My time as a patient in a psychiatric hospital (STORY + ASK ME ANYTHING) - General

Making this thread as a request, I'm going to be writing the next parts to the story every day until it's finished, but it's too long and personal to finish tonight, and I don't have the energy to get back into that 'frame-of-mind'. In the meanwhile, feel free to ask me anything about what it's like to be held in a psychiatric hospital. [quote]I am unsure where to start with this, so I'm jumping right in... I walked through the doors of Ward 17, the male-only psychiatric ward of a hospital in a city 20 miles from here. Looking around as I stumbled nervously, I found comfort in nothing. I did not expect that I would have to walk through the common-room in full-view to everybody, all my life I had built up this picture of mental hospitals being either the terrifying screams-echoing-the-corridors institutions or a quaint haven for self-reflection and recovery. I found it was neither, but a more down-to-earth place of recovery with aspects taken from both angles. I looked up at the other patients (whom later I found we all referred to each other as inmates), I had noticed one of them was looking right back at me, full eye contact. He wasn't, as I first thought, trying to intimidate me or scorn me, but rather trying to comfort me, as he smiled at me and nodded. He was a strange-looking character. He had short brown hair with a shaven line down the middle, a bright blue adidas tracksuit that would on somedays find itself replaced by a Superman costume, and facial hair which made him look as though he were French. Chris, he was called, and he was in for Bipolar Mania. [/quote] Sorry it's so short for the time being! It will be updated regularly

-misread some of it-

are you ok

[QUOTE=TCB;39008773]did you get laid?[/QUOTE] No, it was male only. Like it says, and I'm neither gay nor bi. [editline]28th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Corporal Yippie;39008780]are you ok[/QUOTE] I'm still receiving "care/treatment" and may be for the rest of my life.

What were in you for?

Why'd you have to go in?

was your life ever at stake

How much time did you spend there?

I love these threads so much, it's great getting new perspectives like [URL="http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1094402"]this[/URL] and [url=http://www.footballforums.net/forums/showthread.php/258877-Poster-on-4chan-recounts-his-2-years-in-prison]this[/url]. Right on, OP!

[QUOTE=Skelmech;39008834]Why'd you have to go in?[/QUOTE] A Bipolar mixed episode. Basically I had zero self-esteem, zero confidence, and maximum self-hatred combined with all the energy in the world. [editline]28th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=elitestrider;39008852]was your life ever at stake[/QUOTE] Very much so. I would have either committed suicide or completely fucked my life up. I've had to drop out of college for the year and resume next year and that's with a narrow escape.

How is your current state now?

So did you live their?

[QUOTE=Ericson666;39008864]I love these threads so much, it's great getting new perspectives like [URL="http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1094402"]this[/URL] and [url=http://www.footballforums.net/forums/showthread.php/258877-Poster-on-4chan-recounts-his-2-years-in-prison]this[/url]. Right on, OP![/QUOTE] I have a couple, like [URL=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=971184]Today I met with a Jewish holocaust survivor[/url] [URL=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1100592&highlight=]I fought for my dog's life, and won![/URL] [URL=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1113889&highlight=]My journey with my dog Oscar is at an end[/url] [url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1089967&highlight=]The story of how I lost my virginity at 13, and got my girlfriend pregnant at 14.[/url] [editline]28th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Krinkels;39008860]How much time did you spend there?[/QUOTE] Luckily only around a week. [editline]28th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=.FLAP.JACK.DAN.;39008931]So did you live their?[/QUOTE] I wasn't allowed outside, so yes.

One time I got baker acted, when I was 17, because I was an angsty teenager and got into arguments with my dad, they became very verbal and threatening. I was with some crazy lunatic emo girls who got mad at me over a game of UNO (because I was winning), and told me they were going to kill me. Mental hospitals are interesting especially when you're not really mentally crazy, like me.

[QUOTE=brianosaur;39009201]One time I got baker acted, when I was 17, because I was an angsty teenager and got into arguments with my dad, and they became very graphic and threatening. I was with some crazy lunatic bitches who got mad at me over a game of UNO (because I was winning), and told me they were going to kill me. Mental hospitals are interested especially when you're not really mentally crazy, like me.[/QUOTE] We had one schizophrenic who [I]would[/I] kick off with you if you even looked at him strangely. He would wake me up in the dead of night shouting and fighting and screaming. He was a real nuisance to eat dinner around. He even escaped on one occasion, and a day later, to our awe, he was carried away to somewhere unknown by the police.

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;39009224]We had one schizophrenic who [I]would[/I] kick off with you if you even looked at him strangely. He would wake me up in the dead of night shouting and fighting and screaming. He was a real nuisance to eat dinner around. He even escaped on one occasion, and a day later, to our awe, he was carried away to somewhere unknown by the police.[/QUOTE] LOL. Was that dude your room mate? The place I was at, all the doors were locked from the inside, so every time you wanted to leave your room, you needed permission. Pretty much like child locks on a car. There was this one crazy girl who would throw tantrums, ON PURPOSE, just so the nurses could strap her in a 5 point restraint chair and shoot her in the ass with some klonopin. She was crazy enough to be there for about a whole month.

