Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 420511

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On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 12:36:44

About two years ago I spent several weeks on a psychiatric ward because of depression. It was not a therapeutic experience!

I'd be interested to hear anyone else's experience of being in hospital, whether it's positive or negative.

Regards,
Ed.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by Racer on November 26, 2004, at 16:13:50

In reply to On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 12:36:44

I've been invited to spend a few days on the psych ward over the past decade -- call them offers I couldn't refuse.

Both times, I stopped eating entirely. The last time, I was there for about two weeks, and did not eat during that time. (OK, to be fair, of course I did ingest some things: a half pint of apple juice most mornings, a small salad from the dinner tray on the days that they served salad, and two saltine crackers on the days that those were included. That was it, though.) No one noticed. To make matters just a bit worse, though, I had been placed on Wellbutrin, too, so the not eating was possibly dangerous. The fact that none of the staff noticed, though, seems really outrageous to me. The patients all seemed to notice, so what the heck was wrong with the staff?

The doctor saw me three times in time I was there. Once to check me in and prescribe Wellbutrin, once to tell me that she wouldn't allow me to be released, and once to tell me that she was letting me go home. There were supposed to be group therapy sessions, and other groups, but they were all cancelled. My room was changed four times while I was there. The heating system was out of whack, so it was freezing all the time -- several patients spent most of their days in bed wrapped in all the extra clothes and blankets they could find, because of the cold. Even the doctor was uncomfortable.

No one could tell me anything about outpatient options for when I got out, just sent me out the door with a pat on the back and three days worth of pills.

This, by the way, was a private hospital. While I was uninsured, the county facility was full, so they diverted me to a private facility. It was pretty bad, and more frightening because it was said to be amongst the best in the area. THAT was a frightening thought.

Interesting question, I look forward to hearing others' experiences.

 

Borderline Personality Disorder

Posted by amy smith on November 26, 2004, at 18:18:06

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by Racer on November 26, 2004, at 16:13:50

> I've been invited to spend a few days on the psych ward over the past decade -- call them offers I couldn't refuse.
>

:)

I, too, have had offers that I could not refuse. Perhaps it was the generous offer or maybe it was just the handcuffs, who remembers?

Anyway, I've been hospitalized three times. Once when I was 16 (1986) for two weeks and the environment was very therapeutic. The staff was intelligent and kind.

The last two times weren't helpful at all. I've never been to jail but I suspect that the conditions are similar.

 

BPD should have been On the Psychiatric Ward

Posted by amy smith on November 26, 2004, at 18:20:42

In reply to Borderline Personality Disorder, posted by amy smith on November 26, 2004, at 18:18:06

Sorry.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by alexandra_k on November 26, 2004, at 18:39:21

In reply to On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 12:36:44

I'll just say a bit because this is hard.

When I got sick in 1998 (major depressive episode) I agreed to go into hospital for my own safety. I ended up more inside than outside for about two years.

I saw a lot of people come and go.
Suicides.
Shared delusions.
Voices stop.
Delusions cease.
Discharge.

I can't describe what it is like.
There is a sense in which it is terrifying to be locked up.
To be sectioned (at times) under the mental health act.
To be told that you have to have this injection by law.
But after a while you lose the outside world. It receeds. Your life is on the inside. Institutionalisation.

After that I went into supported accomodation for a couple of years.
Then drug treatments.
Now I am institutionalised into academia quite nicely :-)

The horror
The horror
It is indescribable.
And due to the medications
And the shock treatments
Thank god the memories do not plague me as much as they could have...
It is numbed
Half remembered
And half forgotten.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by lostforwards on November 27, 2004, at 6:37:39

In reply to On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 12:36:44

The worst thing is how boring the wards are. There's little to no stimulation. If you have depression things must really suck.

I think they should put computers in psych. wards. At least one. They're cheap enough now and a lot better than a lame TV that everyone has to share. The last ward I was in had an art room, but it was mostly board games and crayons. It was almost demeaning in a way, cause they had all these coloring books for kids.

Another hospital I was had 2 computers in a library but you had to have off-ward privileges to use them which wasn't so bad.

