two nights there. Scared to death and didn't know if I could get out or not. To scared to ask mean nurses about leaving as might piss them off. I saw a gal going off at the Nurse's station, yelling cussing. The nurse looked her square in the eyes and said, "Do you want ECT therapy again. It looks like you do by how you are behaving." I asked one of the other patients, "is this true they do ECT here." Yes if you sign the paper for it, she said. My hair stuck straight up chills up and down my back,did I sign that paper when admitted in that whole flurry of confusion.
Geez you can believe I squared up fast and would do what they wanted, how and when they wanted it done. Shut my mouth, head down, and did the med shuffle for 2 days until transferred, scared to ask if I could leave as that might cause the nurse to be aggravated and onto ECT room I would go strapped to the bed. I still remember how helpless and fearful I was that they would give me electric shock and really change my brain. So did all that was asked and got out in 9 days. How does one not believe in their insanity afterwards or return to society and work. Haven't yet has been 2 years since that happened. Not to give me words of further treatment, I have had plenty of therapies since then, ever changing multiple diagnosis, meds and YES! I will find my way out. I was a working RN and 57 years old when this happened. Days of being a free spirit flew out the window on that 3rd floor lockdown unit.
I wrote to much. I thank you for letting me vent here where the questions are asked about such experiences. God Bless you are here and asking questions.
Hello I'm reading all the articles about getting sent to psych wards and I would like to chim in my two cent opinion about psych wards.
In total, I have been going to psych wards since 15 years old a total of 13 times. Now I have to say I was always a depressed kid since I was a child, probably becaus I was picked on by everyone for being whiny by both cousins and kids my own age. Brothers and sisters too, for being a mamas boy, I never went out as a kid and was lazy, might be depression or just not properly raised idk... Also I was never a good friend to anyone, I always was selfish to say the least. Just a bratty kid. A lot of memories are hazy, all I remember was getting hurt all the time, I would hold in my poops, and I would wake up screaming in the middle of the night
Now... (I've been checking my psych for some time now, I'm 24 years old) I would remember my sister would go into the adolescent ward when I was growing up and her behavior was a bit crazy, this was in the nineties in pacoima California. I picked up on it I have to say, I'm a bit of the monkey see monkey do type.
In middle school I played drums, looked up to my brother, a little too much, and was very naive and gullible because I never went out with anyone, no one wanted to be my friend. I wasnt a good friend, I had no manners.
Now when I was in high school, at around 15 I hung out with some people that idk I call them friends because they came to my house although I don't think they ever liked me (looking back, I think they were trying to get me hooked on meth or drugs or whatever) and at the time I wanted to smoke pot. ever since sixth grade. I would go looking for it like an idiot. So at fifteen I finally got a chance to smoke weed, and goddamn was I traumatized but liked it since it was what I was looking for, a few days later I went back to get more, not so much hang out with them, if they were trying to actually be friends, then I started going like every weekend it was fun, I watched movies constantly in those days so it went hand in hand with tripping on life and movies. I became addicted and started getting depressed or something, I was warned by my sister that it could have been laced, but I was gullible and didn't people did such a thing, I thought I was just depressed, and to be honest I was, especially after seeing the movie waking life.... Na even before that. I don't know to this day. I started getting eratic and did stupid shit for it, I stole,I fcking stole for it because I had thus dream like nihilist mentality. To this day, I don't know if it was laced or not although many people tild me that it was. All the while, I would go to my brother for counseling because i was fuxking sad all the time, it was annoying to him I bet... Anyway I started going to counseling at the time, I don't know if it started before or after I got sent to a rehab. I was ready to stay there, and to be honest I didn't I needed to be there since it was only for weed, although they told me it could have been laced idk... I awoled after a week. Decided to go hang out with friends and come back.... That was my plan
This is where my psych history begins. When I came back, keep in mind I had this nihilistic suicidal mentality at the time because I looked at my past and had this dreamer like mentality that I developed, they had me write two pages front and back about what I did and why I did it. I used to write a lot, I still do as you can see. I wrote it quickly. Then my family came. I was sad at the time. Which is why I left plus I felt I didn't belong there since most of the people there were there my law and I was a walk in. Plus it was just weed.
My family came and spoke with the coordinator of the rehab. They decided to bring a psych evaluator who spoke to me, i spoke freely about suicide and nihilism, and in the psych ward I went for the first time. I didn't know anything of how it worked. When I went in, they told me to take medication. He threatened me and forced me and injected me with something he did not even tell me. What it was.
