Psychiatric hospitalisation

ricicle

Hi folks,
I had an appointment with my psychiatrist today and he asked me if I would like to be hospitalised as I am really struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts and voices in my head. I said no I didn't want to go. I have never been before even when I was very ill previously. I don't want to go because I am terrified but I am also afraid to live (it's hard to explain) my question is has anyone ever been to a psychiatric ward and could fill me in on how it works, are you left to your own devices, can you have visitors, how long do you stay there, can you wear your own clothes etc....any information would be much appreciated

-R

pushkii

It depends op on what hospital you would be going to and how severe your condition.

I think it's very positive that you are not totally opposed to the idea of getting treatment, this in itself is huge. Voluntary admission to psych unit would mean you would sign yourself in and you would be left out if you wanted to when you want to providing you are assessed first.

They are not as scary as people think they are, not one bit like one flew over the cuckoos nest!

You get your own bed and space , u can bring in your own belongings but they might search them to make sure you are not taking in anything dangerous, you can smoke there but not drink. You will be given meds by the nurses and perhaps the Drs in there May adjust your medication.

I don't think phones are allowed but you can watch TV and they're will be lots of social activities. You will be looked after well I think you sound like you are open to help.

You will get counselling and amazingly enough you will make friends. Please OP put one foot in front of another , it's not easy to feel like this. Please call the Samaritans or any other helpline if you are feeling suicidal. And if you are in a terrible way go to a and e and they will get a bed sooner.

Try to get support for yourself. You have made a very brave move by posting this and I hope you are ok.

pushkii

It depends op on what hospital you would be going to and how severe your condition.

I think it's very positive that you are not totally opposed to the idea of getting treatment, this in itself is huge. Voluntary admission to psych unit would mean you would sign yourself in and you would be left out if you wanted to when you want to providing you are assessed first.

They are not as scary as people think they are, not one bit like one flew over the cuckoos nest!

You get your own bed and space , u can bring in your own belongings but they might search them to make sure you are not taking in anything dangerous, you can smoke there but not drink. You will be given meds by the nurses and perhaps the Drs in there May adjust your medication.

I don't think phones are allowed but you can watch TV and they're will be lots of social activities. You will be looked after well I think you sound like you are open to help.

You will get counselling and amazingly enough you will make friends. Please OP put one foot in front of another , it's not easy to feel like this. Please call the Samaritans or any other helpline if you are feeling suicidal. And if you are in a terrible way go to a and e and they will get a bed sooner.

Try to get support for yourself. You have made a very brave move by posting this and I hope you are ok.

CaoimheSquee

Hi there, I have been in a psychiatric hospital. I was in one for 2 months in 2010 and i was TERRIFIED. I was admitted to a private hospital but on a ward that took a mix of public and private patients so I saw both ends of the spectrum. I do think the private patients may have sometimes got the better end of the bargain but a lot of your recovery is down to the work you put into it yourself.

Anyway, It was a positive, albeit very difficult experience but absolutely necessary.

There were two to the bedrooms and i shared with a few different ladies as they came and went through their treatment.

I had a team of professionals treating me, nurses to talk to and go to when panicked or not doing good. You get time away to relax and slowly get used to your meds under medical supervision while doing regular therapy. I was lucky also in that I got to occupational therapy too and did painting, relaxation and even jewelery making!

It is hard though as some people are REALLY really ill. Be prepared to see or hear some sad things. You will also make friends with other patients and it is hard if they get more sick too. Also not being able to be totally alone can be hard too. But you get a great perspective on your situation and tools to help you properly build and then maintain your life on the outside. Have lots of books and go in with the mindset that this is time out to get better and focus on yourself.

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CaoimheSquee

pushkii wrote: »

They are not as scary as people think they are, not one bit like one flew over the cuckoos nest!

.

Pushkii one evening our whole ward got one of the patients who could go to the local village buy loads of sweet and rent One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest and we all watched it together in the communal tv area!
The nurses got us bowls for all the sweets and sat with us. We laughed so much. It was wonderful therapy to just make a joke out of the situation we were all in together!

CorkFenian

CaoimheSquee wrote: »

Pushkii one evening our whole ward got one of the patients who could go to the local village buy loads of sweet and rent One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest and we all watched it together in the communal tv area!
The nurses got us bowls for all the sweets and sat with us. We laughed so much. It was wonderful therapy to just make a joke out of the situation we were all in together!