 

Re: Depends on the hospital

Posted by smokeymadison on November 27, 2004, at 17:25:25

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by lostforwards on November 27, 2004, at 6:37:39

I think that it really depends on the hospital. I have been in a "good" hospital three times and a "bad" hospital once. the bad one refused to give me my migrane meds so i got one and then they refused to do anything but give my motrin. by that point i was vomiting very badly, even just water and trying to curl up in the bathroom b/c the bedroom was too bright even w/ the curtain drawn. i only saw the pdoc once there, when he discharged me. i was given no meds besides motrin (and i had two cracked ribs and the migranes--talk about pain). at one point i was so upset that i felt like i was going to totally snap and tear apart my room, so i started rocking back and forth while sitting on my bed. the nurse came in and when she shook me i snapped out of it and took the motrin she gave me. she then walked out and turned off the light, leaving me alone again.

at the "good" hospital i saw my pdoc once a day, attended (or was supposed to) group therapy three times a day, and was given my pain meds when i needed them--not to mention my psychotropics. the nurses there talked me through the bad moments when i curled up in the corner.

the "good" hospital is three hours away from where i live, but i refuse to try another local hospital after that experience.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2004, at 17:30:52

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by lostforwards on November 27, 2004, at 6:37:39

Hi everyone,

I found the psych ward EXTREMELY boring. There was nothing to do except sleep and watch TV. I was there for about 3 weeks, saw pdoc about once a week. No therapy. The nurses had a bad attitude: 'there's no point talking to the patients, all we can do is medicate them etc.'

It was a National Health Service hospital in England. There was one locked psych ward and two wards which were not locked. About half the people on my ward were sectioned, half were 'voluntary'.

The nurses spent most of the time at the nurses station. Little contact with patients except when they were checking on them. Everyone was assigned a 'level' which determined how often they had to be checked on.

People I remember...

1. An Indian woman who was having ECT. Her memory lasted about 2 seconds. She asked the same questions 100s of times a day.
2. Man with one leg who was 'singing' all the time.
3. Incontinent man who couldn't talk.
4. Woman who thought she was in the garden of Eden.
5. Man who covered his ears to quieten the voices.
6. Man with schizophrenia who made face masks out of strawberry yogurt.
7. Depressed woman who was sectioned after trying to kill herself.
8. Man who was brought in after running naked through the town center.

When I saw a man having a dystonic reaction (to Haldol) I was surprised because a nurse told him that the dystonia was a symptom of schizoaffective disorder!

Ed

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by lostforwards on November 27, 2004, at 19:43:45

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2004, at 17:30:52

Those patients are extreme!

I find most of my fellow inmates to be much more socially capable at the time of admission. If not that, then within a few weeks of their staying in the ward.

I've had a few odd experiences though ( and in my manic state I'm very sociable, but luckily not totally bonkers).

This is from my first admission:

It was late at night and I was wandering down to the smoke room. I don't smoke, but it's where everybody usually "hangs out". There was one guy who was trying to get the door open. It had been locked, and I said to get one of the nurses to open it. He told me the nurses weren't around, I turned around and looked at the nursing station which was filled with nurses.....

Hmmmm. The same guy also told me something about having a hole in his arm.

There was another patient I met who had bipolar, but she was WAY more screwed than I was. She was an older, mid-30s, woman and was very sexually deviant at the time. She enjoyed putting the moves on all of the young males in the ward. It was kind of fun, and kind of scarry.

This other guy had OCD. A few patients my age were sharing a room with him. I opened up his cupboard one day and found a huge collection of cups from the trays they give out at breakfast/lunch/supper. It was insane, he even had the slips for eachs mealplan in there.

Most of patients this time I was in who were my age were pretty sane. One guy who had schizophrenia was a little strange SOMETIMES, otherwise you could have a conversation with him and he was good company. The two bipolar guys in the hospital who were about the same age as me seemed "normal".

You'll sure see some weird things in the hospital though. My first admission was actually kind of fun since there were a lot of people my age in the ward, it was the early psychosis program ward.

My last stay in a hospital was terrible. Few people my age, plenty of middle-aged people but not enough energy. The first two weeks were great because a fairly attractive woman who had bipolar was courting me. The problem is she was in a mixed state so she'd act really spaced out sometimes, rambling in a very low voice while I couldn't make out any of what she was saying. Good company though.

