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- Aug 20, 2026
- 36
Wanted to share some of my experiences with psych wards, mostly for fun, but I'm very curious if anyone else has grippy sock stories. Also, some advice to those who don't want to go through the court system for a mental breakdown.
This is going to be rambly/ a stream of consciousness, more than anything else, just so you know.
TLDR, if they say you're going to a ward at the hospital, go. Fight it later.
If you're brought in by a cop, you're going to a ward, don't fight it at the hospital. Once you're admitted at the ward, then fight. In my experience a hospital doesn't want the risk of letting you loose to then only ctb thirty minutes later out front of the hospital.
If you came in on a super bad Episode, IE you where threatening to throw yourself off a bridge, you may need to wait several days before you can have the "This isn't working, I want to go home or back to my life" conversation, but it's better than a two week hold and a perma black mark on your records.
***
Psych facilities, have always been not great for me. I think my first stay was my best stay. I was bored out of my mind, spent a lot of time playing cards, but it helped me a ton. Got me the help I needed. I made some short term friends and started going to therapy. Made me re-evaluate my life, really. put me on the path I am today.
I'd been crashing on friends couches for several weeks and sleeping out of my car, so it was also nice to have a good meal for first time in months. Not like "oh a sandwich and some cheese sticks" like, legit home cooked meals. I ended up being there for I think close to a month. I actually got out around covid. I remember watching the TV when they said it'd made landfall in the US and later when they said it was no longer containable. Crazy stuff.
Also met a guy who'd stabbed himself three times, with a kitchen knife. Apparently he missed all of his vital organs and all of his wounds where held shut by glue and nothing else. Found that out when they inevitably started bleeding, again.
***
My second and third where in the winter and they kept the rooms extremely cold. Idk which one this happened with, but I went because I came there catatonic and having fainting episodes from panic attacks. At some point a nurse or a doctor said I was 'hearing voices' which I have no memory of, but was very fun to read on the paperwork later. I think this was the second? I came back shortly after the second stay, I know that much. That time was a blur TBH. I had a lot of stressors going on anyway. Which probably is why I can't recall much of it.
Long story short on these ones, I left ASAP and only agreed because I couldn't afford getting a two week hold slapped on me and the Psych evaluator gave me the classic "Go or I'll make you go" speech.
***
My most recent one, was probably the most interesting. I'd had repeated panic attacks and was more or less catatonic, again. I don't remember much of this one either, but for a different reason. Apparently I kept spiking my O2 saturation to the point, I couldn't feel my finger or they would curl tight. There where other concerns apparently because I was sedated.
I came in mostly seeking help with panic attacks, but I must've said something?? When I was going down, because when I was up next, I was told I was going to a psych ward. I was then down again, but IDK why, I assume I was sedated, again but I have no memory, at all of it. I more or less woke up in the ambulance ride over. They left my glasses in the ER, funny enough. Took weeks to get those back, lol. I have B A D vision, so I was more or less blind for two or three weeks.
Seemed like a nice program, but I didn't stay longer than a day. Had a really long conversation with an evaluator, how I had no memory of how I got there and that I have no memory of even consenting to being here and that I went for help for my panic attacks and nothing else.
That whole ER visit left a very bitter taste in my mouth. Curious to know if anyone else had been sedated for panic attacks, before.
***
Ramble over thank you, to those who made it to the end. I'd love to hear your stories as well, good or bad.
This is going to be rambly/ a stream of consciousness, more than anything else, just so you know.
TLDR, if they say you're going to a ward at the hospital, go. Fight it later.
If you're brought in by a cop, you're going to a ward, don't fight it at the hospital. Once you're admitted at the ward, then fight. In my experience a hospital doesn't want the risk of letting you loose to then only ctb thirty minutes later out front of the hospital.
If you came in on a super bad Episode, IE you where threatening to throw yourself off a bridge, you may need to wait several days before you can have the "This isn't working, I want to go home or back to my life" conversation, but it's better than a two week hold and a perma black mark on your records.
***
Psych facilities, have always been not great for me. I think my first stay was my best stay. I was bored out of my mind, spent a lot of time playing cards, but it helped me a ton. Got me the help I needed. I made some short term friends and started going to therapy. Made me re-evaluate my life, really. put me on the path I am today.
I'd been crashing on friends couches for several weeks and sleeping out of my car, so it was also nice to have a good meal for first time in months. Not like "oh a sandwich and some cheese sticks" like, legit home cooked meals. I ended up being there for I think close to a month. I actually got out around covid. I remember watching the TV when they said it'd made landfall in the US and later when they said it was no longer containable. Crazy stuff.
Also met a guy who'd stabbed himself three times, with a kitchen knife. Apparently he missed all of his vital organs and all of his wounds where held shut by glue and nothing else. Found that out when they inevitably started bleeding, again.
***
My second and third where in the winter and they kept the rooms extremely cold. Idk which one this happened with, but I went because I came there catatonic and having fainting episodes from panic attacks. At some point a nurse or a doctor said I was 'hearing voices' which I have no memory of, but was very fun to read on the paperwork later. I think this was the second? I came back shortly after the second stay, I know that much. That time was a blur TBH. I had a lot of stressors going on anyway. Which probably is why I can't recall much of it.
Long story short on these ones, I left ASAP and only agreed because I couldn't afford getting a two week hold slapped on me and the Psych evaluator gave me the classic "Go or I'll make you go" speech.
***
My most recent one, was probably the most interesting. I'd had repeated panic attacks and was more or less catatonic, again. I don't remember much of this one either, but for a different reason. Apparently I kept spiking my O2 saturation to the point, I couldn't feel my finger or they would curl tight. There where other concerns apparently because I was sedated.
I came in mostly seeking help with panic attacks, but I must've said something?? When I was going down, because when I was up next, I was told I was going to a psych ward. I was then down again, but IDK why, I assume I was sedated, again but I have no memory, at all of it. I more or less woke up in the ambulance ride over. They left my glasses in the ER, funny enough. Took weeks to get those back, lol. I have B A D vision, so I was more or less blind for two or three weeks.
Seemed like a nice program, but I didn't stay longer than a day. Had a really long conversation with an evaluator, how I had no memory of how I got there and that I have no memory of even consenting to being here and that I went for help for my panic attacks and nothing else.
That whole ER visit left a very bitter taste in my mouth. Curious to know if anyone else had been sedated for panic attacks, before.
***
Ramble over thank you, to those who made it to the end. I'd love to hear your stories as well, good or bad.
