Inpatient Hospitalization

[Kubash16]

What was inpatient hospitalization like for you?

Do you feel like it helped you?
Do you feel like it caused more problems?
Any advice for someone who may try to get into it?

 

[somerandomguy]

Back in 1999 - this was pre-PTSD for me, but I wasn't exactly mentally healthy - on a Friday night I got rip-roaring drunk, dialed 911, and told them that I was going to kill myself. The paramedics took me to the local ER where I dried out, and I was then transferred to a psychiatric facility. I was only held over the weekend, and the only thing I remember about it was mostly that I was really bored.

On Monday, I saw a psychiatrist who gave me the option of staying inpatient or leaving, with the caveat that I would be required to attend outpatient therapy every weekday for the next month. I chose the outpatient option. I had group therapy, art therapy, and meetings with a pdoc, all outpatient - 6 hours a day. If I had stayed inpatient, I don't think it would have been that much different - I just would have been there overnight as well, and had three meals a day there instead of one.

I would say my experience was OK. However, no one asked me about my relationship in which I was being emotionally abused! Within a year or so, that abuse would turn physical. So ... a mixed bag.

Knowing a little bit about your situation, I would recommend it for you, if only to get yourself away from one of your main abusers for awhile.

 

[EveHarrington]

General hospital psych ward? Private psychiatric hospital? Specialized trauma unit?

It makes a difference.

 

[Kubash16]

General hospital psych ward? Private psychiatric hospital? Specialized trauma unit?

It makes a difference.

I have no idea? I don’t know the differences and no idea where I would or should end up.

 

[lovak]

I've had 3 inpatient admissions. The firt was open admission, stayed on weekdays and was home in the weekends. I was 17 and it really gave me a break from dealing with my parents. I had schematherapy individually, and diverse grouptherapies. Drama, physical, creative, socio, and psychotherapy. I was there for ten months.

The second was closed admission when I had a suicide attempt. There was nothing to do, I couldnt go outside. There were psychotic people, mentally challenged people, screaming and rocking people. It was pure horror. Avoid at all costs. I faked not being suicidal anymore to get out of there on day 3.

The third was only a couple of months ago. It was open admission and again, lots of therapy. I was inpatient for 4 weeks and 6 weeks outpatient.

For me, being inpatient meant that i could 100 percent focus on myself. It was the break I needed.

I would recommend open admissions that treat you like a person, avoid closed admissions where you are treated like a patient.

 

[Deleted member 47099]

I have no idea? I don’t know the differences and no idea where I would or should end up.

Specialised trauma would be best. But a general psych ward is fine too.

 

[EveHarrington]

General hospital psych ward...

The least optimal option in most cases. Many have to admit anyone and everyone.

Private psych hospital...

Much better, at least in my experience. They are more selective in who they admit.

Trauma unit...

Optimal if you need trauma specific treatment.

I went to a trauma unit years ago and it helped me to learn trauma specific coping skills. More recently I went to a private psych hospital and it was helpful for keeping me safe and adjusting my meds.

 

[Sideways]

Exactly what @EveHarrington said - I’ve been hospitalised in general public wards, private general mental health wards, and trauma-specific wards. The last was definitely most helpful, but all serve different purposes. Sometimes, as awful as they can be, a general public ward is still necessary.

 

[Kubash16]

Thanks you guys. I haven’t seen a trauma specific place here. I did see one fancy place that looks incredibly expensive, the rest seem to be whatever hospitals have to offer. I have insurance but not sure it would cover all this at all.

 

[FauxLiz]

@Kubash16 I have done both trauma specific and general psych ward in the last year. General was voluntary for SI and in my opinion worthless. I felt so out of place, judged and unsafe that I couldn’t leave fast enough and will never voluntarily go back to a general psych facility. For the trauma specific there wasn’t anything in my area either, in fact I traveled over 1200 miles to one that accepted my insurance and it was the best decision of my life. I honestly don’t believe I would be here today if I hadn’t taken that step.

There are several trauma specific facilities in the US I would contact your insurance company and see what they can tell you about facilities that they work with. I had two separate admissions at the trauma specific unit in 2018 and we discussed returning in the future for more work which I would have never imagined I would consider when I first went but now I realize that I have a long way to go and I don’t honestly believe it can be achieved through outpatient alone.

 

[EveHarrington]

Oh....I just want to add....I highly recommend the trauma specific places because you really can “fast track” your healing. By this I mean that you can learn sooooooo much more in a few week stay there than you can in once or twice a week outpatient therapy, even over the course of a year+++.

 

[bellbird]

What was inpatient hospitalization like for you?

Any advice for someone who may try to get into it?

The fact that you are asking questions, suggests to me that it's possibly quite a good thing you are looking into it.
Just because I do care, I need to ask if you're safe?

Do you feel like it helped you?

Yes. I can see this in retrospect.

Do you feel like it caused more problems?

Hmm. It was very very difficult.
I was in a public ward. Because I overdosed and had no choice. So that's the only experience I have to go off.
They take care of everything for you - cooking, medication timing and dosages, administration of PRN meds, laundry, even helping with things like showering in cases that require that level of care-assistance.

I don't think anyone leaves an inpatient ward the same. Though that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I'm sure I'd be dead were it not for my three week stay, post-OD.
So did it cause more problems for me? I don't think so. It doesn't really get more problematic than being dead.

If you are considering it, and would be going voluntarily, then perhaps going to a trauma-specific facility is the best option for you, as has been noted above.
However, if you are seriously considering going inpatient, and the research for/organisation of getting into a trauma-specific facility is not a viable option, safety-wise, then please please just go inpatient wherever.

You and your safety are worth it.