Has anyone been in a mental hospital and actually thought it helped them?

[sm20]

I've been in a mental hospital 3 times, a bit over a week each time and can't think of a single positive thing I learned or a medication that helped me. The group therapy always aims at problems that feel more basic than mine that are easy to solve if people really wanted to, so the advice feels pointless. I've never been on an antidepressant that ever actually noticeably improved my mood. I never feel less suicidal when I get out of one I always try to be honest at first and when I realize things are going nowhere I have to lie that my suicidal thoughts are gradually decreasing. It's just really frustrating and a bunch of money lost for nothing. Maybe it's more helpfull for other people because I've noticed the people in them on average are in a much better state and less suicidal to begin with than people like me or the people on this website who are genuinely at risk of dying.

 

[BlankUser]

I've been on my own will and I've been against my will. It did nothing! It didn't help, it made things worse.

 

[FuneralCry]

I think there isn't much difference between mental hospitals and prisons.

 

[sm20]

I think there isn't much difference between mental hospitals and prisons.

The worse one I went too a month ago definitely felt that way. A few times a day an emergency speaker would go off about people getting into fights or trying to escape. The nicer one I went to a while ago didn't have that problem but every other problem was the same.

 

[-Tandem-]

I've been to over a dozen rehabs/mental health facilities and I would say 50% of those experiences were very helpful. The thing is, I don't really feel like my problems can be mitigated through therapy or medicine. Sure that shit has helped but at the end of the day I just feel like a flawed person. Like a mistake.

 

[WornOutLife]

I was about to be sent to a psych ward last year, after my failed attempt.
Instead, I was in hospital for 1 month and then was sent to "prison" (my parents' house) for 5 months.

I thought I was gonna lose my mind for real. Now, imagine if I had ended up in a psych ward. I wouldn't be myself anymore, certainly.

I've read LOTS of experiences about mental hospitals and I don't remember any of them in which people said they actually got help and their lives improved consequently.

What can I say? The system just sucks. Either we get worse or we get "better" by being some drugged zombies 24/7.

 

[Whole-Ad]

Currently in a psych ward here in the UK under a section 2. Been here for 2 weeks after an impulsive suicide attempt which uncovered my proper suicide plan which wasn't ready at the time. The only positive I have is that, at least in this ward, the staff really actually care. They work long ass hours and are here almost everyday, and that combined with how they talk to you, it just shows how much they do care. Obviously I can't say it's the same in every ward.

I'm currently on medication but it's not doing much at the minute. It's supposed to take 4-6 weeks to work so can't really comment on it yet I guess. My mindset has changed but I believe that is only because I'm in here, once I'm out I'll be back to how I was, I can literally feel it. When I think about being discharged, I can feel myself wanting to ctb.

Honestly, I think that this can be a positive place for some people, but for me it's just too late. I spent 2 months planning my suicide, gathering everything I needed, and writing my goodbyes, my will and funeral wishes etc. Being in here is just placing that plan on hold, not cancelling it. Once you plan out your suicide to that extent, I believe that it's always going to be there either as an active plan or an option for minor inconveniences. Your brain sort of latches onto it. Basically I'm already dead, they're just delaying it.

 

[sm20]

Currently in a psych ward here in the UK under a section 2. Been here for 2 weeks after an impulsive suicide attempt which uncovered my proper suicide plan which wasn't ready at the time. The only positive I have is that, at least in this ward, the staff really actually care. They work long ass hours and are here almost everyday, and that combined with how they talk to you, it just shows how much they do care. Obviously I can't say it's the same in every ward.

I'm currently on medication but it's not doing much at the minute. It's supposed to take 4-6 weeks to work so can't really comment on it yet I guess. My mindset has changed but I believe that is only because I'm in here, once I'm out I'll be back to how I was, I can literally feel it. When I think about being discharged, I can feel myself wanting to ctb.

Honestly, I think that this can be a positive place for some people, but for me it's just too late. I spent 2 months planning my suicide, gathering everything I needed, and writing my goodbyes, my will and funeral wishes etc. Being in here is just placing that plan on hold, not cancelling it. Once you plan out your suicide to that extent, I believe that it's always going to be there either as an active plan or an option for minor inconveniences. Your brain sort of latches onto it. Basically I'm already dead, they're just delaying it.

Not from the UK but I'm surprised they aren't watching everything you do on the internet, or that you even have it at all.

 

[Tonight634]

It didn't do much regarding my mental health, but I met some nice people there and didn't feel isolated and like I didn't belong for the first time in years, so it was a more good than a bad experience for me overall. I live in the Czech republic, the staff were nice and they cared, most of the times.