I remember crying to my parents about it over the phone,i didnt get how it all worked. They brought me clothes and they even let me bring in some DVDssince that is what brought me comfort all the time. I was there two weeks and to be honest it wasa good experience. I felt I needed it. And I was treated very well, even my uncles and aunts came and visited me.... Damn. I just remember that... I got out and continued Outpatient therapy.... I'll continue this in the next chapter, which is where I started to get my downfall downward spiral to the position I am right now where my family doesn't want me, I might have kids I don't know about, an alcoholic drug addict, and either get sent to jail or dead. It really is quite a story.
Wow. Thank you for sharing this. I have been researching mental hospitals out of mere curiosity, and almost every former patient story has had at least 2 negative comments about how uncomfortable they were or how badly the nurses treated them. One of my friends ended up going to a mental hospital for about a month for attempting suicide, attempting rape, being involved in drugs, alcohol, and smoking. I was wondering what it was like there, and this really provided a viewpoint that put my feelings into prospective.
I have to agree it does suck to be in a menta ward but the the worst one ive been commited in is a veterans hospital there Id been placed and I really didn't want to be though Id see my doctor for two-three minutes a day and was sent home after three days hopefully to be considered well enough to not want to go out and kill several people and myself too that's a joke too that the VA is considered so well too their a joke in real life.
I'm really sorry to hear about your traumas inside the ward.
Myself; I'm an international student who lives in the states. I started to have depression after coming here, and I tried to kill myself 12 times last year, and they kept me last year in eight different places. Some of them were helping and great and some were really scary because I was abused by the patients and I told the nurses but no one offered help. Actually, some of the hospitals I've been in have the worst safety system because I tried to hurt ans poison myself even inside the ward. And in the other places I was passing out because of the medications and I was losing my temper so I was forced to be restrained and injected every six hours. I was not able to do anything because I was not aware of what have gone around. The doctors threatened me to send me to state hospitals or kick me out of school, and other doctors gave me the wrong meds. Till now I feel really suicidal though I've been in the best wars in the states but none of those helped a lot. They work for short periods then everything starts over! But some of those hospitals were great and the doctors always put me in by force or be taken by the police :/ I have such a horrible life
And yeah they were so careless so they took me to the emergency room three times in one week. Also the doctor put me under line of sight so I was super angry because I couldn't even keep my hands under the blanket so I jumped of my bed and I punched the wall so I broke my hand after losing my temper. Then didn't allow me to shut the door when I shower, or have spoon of fork, I had to ea lt finger food. Also, after being treated so bad, I was eo stupid then I decided on stopping eating and I started to feel paranoid and fainted so they took me to the hospital and restrained me and forced my to have tons of IV bags. I was really angry at that time because I told them do not help me but the ER doctor didn't change his mind because I had severe symptoms. Also they locked me in the QR without seeing anyone, or having no visitors. They also told me that I was a good actress because I was so mad because of them. I had to respect!
My son he is mental ill he's vailent to wards us some times he forgot his siblings all im asking for is help please
Hi, i'm really sorry to hear that. Have you tried looking online for things that can help him? I don't really know a lot about this but I really hope that your son gets better soon and that you and your family are doing well.
I need help finding hospitals for mental issues and bipolar and manic episodes for my son!
Hi Lana,
If you need to find mental health resources, please see our page that lists hotlines and resources to contact someone who may be able to help: http://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/resources/mental-health-hotline-numbers-and-referr…
- Natasha Tracy
Hi, my friend went to a mental hospital in Seattle , and when he came back he was a whole different person , he didn't recognize me , or his mom , before he went to a mental hospital he was completely normal , he had straight a's he was funny , and now he can't think straight , he has trouble speaking , and I don't know what the hospital did to him, but he said that they didn't feed him , they treated him poorly , he said he saw the devil, and people were trying to take him. His parents are suing the hospital for what they did to him. do you think there's any chance that he will return to how he was , he takes a lot of xanex , because the hospital told him too, and they gave him so many medications ,
I was forcibly admitted to a mental hospital when I was 16-17 & it was...scarring. I was one of the youngest people in the ward of about 12 other women all over the age of 24 & while that didn't bother me it was kinda weird. A male nurse came up to me & told me to comfort a new arrival. I thought that was a little weird but I did it anyways all the while being super wary because she had attacked her husband & she could snap at any moment.
