That was back in , and I left with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder. Still, even if you think you know what it's like in a psychiatric hospital , the prospect of going is slightly terrifying because you're not exactly sure will happen.
You're separated from your loved ones, you may have to share a room with a stranger, and you'll miss home fiercely. There are things no one tells you about a psychiatric hospitalization , mainly because each hospital is different, and no two mental health units are the same.
If you're facing an inpatient psychiatric stay, you may feel anxious and unsure of what to expect. Before I was first admitted, I had expectations along the lines of what Nellie Bly experienced at the asylum she infiltrated in the s.
Thankfully, neither of my psychiatric stays were anything like the stereotypes movies make them out to be, but there are things I wish I would've known beforehand. Both of the times I've been hospitalized, I haven't been allowed to have my cellphone or any electronics.
Additionally, I could only see my family during scheduled visiting hours. The rooms are bare with few decorations or amenities, and you aren't allowed to have anything that you could use to harm yourself. During my first stay, I wasn't allowed my bra because it had a metal underwire. This time around, it was dental floss that was forbidden. It's like summer camp, but for people struggling with mental illness! I'm only half-kidding. They also have lots of opportunities to have one-on-one discussions with their nurse.
Usually a nurse will greet you, take some admission details and show you around the place - so you know where to go for various things. Your psychiatrist is responsible for leading your care.
That means your psychiatrist will meet with you most days, review how things are going and what you need to work on next. Your psychiatrist will also meet regularly with the rest of the team. That means nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists or whoever else in hospital is there to help you. The average length of stay in a psychiatric hospital now, is about two to three weeks. Many people worry about - what's it going to be like with the other people in hospital.
For many people, having a mental health problem can be quite isolating. Remember that these people are more likely to understand what it's like than most people you meet every day.
They usually need ongoing support afterwards, and your psychiatrist is likely to continue to be part of that care team. You may need to stay in hospital when you can't cope with your mental illness symptoms at home and need more intensive help. In Australia there are psychiatric units in major public hospitals, as well as specialist psychiatric hospitals that can be public or private.
In New Zealand, all psychiatric hospitals except for the Ashburn Clinic in Dunedin are part of the public system.
More about private health insurance and hospitals Australia. Unlike in a general hospital, where you might be in bed a lot, in a psychiatric ward you can walk around as normal.
All hospitals allow visitors. Generally there will be set visiting hours. You will usually also be welcome to leave the hospital for a few hours or overnight, depending on your treatment plan.
You are entitled to use sick leave while you're in hospital. Some people also choose to use annual leave or unpaid leave if they are away from work for a longer time. For a private hospital you need your GP family doctor or a psychiatrist to arrange admission for you. When you come into hospital, you will be shown around and given information about what will happen during your stay. You will meet with a psychiatrist or a registrar a doctor training to be a psychiatrist , who will talk to you about your concerns.
The doctor may also want to talk to your family, partner or friends. They will ask your permission first. Once you have been in hospital for a little while, you and the team will put together a treatment plan.
Some people need lots of rest and quiet time away from other people. Others need to start to socialise with others in organised group activities. Many hospitals offer a range of other therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy ECT or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS. If your psychiatrist thinks these could help you, they will discuss this with you first. While private rooms are becoming more common, you may still have to share a room or a bathroom with someone else.
The nurses on the ward will be in close contact with you. You will see your psychiatrist regularly, along with other types of therapists to help with different parts of your treatment. Abby Heugel. That never happens these days. Experiences in mental hospitals vary from extremely positive to very negative and this often depends on the individual's situation and the specific mental health hospital Types of Mental Health Facilities. Before you enter a mental health hospital, though, it's important you get the facts on what it's like inside mental hospitals.
There are many reasons why people enter mental health hospitals. Typically, the people in mental hospitals have a variety of mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder , major depressive disorder , schizophrenia or even dementia List of Mental Illnesses.
These people are in the mental hospital because they cannot manage the illness on their own at this time and need around-the-clock care. There is nothing to be ashamed of about being in a mental hospital. It is a place people go to get well and going to one can be seen as a very positive step forward.
There are two types of admissions to mental hospitals: voluntary and involuntary admissions. Voluntary admissions are when a person agrees to stay in a mental hospital. They ask to be there or they "sign themselves in. This type of admission tends to happen when a person is feeling overwhelmed by mental illness and feels in need of extra support or feels he or she may hurt him or herself or someone else.
Involuntary admissions are when a person is admitted to a mental hospital without his or her consent because it has been determined by a doctor or the police that the person is a danger to him or herself or someone else.
Involuntary admission is typically brief and if a longer stay is determined to be needed, a court order must be obtained. Procedures vary at different mental health hospitals but, typically, once people are admitted, they have a consultation with a doctor — likely a psychiatrist as well as a general practitioner GP. These doctors will assess the patient's physical and mental state.
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