Post-hospital Acclimation

[Miaoqing]

Hello everyone,

Today I was discharged from the hospital, where I spent the last four days inpatient with suicidal ideation/close to an attempt. The day before I was admitted, I had heavily contemplated throwing myself into traffic, crashing my car, or cutting my wrists, and was incredibly close to following through with it. When my therapist learned of this, she recommended that I be committed to a child and adolescent psychiatric unit again. This was my third time going inpatient since July 2016, and I feel somewhat lost. I feel foreign in a way, or distant. Like a stranger. I just don't think I belong anywhere, I guess.

For those of you who have been hospitalized, how did you get acclimated to society again after being discharged? And how did you handle otherness post-hospital?

 

[Intrepid]

My PTSD is from childhood abuse. I never saw combat or anything else related to the military that messed me up. However, I was in the military I was hospitalized with S/I. I was in there for 45 days. When I got out I went back to my unit.

I had a lot of problems at that time, and even though I had hoped to make a career out of the military I couldn't do it and didn't reenlist. The flashbacks were just too strong. I could function at a certain level, but I started getting into trouble for angry outbursts, and knew that if I stayed in it would only get worse.

I never did get acclimated to society again. Sure, I have been able to work, but I'm not social. The otherness defines me. I don't relate to others very well. I've come to accept that I will always be different. I'm not grateful to have been through this stuff, but I have become happy with who I am, the good and the not so good.

 

[joeylittle]

how did you get acclimated to society again after being discharged?

Partial Hospitalization (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient (IOP). Does your hospital have that as an option? (Assuming you are in the US, as your flag says...)

 

[Freedomfighter]

My PTSD is from childhood abuse. I never saw combat or anything else related to the military that mes...

I relate much more now to people with mental conditions. My symptoms mimic many of those conditions, which is frightening. I am surprised how many PTSD symptoms are like other conditions. Iam now much more interested in people who have to carry such a heavy burden , because now Iam one of them.

 

[Miaoqing]

Partial Hospitalization (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient (IOP). Does your hospital have that as an option? (Assuming you are in the US, as your flag says...)

I'm not sure if we have that option in Alabama - from what my therapist said, it seems like hospitals around where I live only have full inpatient and outpatient services, but not PHP or IOP. I am continuing outpatient care, though; I go to therapy twice a week, and I see a psychiatrist every month. I'm on Prozac, Ascendin, and Lamictal now. But my therapist did hint that if PHP or IOP were options in hospitals near me, I would probably be on that track.

've come to accept that I will always be different. I'm not grateful to have been through this stuff, but I have become happy with who I am, the good and the not so good.

I think I should adopt an outlook like this haha, I have a hard time with things like this. I have a strong desire to be like everyone else in regards to mental health, I think, which is probably just another part of adolescence as well. I should really learn to just accept that I'm different and that's alright, you know? I should make a conscious effort to be contented with who I am.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

 

[Changing4Best]

I have been hospitalized so many times, I cannot remember what I did each time. I can say that I do work to get back into my usual routine as quickly as possible though. I know that I like being around people. I know that I need to go places where I am with them and listen to folks and sometimes talk with them (I am a listener mostly, seeking out folks who love to talk and tell about their lives). I will do my best to get into a situation like that and just listen contentedly. This reminds me of what made me happy as a child, listening to my grandfather (the kind one) while he told stories about his life. I usually gravitate toward folks that are older than I am. I know I can learn from them, as they have more life experience and wisdom than I do. I do what I can to keep the conversation flowing though. I might ask them to elaborate on something they told me about, I might just make some kind of Uh-Huh noise which encourages them to continue on with talking or I might tell them about something similar that happened to me. That last will usually remind them of something that happened to them, and we will be off to a new conversation all over again.