We had our own small rooms & at night you could lock the doors from the inside which I did because (like clockwork) some of the women would wander the halls screaming, crying and banging on doors. Mine was no exception. I didn't sleep or eat much & when I did sleep it was because I was so doped on the meds they were giving me I couldn't focus. I was allowed visitors, phone calls, & my mom brought in food; They had a policy at the hospital I was in that no outside food of any kind could be brought in. I could have easily cut my wrists with the glass bottle I was given. We never had group sessions or anything like that. We just medicated & left to our own devices. I was released & nothing else happened after that. 8 years later & I'm facing the choice of admitting myself into hospital again. I've attempted 3 times now & my doctor isn't really concerned. I just don't care anymore.
Here's what I believe that it is possible for you'll to get better without the meds, because I think meds do more harm than good. And going in an environment like the mental hospital will make you strongly that you'll are mad and all the negative.
Please get a quite relaxing place and listen to relaxing music,
Write down all the positive things about yourself
Exercise and do yoga or ballet exercises
All in all, believe to yourself that you are strong and whatever you going through will pass soon with the right amount of work and determination.
Do research and find a homemade method to relax if possible and let love ones help program you to relaxation.
Just breathe slowly and clear your mind
I worked at a Mental Institution in New Jersey back in the 1980's. It was well before the internet and mass media had come about. As a staff member you could pretty much get away with whatever you wanted. A lot of the orderlies would dope up patients and do all sorts of weird things to them. It was so prevalent that i began to feel as though it was simply part of being there. For fear of retribution i never told anyone. I have always felt remorse for not intervening. I was witness to some really heinous acts. I wish i had done something but my supervisor was one of the main culprits and i was afraid of losing my job.
I admitted my self in mental hospital.. Because I was very depressed but the dr thought it was best for me.. Well I never expected a mental hospital to be this.. I thought it be be a regular hospital. It was horrible when they shut slam this iron doors .. And the security guards intimated , I was so scared . The best way I can describe is one flew over the co coo nest.. And these hospital are very well know .. What a shame. Everyone I know is not to ever go there in a mental hospital. Try and seek support and a really good private dr. Unfortunately the Drs don't take insurance( the really good doctors) I went thru hell and back. This is just a piece of my story.. People should go and explode what goes on in these hospital they treat you like garbage and I don't about anyone else but I felt I was in the worst prison.. And it's not just one or two or three mental hospitals it's all over.. But if you had a lot of money you wouldn't be in a place like these mental hospitals.. Ty Donna
Hi. I was wondering if I could possible do an interview with you for a school research project. I am looking for ways peoples human rights have been taken away will in mental hospitals. If you could contact me via email that would be amazing. Thank you.
To freya, my son is in a pic mental ward. There is a complete loss of his civil liberties, and he has been subjected to a number of experiments. Non of these have benefited him. Its like a nightmare I can't negotiate and the staff will never admit they have done any thing wrong. My son's been abused and molested. Nurses have tortured him and wrote false reports.
I have had several stays in a mental hospital. The last one in August of 2024 was hopeful my last visit . After a failed suicide attempt I spent two weeks in a complete lock down ward. What a traumatic experience for me living with angry violent individuals who could not cope in the community. Once I was stable of the drug and alcohol overdose I was fearful. I It was impossible to sleep
in an environment filled with raging out of control people. Many of the personnel lacked compassion and understanding for the suffering and destitute. The time spent in this surrounding was a wake up call to pull myself together to avoid any recurrent stays.
I was admitted for bi polar mania(?first time at age 56) which was probably more a combination of medical marijuana and thyroid replacement that was too high. Anyway, the psych wards are terrible for anyone with sleep issue - 24 hr. light in the room and they come in every 15 minutes. You would think in this day/age they would just mount a night-vision camera in each room and take a snapshot and look every 15 minutes on a monitor. Cheaper and easier.
Low fiber food that binds one up. NO earplugs, no night-time sleep mask. Unrelenting noise and light. IT's taken me a few months of light therapy to "almost" get my circadian rhythm back to somewhat normal.
I'll do anything to avoid going back to one of those places!
I need to be in a mental Hospital i have no insurance and no SSI .Do they have free Hospitals? can anyone give advice or know of places. I live in PA.I would like to admit myself so i have control when i can leave..dansommo@gmail.com Thank You so Much for your Help..
