Discussion Residential?

[weallhaveourghosts]

Has anyone here gone to residential? Did you find it worth it? What actually happens there? Is it any different than the stuff they already teach us when suicidal? DBT, CBT, whatever other letters there are?

 

[nihilisticmystics]

Hi, i was involuntarily admitted to a residential facility when i was 16 and i was there for about 4-6 months (can't remember the exact number). It was kind of like your typical 1-2 week mental hospital stay if you have ever experienced that.

Mine was all girls only, the boys unit was all the way on the other side of the building. They have different staff that rotate shifts throughout the day, there's the nurses, therapists, doctors, techs, and one-on-ones (a staff member that is assigned to a specific patient and has to keep their eyes on them at all times), and they served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And snacks!

Once or twice a week, the psychiatrist arrives and says hi to everyone and then calls each person into their office one at a time and tells you what prescription they are going to start having you take (if they feel you need medications), and basically just ask you how your experience is so far in the facility.

There was group therapy 2-3 a day and then solo therapy after the group therapy. Group therapy was fun, we would make arts and crafts and play on the xbox and listen to music and just have fun together while away from the outside world.

at my facility we didn't get to "choose" what kind of therapy/therapy methods we got, but they do give you recourses on that subject when you are discharged and get to go home.

And no, it's no different than the stuff we, as suicidal or at-risk people, are already taught; safety plan, coping mechanisms/skills, medications, group/solo therapy, etc.

Overall, my time there was very fun. It didn't necessarily help my mental health in the long run, but I did learn a few breathing exercises during group therapy, and those exercises actually helped me because i have chronic panic disorder (constant panic attacks). I also got to take a break from the real world and connect with people that understand me. In fact, i still keep in contact with those girls I met during my stay.

Why do you ask? Are you thinking of admitting
yourself? If you do, if you change your mind, you can always sign an AMA (against medical advice) while you're there, which is basically where they are required to stop treating you and let you go home (not immediately, it usually takes a few days for them to schedule your leave).

Although to be honest, I don't know if an AMA applies to a residential stay. For a normal 1-2 week mental hospital visit, absolutely. But i guess it depends on if you admitted yourself or not.

If you are thinking of admitting yourself, then to be honest you should do it. Even if your stay doesn't help you and you still feel suicidal/depressed/etc., you will get to connect with a lot of people just like you, and also you get a break from the outside world.

I'm sorry if i typed a lot. I really hope what I said was somewhat helpful.<3

 

[weallhaveourghosts]

Hi, i was involuntarily admitted to a residential facility when i was 16 and i was there for about 4-6 months (can't remember the exact number). It was kind of like your typical 1-2 week mental hospital stay if you have ever experienced that.

Mine was all girls only, the boys unit was all the way on the other side of the building. They have different staff that rotate shifts throughout the day, there's the nurses, therapists, doctors, techs, and one-on-ones (a staff member that is assigned to a specific patient and has to keep their eyes on them at all times), and they served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And snacks!

Once or twice a week, the psychiatrist arrives and says hi to everyone and then calls each person into their office one at a time and tells you what prescription they are going to start having you take (if they feel you need medications), and basically just ask you how your experience is so far in the facility.

There was group therapy 2-3 a day and then solo therapy after the group therapy. Group therapy was fun, we would make arts and crafts and play on the xbox and listen to music and just have fun together while away from the outside world.

at my facility we didn't get to "choose" what kind of therapy/therapy methods we got, but they do give you recourses on that subject when you are discharged and get to go home.

And no, it's no different than the stuff we, as suicidal or at-risk people, are already taught; safety plan, coping mechanisms/skills, medications, group/solo therapy, etc.

Overall, my time there was very fun. It didn't necessarily help my mental health in the long run, but I did learn a few breathing exercises during group therapy, and those exercises actually helped me because i have chronic panic disorder (constant panic attacks). I also got to take a break from the real world and connect with people that understand me. In fact, i still keep in contact with those girls I met during my stay.

Why do you ask? Are you thinking of admitting
yourself? If you do, if you change your mind, you can always sign an AMA (against medical advice) while you're there, which is basically where they are required to stop treating you and let you go home (not immediately, it usually takes a few days for them to schedule your leave).

Although to be honest, I don't know if an AMA applies to a residential stay. For a normal 1-2 week mental hospital visit, absolutely. But i guess it depends on if you admitted yourself or not.

If you are thinking of admitting yourself, then to be honest you should do it. Even if your stay doesn't help you and you still feel suicidal/depressed/etc., you will get to connect with a lot of people just like you, and also you get a break from the outside world.

I'm sorry if i typed a lot. I really hope what I said was somewhat helpful.<3

No I'm glad you typed a lot it was helpful. I probably won't end up doing it now that I know more of what it's like. Thank you!