Have you ever considered checking into a mental health facility?
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smack (
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November 10th, 2009
around april of this year, i checked myself into a cognitive-behaviorist theraputic program for adolescents. even with the million things that i had to do – such as graduate from high school and take my ap exams and find a prom date and juggle my grandfather’s caretaking – i put it all on hold and actually focused on myself.
have you ever considered doing this? just getting away from it all, even though life throws us so many obligations with work and family and friends and events?
and for those who have done this, how has it affected you? did it better your life in any way, or did you just slip back to how you were before eventually?
note: this is for those who have been diagnosed (or suspect that they could be diagnosed) with a mental “disorder”, but still manage to function in society.
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24 Answers
I’ve been at an inpatient facility before and honestly, it really helped. The classes were very informative. It’s true that when you are discharged chances are your situation at home will not have changed- but I’ve found that what matters is that I changed how I reacted to it.
It’s worth it to actually take the time to sit and deal with our own issues. Too often in our society we shove what really matters under the rug and settle for yelling at cars in traffic. Some people have trouble focusing on their own issues even within the hospital confines. They try to treat everyone else instead. Those kinds of people tend to be repeat patients and say things like ‘hospitals are worthless, they don’t do anything’.
One thing I had to remind myself is that I wasn’t just going for me. Not only am I ‘me’, I’m my husband’s Wife. I gave him my word I would take care of him and part of that is making sure his wife is healthy and emotionally whole. So while we think we’re putting everything on hold- we’re really laying groundwork to come back to it in a position to actually do something with our life.
I have and I did. It was a really, really dark period in my life. I was dealing with a mentally abusive girlfriend and a lot of mindf*cking and I really didn’t know what else to do. I was drowning, wanting to die, and I really needed help. A break away from my life was helpful, as were the counseling and meds.
Yes frequently when I come back to this site.
No, but my wife has considered checking me into one.
Can you just check in? Don’t you have to meet some kind of criteria?
Yes, but they’re icky. So I fluther instead.
yes… just so someone else will take care of me for once, it’s so tiring doing it all oneself isn’t it? maybe that’s why i hang on to all my psychoses???
I have thought about it. In my darkest moments I have often wished that someone would cart me off to a mental institute just so that someone else would take full responsibility of me! I know that this is probably not the case but I have often wanted to just give up and let someone else (other than myself) deal with me. Someone who is trained to deal with crazies…
@mammal You are given an evaluation and if they think you need to stay- then you stay.
mental health facilitys are great, they help alot of people,
but I wouldn’t go,
I have regular meetings with my doctors, I have my meds, the only difference is I wouldn’t be free… and I would loose everything I’ve worked for so far…I have spent too much energy and time building my “image of a semi-normal” life too loose that.
At some point in my life I have no doubt that’s where I’ll end up but until that time I intend to enjoy my life (real and created) and continue working on keeping me out of there.
If considering this, you really need to do your homework. I have been to a few. The problem is that pharmasutical medicine is in it’s infantcy and unfortunately that is what is often pushed in treatment centers. They do a lot of people, a lot of good. Theyvalso do aclot of people a lot of bad. Trust and reputation are key. Finding a doc or group of docs that you can trust to listen to your needs and tru problems is very important. Sadly some of the best… Have the highest prices. I have found that in lifestyle conditioning, (which sometimes can bevlearned in a facility) you may be able to conquer mental defects without new medication. I am a huge advocate for medication, but I fear to many of our population are being over medicated or needlessly medicated. Treatment centers are a good thing, but have become a booming market. I strongly reccomend deep research before admitting yourself or someone you love to any program mental health related.
I went through the process of going nuts and came out a happier person on the other side than I had been going in.
I think we make a mistake in thinking of mental health as the same as physical health. If you’re functioning in society, you’re not sick, regardless of what other people might think.
Hang in there. ☮
Yes, about 10 years ago. I couldn’t afford it. The toxic relationship with the bio-fam was coming to its nasty conclusion and I hadn’t told any of my friends about anything I’d gone through with them. I felt like I was drowning. I started therapy, but I would have preferred the time away to get my head on straighter and have space to deal with the crushing guilt of my decision.
@mammal
LOL. I suppose they must have some criteria. Otherwise I might go if I can’t book a room in a town I’m visiting. Three hots, jello and a cot. Hey what the hell the B&B has no vacancy.
My shrink asked me once if I wanted to check in. In an instant I was shuddering and saying no.
I’m about the only person, or maybe one of two in my group who have not had a hospital stay. Some people in my group have found them very helpful. Others… not so much. It seems to really depend on the psychiatrist you have inside, and which floor they put you on, and whether there are meetings, or you’re in the locked ward with no activities.
Sometimes the psychiatrist inside wants to do completely different things from your outside psychiatrist. They rarely talk to each other. They seem to have real bad attitudes about the intelligence of their patients.
For some, it is a relief from the outside world. Fortunately, I’ve never had to go in. I hope I never do. I’ve been able to cope, albeit at a very reduced level, in the real world. But right now, all I want to do is go to sleep for a few days. I’m a wreck. I just went to a presentation I organized, and I couldn’t believe it. I was able to joke with the presenters. I made a hash of introductions, and never even mentioned my name (hmmm… accidentally on purpose?), but at least the presentation was excellent!
Why would I do that? There’s crazy people in there!
I’m debating it right now.
I was involuntarily admitted to one once… Dark place, dark time… I “freaked out” and locked myself in my car. My mentally/physically abusive boyfriend took a hammer and smashed the window. I had cuts over my arms, where I was trying to keep the door shut… the police showed up and apparently I was the crazy one.
I spent … I don’t even know how long, institutionalized… I met with doctors twice. Once when I went in and once when it was time for me to leave. It did nothing for me.
The INCIDENT made me realize that I had to get out of the situation I was in, which I did immediately after being discharged. Went home, took care of myself and found a counselor to help me through my problems.
I’m sure that’s not what you’re speaking of… just don’t get yourself put in a place involuntarily, and check out what their treatment plans are if you decide to go into one. I felt more “processed in and processed out” than anything else.
@loser What is making you consider it?
@SeventhSense Well then, you should definitely do it! Quick! Before you get 302ed.
Well..I lost my mind years ago…still pockets of resistance :)
lose your mind come to your senses
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