Hi Dan,
I'm sorry, I can't help with your specific request but I recommend you look at our hotlines and resources page as you may find something that can help you there. Make sure to call a hotline if you feel you are in distress: http://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/resources/mental-health-hotline-numbers-and-referr…
- Natasha Tracy
HI
I have niece that we all believe she needs help. She has shut us all out of her life and has threatened to call the cops on us. She says that she is talking to Charlie Sheen and he telling her to drive through corn fields and he told her once to just stop in the middle of i95. She was put out of you grandparent home, her uncles and she also took her father to court for sexual abuse and harassment. So, my question is she is 24 years and we took her to Sheppard Pratt and they say she is no harm to herself and no one else that they couldn't keep her. It has to be voluntarily bases and she believes she is fine and there nothing wrong with her. Can we have her committed for a 30 day evaluation to spring grove without her consent? We are afraid of her on her own.
Thanks
Hi Kathy,
If your niece isn't a danger to herself or others, there is really no way to hold her without consent. The best you can likely do is to call the police if she is a danger and that will help your case with the doctors.
That said, I'm not a healthcare professional so I would recommend talking to one or to a lawyer who specializes in this area for a definitive answer.
- Natasha Tracy
A number of years ago, spent 2.5 days in sub-par suburban hospital psych ward after half-hearted suicide attempt prompted by an abusive bf. First, ER doc was arrogant who clearly had no training in psych issues. Second, psych nurse had terrible tic and possibly her own psych issues. She exaggerated what I told her on the admittance form... when I read her notes, I complained that they were patently inaccurate and made my symptoms seem worse than I had self-reported (as though ANYONE needs that!). And while I was there, a very physically large, possibly schizophrenic male patient entered my room (BR doors weren't locked!) and was "cleaning" (or doing something!) my bathroom while I pretended sleep to avoid be possibly assaulted... the nurses were on break and had no idea where this man was until I informed them he had been in my bathroom for at least 10 minutes. Needless to say, I told the head psych-Doc I would sue the hospital if he didn't release me immediately. He did. Just because you might be bi polar doesn't mean you're stupid and have no rights! I think some psych wards in for-profit hospitals have to report to the CFO and CEO like any other for-profit company... the more patients, warranted or not, the more profits!!
I have never been in a mental hospital for my bipolar depression, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, or Social Anxiety issues. I get outpatient mental health services with a place called the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board in Virginia. I take Zoloft and Ritalin. For certain circumstances there is no need to be admitted to a mental institution or hospital at all especially if there is outpatient clinics to go to instead. The medication I take prevents me from being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, it's actually a lot better than to placed somewhere where they don't treat you very well.
Hey, I was wondering if you could help me for a minute. A few months ago, I was forcefully admitted to a psychiatric ward, for being suicidal and homicidal. It's an odd combination but it's me. I was the youngest one there, being only eleven. I was discharged three days after I was admitted, and I was still the same as before. Maybe it was the lies that I was fine but I don't really know. Could you please tell me what I can do to prevent myself from going back? Preferably without changing my feelings, they are who I am.
Thank you,
Amy
I have thoughts but I don't want to go back to a psychiatric ward. What can I do to prevent this?
Everyone seems to be getting put into wards for depression and suicide attempts. Even parents are putting their kids in there. I barely a teenager, but I want to be put in one. To be honest it sounds horrible, but I'd prefer it right now. I have multiple personality disorder, extreme paranoia, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and social anxiety. I've been suicidal and self harming since I was 6, (So for 8 years) but no one will do anything because they think its me attention seeking. I don't want to tell my parents, because I don't want to concern them, should I? I bet they wont even know what to do with me or just brush me off. I'm seriously past the point of sanity. Anyone know what I should do? Please?
ThatKid, I really encourage you to just call one of the crisis lines and get help. My daughter has most of the same things you do, and she has had three hospital stays. Each one helped. It is the best place to figure out meds in complicated cases, because they watch the side effects closely and can really make dramatic changes. They are also really good at diagnosing, so your home doctor will be better able to help you once you get out -- right diagnosis, right meds. They are scary and instrusive and boring, but worth it. Yes, tell your parents, but if they don't listen, call the crisis line yourself.
I'm the mother of a 25 year old who has been dealing with schizophrenia and anger about 5 years, and we have used every drug halodperiod to the new one rexuilt and nothing seems to work, so he us self medicating with marijuana and beer, what to do.
