Transitioning From Inpatient

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I just got back on Thursday from a 5 week inpatient stay. It helped a lot. I was at a general hospital unit for 5 days before that. Now I am back at home and it's a little overwhelming.

Mostly, I am worried that I won't keep up with the work I need to do with using skills and internal communication (with DID parts) like I did when I was inpatient. It's a lot easier to do when there isn't much else to do. When I am home, there is theoretically plenty of time most days, but there is no one checking in to make sure I have met those goals. It's very important that I keep up the communication especially as it's part of safety agreements.

Then, there is all of the external stuff that I just keep having to remind myself that I do not have to accomplish all in one day or even one week. Stuff that went untouched for 5 weeks will last a little while longer untouched. Something things have gone a year without being done, they don't have to be done now, right?

It's also hard to transition back because people expect me to be completely better. I am not completely better, I am just in a better place. And people don't understand why I would leave my family for so long because they don't realize it's that or leave my family for good. And I try really hard not to let other people's opinions bother me, but alas I am not that great at it.

Anyway, I thought I would touch base on here again- a place where I think a lot of people can understand even if they haven't made this kind of transition before. Any thoughts or advice are appreciated, too.

 

[EveHarrington]

I think having a schedule is key!

Did your hospital work with you on this? Mine did. Well one of them, lol. It was part of planning for discharge.

I think having "to do" lists helps as well.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Did your hospital work with you on this?

Somewhat. I have several ideas on how to make a schedule that will work for me or a to-do list. I made a schedule for my first day. It is part of discharge planning, but I left pretty fast and didn't have too much time to do much more than that. Most of my days are unstructured so I find it hard to just fill in stuff, though I can, I just don't always follow it. I need things to be specific, yet I also need to be able to change if my schedule changes and to not feel like a failure if things don't get done. It's something I will continue to work on with my outpatient therapist. Thanks for your response, it helps reinforce that idea of schedules that do help me overall.

 

[pixel]

Just wanted to say Welcome back :)

You're coming across much calmer and in control, with the ability to make plans.

It's good to see you again darl!

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Thanks, @pixel . It's good to be back.

 

[Leighlee87]

I think when trying to explain it to other people, maybe tell them, that it's impossible to take care of your family unless you are in a healthy place yourself. Maybe tell them that ptsd is really difficult to life with, and even though you don't show it on the outside, it's very physically and emotionally exhausting and beginning to negatively impact things at home in a way you didn't like--you just needed a place to recoup and learn new ways to manage it. Anyone who listens to the news at all, knows something about ptsd due to the vets coming back with it and the toll that it has taken. That should be enough to placate most people
For family who disagree, maybe continue by telling them that, your immediate family, and mental health team felt was best at that time, even if the person in question does does not agree, and that the decision needs to be respected. And then the discussion closed, because at the end of the day, it isn't anyone's business. There is no way to explain ptsd, until you've walked in the shoes.

 

[barefoot]

Welcome back!

When I am home, there is theoretically plenty of time most days, but there is no one checking in to make sure I have met those goals.

Would it help to have some kind of accountability buddy? Either a friend/relative or someone here (either ask someone here who you're friendlier with or even just start a thread with that intention)? The point isn't for them to nag you or check up on you, of course. But a support that you can check in with to help to hold you accountable to the things you want to commit to doing but are maybe going to find a bit tricky as you transition?

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Would it help to have some kind of accountability buddy?

I think I am kind of using my therapist as that in some respects. She at least holds me accountable for eating and we go over what I have been doing. I have been making myself a schedule and including eating on it and then I put a star at the end and remind myself that it's okay if things get changed around or not completely finished. The next week and a half my family will be home so there won't be a set schedule. I like the idea of an accountability buddy in some ways and I might know just the person to ask. Thanks for the idea.