Hospitalization?

[MissKat]

Can anyone here (who has experiance) give me any insight in Mental hospitalization?

My neuropsyche has been worried about me as of late because both my MDD, Anxiety, and PTSD have been really bad lately and its a fight to not just end it almost every day, I haven't cut myself in years but I have wanted to a lot as of late and the toxic environment I am in is amplifying these things. I've been considering admitting myself to a mental hospital, and started to do some research on the local ones in my area but a lot of the rules at them at stupid strict and severely limit contact with the outside world (as in limiting phone calls, access to computers and/or social media, only allowing visitors for a little bit of time, etc.)....it's the limited contact that scares me because I NEED my social support system to make it through things, I NEED my boyfriend, I NEED contact with a few select friends, certain family members would be nice too, but they are pretty unreliable. I'm just not sure if that is a good option for me, so I wanted to see if anyone here might be able to give some advice or insight, maybe share their hospitalization stories?

Please and thank you

 

[anonymous]

I had a family member admit themselves and I was able to visit every day. they were there for 10 days. She was able to call me when she needed something. She found the sessions very helpful. She surrendered for her own mental health and I think it was a great thing she did for herself.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I've been considering admitting myself to a mental hospital, and started to do some research on the local ones in my area but a lot of the rules at them at stupid strict and severely limit contact with the outside world (as in limiting phone calls, access to computers and/or social media, only allowing visitors for a little bit of time, etc.)....it's the limited contact that scares me.

This is the only experience I have as well. It's not personal experience. I wasn't the one commited, but the one not able to contact. My step mom's brother had a suicide attempt where he was found just in time and was held at a mental hopsital. It was longer than 72 hrs but he always walked out of hospitals so i think they kept him longer.

They wouldn't even tell my step mom of he was there. She didn't know if he was dead or not. It was horrible. He finally called her from a phone there to tell her he was ok.

He never spoke about it so i don't have inside experience.

Why are you feeling like you need to admit yourself though? I am not saying that's bad. I am just wondering because as someone that thinks of suicide daily and have MANY attempts, did start to cut again, and am on the edge suicidal very often, and have no support other then this site (no family, no boyfriend, no real life friends...no one) I haven't been admitted and have been able to work through it. My therapist has always caught me and guided me in the right direction and this site has been wonderful support.

I guess, I am just wondering why you fear you won't be caught when falling and guided the right way by your therapist and supported and loved by your support system.

Again, please don't think I am saying not to admit yourself. If you feel you need saved from yourself then absolutely admit yourself as I do not want you to hurt yourself or godforbid worse. I am just wondering if that is fear talking and why you have that fear is all.

 

[EveHarrington]

IME a hospital is all you describe------necessarily.


Those of us who have moved forward in our healing know that we must-------MUST (!) move beyond needing other people in order to be ok.

ie I must have social media, my boyfriend, etc whenever I want it or else I will wither and die.

Being ok must come from within. Depending on others to this level is not healthy in the least.

It may stink to be away from family/loved ones, but healthy separation is necessary if you want to get better.

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

I have admitted myself 3 times in my life, and each time, I knew that I was sinking fast.
I didn't like the strict rules, but realized after being there, that rules were necessary to keep the focus on "us".

They have to have the rules because some patients NEED the outside world shut out, in order to concentrate on the process of getting better.

There are classes, and meetings at specific times, and interruptions would make it hard to be consistent.

For me, I needed someone to make sure that I was eating, and not isolating, two things that I have trouble with when I am in bad shape.

I hope this helps. I feared I couldn't come out of my "free fall" of despair without help. Each time, I came out better.

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

What I hear is, your toxic environment is fueling your depression and anxiety.

Hate to be blunt but you will need to leave that environment and severely limit contact with those toxic others in order to stabilize. And that, by the way, is the reason behind the strict hospital visitation/contact rules.

True, you can stabilize in the hospital but what good will that do if you are then released back to the toxic environment?

Now, it might be helpful to go inpatient with a goal of stabilization and release to a healthier environment. That would be a fine use of your inpatient time.

Regarding inpatient units, they really are not bad at all. There are helpful daily groups, craft therapy (Occupational therapy, they call it), recreation hours, ..., things to do to help you get moving and into a more positive mindset while waiting for medication to kick in. You will be assigned a clinical social worker who will work with you on getting released to a healthier environment. Some facilities even have indoor pools.

When you go inpatient, you get what you put into it. Work the program as it is meant to be worked, and you can come out the other side in a much better place within yourself.

 

[joeylittle]

am just wondering because as someone that thinks of suicide daily and have MANY attempts, did start to cut again, and am on the edge suicidal very often, and have no support other then this site (no family, no boyfriend, no real life friends...no one) I haven't been admitted and have been able to work through i

This reads like you are saying that you can tolerate worse, so why can't other people? That does not seem helpful in the least. Also, you are comorbid BPD, and are describing/experiencing symptoms in a way typical of BPD. The OP is talking about MDD. They express suicidality differently.

@MissKat - the reason for the limited contact is so you can avoid those kinds of stressors and so you can focus on what's going on treatment wise.

If you are on medication, they may use the time in the hospital to make adjustments that would normally take longer.

The biggest thing I got out of it was being able to just put down the responsibility for keeping myself alive. The way you describe what's going on, it sounds to me like you could benefit from a break. Yes, your social system takes a back seat - but it's there when you get out.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

This reads like you are saying that you can tolerate worse, so why can't other people?

That's not how I meant for it to read that way but understand it does.

I honestly didn't mean to compare.

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

I can tell you a lot about mental hospitals, I have been hospitalized over 50 times in my life, from psych units in a general hospital, to state hospitals. I have been both involuntary, voluntary, and court mandated admission (CMA - voluntary with court permission meaning automatic commitment if I leave against medical advice -AMA).

What would like to know?

For PTSD you might consider Sheppard Pratts Trauma Disorders Unit in Baltimore MD, or Mclean in Mass.