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When I stayed at a mental hospital it was actually good. This was a hospital for minors, all of us were under the age of 18 and did not have major illnesses as it was a low-level one. I arrived at 2am and was greeted by one female nurse and one male. They were nice and asked me questions regarding why I was there and how I calm in case if I ever got triggered by something. I went robbed in a guest room because I would have a roommate and they couldn't bring me into the room in the middle of night. My roommate was amazing we actually became quite close in the week I was there. It was a short term hospital and allowed roommates. Only females had roommates and I had two. We became quite close and we supported each other. The staff was nice and would play games with us. The doctors were not there often, but did not bother us much. The nurses were okay, but the therapists were much more comforting and were more enjoyable. The other patients were nice and welcomed me. I was also the youngest there so I was very nervous, but the staff made me feel at home. I was actually pretty sad to go, but now I'm feeling better and hopefully never have to go back.
my mom wants to put me in a psych ward because i hsve ""delusional thoughts"" when i started talking about my beliefs about myself (?? i wouldnt say thwyre beliefs because theyre true and i know theyre true and my girlfriend knows theyre true) and my brother thinks i have schizophrenia even though im only 14???? its rly funny because when i was younger (7-10, i had gone through a severely traumatic experience st age six so that Might be why this is all happening) i always talked about how i was actually a cat, and once in a while i actually had images/sights of me being a cat and i told my mom about it because it had confirmed that i was a cat!!! my mom reacted strangely since i was "a little old to be playing pretend" but i wasnt playing pretend at all i was actually a cat . i guess this kind of stuff has "escalated" in a way??? like sometimes im still a cat but for instance im for the most part supposed to have eight-fold vision and im a god and i helped create this universe which is true because i remember doing it and my girlfriend says that she does too since she also helped, and only now my mom wants to send me to one!!!! i mean i Guess that its probably "not normal" but when youre a god ur not. really normal. i guess im only on here to vent about stuff but like. how do?? i convince my mom that im not "delusional"???????? ive been panicking for two days straight because mom told me that she might send me to a psych ward and i dont want to go to one because they make me scared and feel sick
Hi Si,
Thank you for reaching out. I'm not quite sure what to tell you. I certainly can't diagnose you online but what I can say is that your thoughts are very unusual and you may need help to deal with them. In other words, your mom may be right in getting you help. This could be a very positive thing for you. I have been in the hospital and it isn't like you see in the movies. Please understand this might be the best place for you.
- Natasha Tracy
I've never been to a hospital but I'm considering admitting myself because I've been imagining ways to kill myself and the urge to do it has never been this bad. This reoccurs everyday several times a day. I'm not diagnosed with any disorders but I believe I may have ADD, PTSD, bi polar and possibly schizophrenia (I'm not entirely sure because no one ever hears or sees the things I do when they happen). I've never been ballsy enough to attempt suicide but I have a history of cutting pretty bad. Never too deep, but deep enough to leave a gaping scar. I used to be "addicted" to cutting but the urge went away when it wasn't enough anymore. The urge is coming back but I hate the scars I have already enough to resist going through with it. Now I struggle with intrusive thoughts and I'm unable to do anything to move forward with my life. I have motivational issues and it's entirely too exhausting to care for myself. Due to past events I don't see myself as beautiful or useful and I have insecurities that my mind uncontrollably exaggerates daily. I overthink and pick apart everything until I drive myself insane laying there with heartache because I can't get myself to stop thinking. Memories from my past are eating me alive and I can't take stress or myself anymore. I'm going crazy and I never though I would ever reach my breaking point. I'm close to losing my sanity and it's because of everything in my past and present. I don't want to go to a hospital but I don't feel safe in my head. If I admit myself I'll be worried about everything happening that I can't see and I'll go crazy being confined. But if I don't admit I don't trust myself to stay safe. I refuse to tell anyone what I'm feeling because I've built a barrier between showing emotion and being emotionless and I can't break that facade. I don't trust anyone and I can't bring myself to trust even the one person I love most because I can't let myself be hurt. I don't know what to do because a part of me doesn't want help so I can give up and another part wants to try because I can't imagine losing my sanity completely.
What you are describing sounds like a personality disorder. Personality disorders are one of the worst mental disorders to have, you sound like you are explaining borderline personality disorder but it's hard to tell without the right questions. I suggest you get an appointment with a psychiatrist and see if they can diagnose you. If they do then you will be given medication and/or a recommendation for a form of therapy. I highly suggest you look up personality disorders and check if you have one because you sounds like you do. Stay safe.
my mom has borderline personality disorder and what you are describing sound just like that its not easy and i can tell you it will be so hard but from how it went with my mom the best thing you could do is get help
i know that its easier said than done but im glad thats what she did or she wouldnt have been here today x
please try and get the help you need and deserve and just know that i am here to talk x
Mental hospital's are horrible places they don't help people past locking them up! Then forcing drugs on them!
I lost my 26 week old daughter over 3 and a half years ago and I still feel like the world's ended and what it would be like to die so I could be with her.