What happens if I check into a mental hospital?!
Question: I am considering checking into a mental hospital cuz of various insurmountable problems. Afraid if I continue to spend more time alone (I'm shut in w/ two painful & exhausting disabilities) I might get really despairing.
My problem is I have few reliable & decent friends, no help w/ chores on a regular basis, & support groups online help but lack face to face interaction.
Medicines that I've been given don't help & in fact make my disabilities worse w/ increase spasticity, anxiety & fatigue.
If I commit myself to a hospital, when will I be able to get out? Will I be stuck there for a very long time against my will? Or only until they can find the right pain & mood medications for me?
Will they make me take medications vs. my will if I don't like the side effects? I have brain damage & medications often hit me very hard. I'm concerned this might extend my stay.
Desperate, don't know what to do. Please give me more info so I can make informed decisions. Thx
Answers: I am considering checking into a mental hospital cuz of various insurmountable problems. Afraid if I continue to spend more time alone (I'm shut in w/ two painful & exhausting disabilities) I might get really despairing.
My problem is I have few reliable & decent friends, no help w/ chores on a regular basis, & support groups online help but lack face to face interaction.
Medicines that I've been given don't help & in fact make my disabilities worse w/ increase spasticity, anxiety & fatigue.
If I commit myself to a hospital, when will I be able to get out? Will I be stuck there for a very long time against my will? Or only until they can find the right pain & mood medications for me?
Will they make me take medications vs. my will if I don't like the side effects? I have brain damage & medications often hit me very hard. I'm concerned this might extend my stay.
Desperate, don't know what to do. Please give me more info so I can make informed decisions. Thx
I have been in and out of psych wards for my bi-polar. So hopefully I can give you some help. But I live in New Zealand and different countries have different rules.
If you put yourself into hospital voluntarily you still have to take whatever meds the doctors tell you to take and you can't actually discharge yourself at your own will UNLESS the doctors agree that you are ready to be discharged.
If you leave without the doctors consent they can section you under the mental health act and bring you back into hospital against your will.
However, once in a hospital, I personally have found the care to be very helpful and my longest stay was 3 weeks for a manic episode. I've been in both voluntarily and also through being sectioned.
Have you thought of respite care? Usually its available through the public mental health and its more low key. You can leave when you want and you get plenty of rest and time out from lifes chores.
All the best in whatever you decide.
Disability is mostly a state of mind. I have fibromyalgia and diabetes. I'm neither disabled, nor am I a shut in. You couldn't drag me to a mental hospital with a team of oxen. Why not work toward a solution to your problem?
I can tell you from experience, that a mental hospital is among the worst places to put a person unless their bent on hurting themselves or others. You don't sound like such a person.
Go to my website (linked under my profile) and see what I did to drag myself out of 5 years of suicidal depression, conquer diabetes, and get a handle on fibromyalgia.
Trust me, you can do it.
depends on the hospital. some hospitals are worse than others, some are like a fast food resturant. You are in and out and they really don't do anything for you. If you want to know if the medication is going to work, you are going to be there for 3 weeks, and most medical insurance companies have a time limit to how long you could. If you want to get committed you are going to have to do a lot of things and you don't want to do.
You have the right to refuse treatment, especially if you say it is beccause of the side effects.....
unless you are planning on killing yourself, or someone else, then you should relly go into the hospital.....
Hi,
Well basically you check into a mental health hospital voluntarily (note the check in) they can only keep you if they feel you are a danger to yourself or society this is up to 72 hours and then if they still do not feel comfortable it goes to the courts. Once again though if you check in voluntarily you can also check out. Since you are taking medications I would inform those that are prescribing the medications that you are considering going to a mental health hospital. (A little side note if you are afraid to tell them, please find a different doctor, this one is not working out for you) They may have some alternative suggestions, they could recommend live, human groups, and maybe even adjust your medication to make it work better. On occasion you could be assigned a case manager through your insurance. But.. here's what it boils down too, if you feel unsafe.... go to a hospital. Hope this is helpful good luck
Hi! My case is not as dibilitating as yours however, i can empathise. I suffer kidney failure and have heart disease whereby i am on numerious medications for my conditions.
I understand and agree with where you are coming from when you state your meds increase pain, etc! One of my meds make my muscles ache throughout my body - it comes and goes like a wave of pain. I have to stop whatever it is i am doing for a minute or so, take a deep breath and allow the pain to subside. One of my other meds for my kidney's make me feel nausious all the time and puts me of my food (which is ironic considering i must take these tabs with food!).
My mind is taken of these issue's (and i s'pose i'm lucky) as i work full time - yeah sure, i may be hindered every so often however i won't allow what i'm going through to over ride and beat me!
I have a hobby after hours - i sing and perform in a band. I totally luv music and i find this reassures my self confidence and self worth. Not saying you have to be out there singing your life away, i was thinking may be if you had an interest to keep you active, etc - this may help!! i don't know - just trying to help.
I believe you really need to speak with some one (i s'pose you already are!!). Contact the hospital and ask them if you may speak to some one whom may guide you and may be able to offer you further assistance thus keeping you from admitting yourself into hospital (which may even be more of a hinderance as, no doubt, your anxiety levels will peak due to concerns you may have, not knowing what each day will bring, how long you stay may be, etc!) I truly hope htis helps!