Sounds good I can only wish that my two stints for 9 weeks each back in 1997,1998 were anywhere like that...I would hope its changed but from research it really depends on private\public and location. Best of luck OP its not the end merely the beginning once its done correctly and for the right reasons.

Lady is a tramp

It really depends on the hospital, and mostly on whether you're talking about a public or a private hospital.

I've been in St Pats most of the year to date, so could give you plenty of info on this place if you happen to be considering it! (Obviously you would need health insurance if you're considering admission to a private hospital.) In some ways it's more like a hotel than a hospital. Plenty of facilities such as a gym, computer room (where I am now!), music room, there's a programme of recreational activities in addition to all the counselling, psychiatric appointments, psychologists etc. Admission is quick and easy. You would more than likely be on a shared bay ward with 3-6 beds for the first few days, but then most likely would be moved to your own room (most are en suite).

Yes, you can wear your own clothes. They take away potentially dangerous items such as scissors, razors etc (but you can use them whenever you want, just need to ask staff for them.) You're allowed your phone/laptop/etc, however if you're at high suicide risk you might only be allowed the chargers/cables on request or supervised. Most wards are unlocked and most patients are allowed wander around the hospital as they please, there is one locked ward for high risk patients. I believe the average stay here is four weeks, it all depends on the individual. You will be given your medication by the nurses.

My experience in psychiatric wards in public hospitals is limited, but I get the impression they're generally for short-term crisis admissions ... they will keep you safe for the foreseeable future, but mightn't necessarily put together a program for your recovery. Oh and I wasn't allowed my phone in public hospitals.

In St Pats, they say that they start planning for your discharge from the very day of your admission ... everything works very smoothly and efficiently, you'll see your consultant very soon after admission to start getting a full diagnosis and getting plans for your treatment and recovery in place. You will also be allowed leave on a gradual basis (starting with day leave, building up to overnights etc.)

I'd go with your psychiatrist's advice ... whether you go public or private, it's really not as scary as you expect! I had all sorts of preconceptions and fears prior to admission, but the staff here are amazing and the other patients are just normal people going through a tough time, much the same as myself!

CaoimheSquee

CorkFenian wrote: »

Sounds good I can only wish that my two stints for 9 weeks each back in 1997,1998 were anywhere like that...I would hope its changed but from research it really depends on private\public and location. Best of luck OP its not the end merely the beginning once its done correctly and for the right reasons.

Trust me, it wasn't always like that and there are some not so pleasant stories I could tell but at the end of the day it is these memories I am really left with. You just get on with it in the these places and humour is really bloody essential some times!

CorkFenian

CaoimheSquee wrote: »

Trust me, it wasn't always like that and there are some not so pleasant stories I could tell but at the end of the day it is these memories I am really left with. You just get on with it in the these places and humour is really bloody essential some times!

Don't worry I know what you mean....You have to get on with it.....

Its so important to keep moving forward. Below is my own story so far or parts of it....I am currently writing about different parts of it As I said whatever OP is going through while tough as hell if not tougher it can be overcome....Humour is definitely required.

2015 http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/health-features/battling-bipolar-disorder-i-would-go-to-bed-at-7pm-cry-and-dream-of-better-days-and-think-about-suicide-31443312.html

2016 http://www.tipperarystar.ie/news/news/207291/The-boy-with-the-thorn-in.html

CaoimheSquee

OP pack lots of comfy clothes, underwear and pyjamas.

They will take belts and earphones and anything glass off you. Also if you brought any medication in with you. To begin with you wont be able to leave the ward but that progresses. Loads of us used to do lots of crosswords and codewords too. You find your attention span isn't the best so puzzles were awesome for this.

My father visited me almost every day and people could pop in pretty much whenever once you are there a little longer. I had my phone on me the whole time but there was also a phone on the ward and you can receive calls there too.

Here is my first day, which might help

I arrived on the ward and was told to sit down and wait for a nurse. It was very late and very dark and I was trying to not cry but my face was red raw and i wasn't doing a great job of it. I was TERRIFIED. I wanted to leave but knew there was no turning back now. Two ladies in their 60's or so saw me and gave me a tissue and said some really comforting words. I grew to be very close to them as time went on.
The nurses showed me my bed, went through my stuff and said my consultant would call in the morning. I cried most of the night and was woken at the crack of dawn for a blood test. On my way back I fainted on the ward and as I was falling I remember seeing an eldery man come running to help and catch me! I woke up on the sofa very embarrassed but it was a great ice breaker though and it showed me that people were kind and I could relax a bit with other that were in just the same position as me.

