I have no experience of being sectioned or on a psych ward and I am using distraction tonight! On another thread US psych ward experiences were discussed but I am UK and wondered if anyone wanted to share their experience. Not for any useful purpose other than I am nosy and its something to talk about. :)
Broken Chimera
The abyss also gazes into you
- May 27, 2019
- 972
I'll keep this short. I volunteered because I didn't know any better then. I was in the ER for a couple days then got moved up to the ward in a wheelchair and 2 armed officers at around 4 am. I saw what real crazy is. I was one of the only people who was normal in a sense.
I spent a few days there but it didn't help me. The drugs I was put on made me worse than I was. It was peaceful but there was a woman in a wheelchair who would take off her clothes and go into people's rooms and pee on their stuff, a guy who smelled like he didn't know what a bath was, and a guy who would check on people would check on people while they were sleep.
I'm just glad I got out quickly. And I wouldn't advocate for anyone with mild mental illness to go into one. It does more harm than good.
I spent a few days there but it didn't help me. The drugs I was put on made me worse than I was. It was peaceful but there was a woman in a wheelchair who would take off her clothes and go into people's rooms and pee on their stuff, a guy who smelled like he didn't know what a bath was, and a guy who would check on people would check on people while they were sleep.
I'm just glad I got out quickly. And I wouldn't advocate for anyone with mild mental illness to go into one. It does more harm than good.
one4all
I'll put pennies on your eyes and it will go away.
- Feb 3, 2020
- 3,455
You kind of nailed it for my experience. But i'm not from the UK. The worse part was feeding me drugs that did not help at all!. They seem to have a play book in order. Feed them this for that and this for the other. Without actually knowing what you are going through
faust
lost among the stars
- Jan 26, 2020
- 3,138
Hello, psych ward is not a resort, so it is obvious your freedom will be limited.
If you are used to walking or any other stuff like that, avoid this place at any cost.
And ofc people there are different, so you may not like them, this means you will have to spend a good amount of time with those who you don't personally like.
If you are used to walking or any other stuff like that, avoid this place at any cost.
And ofc people there are different, so you may not like them, this means you will have to spend a good amount of time with those who you don't personally like.
Broken Chimera
The abyss also gazes into you
- May 27, 2019
- 972
one4all
I'll put pennies on your eyes and it will go away.
- Feb 3, 2020
- 3,455
disabledandhopeless
Enlightened
- Mar 1, 2020
- 1,893
one4all
I'll put pennies on your eyes and it will go away.
- Feb 3, 2020
- 3,455
disabledandhopeless
Enlightened
- Mar 1, 2020
- 1,893
Haha it's really sad in my country. You really get treated like you're crazy and lack of support from the medical team (they can be rather rude) , as compared to the patients with a physical illness. Might really become crazy after you're in the ward.
crazy1
Member
- Mar 2, 2020
- 65
I was on a kids psych ward for 9 months when I was 16 and spent a few weeks in a secure unit as well in the UK, I'd imagine an adult ward been worse. I can't say I would recommend it.
I was on a section so I couldn't say no to anything, I would get restrained all the time put on 24 hour observations, wouldn't let me out the ward, put on medication with horrible side effects.
Seeing other people that were obviously very unwell was also quite distressing, especially at 16.
They also strip searched me when I went to secure ward despite the fact I'd come straight from another hospital in a ambulance transport car so I don't feel the strip search was necessary, when would I of had the chance to hide anything on me.
They also are soo bad at telling you things, I never knew what was happening.
I think there usefull as a last resort but they definitely can make you worse. Although there are some very nice people that work in them.
I send love to you all
there horrible places.
I was on a section so I couldn't say no to anything, I would get restrained all the time put on 24 hour observations, wouldn't let me out the ward, put on medication with horrible side effects.
Seeing other people that were obviously very unwell was also quite distressing, especially at 16.
They also strip searched me when I went to secure ward despite the fact I'd come straight from another hospital in a ambulance transport car so I don't feel the strip search was necessary, when would I of had the chance to hide anything on me.
They also are soo bad at telling you things, I never knew what was happening.
I think there usefull as a last resort but they definitely can make you worse. Although there are some very nice people that work in them.
I send love to you all
there horrible places.
one4all
I'll put pennies on your eyes and it will go away.
- Feb 3, 2020
- 3,455
I think it's sad all over the world.
Bad night of drinking or doing to many drugs can end you up in the Funny Farm also
I send love to you all
I'm sure ALL are not horrible. We can only really related our experiences!
Thank you for the input
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Lost in a Dream
He/him - Metal head
- Feb 22, 2020
- 1,771
The only time that I went to one, the experience was actually surprisingly good, but in my case, it wasn't a psychiatric hospital per se. It was an ordinary hospital with a section of it that was used as a psychiatric unit. I ended up staying there because I admitted to a counselor that worked in the ER that I was having thoughts about going postal at work and having a hard time controlling my anger. I didn't have a plan to act on those thoughts, but they were at least concerned that I might, so in this rare case, I felt like being kept there was a good idea, because the suicidal ideation was only half of the problem.
