Mental patients?!
Question: Has anyone here ever been in a mental hosp? What were your experiences? I work in one and want to know the otherside from someone who has experienced it and is not out?
Answers: Has anyone here ever been in a mental hosp? What were your experiences? I work in one and want to know the otherside from someone who has experienced it and is not out?
I was on a 72 hour hold in a psych unit once, if that counts.
It was the scariest experience I have ever encountered. I was there for PPD, and was in a unit w/ all kinds of crazies. I had one woman grab my head and shout that she was going to 'rip my face off' and she didn't care if she went to jail. I went to the drug window and got yet another ativan. Then, my roommate woke me in the night to tell me she could kill me with her fingernails, if she wanted. After talking to staff, I went to the drug window for more ativan. The food was good, we had a menu to choose from, and the staff was nice...if you were non-violent and compliant. I really think the experience left me in worse shape than when I went in, as it left me in a state where I would tell anyone what they wanted to hear so I could get out of there, as opposed to getting the help I really needed.
The first guy I met, he asked me my name. I told him, he said his name was satan. I told him it was a pleasure to meet the prince of darkness.
Thank you for doing the work that you do, because it can't be easy.
I use to work in one as a person that volunteered my time. I found music helped the people sometimes. A Song can do a lot for a person.
I have been in 7 times. It is really boring, the food is bad, and you can't smoke in most of them. The groups are a joke and most of the time they are not moderated by qualified personnel. They pump you full of drugs until you either turn into a zombie or stop complaining. Security is a joke. The doctors blackmail you into playing ball. Where I live you can check in voluntarily, but you legally can't leave on your own will; you have to be discharged by the doctor to leave. A lot of the staff are stupid and unpleasant(no offense to you, some of them are really cool). About the only thing I can say that is good is that I have met a lot of really cool people there. I have never come out feeling better than I did when I went in. I avoid going at all cost.
EDIT* I forgot to add earlier that I have been in 4 different facilities and they were all like this.
Thanks for the thumbs down Rusty. :)
dContrary to what Unpopular Option's experience, mine saved my life. The group sessions gave me a place to be with people with problems just like me and some even worse. The staff was wonderful, compassionate, very patient. As far as possible patients were treated with dignity and respect. Those who were violent or too ill to interact were housed in a different unit. I have nothing but praise for the facility I was in and if Unpopular Opinion is telling the whole truth the facility he was in should be reported to whatever entity is responsible for it.
I was in one for about 5 weeks and completely despised it. But I think it was due too my illness.
My doctor says I am improving.
But I think these places are necessary for people with mental illness to get better and get to grips with their illness.
I have been on a compulsary treatment order for around 2.5 years which means I have to take medication.
I feel a lot better and my advocate says the minimum length of time on medication is around 3 to 5 years for those that improve which was a relief as I was terrified I would be on meds for arond 10 years.