CaoimheSquee

CorkFenian wrote: »

Don't worry I know what you mean....You have to get on with it.....

Its so important to keep moving forward. Below is my own story so far or parts of it....I am currently writing about different parts of it

2015 http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/health-features/battling-bipolar-disorder-i-would-go-to-bed-at-7pm-cry-and-dream-of-better-days-and-think-about-suicide-31443312.html

2016 http://www.tipperarystar.ie/news/news/207291/The-boy-with-the-thorn-in.html

Oh thank you for sharing!

LegacyUser

In the public system, it depends, if you are at very real risk of harming yourself or others, they send you to the ICU for assesment. In the ICU, they keep a very close eye on everyone, single rooms and they keep stimulation to the bare min. Most patients in the ICU would be involuntary. As someone who has visited people in ICU's over many years, they aren't nice at all, last resort for the system and everyone involved. It is like prison, with less rights and much more supervision. The goal is to stabilize patients. You're pretty much cutoff from the outside world.

Once patients are well enough, they move them to the less intensive ward, where most people who admit themselves will go. Nice enough and has greatly improved over the years, pretty much as others have described here.

CorkFenian

Experiencedvisitor wrote: »

In the public system, it depends, if you are at very real risk of harming yourself or others, they send you to the ICU for assesment. In the ICU, they keep a very close eye on everyone, single rooms and they keep stimulation to the bare min. Most patients in the ICU would be involuntary. As someone who has visited people in ICU's over many years, they aren't nice at all, last resort for the system and everyone involved. It is like prison, with less rights and much more supervision. The goal is to stabilize patients. You're pretty much cutoff from the outside world.

Once patients are well enough, they move them to the less intensive ward, where most people who admit themselves will go. Nice enough and has greatly improved over the years, pretty much as others have described here.

As I write this from my desk at work off Baggot Street I am very grateful. I was in that situation twice, once involuntarily the other I was all but broken and decided to go in of my own accord.....

There is a way back unfortunately its long and its very tough with many winding roads (apologies for the cliché) no point in sugar coating it....but there are many others like me....You will be like us too OP

ricicle

Thanks everybody for your input. Unfortunately I don't have health insurance so I'll be going public. Is the public system that bad? It sounds like it is going to be a very tough time but what I am going through now I know I need the help. When I asked how long I would be there for he kind of brushed me off and said probably a few weeks. Does anyone know if you are going in voluntary can you sign yourself out?. I ask this because I can't imagine being in hospital for a few weeks, I was hoping for a week max but I suppose these things are complexed. I just hope by saying no initially I haven't lost my chance at getting better.

Toots

Depending on where in the country you are, sometimes you can get into a private hospital as a public patient. To give you an example, in the catchment area where I am, St John of Gods is the private psychiatric hospital. However, if you're referred to Cluain Mhuire (the kinda outpatienty bit) you can go in to the hospital as a public patient, because they're all under the Order of St John of Gods, and they let Cluain Mhuire use 2 of their wards. In this case, it's assessed on a needs basis because there's such a high demand for beds.

Some areas have a day hospital too, so if you'd be really uncomfortable with staying as an inpatient, that might be an option for you. My psychiatrist asked me would I like to do an inpatient stay when I was very unwell, but my son was only 2 at the time, so I didn't want to be away from him. I did 3 weeks in the day hospital instead and it was probably one of the best things I ever did.

In terms of how long you'd be staying, it seems to be dependent on the individual - some people needed a week and others were there 3 or 4 weeks. It'll all be discussed with you when you meet your care team, and they do take your feelings on the matter into consideration. Don't worry about having given up your chance, a lot of people say no as a knee-jerk reaction. I said no way, absolutely not, but then a couple of weeks later when I was in again and had time to think about it I told them I wanted to try the day hospital and it was no problem.

LegacyUser

From a family perspective, we tried the public and private systems. The private looked nicer, but was more a hotel with medical treatment, which may suit your needs, or not. In our case, it just created more issues as the person had psychosis and was able to get access to phones and the place had allot of visitors, distractions and so forth. Not ideal for seriously ill patients, even their equivalent ICU.

The public system in our area has much improved, the less intensive ward is pretty similiar to a normal ward, bar more controlled entry/leaving. You'll get a mix of people from all backgrounds. I'm pretty sure you can up and leave if you enter voluntarily and aren't a threat to yourself or anyone else. You can generally also get day passes out and so forth. They run art sessions, puppy petting and so forth as well in our hospital now. It is rare to see real trouble on those wards, outside of what you'd get in any hospital, someone admitted on drugs or withdrawing, that kind of stuff.