Things really got boring after she got out.

Anyway I think I've gone on enough. The whole experience of the ward is strange and the people can range from arguably sane to completely gone.


 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » lostforwards

Posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2004, at 19:50:21

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by lostforwards on November 27, 2004, at 19:43:45

Hi,

Not everyone was so extreme. One man with schizophrenia was really nice to talk to at first but then he decided that I was trying to kill him! (I wasn't, btw!)

Some of the patients seemed perfectly normal.

You've been in hosp a few times. Can I ask how old you are?

Ed.

PS. Are you feeling any better lately?

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by vwoolf on November 28, 2004, at 7:36:46

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » lostforwards, posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2004, at 19:50:21

Did any of you ever come across a feeling of solidarity amongst the patients, who often considered the staff as "the other" and tried to bait them and upset their carefully constructed plans to "care for" us? Like playing madder than we were, or deliberately not collaborating in group meetings. Or painting really wild pictures, full of blood and flames to frighten the student OT's. Looking back, this understanding amongst ourselves, on the far side of the locked doors and bars, was a great, anarchic form of sanity. Or does that sound really whacky?

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » vwoolf

Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 7:57:35

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by vwoolf on November 28, 2004, at 7:36:46

Hi,

I think I know what you mean. Many of the patients believed that they understood each other's problems better than the psychiatrists. There was a feeling of 'shared experiences' and a general dislike of the doctors because so many people were there against their will. We never had any group therapy or any opportunity to paint so I can't comment on that! I remember when people returned from ECT they didn't know where they were or what was going on.

Ed

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk

Posted by lostforwards on November 28, 2004, at 11:24:17

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » lostforwards, posted by ed_uk on November 27, 2004, at 19:50:21

I just turned 22 this month. My first admission was when I was 17. My second ( only 2 weeks ) and third ( almost 2 months ) were when I was 21, and both were this year. I hope never to see a psychiatric ward again.

I'm still recovering from the side-effects I came on here about a while ago. They have improved a lot though.

How about yourself?
What are your psych. ward stats? : )

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » lostforwards

Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 11:34:16

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk, posted by lostforwards on November 28, 2004, at 11:24:17

Hi,

I am very glad that you are feeling better. In a few months time things will probably have improved even more!

I am 20 yrs old. I was admitted when I was 18. Stayed for about 2-3 weeks.

Regards,
Ed.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward.....

Posted by ladyofthelamp on November 28, 2004, at 13:54:53

In reply to On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 12:36:44

Oh my goodness,i cannot believe that psych wards haven't got any better since i was there for nearly 3 years, with small gaps in between,in the mid 1980's.That is too depressing for words!.I was only 16 but still was put on an adult ward in UK psych hospital.I don't know if that would happen now though.I was and possibly still am totally screwed up from that experience and they were only doing what was best for me would you believe!!!Not

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ladyofthelamp

Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 14:10:55

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ladyofthelamp on November 28, 2004, at 13:54:53

Hi,

As far as I know, at the moment, you have to be at least 18 to get put on an adult psychiatric ward in the UK. What was your experience? It's ok if you don't want to say.

Regards,
Ed.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk

Posted by ladyofthelamp on November 28, 2004, at 17:19:29

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ladyofthelamp, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 14:10:55

I have been thinking hard about whether i was older than 16 but no i really was only 16.I seem to remember my social worker saying it was not normal practice for a child to be on a adult ward.This makes me sound like i was seriously ill but i was not.I was getting into trouble with the police and drinking alot but no suicide bids or anything that dramatic.I suppose my behaviour was quite unusual for a female from a,how shall i put it,a pretty straight laced,law abiding back ground.While this type of behaviour is not so unusual now,i suppose it was in the mid 80's.I was going through a time of feeling terrible and alienated and passively suicidal but i couldn't describe how i felt or why i felt like it.I was talked into hospital,well threatened i suppose after courts referred me to Psychiatrist for reports.Incidentally i was wrongly in adult court at 16 because they recorded my age incorrectly(oh my god i had forgotten about that!!).I suppose i was depressed but i was not given a diagnosis as they said i was too young to label.I had 4 admissions to hospital in approx 4 years which ranged from 1 week to 18 months at a time.I have been told that i was put on strong medication as i was non compliant.This was probably because i wouldn't take anything i thought was too severe or not relevant.Eventually they don't give you a choice as i am sure you know.Phew i am worn out with thinking about this part of my life.The doctors and nurses used to brow beat me into staying and then you get scared to leave.I can remember having rages that were totally out of character and being frozen out by the nurses.I am a very gentle person and feel bad about how angry and nasty i got.I do not know why i was like it then as i am very passive naturally.There that is a tiny piece of my hospital history and it feels almost like i am talking about someone else!

