Off to Inpatient on Friday (UK)

[Emily_Numb]

So after an extremely close CTB attempt almost 2 weeks ago with a massive amitripyaline OD, that was unsuccessful, I have decided to give recovery a go and will be admitted to a psychiatric hospital on Friday as a voluntary inpatient. I have not been sectioned and can leave at any time.

It's a private facility in the UK so not an NHS hospital. It will be self funded. The plan is to be there for 3 weeks in the first instance. This will be my first time as an inpatient.

Can anyone who has been an inpatient before (preferably voluntary but either will do) tell me things I might need or want to take with me or any tips, things you wish you knew or did while in hospital care? I'd really appreciate some advice from people who've been there and how to get the most out of it.

Please note, I know some inpatient experiences have been traumatic for people. I am sorry you experienced that. However, I am not looking to hear about harrowing or negative things on this thread as I am trying to be in a good headspace before admission. Please respect that request. Thank you.

 

[Weather]

I haven't been in-patient in 20 years, so I can't imagine I would have very practical advice. But, I wanted to say that I'm really proud of you for making this decision for yourself and looking into what possibilities might exist for your life.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

I think you need to realize how boring it is and make sure you comply with the staff in every way as they will write little notes to screw you over if you do not like them.
Check what you can bring: phone charger etc You may want to get yourself some battery power banks as wont be allowed to use a phone charger perhaps.
Also learn your local laws because they may decide to keep you involuntary.

 

[Emily_Numb]

I think you need to realize how boring it is and make sure you comply with the staff in every way as they will write little notes to screw you over if you do not like them.
Check what you can bring: phone charger etc You may want to get yourself some battery power banks as wont be allowed to use a phone charger perhaps.
Also learn your local laws because they may decide to keep you involuntary.

Highly doubt they will keep me involuntary. It's a private hospital that charges £6500 a week. They can't force you to stay there as a private patient. Might be like that in your country, but a private hospital won't fund your treatment not can they force you to fund it.
I am not in a sectionable state. Very difficult to get sectioned in the UK unless you are a harm to others, which I'm not and have never been.
However, thanks for your insight. I already know the policy on chargers. I probably won't have my phone on during the day anyway. I'm not there for that. I probably won't use it until the evening if I want to make a call. I'll be avoiding social media that's for sure.
this hospital has various group work and 1:1 all during the day apart from meal times. I'm not sure what you mean by bored? My program will be flexed around what groups/treatments I find useful. Can you elaborate on this boredom?

 

[Deleted member 23374]

I miss the flight deck. The cheeseburgers were awesome.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

Well your experience may well be different obviously but in mine it was very boring as in nothing to do at all.
I think it might be wise to have your phone even if you do not plan to use it so have battery packs as you may need a break.
The schizos that are in a vegetize like state continually pacing the hospital and laughing all day and night can tend to do your head in.
Maybe you want music for sitting outside in rec area or just find you need to calm down for example.
I am hoping you have a lot of activities to do so not bored but who knows. My experience wont be yours and plan for the best is all I can say.

 

[Emily_Numb]

Well your experience may well be different obviously but in mine it was very boring as in nothing to do at all.
I think it might be wise to have your phone even if you do not plan to use it so have battery packs as you may need a break.
The schizos that are in a vegetize like state continually pacing the hospital and laughing all day and night can tend to do your head in.
Maybe you want music for sitting outside in rec area or just find you need to calm down for example.
I am hoping you have a lot of activities to do so not bored but who knows. My experience wont be yours and plan for the best is all I can say.

Oh it's not a high dependency or medium-high security hospital. It's adult too. It's not a 'One Flew Over the cuckoos Nest' set up but I'll be sure to take batter packs just in case. Thanks for that

 

[Symbiote]

Don't be afraid to knock a person out if they start coming at you or trying to threaten you. It's not only you and a bunch of therapists. You're also dealing with other mentally disturbed individuals in there as well.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

Don't be afraid to knock a person out if they start coming at you or trying to threaten you. It's not only you and a bunch of therapists. You're also dealing with other mentally disturbed individuals in there as well.

Just stand your ground and make it known you will slap them back and be a bitch if you need to.
Sounds like OP is going to a comfy resort like in the bell jar

 

[Emily_Numb]

Just stand your ground and make it known you will slap them back and be a bitch if you need to.
Sounds like OP is going to a comfy resort like in the bell jar

I don't know what the Bell Jar is. I'm going to The Priory in the UK. There's nothing wrong with going to a 'comfy' hospital. It's not a resort of a spa. It's a medical facility

 

[hoping to lose hope]

I don't know what the Bell Jar is. I'm going to The Priory in the UK. There's nothing wrong with going to a 'comfy' hospital. It's not a resort of a spa. It's a medical facility

The bell jar a book by Salvia palth.
I did not mean to come off as if it is bad you are going to a comfy place as if you have to be with screaming schizos and mixed gender to get the real right of passage :3

 

[Emily_Numb]

Don't be afraid to knock a person out if they start coming at you or trying to threaten you. It's not only you and a bunch of therapists. You're also dealing with other mentally disturbed individuals in there as well.