The ICU is a different kettle, but that has much less beds and is reserved for those who really need it. If you are hearing voices, showing signs of psychosis, in danger of harming yourself, then yes it is a possibility. It ain't nice, is a last resort for all involved and you'd have to check with them about leaving on your on will, as even entering voluntarily, they have a duty to keep you and others safe, if you are deemed too ill to make rational judgements. In the ICU, they keep a close eye on you, single rooms, a communal area and entering/leaving is strictly controlled, visiting hours are set in stone (about 3 hours a day, 5 weekends).

It might sound terrible, and truthfully is not nice, but it is the safest place for you. The care is 24/7 and it is designed to bring you to a place, where you're stable enough to start the recovery process, after which they move you to the outer ward, then discharged from the hospital and appointed a community care team if required.

I'd urge you to contact your GP and take him up.

ricicle

Thank you so much for your replies and answering my queries. I am going to say it to him on Monday that I want to be admitted, it's just getting to Monday now which is the problem.

Lady is a tramp

ricicle wrote: »

Thank you so much for your replies and answering my queries. I am going to say it to him on Monday that I want to be admitted, it's just getting to Monday now which is the problem.

Take it a day at a time, even an hour at a time if necessary. The Samaritans are always great to talk to if you don't feel like talking to friends/family. And if things get worse, you always have the option of going to A&E where you'll be safe.

LegacyUser

If you are in danger, call/go to an A&E or Garda station and they will take it from that point. I'd acutually try the Garda first, as we had to go that route once, and they brought a doctor to the station for the initial assessment as it was night time and the persons GP was not available. Your experience may vary, but no need to wait on your GP if you need care urgently.

Good luck op.

ricicle

Guys I've been battling on through the past few days and tomorrow is D-day, the closer it gets the more nervous I am. Do you know what the procedure is? Like if I am getting a referral from my psychiatrist do I still have to go through a&e or can I go straight up to the ward. I also haven't told my family I am going in. How will I approach that? I feel a bit embarrassed to tell them. Should I just wait until I am already there. Can you request no visitors, I kind of want some space?

Lady is a tramp

ricicle wrote: »

Guys I've been battling on through the past few days and tomorrow is D-day, the closer it gets the more nervous I am. Do you know what the procedure is? Like if I am getting a referral from my psychiatrist do I still have to go through a&e or can I go straight up to the ward. I also haven't told my family I am going in. How will I approach that? I feel a bit embarrassed to tell them. Should I just wait until I am already there. Can you request no visitors, I kind of want some space?

You can definitely request no visitors.

Bear in mind though that your phone may (or may not) be taken off you. So you probably don't want to disappear off the radar altogether and have people worried about you!

In your position, I'd probably just send a text/e-mail to those closest to you. That you need to go into hospital for the foreseeable future, that you will be OK and that you won't be contactable for the next while.

In hospital, they will ask you for a next-of-kin. You should probably tell that person the whole situation (if you can) and, if you do decide to text/e-mail others saying you're going into hospital, say that they can contact whoever your next-of-kin is if they need to.

I don't imagine you'd have to go through A&E if you've a referral from the psychiatrist; however I'm not sure how things work on the public system. Even with private referrals you're usually waiting a few days - I've no idea how long it is publicly. So bear that in mind - don't be working yourself up that you'll be admitted by tomorrow night - brilliant if that happens, but it probably won't! But at least tomorrow you'll get a rough idea of when it'll happen.

CorkFenian

ricicle wrote: »

Guys I've been battling on through the past few days and tomorrow is D-day, the closer it gets the more nervous I am. Do you know what the procedure is? Like if I am getting a referral from my psychiatrist do I still have to go through a&e or can I go straight up to the ward. I also haven't told my family I am going in. How will I approach that? I feel a bit embarrassed to tell them. Should I just wait until I am already there. Can you request no visitors, I kind of want some space?

Best of luck with it all...To be honest I'm nervous for you. I wouldn't wish what you have to go through on anybody, from my own two experiences. But if it can lead you to a better place, better awareness and ultimately if its what you want and if it brings you the sense of self you deserve , and you're guided by those around you- both with family\friends and the best professional advice available then you should go for it. Nothing works like magic unfortunately. If you ever want to PM me work away. Cheers, Bill