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 28, 2004, at 18:01:05

In reply to On the psychiatric ward....., posted by ed_uk on November 26, 2004, at 12:36:44

> About two years ago I spent several weeks on a psychiatric ward because of depression. It was not a therapeutic experience!
>
> I'd be interested to hear anyone else's experience of being in hospital, whether it's positive or negative.
>
> Regards,
> Ed.

I was on a psych ward for 20 days, for a very serious case of major depression. They fed me, got my meds, not much else. It was a warehouse for the worst off. That said, I formed friendships in there that are still with me today, many years later. I received and gave validation of experience to others afflicted with difficult situations. I also had the geek thing going on, even though I was messed up, so I was kind of the explainer. The doctors and nurses never explained anything, so somebody had to.

Lar

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » Larry Hoover

Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 19:37:57

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk, posted by Larry Hoover on November 28, 2004, at 18:01:05

Larry, I know what you mean about the warehouse thing!

I remember people being put in the isolation room if they were agitated and making too much noise. The nurses were useless at calming people when they got upset. I also remember how people were when they returned from ECT, they were totally delerious/disoriented.

I was also the 'explainer.' Most people had no idea what their medication was so I used to explain.....

You said....'I also had the geek thing going on.' If you are a geek then you're a nice geek- keep it up!

Regards,
Ed.

 

Re: To ladyofthelamp

Posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 19:41:28

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk, posted by ladyofthelamp on November 28, 2004, at 17:19:29

Hello...

When I was depressed I was really aggressive, in fact, that was the main reason that I had to go to hospital.

In hospital, most of the volunatary patients felt that they had to stay because they knew that if they decided to leave they would risk being sectioned.

All the best,,,
Ed.

 

Re: To ladyofthelamp

Posted by ladyofthelamp on November 29, 2004, at 4:08:08

In reply to Re: To ladyofthelamp, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 19:41:28

I think my anger was probably part of agitated mania and contrary to what most people believe mania is not always a happy experience.I am alright until something doesn't go right and then the irritation starts.Like other people i helped lots of patients and used to 'borrow' the BNF book and look up other peoples medication.This was not popular with the staff as they didn't like the patients to be educated on medication.I think this is all part of the controlling atmosphere of hospital.
I do not take any pills now, although i have just weaned myself off Effexor.This is an odd drug as it had a calming effect on me and not an anti depressant effect.I couldn't think on Effexor and was apathetic too.This seems to suit my GP as i just go away and he doesn't have to try too hard.I am physically ill from Effexor so have vowed never to touch medication again and as for going to hospital well i would rather die!!!.I am now waiting for a 'high' as i want to feel alive again.Incidentally it seems people have shorter stays in hospital now or maybe not??

 

Re: To ladyofthelamp

Posted by ed_uk on November 29, 2004, at 5:35:28

In reply to Re: To ladyofthelamp, posted by ladyofthelamp on November 29, 2004, at 4:08:08

Hello,

My sister was recently in hospital for a few days due to an infection. There was a sign on the wall stating that patients should not discuss medication with each other!!

I think the idea of mania being an intensely euphoric experience is quite old fashioned. For many people ths is certainly not the case.

All the best,
Ed.

PS. Effexor made me apathetic too!

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward

Posted by dove on November 29, 2004, at 9:12:48

In reply to Re: To ladyofthelamp, posted by ed_uk on November 29, 2004, at 5:35:28

I've been hospitalized a few times, the last three times were last year. The psychiatric hospitals in my state have changed greatly since the 1980's, and for the better. The stays have also changed, even when involuntarily committed, they discharged me earlier than the mandatory legal hold time. Strange... There is however, a big difference in quality between different communities.

