Posted by IsoM on February 8, 2002, at 23:50:46
In reply to oyee...in need of some feedback again...please, posted by alley on February 8, 2002, at 21:25:02
Alley, I wouldn't presume to suggest to you what the best option would be but consider this...
When my oldest son was in his senior year at school, it all came apart for him. He'd had depression problems in the past but this was too much. He decided he couldn't handle it, even at home, & went to the hospital. It was in the psychiatric ward of a large city hospital.
He spent 5 weeks there. Every time I went to see him, it pained me so to see all the others there. Some were there for depression like him, one young man was schizophrenic, one was an older Oriental woman who had been a doctor but shuffled around all day, another was a pretty, very anorexic young woman. Somehow, I felt it wasn't productive for him to be around so many obviously sick people. I think my motherly, protective concerns were kicking in.
But as he improved, they gave him his street clothes back, then starting extending more privileges including walks around the beautiful university grounds (a university/city hospital). As we talked & walked, he said being around the other patients opened up his eyes in many ways (he's a mature sort to begin with), the different programs enabled him to see how others faced life & helped develop an empathy in him he doubts he'd have otherwise.
Hospital may not be for you, but it can give you a break from "your reality" & help you see it in light of other's reality instead. This was his experience - perhaps it may not help you.
poster:IsoM
thread:17979
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020202/msgs/17984.html