Absolutely not going to resort to violence lol

 

[Silver]

The Bell Jar is a book by Sylvia Plath.

I haven't been inpatient for like 15 years but I remember it was boring too, although it was NHS so not comparable. All I can think of is ear plugs in case it's noisy at night, and basics like toothbrush, hairbrush etc.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

Absolutely not going to resort to violence lol

You need to feign that you will though if you get into a situation or someone may try to eat your face.
Wont happen where you are going anyway.

The Bell Jar is a book by Sylvia Plath.

I haven't been inpatient for like 15 years but I remember it was boring too, although it was NHS so not comparable. All I can think of is ear plugs in case it's noisy at night, and basics like toothbrush, hairbrush etc.

OP ear plugs are a must.
And books it is soooo boring.

 

[Caspers]

I'd suggest you bring slippers, shoes without shoelaces, earphones, headphones or earbuds depending on their cable policy, an eye mask to drop out the light, ear plugs to drop out the sound, very comfy clothing, a colouring book, pens/pencils and books to read. Could even bring some cards for playing, but don't bring fancy ones due to the chance of them being stolen. As other users mentioned, I'd suggest you look at their policies, for example some allow shoelaces. Some allow you to bring your shampoo, toothpaste etc. Pack that like you're going on a long holiday. Good luck in the ward, I hope it works for you.

 

[mahakaliSS_MahaDurga]

I am happy for you and I hope you will get all the help you need. I am glad you decided to give recovery another chance. My experience is kind of irrelevant for you because I was in a state hospital in another country (voluntarily). I've had access to a phone charger. No unpleasant experiences with other patients. There were many people my age and I got along fine with most of them. I was drugged out of my mind, though, I have no idea what they were giving me, but I got a handful of meds a few times a day. We had one creative workshop while I was there, where we made Valentine Day cards, lol, and I spoke to a therapist once or twice during my stay. I was there for a week.

 

[GoneGoneGone]

Best of luck Emily try to relax and sleep. I know you will know how to handle yourself and you will know what is good or bad for you there. Hope it works out for you

 

[Emily_Numb]

You need to feign that you will though if you get into a situation or someone may try to eat your face.
Wont happen where you are going anyway.


OP ear plugs are a must.
And books it is soooo boring.

It's not that sort of place. Anyone touch me and they will have a law suit on their hands. Trust me on that one.

 

[Weather]

Ok, I know I said I wouldn't weigh in with practical tips since I hadn't been in patient in so long, but these responses feel like they are directed toward state hospitals, not the facility you will be going to. I respect that you want to approach this positively and with an open mind.

So, let me see. I would have really liked to have my own shampoo, toothpaste, etc., so while they provided it, I would bring my own. Pack neutral clothing -- I had a retro bowling shirt that had a bar name on it, and I was forbidden from wearing it since there were folks there with addiction issues. Bring a few books with. There is downtime and it might be nice to keep a low-tech vibe if you're trying for a reset. I definitely spent time reading in the evening and during breaks.

Most importantly, I would bring your intelligence and sense of humor. There will be some irritating things that happen, there may be people there that you don't get along with, and you will disagree with some of what is said -- such is life. But if you approach it smartly and with a sense of humor, you will still be able to get out of it what you came for.

 

[Emily_Numb]

Not too sure someone having a psychotic break will be able to be reasoned with like that.
The real world is one where people will jump on your head and worry about consequences later.

Thanks for your feedback. If we could stick to the topic like I requested that would be great. If you have some experience of adult private voluntary inpatient in the UK then I'd be happy to listen. Sounds like you had a very different sort of set up to where I'm going. I think we can leave it at that.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

Yeah sorry OP I kinda like totally gave off bad vibes and you wanted positive ones :3
Just keep things in mind OP.

 

[Nymph]

Hope it won't be too bad and you feel better after. Sending love

 

[Ghost2211]

I hope recovery goes well for you, and that the hospital stay goes well. Not going to lie the replies make it sound really boring and scary. I hope that isn't so in your case.

 

[noaccount]

It's not okay to call people diagnostic slurs, OR to frame a group of marginalized/disabled people as more likely to be violent (When in fact, they're only more likely to be VICTIMS of violent crime.)

 

[hoping to lose hope]

It's not okay to call people diagnostic slurs, OR to frame a group of marginalized/disabled people as more likely to be violent (When in fact, they're only more likely to be VICTIMS of violent crime.)

