medication in psychiatric hospitals

crimsondee

Hi
Just wondering if you voluntarily check yourself in to a psychiatric unit, have you got to take the anti depressants they prescribe.Plus ,any advice about the whole process would be helful.
Thanks
D

LegacyUser

I had a huge fight with my Dad once upon a time where I pretended to take a "load of pills" from our medicine cabinet (something I saw on TV as a young lad). A gesture rather than something I was actually going to do. Needless to say he saw that act as a red flag and summoned a doctor the next day. He placed me in one of these facilities for a weekend to be sure to be sure. Naturally this was a gross inconvenience for me as I had gotten over my little fit.
Anyway, I remember sitting in the lobby and it was an open plan area with about 30 or so people walking around freely, I guess depending on the severity of what you're admitted with you're granted certain leniency. We waited for about 15 minutes when we were approached and led to the main directors office, short interview, he asked how I was feeling I told him etc, he was a bit perplexed but sure we went on with it. He was also the person I felt gauged what medication you were going to be administered.
This is when it became a bit more weird for me anyway. Or "real" if you like. Interview was over, my dad was ushered to the door, and the door was then locked. I suppose deductive reasoning would suggest that this would happen given the environment. So I was basically standing there while people played table tennis and watched TV in a spacious but locked unit til bedtime. At this time they wheeled around a trolley of medication and distributed it to people, i got none unfortunately so I had to sleep there with like six attractive 23 year old nurses in a booth directly in front of me. I was 23 at the time and would consider myself one of those guys who likes to mix it up with the ladies once in a while. I'd laugh but this isn't made up.
In the end I got to sleep with no issue other than the snoring of old men. Theyll have the TV etc off at like 10 so that's out. You'll be in a room with 6-8 others. In the morning you'll go for breakfast early. Then you basically just waltz around for the day til dinner, where you'll occasionally see someone in distress or vomiting. Not easy and the staff deserve a lot of credit. Rinse repeat for two long days (it was the Friday I went in) then Monday a senior doctor arrived and reviewed several cases, eventually my parents were in his office while I waited in the hall, then I was called in where he was suggesting I stay longer, I was pretty hasty in telling him I'm out of here. Lesson learned.

One thing I will say though, when I was packing my stuff up to leave I got talking to a guy, I guess you could say he looked a bit off, but not in the sense he was mentally ill. Chatting away anyway and afterwards I was approached by an older nurse, who obviously identified me as being a nice enough young lad, she's aid beware of him he's a hard drug user/chancer type that we sometimes get here looking for free bed and board + food. Knowing this I was glad I didn't have to stay there anymore but just a heads up.

Yorker

crimsondee wrote: »

Hi
Just wondering if you voluntarily check yourself in to a psychiatric unit, have you got to take the anti depressants they prescribe.Plus ,any advice about the whole process would be helful.
Thanks
D

http://www.thejournal.ie/defacto-detained-mental-health-involuntary-voluntary-patient-984171-Jul2013/

my understanding re meds is that if your are voluntary and in capacity you do not have totake them But they could decide you ar eharming yourself by not and could re-define you as involuntary. I could be wrong

Big Bag of Chips

I suppose each case would be different, but, if you check into ANY hospital and refuse the treatment prescribed by your consultant then they may wonder why you are taking up a bed if you refuse treatment.

Again, it is difficult to say because people will be dealt with on a case by case basis. And someone may be kept for observation without needing medication. Your best bet is to talk to your GP or psychiatrist if you have one.

token56

I think it really depends on the hospital and the consultant and team you are under. I was in a private psychiatric hospital for just under 3 months and was absolutely never forced medication. I was already on medication going in there albeit a low enough dosage and it did change and was increased over time. However it was always done in agreement with me. When I expressed my worry over the side effects of one of the tablets they also reduced it in a controlled manner so I can't say I have had any negative experiences on this side of things.

Apart from that my general experience of being in the hospital was mainly a good one. It was difficult starting off of course but I was at my worst in terms of my mental health, felt very vulnerable and its a bit of a strange surrounding to get used to. You tend to get into a routine fairly quickly which helps, but you need to go in opened minded, receptive and willing to try what you are told. If you have any more specific queries I will try answer as best I can.