Posted by fallsfall on July 3, 2003, at 22:45:15
In reply to Re: help, please.... » whiterabbit, posted by Emme on July 3, 2003, at 19:32:43
> Actually, if I could ask a few questions maybe I'd feel less scared of the whole idea...
>
My experience is that each hospital is different about many, many things. Maybe you could get a tour and then you could ask about the specifics of the hospital near you.I was on a locked unit for two weeks both 8 years ago and 1 year ago (same hospital). (2 weeks is actually pretty long these days)
> What made the good treatment good? What made the mediocre treatment bad?
>
My hospital had bunches of groups. In the groups we learned about things - Cognitive distortions, Self Esteem, Medications, Relaxation, etc. We were working more on general strategies - not so much on our individual issues. You could talk with a staff member 1-1 about your issues. The groups were really important.> Did the doctor in the hospital communicate with your regular pdoc?
Not very well. I had tried a bunch of SSRIs and the doctor in the hospital needed to choose another for me. I thought he should consult with my pdoc to find out what my pdoc has learned about me. The hospital guy didn't try very hard to get in touch with my pdoc. Eventually I called my pdoc and relayed the info to the hospital doc. I was not happy about that. The pdoc did really short psychotherapy as well as med management. He wrote a summary for my therapist when I left.
> Were you treated with respect?I was always treated with respect.
>
> How much of your own clothing/possessions are you allowed to have with you?I wore all my own clothes and had my own toiletries. I brought some toys (cards, walkman, etc.)
They did check EVERYTHING I brought in and EVERYTHING anybody else brought for me. They wouldn't let me have anything "sharp" (includes knives, pins, screwdrivers, anything that you could use to hurt yourself), no belts/ties, (some hospitals take shoelaces). Even if you aren't going to hurt yourself, someone else could "borrow" your stuff so they can't let it be there. You can have certain things for short periods of time (razor for shaving, scissors for a craft, etc). I found it more amusing than aggravating.
Do you get any privacy?
Private rooms are few and far between. They want you to be socializing. I could always (almost) find a corner to read or write or whatever. I didn't feel a lack of privacy.
>
> Were you allowed to leave the floor and go outside at *all*?Hospitals have different safety levels. As you become safer and calmer you can move up a level. Each level has "restrictions" - things you can and cannot do.
The most restrictive (and most people never do this level) says you have to be within an arm's reach of a staff person (someone gets assigned to watch you).
Another level you can't leave the unit and staff check on you every 15 minutes.
The first level that can leave the unit has to leave and stay with a staff member.
Another can go to particular places, but has to call on the phone when they get there.
At the top, you have access to the hospital and grounds (which were beautiful at my hospital - trees, grass, swings(!!!)).
If you were off the unit you had to come back every so often (30 minutes? 60 minutes?) so they knew you were OK.
> I know this sounds silly, and maybe I have really distorted ideas about what happens when you're in the hospital, but I think I am terrified of the idea of loss of personal freedom.
They restrict your freedom to keep you safe. There are other hospital units that are not locked - I don't know how they operate. I loved being restricted because it made me feel safe and taken care of.
At my worst I'm sure I wouldn't care because I'd be in so much pain. But if I started to improve, then I could see myself totally freaking out not being able to go outdoors.
Some hospitals have outdoor priviledges and some don't. Maybe you want to shop around for a hospital (do this before you HAVE to be there).
>
> I'm open to hearing anything else you think would be helpful.Both of my hospital stays were VERY helpful. Later I went to visit a friend at my hospital and I was afraid I would want to stay. But I could tell when I was there by watching the patients that I didn't need to be there, so it was OK to leave.
Your experience will depend a lot on who you are and what your issues are. Some people love it. Some people hate it.
Thanks so much and thanks for helping yank me through another hellish night.
>
> Emme
>
Good Luck!!!
poster:fallsfall
thread:238884
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030626/msgs/239100.html