I am sorry if I offended you by not typing out the entire word for schizophrenic I meant no offense so take note of that but I personally have experience of schizophrenics being violent towards me in and out of psych wards.
I do not blame them they are sick and need help.
You are reading too much into this.
But when someone tries to fight me because jesus behind me said I am satan and he wants to use a kick that bruce lee who is his father taught him on me I would say yeah maybe some violence does happen.
No one is trying to use slurs to attack anyone. Can we live in the real world for a moment though and be realistic?
Please do not try to read offense into innocuous comments

 

[mahakaliSS_MahaDurga]

Not too sure someone having a psychotic break will be able to be reasoned with like that.
The real world is one where people will jump on your head and worry about consequences later.

Yeah, people usually have psychotic breaks while they are heavily medicated with antipsychotics. This sounds like a deliberate attempt to scare the OP, even though she asked people to refrain from writing these types of posts. I've been on a ward with schizophrenics, many people I know were, and NONE had any bad experiences. You are perpetuating a harmful myth that people with schizophrenia are violent, on a suicide forum of all places. I would perma ban you for this if I had the power.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

Yeah, people usually have psychotic breaks while they are heavily medicated with antipsychotics. This sounds like a deliberate attempt to scare the OP, even though she asked people to refrain from writing these types of posts. I've been on a ward with schizophrenics, many people I know were, and NONE had any bad experiences. You are perpetuating a harmful myth that people with schizophrenia are violent, on a suicide forum of all places. I would perma ban you for this if I had the power.

I am not perpetuating any myth just sharing my experience.
I did not write it in a hateful way.
I do not get it, you are making out I am lying as if it is impossible for schizophrenic person to do something like that in a ward.
we can agree to disagree I gain nothing by trying convince you of what is a not too strange occurrence
I do not think schizophrenics are violent but can be which I admit is small number however just saying my experience I did not mean anything untoward

 

[nomoreenergy]

So after an extremely close CTB attempt almost 2 weeks ago with a massive amitripyaline OD, that was unsuccessful, I have decided to give recovery a go and will be admitted to a psychiatric hospital on Friday as a voluntary inpatient. I have not been sectioned and can leave at any time.

It's a private facility in the UK so not an NHS hospital. It will be self funded. The plan is to be there for 3 weeks in the first instance. This will be my first time as an inpatient.

Can anyone who has been an inpatient before (preferably voluntary but either will do) tell me things I might need or want to take with me or any tips, things you wish you knew or did while in hospital care? I'd really appreciate some advice from people who've been there and how to get the most out of it.

Please note, I know some inpatient experiences have been traumatic for people. I am sorry you experienced that. However, I am not looking to hear about harrowing or negative things on this thread as I am trying to be in a good headspace before admission. Please respect that request. Thank you.

I'm so proud of you! I would recommend bringing things that can help you fill your time, like if you have any hobbies or books you'd like to read, etc. Maybe a journal or drawing pad if that's something you're into? I think the best way to get the most out of the stay is to fully engage and dive straight into the program and your recovery. Best wishes xx

 

[mahakaliSS_MahaDurga]

I am not perpetuating any myth just sharing my experience.
I did not write it in a hateful way.
I do not get it, you are making out I am lying as if it is impossible for schizophrenic person to do something like that in a ward.
we can agree to disagree I gain nothing by trying convince you of what is a not too strange occurrence
I do not think schizophrenics are violent but can be which I admit is small number however just saying my experience I did not mean anything untoward

Okay, but the OP asked people to refrain from making these types of scaremongering comments, yet you kept mentioning violent schizophrenics in every post you made in this thread. She is going to a pricey private clinic, so I seriously doubt that she will run into people who are experiencing acute psychosis and who are having violent tendencies. My guess is that people go to these types of talk therapy focused clinics when they are already stabilized with medication. Otherwise they would just be wasting their money.

Sufferers from any mental illness can be violent. Healthy individuals can be violent too.

If someone told you they were going on a vacation to a 5 star hotel in Berlin, would you keep telling them how you were mugged in Potsdam while you were staying at a youth hostel in a rundown part of town? Because that's kind of what you're doing in this thread. I do not want to be a bitch about this, though, so sorry if I am reading too much into this.

 

[hoping to lose hope]

Oh coloring in stuff is a must for ward.
When I was in there was a girl I chatted to who had this black out coloring in book where you scracth off the black to reveal colors and it looked calming.

Sufferers from any mental illness can be violent.

Look you are right OP did ask not to mention anything and I got derailed a little replying to another poster and OP saying "I will threaten law action".I do not think it is right for me to defend my experience one of quite a few in OP's thread out of respect for them so will not do so.
Did not mean to make this into some big ableist or whatever you call it type of deal.
Not everyone is a nazi online Mahakali