What to Expect in a Mental Hospital
When you are admitted to mental hospitals, it usually means you are not in a good place in your life. I know from personal experience what it is like to be admitted and to stay in a mental health hospital. I have been admitted four times between 1992 through 2004. The last time was 2004, for a suicide attempt.
Behavioral Group Therapy
Most hospitals are the same. They hold group therapy sessions during the day. In most cases you are required to attend every session. You are not permitted to watch TV or use the phone if a session is going. If the session becomes overwhelming, you can usually leave and go talk to a staff member.
One of my favorite times of the day was the stress relaxation therapy group. It was a time to play games, go for walks and sometimes just to change the building/room you are in is a relief. The ward doors stay locked, so unless the staff take you somewhere you are confined to one area.
Personal Safety and Protection
I was a self-mutilator and if I saw something in the hospital I could use to hurt myself I would tell the staff. If I was feeling unsafe I always told them. Many times your doctor will leave an anxiety medication listed in your chart, so if you are having a hard time the nurse could give you something.
If you are very suicidal you are usually put one-to-one restriction. This is where a staff person has to write down every 15 minutes what you are doing and how you are doing only your doctor can take you off of the one-to-one watch. Also, if the cafeteria is in another building and you are on the one-to-one watch, you must eat on the ward.
It is all for your personal safety and protection. It can be hard at times, but it will not last long. When you leave the ward you always have a staff person go with you. If at anytime you feel unsafe, tell the staff and they will take you back to the ward.
If you are on psychiatric medicines the doctor may adjust them to better treat your anxiety and depression. it is safe to do that while you are in the hospital. If you are not on medicines the doctor will probably find one they think would help your condition.
The doctor will determine how long you will stay in the hospital. A lot also depends on your insurance. The longest I have stayed is a little over a month. But I was really bad off, very suicidal. Most times it is anywhere from three days to two weeks.
When you go into a mental health hospital have an open mind and really try to do the program. It is amazing how much help you can receive. Everyone on staff is there to help you succeed and get on a path to getting better.