 

[Whole-Ad]

Not from the UK but I'm surprised they aren't watching everything you do on the internet, or that you even have it at all.

This ward isn't too strict to be honest. Was stuck on eyesight for about 4 days when I first came in, now I'm on 30 min obs. We have access to phones but we are not provided with internet so we either have to use data or be smart like me and set up your own router in your room.
Yep we also are allowed cables of any length, but there are no ligature points and the curtains will fall down if you pull to hard on them. No taps in the sink, buttons instead.
To be honest I'm also surprised that they aren't monitoring what I'm doing on the internet when they are aware that I researched my plan on the internet and got everything I needed to buy from online too. But even if they wanted to, I'm using my own data so they can't monitor it that way.

 

[Acopia]

I used to intentionally OD a lot in my younger years - a cry for help I guess. Anyway they'd send me to a medical ward for treatment, but because a solid 75% were intentional OD's it was a joint med-psych ward. The other 25% were like people who'd OD on illegal drugs.
All I will say is, being on that ward led me to forming relationships with many people who I stayed in touch with and went on to deal me drugs.

So in that respect, yep, it helped!
-A

 

[Trojan]

I was told just recently by a psychiatrist that the psych wards are just to keep the patients safe for a period of time, not to effect any kind of cure. The 2 times I was admitted, this was certainly true. No help at all.

 

[elfgyoza]

UK here - been twice. First time for 3 months against my will and the second time willingly for a week.
First time was hell, I was angry I was in hospital instead of being dead, and the loud environment was just constant triggers for my noise sensitivies. It only delayed my plans.
Second time actually kind of helped, it got me past the crisis I was in, but I couldn't stay longer for any real help because the place was driving me insane

 

[sm20]

UK here - been twice. First time for 3 months against my will and the second time willingly for a week.
First time was hell, I was angry I was in hospital instead of being dead, and the loud environment was just constant triggers for my noise sensitivies. It only delayed my plans.
Second time actually kind of helped, it got me past the crisis I was in, but I couldn't stay longer for any real help because the place was driving me insane

Do you have hyperacusis too?

 

[LetMeGoPlease]

No, can't decide if the patients or the staff were more horrible

 

[elfgyoza]

Do you have hyperacusis too?

No, sorry. I'm autistic and have misophonia

 

[sm20]

No, can't decide if the patients or the staff were more horrible

What did the patients do? At my place I had a couple awkward experiences where someone tried to flirt with me and another where someone talking about dating me to someone else. That and patients getting into fights.

 

[iDieUDie80]

I've been to inpatient three times, I think all but one time were helpful. I don't get too much out of groups, more so from the interaction with others. This of course however, is temporary.

 

[Conk]

Nope, i was high out of my mind the entire time because all the meds i was given, i dont remember much because that huge amount of medication fucked my memory up, if anything that experiencie made less hopefull about recovery and support.

 

[Journeytoletgo]

For me personally. No it didn't help me. I still felt depressed however I didn't know how to escape so I did what those around me told me to do. I was depressed and tired however through my dads insurance I was lucky to receive therapy and medication however I still feel it didn't get better. Medication just mask the issue

 

[motel rooms]

Witnessing other people's misery would only make me much more suicidal

 

[Pookie]

I've never been sent to a psych hospital and thankfully so, because from what I've seen here is that it often only serves to make the "mentally ill" (I hate that label) feel worse and even more marginalised.

 

[FailureGirl]

I was put in one after my last attempt and it wasn't bad the other patients were nice and the food was good/comforting I didn't like the staff (they weren't bad or mean) but I just told them what they wanted to hear, pretended I regretted it ect.

So no it didn't help if anything it made me even more sure that ctb was right for me and to make sure when I did decide to do it again to do it right.

 

[whywere]

I was forced into the hospital and I hated it. At 10:30 pm if I was not in bed with my feet off the floor i would get yelled at. Also the hospital food was the worst hands down. The stay did not do anything for me at all. Walter

 

[hybridtheory]

lmao it has never helped me, I've been 5 times. that shit is a nightmare

 

[divorceddepression]

I may or may not help.
My personal experience:
I've spent 2 months + 2 weeks + 3 months in out patient.

It does help if you're willing. That's the issue(imo) with any mental health issues: You MUST be willing.

I've been trying to figure out what makes some people turn to suicide. I believe it's the basics: how do you solve problems? how were you taught to solve problems? No ones life is without problems but how we address them seems to be the difference.