I only met a couple of people there that could be considered "crazy", but most of them seemed pretty normal. I don't really know why they were all there, but a lot of them felt like they didn't belong so I was probably the odd one out in that regard. As for the two "crazy" ones, they kept things somewhat interesting and they were both locked up in the isolation room at least once because they became violent.
Of those two, one of them seemed like she was extremely hyper all the time. She couldn't ever sit still and she was always bouncing around and giggling randomly, so I don't know what her issues were. The other one had a habit of getting worked up over seemingly minor things and he would punch the walls so hard that he drew blood from his own fist, right before he started running around and screaming at the top of his lungs. He did that twice while I was there.
Aside from those few instances of craziness, the rest of the time that I was there involved group therapy sessions and watching movies most of the day. Night time was kind of boring because I didn't sleep very good and there was nothing to do since all of the entertainment areas were locked until the 1st shift staff arrived. Even though it wasn't always a fun place to be, it certainly could have been a lot worse. There is an actual psychiatric hospital nearby, at a different location, and one of the other people that was in the unit told me she had been there before. From the way that she described her experience there, it made it seem like the unit I was staying in was a 5 star hotel in comparison, so I would say I got very lucky that I didn't go to the other place.
When I finally got out, I actually felt hopeful that things were going to get better, until I got the medical bill. That was when things started to go downhill again and I ended up becoming far more suicidal than when I was hospitalized. The debt was only a minor thing compared to all of the other problems I had, but it certainly didn't make things easier, that's for sure.
I only met a couple of people there that could be considered "crazy", but most of them seemed pretty normal. I don't really know why they were all there, but a lot of them felt like they didn't belong so I was probably the odd one out in that regard. As for the two "crazy" ones, they kept things somewhat interesting and they were both locked up in the isolation room at least once because they became violent.
Of those two, one of them seemed like she was extremely hyper all the time. She couldn't ever sit still and she was always bouncing around and giggling randomly, so I don't know what her issues were. The other one had a habit of getting worked up over seemingly minor things and he would punch the walls so hard that he drew blood from his own fist, right before he started running around and screaming at the top of his lungs. He did that twice while I was there.
Aside from those few instances of craziness, the rest of the time that I was there involved group therapy sessions and watching movies most of the day. Night time was kind of boring because I didn't sleep very good and there was nothing to do since all of the entertainment areas were locked until the 1st shift staff arrived. Even though it wasn't always a fun place to be, it certainly could have been a lot worse. There is an actual psychiatric hospital nearby, at a different location, and one of the other people that was in the unit told me she had been there before. From the way that she described her experience there, it made it seem like the unit I was staying in was a 5 star hotel in comparison, so I would say I got very lucky that I didn't go to the other place.
When I finally got out, I actually felt hopeful that things were going to get better, until I got the medical bill. That was when things started to go downhill again and I ended up becoming far more suicidal than when I was hospitalized. The debt was only a minor thing compared to all of the other problems I had, but it certainly didn't make things easier, that's for sure.
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terry_a_davis
Warlock
- Dec 28, 2019
- 707
I've spent a forced 9 weeks in a mental hospital. Overall it was beneficial. I truly detested the early weeks as i'd obviously lost my freedom and I was forced on medication which I didn't think I needed and thought all the staff were telling lies and were against me etc.
Once my meds kicked in it wasn't bad at all. I got to know a few people which helped, a couple were off the wall but i never felt threatened. The food (once I started eating) was acceptable. The staff were generally ok, a few were really good. The room wasn't particularly nice but it was clean. I loved being visited by family. The facility had an enclosed wooded area attached to it, I used to enjoy taking walks there and watching the wild rabbits. I mostly watched TV and browsed the net to occupy myself.
The best feeling of the whole experience was when I was released as I got my freedom back. It's not somewhere I would choose to go on holiday lol but I left the place a different person, for the better. Sadly my life is still a bit shit but my schizophrenia is now in remission.
Once my meds kicked in it wasn't bad at all. I got to know a few people which helped, a couple were off the wall but i never felt threatened. The food (once I started eating) was acceptable. The staff were generally ok, a few were really good. The room wasn't particularly nice but it was clean. I loved being visited by family. The facility had an enclosed wooded area attached to it, I used to enjoy taking walks there and watching the wild rabbits. I mostly watched TV and browsed the net to occupy myself.
The best feeling of the whole experience was when I was released as I got my freedom back. It's not somewhere I would choose to go on holiday lol but I left the place a different person, for the better. Sadly my life is still a bit shit but my schizophrenia is now in remission.
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The staff gets paid. Also it looks to the outside like they actually provide some service to society.
Marktheghost
Paragon
- Feb 20, 2020
- 911
