Positive Post - Any experiences of Cygnet hospitals?
I am going to be going inpatient sometime in the next couple of weeks, I will be informal but treatment, as long as I am engaging, could be 12 - 18 months. It’s a personality disorder ward.
I just wondered if anyone had any experiences of a Cygnet hospital and anyone with a dual diagnosis of eating disorders? I know it’s DBT based therapy and a mix of groups and individual work but as an eating disorder is not my main diagnosis, nothing has really been said about this. I am really anxious about food and meal times, how strict they are about weighing. And what happens if I slip up with self harm?
I don’t want to mess up and really want to give this my all as I have fought so hard for this and for so long, I know slip ups will happen but want to know what happens in these situations.
If you have been to the cygnet, did you find it helpful? What are the pros and cons of being there?
No experience of Cygnet I'm afraid, but seriously glad to hear they've finally sorted themselves out to offer you some proper help, and really glad to hear how motivated you are to make the most of it.
Slip ups most likely will happen, as you identify, hopefully if nobody here has direct experience then taking to the Cygnet about what generally happens when slip ups occur will help put your mind at rest, plus what will happen about your ED.
No experience of Cygnet I'm afraid, but seriously glad to hear they've finally sorted themselves out to offer you some proper help, and really glad to hear how motivated you are to make the most of it.
Slip ups most likely will happen, as you identify, hopefully if nobody here has direct experience then taking to the Cygnet about what generally happens when slip ups occur will help put your mind at rest, plus what will happen about your ED.
Thank you. I still can’t quite believe that it is actually happening. It’s been a long and tough road and I really don’t want to waste this opportunity. I want to be able to live my life. I know it is going to be hard but I need this.
I hope you can have a chance to ask them directly about some of your concerns, as they're definitely reasonable questions/worries. I hope things go okay, I'm so glad you are getting this as an option.
I am obviously not in your country but having been in treatment before, typically slip ups, as long as you are making efforts to engage and try alternatives first, discuss triggers, etc. are going to be understood to a degree. It's mainly if you don't try other things first or refuse to talk or address things that they'd have an issue with it, or if it's a severity that puts you at medical risk that they are unable to manage within the unit.
Also with eds, it could go either way. My hope is that they know to at least monitor it and can work with you as to what would be useful without being too overbearing. This might be an area you have to push for support with, as I've found typically unless it's an ed unit or treatment specifically, things tend to get ignored.
I also know for me personally, addressing more of the underlying issues causing the ed (and everything else) was so much more helpful than focusing on the ed itself, as long as you're in a stable enough place to do so. So it could be that they're hoping targeting your other issues will also address the ed indirectly, but again you may have to follow up with this to ask, as your experience with your ed is going to likely be different than mine or anyone else's.
Again these are only my experiences in my country and where I have been, but I am pulling for you and wishing you all the best.
<3
Please do not give me virtual hugs unless you are only using the hug function on threads. Thanks.
You can't always keep it separate.
This is happening, this is part of you.
My only experience of cygnet was with a friend with EUPD on an acute ward and she was on 1.1, then 2.1 before being referred to PICU NHS. From a professional point of view I’ve heard very very good things about their inpatient specialist services. I wouldn’t be so positive about their general acute facilities though. Fingers crossed DBT will be helpful though- I’ve heard good things re that . And I highly doubt they will kick you out for self harm, but they will want to address route cause and future alternative etc x
I know someone who spent a year in a BPD cygnet ward. After a few weeks she was rediagnosed with depression but she stayed there and the psychiatrist was helpful. She went to the DBT sessions so she didn't lose her leave but I think she just slept through it!
If you self harmed you lost your leave. This friend had eating problems too but I don't know how strict they are about that.
Thank you guys.
I am being admitted on Monday.
I’m terrified, haven’t begun to pack and I’m just sitting here staring at the pile of clothes on my floor and procrastinating.
I have now got myself together, my friend came over and helped me sort stuff and give my flat a good clean. We cleaned out my rats and prepared all of their things as she is taking them tomorrow. I think it’s just the fear of the unknown that is getting to me, my anxiety is sky high.
Hoping I can chill out this evening and then tomorrow I will see my friend in the morning and get the rats settled and my dad is coming over to stay tomorrow evening.
I really hope things go well for you. I can understand your anxiety, it's good that you'll have people around tomorrow. How are you getting on this evening?
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I'm so glad your friend is able to help care for your rats, and that they were able to come over and help you get organized. I'm also glad you have your dad coming to stay for support.
Often anticipation and fear of the unknown leading up an admission is the WORST. You're handling it super super well, from how it sounds.
Thinking of you.
Please do not give me virtual hugs unless you are only using the hug function on threads. Thanks.
You can't always keep it separate.
This is happening, this is part of you.
Thank you guys. I have struggled a bit this evening as I have a letter from the funding panel saying they have only confirmed 2 months of treatment and it will be reviewed in January. They don’t really agree with me going there as an informal patient. I kind of feel that it means I am less worthy.
I’m going to take my PRN and try and sleep as I’m probably over thinking it. Will look forward to seeing my friend and Dad tomorrow as this is getting hard. I hope I don’t start treatment and then they pull the funding before I am ready as that would tip me over the edge. I have fought so hard for this.
I obviously don't know how funding works there, but is it possible that because it is starting a new year in January they need to review things/budget then, and that's why they did it that way? Or even just that they are only allowed to approve so long at a time? It might not be that they think you are undeserving, as if they thought you were undeserving, they wouldn't have approved it in the first place! I imagine it's more likely to do with ridiculousness of the funding system than with you, but again, not being in your country, I could be wrong.
I hope you can get some sleep and not fret over it.
Please do not give me virtual hugs unless you are only using the hug function on threads. Thanks.
You can't always keep it separate.
This is happening, this is part of you.
They originally declined the funding but my care co and a friend piled on a lot of pressure and this is the outcome. Although I wasn’t told that it was only confirmed for 2 months at the moment, I found out through this letter - it’s because I am informal and not sectioned (although I have been sectioned 9 times this year alone).
I will try my hardest, I have fought so hard for this, but I’m terrified that just one mess up will ruin it. I’ve struggled for 17 years though, 2 months isn’t going to cure me.
2 months won't cure you, no. But it would definitely be better than nothing, and hopefully if it is helpful you can get them to give you more funding, and at the very least you will have had two months of hopefully more helpful treatment than you would have gotten otherwise. I know it's hard not to future trip and not to worry, but they should also have staff there who can help advocate for you to keep getting funding if need be. Hope you can sleep.
Please do not give me virtual hugs unless you are only using the hug function on threads. Thanks.
You can't always keep it separate.
This is happening, this is part of you.
Hi guys, I’ve been here since Monday and it’s going well. All the staff are lovely and there are only 4 of us here at the moment. We all get on well too. Saw the consultant today and he is adjusting my meds. We haven’t started DBT yet as they are still doing assessments so that they know how best to help us. I’m feeling positive, I know there may well be blips but I will try my best!
. And I highly doubt they will kick you out for self harm, but they will want to address route cause and future alternative etc x
