Has anyone had a positive/good experience in a psych hospital?

[aloneintheworld]

I have been to a psych hospital 2 times. One time I was 16 and in the teen unit the next I was 20 and with adults. Neither times I would say were positive experiences the first I made a lot of friends I wanted to leave after the hold but my parents kept me there for weeks since they were scared to bring me home. I wouldn't say this was a totally negative experience as there were some good people I met. However the next time I was hospitalized in the adult unit it felt like straight prison, they also kept adding things like 5250's to keep getting my insurance money even though I received no valuable help or treatment in the hospital.Both times I left the hospital still suicidal and just told them what they wanted to hear so I could get discharged/
What have your experiences been like?

 

[SinisterKid]

Why dont you do a quick search using the search option at the top right hand part of the page. Just type in something like, Psych ward experience and see what comes back. There is a lot there to read, about 10 pages I think.

 

[aloneintheworld]

Why dont you do a quick search using the search option at the top right hand part of the page. Just type in something like, Psych ward experience and see what comes back. There is a lot there to read, about 10 pages I think.

Thank you!

 

[Squiddy]

There were a few positive experiences for me. The most positive experience was the time before last and that's when me and my friend were in the same hospital room together and we got to watch fireworks together (July 4th) and had the best view of them

 

[Weakling666]

They are very hit or miss imo, loved the last one but hated the first.

 

[Soul]

I had two terrible stays and one cool one. It was fun, even, and to this day I have to stop and remind myself that in society at large it's not considered acceptable to relate amusing anecdotes that start with "Once when I was in the mental hospital ... "

 

[Scooter]

I can say with 100% confidence that my first hospitalization was a positive experience. I tried to hang myself, long story short I admit myself after talking with parents/social worker. I spent five days in a psych ward and met three other people my age that we all hit it off. We were always talking to each other, playing board games or going to groups. To be honest I really miss that sort of interaction everyday. I met people in a similar situation and we all had things in common. I don't know we just understand what can lead a person to want to CTB. It's almost been a year know and all of those friends seem to be doing well and in relationships... I'm not so lucky unfortunately.

As for the staff interaction, I can say that it was great and they showed genuine concern for me. They talked to us and interacted with us like we were their equals. And to be honest from hearing other psych ward stories I know how lucky I am to have this. I was hospitalized again recently and had a pretty okay experience. would not go back though

 

[BlueWidow]

When I was a teenager back in the 1980s, I was in a psych ward where we had art therapy. Most of it was kind of lame. We'd have to cut out positive sayings from magazines or create collages of how we were feeling, stupid things of that kind.

But one of the most interesting things we ever did was, we worked on a project together. We got this wire base and bent the wires into the shape of an animal. We all got to vote on what animal we wanted it to be and we decided on a hippo. I think we decided that because it would be easier to bend the wires into the shape of a hippo.
We spent a few days bending the wire until it looked fairly close to a hippo. Then we started dipping newspaper in a paste mixture and wrapping it around the wire. We kept doing one layer after another and waiting a few days between each layer to let it dry.
Once we had finished all the layers of papier-mâché, we debated what color to paint it.
We voted for purple. We spent the next few days painting it purple and then debated if we wanted to do anything else to it. We ended up painting little yellow flowers all over it. Then we voted on what to name it. We voted to name it Petunia. Then we had to debate what we were going to do with it. By this time I was about ready to be released from the hospital, so I was very surprised when I was about to leave and the entire art therapy group announced that they wanted me to take Petunia home with me. I had bunkbeds in my room and I slept on the bottom bunk, so I put Petunia on the top bunk and she stayed there for 3 years I think. Then, unfortunately, some mice discovered her and decided to make a nest inside of her body and I had to get rid of her. Somewhere I still have pictures of her sitting on the top bunk of my bed though.

 

[isam]

My first time was after a burn-out, 3 weeks. I met a man there. We fell in love, as stupid and broken we were.
He just had a wife and 3 kids.. But we continued to see each other, even when we came out of there.
But as I said. We were broken and unstable. He came and went away. Few times. He finally left for good.
6 months after we met the first time, he did a new attempt. And succeed.