[QUOTE=brianosaur;39009259]LOL. Was that dude your room mate? The place I was at, all the doors were locked from the inside, so every time you wanted to leave your room, you needed permission. Pretty much like child locks on a car. There was this one crazy girl who would throw tantrums, ON PURPOSE, just so the nurses could strap her in a 5 point restraint chair and shoot her in the ass with some klonopin. She was crazy enough to be there for about a whole month.[/QUOTE] For the first four days I was under what's called in the UK level 3 observation. Meaning that at all times, a member of staff had to have full eye vision of you. I couldn't go to the toilet unobserved, shower unobserved, nor sleep unobserved. I had to sleep with a wafer-thin blanket (it's winter) on a cold hospital floor with somebody sat, chair in the doorway, staring at me with the light on until I on the rare occasion fell asleep. One guy, claiming he was in there for nothing, and that they were keeping him against their will (3 patients in the ward were in the process of suing the hospital for unlawfully keeping them (even though they are obviously ill) said to a female nurse "If I went full force on you, you'd be [B]DEAD![/B]" saying other things like women are taking over the country etc...

I worked as a student/volunteer for 2 months, doing 3 days a week, 8 hour a day, at a Mental health Facility. It wasn't your stereotypical mental hospital, as most patients (on the unit i was on) where there because of traumatic or acquired brain injuries. Even though a patient may not have bipolar, or schizophrenia, the nature of their injury pretty much mimicked it, so at times i felt like i was working in an actual mental hospital. I remember a guy who always though i was his nephew, and that we were inmates who needed to escape.

I've been down dark roads about a year ago and have had a trip to the hospital once, but it was nothing like what you've gone through. I didn't want to be there, and I lied to the "therapist" so I could get out a day/night after. I had to wear these weird footsie things and it was scary being watched over 24/7. I don't know what I would of done if I had to stay longer, probably would of just pissed me off. I wish you luck with your treatment and always look at the bright side.

[QUOTE=Spencer Sharkey;39009486]I've been down dark roads about a year ago and have had a trip to the hospital once, but it was nothing like what you've gone through. [B]I didn't want to be there, and I lied to the "therapist" so I could get out a day/night after. [/B] I had to wear these weird footsie things and it was scary being watched over 24/7. I don't know what I would of done if I had to stay longer, probably would of just pissed me off. I wish you luck with your treatment and always look at the bright side.[/QUOTE] That's literally what I had to do for 3 days solid to get out.

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;39009224]We had one schizophrenic who [I]would[/I] kick off with you if you even looked at him strangely. He would wake me up in the dead of night shouting and fighting and screaming. He was a real nuisance to eat dinner around. He even escaped on one occasion, and a day later, to our awe, he was carried away to somewhere unknown by the police.[/QUOTE] Every unit has a screamer. from a staff's perspective, it is very bothersome, because it upsets the patients, and that is the last thing they want. He was probably transferred somewhere else that could handle him more accordingly, some places just dont have the staff, or dont want to handle violent patients, due to the safety of the other patients.

Did you really feel like you deserved to be there?

My dad's spent 13 years in psych wards, he's been in the most highest security ones (due to his violent and criminal background). Funnily enough he now works in the mental health industry and is helping other people with mental issues. [QUOTE]We had one schizophrenic who would kick off with you if you even looked at him strangely. He would wake me up in the dead of night shouting and fighting and screaming. He was a real nuisance to eat dinner around. He even escaped on one occasion, and a day later, to our awe, he was carried away to somewhere unknown by the police.[/QUOTE] Haha, dad said one time he was in a really fucked up ward when one time a guy called Damien, who used to harass other patients and say random things (used to throw his food at the nurses and make life hell for carers), used to give my dad the shits. One night dad's laying in bed and he hears the door open and there's silly old damian standing there just staring at him. Dad just says "fuck off damian or i'll stick a fuckin plastic spoon in your eye!" Damien reluctantly shuffles away. And how a poor young woman used to try and take her clothes off and run around naked all of the time (a victim of ecstasy). There's all sorts of weird shit that goes on in psych wards, except my dad likes them. He said it's a place where you can go and not have any worries in the world, kick back and relax until you can get your bearings back. He'd only go to a psych ward if things were REALLY bad.

I've heard a mix of stories about phychwards, some that they're a calm, peaceful environment, and some that they're a living hell. I've suffered from depression, but not to the point of suicidal acts. Somehow, the only way I stop myself from going over the edge sometimes is the thought that I might end up in the loony bin. What do you do in there, anyway? I mean, there must be more to it than sitting in a sponge room staring at a wall. What is the social time like? What do you do to keep yourself busy?

What was the food like?

I find diseases of the mind fascinating. One of the reasons why i have a drive to get into Psychiatry. I'm guessing you're on Lithium for your Bipolar disorder? Although it sounds like you didn't have the Mania side of it. I'm sorry if this is slightly irrelevant, but i find it difficult to find information about the working conditions of Psychiatrists. How many where on staff at a time? Although it's unlikely you saw this, were they ever abused by the patients? I'm guessing that most of the patients in the building hated him. They truly believe what they think. I'm guessing though a Therapist talked to you rather then a doctor, due to the more psychological nature of you condition. I'm sure it has something to do with your life so far, and possibly your (Past or present) drug use. Also, glad i could help you with your Japanese. I saw the post and was like "Holy shit, it's fucking Cypher". Oh, did you get drug tested?

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;39008955]I have a couple, like [URL=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=971184]Today I met with a Jewish holocaust survivor[/url] [URL=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1100592&highlight=]I fought for my dog's life, and won![/URL] [URL=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1113889&highlight=]My journey with my dog Oscar is at an end[/url] [url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1089967&highlight=]The story of how I lost my virginity at 13, and got my girlfriend pregnant at 14.[/url][/QUOTE] Man, all those thread were about you. Must suck going through all that.

how pity are you

Is it because you managed to get your girlfriend pregnant at 14?

Do they really have that padded room they show in the movies