just left a psych ward AMA

Submitted by eep at February 21, 2018, 2:51 AM in just_post

twovests wrote at February 21, 2018, 3:13 AM

How comfortable are you with questions about your stay there, why you were in it, how you felt about it, etc.?

And also hihihi welcome back friend!!

eep wrote at February 21, 2018, 3:32 AM (edited at February 21, 2018, 3:33 AM)

Heeeee thaaaanksssss!!!! I think I’m p comfortable with questions dunno. Haven’t had uncomfortable questions yet. I was admitted mainly cause BP 2 and they wanted to see how the meds and I reacted (lithium mostly and possible sores from another one) (CONTENT WARNING? Sorry I can’t find a spoiler thingy in the syntax) also I tried to kill myself like 3 times since Oct, so that too

First week was hella dull? Also I expected everything to be restricted that so I just slept all day. The resident doctors make rounds everyday, so on the second or third day they were like why are you sleeping all day. you should start socialising and joining the group therapies and stuff so I kinda did that ¯_(ツ)_/¯

twovests wrote at February 21, 2018, 3:49 AM

Did you go voluntarily or involuntarily, and either way, how was the process of getting into the ward? How do you feel about the whole experience; do you feel it was generally positive?

eep wrote at February 21, 2018, 6:20 AM

It was a bit of both? I had a new psychiatrist and she recommended that I get admitted and I kinda went ok fine cause I didn’t care at that point.

The Psych Ward I went to was in a hospital so I had to go through the emergency room. There were at least five doctors asking questions about my history etc. They took initial blood tests and there was a lot of waiting (from what I understand there were lots of patients being process at the ER). So at like 5pm (we were there 6am ish) I was lead around and then went inside a set of doors. I didn’t know I can’t leave the area anymore so I wasn’t able to say goodbye to my sister and Mum.

Whole experience was okay? Just the first week took me a while to adjust. Also I eventually gained access to writing, then painting and then reading. I didn’t like that I had too much free time but I can’t spend it doing things I was allowed to. Food was utter shit. It had no redeeming qualities. Also not much areas to exercise unless you get really creative.

I liked being able to talk to similar people undergoing through almost similar things. When I got there we were all Bipolar and bisexual which was a fun coincidence. I think the place helped me talk more openly about my life experience and be less guarded, also made me more aware what my triggers are and conditionally getting used to them or how to deal with them. It’s not perfect just had more coping strategies. Also no one would think it’s weird if you suddenly start crying in the middle of Monopoly for example.

twovests wrote at February 22, 2018, 2:06 AM

(Please let me know if my questions are too much / too prying.) If I may ask, how long did you stay? Did this interfere with anything else in your life?

You say you gained access to writing (then painting then reading); how did that feel? What conditions granted you access to these?

Was there anything you were excited to do coming out of the wawrd?

eep wrote at February 22, 2018, 5:59 AM

Yeah no worries. I’ll tell you when I get uncomfortable. I stayed for around 8 weeks (this was the max stay the psychiatrist allowed afterwards it’s squally diminishing returns to healing) also I had to heal from overdose and stuff. I had a job but I haven’t been attending for like 2-3 weeks at most?

I liked getting the privileges (they call it that). Not much of a writer but writing help me write letters (that I would never send) to people. Also spent most of it to draw stuff. Like the food. Painting was a lot more fun cause I held unofficial classes from people who wanted to learn to to paint specific things. When it got to stressful (people tend to crowd around and make noise while they watch), I stopped for a bit and moved to the girl’s room. But the girls I were kinda teaching left so it’s ok. I think I had reading first cause it was my priority. But I remember abandoning it cause 30 minutes + doctor supervision was too much. I used to be embarrassed about getting watched by someone but I had this weird fit of rebellion where I thought that if they’re giving me rules I might as well waste their time.

Permissions are granted depending on how ‘good’ you act. The nurses usually report on these. They can see if you’re social through CCTV or when they’re walking through the room. Group therapy is optional but if you join it you get a faster discharge apparently? I also remember asking my doctor if I can have this and she said, I’ll think about it but I’ll usually get it in like a week or so. Or sometimes if she think I’m not ready she’d just say so.

I wasn’t really excited to do anything except hug my cat. They do ask about future plans but I just gave like generic answers like exercise, travel, soul search because I honestly have no idea.

twovests wrote at February 22, 2018, 7:09 PM

Outside of the ward, have you done tutoring / held classes for drawing/painting before? Is painting/drawing a big hobby of yours?

eep wrote at February 23, 2018, 2:57 AM

Not really it just happened. Like other patients got curious and I was in a good mood. I like to draw, but I was pretty new at painting with watercolours, which were the only allowed paints cause they seem ‘safe’ enough