Being admitted to self harm unit on Monday and terrified
 

Well the title says the jist of it.

It's in London so a 3 1/2 hour drive away. I'm being admitted at 3:30pm and am so scared its unbelievable. I mean, when the manager tells you on the phone that it will be hell its not exactly helpful.

Its a 6 month placement with the option of an extension to a year but I don't think I could hack a year there.

It's being reopened after a few months so it will be interesting to see if there have been any changes there.

I really hope I get on with the other women there as its only a 6 bed unit and we're starting with 3 women at first.

I could really do with some support, encouragement, kind words etc please.

:-(

*hugs*

i hope it goes well for you, i hope you manage to get some support and help through going. Do some fun things over the weekend that you enjoy doing so it keeps your mind occupied, im sure you will be fine x x

You can do this. I know it's really scary going to a new unit but the hardest step for you is going to be walking through that door. The other two patients are probably feeling very similar to how you are now so you might find that you get a close bond with them and can support each other.

Be gentle with yourself. We are here for you.

& if you would like cards/mail etc for you at the unit ~ PM me the address and I will happily send you something! xx

Take it a day at a time. Take lots of home comforts with you and try not to worry yourself, you don't know what it's like yet.
Good luck

Good luck I hope it helps. Thinking of you xx

its really scary to go into something like that, but if you take advantage of it it can be incredibly helpful. it won't be fun, but you may find that being around others who can empathize and have the same struggles is a good experience. thats what i found when i did my ocd treatment in a residencial place

Hey

Good luck with this and im so glad you got this opportunity.You really deserve it and i know that you will make the most of it.

Its understandable your terrified and i know you know it will be far from easy but one things not in question and that is that it will be more than worth it in the end hopefully.Try and keep that in mind.

i really hope you get on with the others there and that it is useful to you.

Keep in touch when you can/feel appropriate and know we wont forget you.

Happy to talk more over the weekend too if you need the support before Mon.

i think your being really brave and really hope it helps.

Good luck.

xx xx

Try not to worry too much. You'll soon settle in. When I was there we were allowed to stick things on the walls of our bedrooms, so how about taking some photos or posters with you to make it feel a bit more comforting? And taking things like slippers so you can relax in the evenings.

Good luck, I hope it goes well and helps you. I think you're really brave to do this and I hope it works out for you. Will you have internet access? I'd like to know how you're doing if you can manage to get on at all, I understand if you can't though. x

You can do this. I believe in you. Change is always a scary process but it is also inevitable. I will be sending you an influx of letters! You have the support and me and M there for you, if you ever need to rant or cry to someone or you need a distraction, you know where I am.

Love you!

I can't think of anything to say that others have not already said but I do want to echo their sentiments. I think you are really brave and you can do this. Change is hard and scary but it could be so worth it. Will be thinking of you. Will you be able to update whilst you are there? xx

I really hope this helps you, it sounds like a fantastic opportunity. It's going to be a long weekend, the waiting is the worst bit. Try to keep yourself safe and distracted and get all the support you need.

The manager at the ED unit I was admitted to spent about 20 minutes on the phone a few days before my admission telling me how awful and difficult it was going to be. Did nothing for my anxiety either! Turned out she wanted to see where I was at head-wise, ie how committed I was to work with them. My response was "it can't be any worse than what I'm doing to myself here", she said that she knew from that moment that I was going to be ok and she never fails to remind me of what I said back then when I'm going through a rough patch. Don't know if he/she was doing something similar but try not to let it scare you. It will no doubt be really tough and hellish at times, but you've been through hell already, you're stronger than you probably realise and you'll have a lot of support to get you through. It will be absolutely worth all the hard work if it helps to improve your life in the long term.

Will be thinking of you on Monday,

Thanks everyone. I bought a Virgin Dongle which is basically Wi-Fi. I can get on the net anytime so I can come on RYL and keep you updated.

hi, just wanted to say i hope it all goes well for you :)
xx

thanks, im so scared guys, i wanna back out and run, run far far away. i told them i dont want to stop self harming just reduce severity and frequency. they are ok with that and i have been straight with them about that from the beginning and not pissed them around and i think they respected that.

im packing tomorrow, got everything ish bar clothes in a pile in my bedroom next to the suitcases.

glad to hear that. one thing that really bugged me about the unit i was on was that there wasn't internet :P though i think in the end it may have been a good thing for me.

Well it sounds like Hitler country at the unit so i doubt i'll get hours on end free to surf the net!

The fu*king timetable starts at 8am and finishes at 8pm and I'm going to a self harm unit with an anorexic physical state - I don't think i can do that long a day esp with the anorexia, my meds, my inability at home to function after 5pm, and the need to wind down before bed to reduce my nightmares and shouting in my sleep and 8:00 - 9:30pm isn't long enough for me to unwind.

Do you think they will listen to me - especially as one group after tea is debriefing the day which is highly likely to trigger me?? I know myself - what if dad and my carer spoke to them?

Help, advice PLEASE anyone.....

I'm scared scared scared scared scared scared scared scared scared...........

Hi Fragile, I haven't posted on your threads before but I've read them all :)

I went to a private rehab in 2008 for anorexia and self harm, the daily schedule was 8am- 10pm and we didn't have much in the way of breaks inbetween. Most of the other patients in there were there for drugs/alcohol so I was a lot, lot weaker than them, but they didn't make any allowances for me (other than I wasn't allowed to go on the daily 20min walk). I think they kind of thought that if they made allowances for one person it could just spiral.
With regards to the group after tea, from what I've seen (I've been to 3 rehabs) I doubt to be honest they will let you off of that either, as you kind of have to learn to deal with the things that trigger you.

I could be so so wrong as I've never been where you are going, but just wanted to offer you my experience. And to say good luck and make the most of it, I really hope it helps xxx