Before the 2nd time, I told myself, I'll be dead before going there once again. Lul. Almost. So the 2nd time was right after my attempt. 2 weeks. I don't remember much, except that this 2nd time was quite borring compared to the first one (more old people, etc).

I'll NEVER go there again.

 

[azucaramargo]

When I was a teenager back in the 1980s, I was in a psych ward where we had art therapy. Most of it was kind of lame. We'd have to cut out positive sayings from magazines or create collages of how we were feeling, stupid things of that kind.

But one of the most interesting things we ever did was, we worked on a project together. We got this wire base and bent the wires into the shape of an animal. We all got to vote on what animal we wanted it to be and we decided on a hippo. I think we decided that because it would be easier to bend the wires into the shape of a hippo.
We spent a few days bending the wire until it looked fairly close to a hippo. Then we started dipping newspaper in a paste mixture and wrapping it around the wire. We kept doing one layer after another and waiting a few days between each layer to let it dry.
Once we had finished all the layers of papier-mâché, we debated what color to paint it.
We voted for purple. We spent the next few days painting it purple and then debated if we wanted to do anything else to it. We ended up painting little yellow flowers all over it. Then we voted on what to name it. We voted to name it Petunia. Then we had to debate what we were going to do with it. By this time I was about ready to be released from the hospital, so I was very surprised when I was about to leave and the entire art therapy group announced that they wanted me to take Petunia home with me. I had bunkbeds in my room and I slept on the bottom bunk, so I put Petunia on the top bunk and she stayed there for 3 years I think. Then, unfortunately, some mice discovered her and decided to make a nest inside of her body and I had to get rid of her. Somewhere I still have pictures of her sitting on the top bunk of my bed though.

I love this story!!!!

 

[Daffodil]

I was in for a month for bipolar psychotic episode, not depression, so might not be the same as for you. I was hallucinating in the hospital but felt safer and taken care of, so I did appreciate it. The hallucinations were so interesting and involved everyone in the hospital, so I consider it one of the highest times of my life. It was probably much like being on acid or something. I have PTSD from being bipolar and often have flashbacks to scenarios or conversations from my delusions that never happened. Having trouble rebuilding my life from everything falling apart related to the diagnosis. Having trouble even wanting to rebuild my life.

I can say with 100% confidence that my first hospitalization was a positive experience. I tried to hang myself, long story short I admit myself after talking with parents/social worker. I spent five days in a psych ward and met three other people my age that we all hit it off. We were always talking to each other, playing board games or going to groups. To be honest I really miss that sort of interaction everyday. I met people in a similar situation and we all had things in common. I don't know we just understand what can lead a person to want to CTB. It's almost been a year know and all of those friends seem to be doing well and in relationships... I'm not so lucky unfortunately.

As for the staff interaction, I can say that it was great and they showed genuine concern for me. They talked to us and interacted with us like we were their equals. And to be honest from hearing other psych ward stories I know how lucky I am to have this. I was hospitalized again recently and had a pretty okay experience. would not go back though

Yes, it was like an excuse to be a child. I felt it very comforting. I enjoyed having nurses check on me several times a day. Enjoyed having my food prepared. Played music with a group. Of course lied when they asked if I was hearing voices, as I was having an episode. I could even go on walks to the bookstore and shops (manic spending). One of the best times of my adult life, truly. Felt like I was among people like myself, could be myself and be accepted.

 

[BadDoctors]

It's a positive experience being around people who feel the same way as you. What is not positive is that they force medication down your throat.

I feel like psych hospitald would be 100% better if they gave out magnesium tablets and focused on exercise and socialization and talking about your problems rather than medicating you instantly.