While inside the locked (and video-surveillanced) psychiatric wing of the small community hospital, I had educated, warm and empathetic nurses checking on me every 10 minutes for the first 48 hours straight (i am not joking!). During the night they even came in with a flashlight if I turned off my night light--recessed in the ceiling for my safety. I had been living on the streets at this point and had lost over 50 pounds and was literally starving. They had a ward kitchen for the patients with a fully stocked refrigerator: fruit juices, different kinds of milk, lots of tea, coffee, sandwiches, ice cream, fruit, cookies, crackers. bread, yogurt, soup. Always unlocked, always available, it was ecstasy!

We had at least 5 group meetings and activities everyday. Once a week, we did a group activity that included making a big meal for all of us. The nurses were open to patient ideas and personally went out and bought the meal ingredients. We made Tacos one day, and with a whole counter of ingredients (refried beans, tomatoes, cilantro, ect..) and I was allowed (under their canny eyes) to use a real knife to cut the tomatoes and onions, LOL!!!

We saw our assigned psychiatric doctors at least once a day except on Saturday and Sunday, when they visited only once. I also had visits from my Therapist and my private Pdoc every other day. I know that some people did not get this same type of quality care, although, they were still seen by their assigned Pdocs once a day. I had my own mental health people before being committed, and had a serious (and disastrous) breakdown in my own existing illness which nearly destroyed my marriage and family.

The unit had three televisions, we watched the nightly news together as a group every night and nurses assessed how different meds were affecting our mental acuity. We had VCRs and movies (and educational videos) available for semi-private viewing. Family could bring in videos also, and the nurses were not very strict in their content although they preferred non-violent material ;-)

We had exercise equipment, a piano, ping-pong table, pool table, books and lots of newspapers and magazines! The nurses would go online and research our meds and dxes (and sometimes unrelated subjects of interest) and print out stacks (seriously) huge stacks of info for us. I was even allowed to read Psychobabble while sitting next one of the nurses (although I couldn't post).

We had to go outside to smoke, into what we lovingly called "the Cage". It was and is, quite literally, a cage, with metal fences around all sides and plastic covered fencing for a roof--and the ever-present video camera. We were allowed a smoke break about every two hours except during visiting hours when you have extra stress and have to go three and a half hours without a smoke break! One person is named "the keeper of the flame", and they are responsible for lighting everyone's cigarettes and handing the lighter back to one of the nurses when we all come in. Sometimes the nurse would actually forget to get it and we, the patients, would prove ourselves worthy of responsibility by bringing it to her without her first asking.

And yes, lots of nonsmoking patients would also go on the smoke breaks. The nurses called it "smoke therapy" as we spoke more freely and honestly with each other, bonded as a group and individually, and offered each other support, advice and an open ear. We were also not strictly prohibited from smoking more than one cigarette on our break (which was strictly enforced at another hospital I was at) and I could get permission for up to three cigarettes per break.

This is the very first time I have written (or talked) about my hospital stays, so I apologize for the incredible LENGTH of this post! I would love to write another post about the mediocre psych-ward I was inpatient in, between my two stays at this very superb one, but that will have to wait. Thanks for listening!!!

dove

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward

Posted by ed_uk on November 29, 2004, at 9:34:16

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward, posted by dove on November 29, 2004, at 9:12:48

Hello,

Thank you Dove for your interesting post. Your hospital sounds like a 5-star hotel! I look forward to hearing about the other hospital you went to.

All the best,
Ed.

 

Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » ed_uk

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 29, 2004, at 10:46:29

In reply to Re: On the psychiatric ward..... » Larry Hoover, posted by ed_uk on November 28, 2004, at 19:37:57

> You said....'I also had the geek thing going on.' If you are a geek then you're a nice geek- keep it up!
>
> Regards,
> Ed.

Thanks. Maybe I should find a new phrase. Slang has different meanings around the world, and though I use geek in a self-deprecating manner, I don't want to mislead.

Lar


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