I'm killing myself over the damage the medications they gave me did to me. It's so fucking unfair. They prescribed me medication but didn't let me research it or look it up. They pretended like the medicine I was given was like Advil. I hate the doctors so much. I want to live but I was going through a breakup and it just hurt so much. Now after that medication I feel no emotion, my personality has been completely destroyed. I'm so sad. I cry at least once a day. My life has been so unfair. I even took every precaution to make sure I wouldn't get sicker, and after ONE bad night my mom took me straight to the hospital and I got inpatiented.

 

[Daffodil]

It's a positive experience being around people who feel the same way as you. What is not positive is that they force medication down your throat.

I feel like psych hospitald would be 100% better if they gave out magnesium tablets and focused on exercise and socialization and talking about your problems rather than medicating you instantly.

I'm killing myself over the damage the medications they gave me did to me. It's so fucking unfair. They prescribed me medication but didn't let me research it or look it up. They pretended like the medicine I was given was like Advil. I hate the doctors so much. I want to live but I was going through a breakup and it just hurt so much. Now after that medication I feel no emotion, my personality has been completely destroyed. I'm so sad. I cry at least once a day. My life has been so unfair. I even took every precaution to make sure I wouldn't get sicker, and after ONE bad night my mom took me straight to the hospital and I got inpatiented.

What'd they give you?

 

[BadDoctors]

What'd they give you?

They gave me Zyprexa and Mirtrazapine.

 

[BPD Barbie]

Best experience for me was in a crisis house, which in the UK is a house that you get admitted to in a mental health crisis. You have your own bedroom, access to the kitchen, living room etc and there are support staff there 24/7. They accompany you everywhere outside of the house. It was nice, they had pets there, staff were friendly and it felt like a retreat more than a psychiatric facility. It's a shame that in those situations I get rebellious and turn into a complete asshole when power is taken away from me.

 

[Dystopic_Momento]

I've only been once. I thought my ex was going to kill me and I was having an awful time resisting the urge to do it first. I can't explain it better.

The first thing they do is drug the living snot out of you. Once you're not a drooling mess, you realize that no one has locks on their doors and men and women are wandering around, some of whom are actually dangerous.

An older woman kept loudly talking about past times she'd stabbed herself and how she'd absolutely do it again as soon as she got out. It turns out that's the best way to get out fast, because they'll discount everything you're and rush you out.

Too many people are forced to pretend they're grateful to have been talked out of suicide and convince the psychiatrist they'll never do it again. This is so much easier and doesn't feel bad at all. One of the best things about seriously thinking about not living anymore is not giving a crap what anyone thinks about you. Talking loudly and proudly about what you want to do and how you feel about it feels really liberating -even more so because not one single person will care.

It was positive as a learning experience, though.

 

[Isangformischa]

my stays in the hospital weren't bad. I just hate that they make you take medication. I went in taking nothing, came out with six meds. The people there I met were nice though I'll admit. The mental health workers seemed like they like their jobs, the other patients were mostly calm just there for suicidal thoughts. I was the only one in our little group there involuntarily.

 

[terry_a_davis]

I spent 9 weeks in a mental hospital in 2017, it was forced and i was forced to take meds. As i refused to eat i also had feeding tube inserted through my nose down to my stomach which they pumped liquid through.

It was horrible at first, but once the meds kicked in it improved a great deal, and i left in a much better condition. Yes there were some far out people, staff were attacked, but i never felt unsafe. The room wasn't great, bare and functional. They had a really nice secure large garden where i'd go for walks, see the wild bunny rabbits!

95% of the staff were great, they cared. I loved getting visits from my family. But the best feeling was finally being released!

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

I did.

I was protected from myself, which was the most important part. Because I knew my chosen method was completely unavailable, I was able to relax a bit, which helped. I found the daily activities a huge waste of time until one on my last full day. They asked us to brainstorm how we might move closer to our ideal lifestyle. I was then I realized that I had NO idea what an ideal lifestyle might be for me. I'd not bothered to think about what I wanted my life to look like in years, if ever.

That one realization made my stay worth it. I should add, that even though I was sectioned by my psychiatrist, that I was only there for a week. I know many people have much longer stays.