Main House
 

Hi

I haven't posted in a long time for a number of reasons that i won't go into right now, but i'd be really grateful for anyones feedback on this.
I'm due to start at Main house soon, a therapeutic community, and i'm so scared. I've done some day stuff but never been inpatient apart from on an acute ward so i have no idea what to expect. Has anyone been there? Or somewhere similar? I know this is a good thing for me and i am lucky to have the funding etc... but right now i feel like walking away from it all.

I've personally never heard of it, but hun. Don't walk away. You will regret it. It will help you, you just got to have faith, I believe in you :-)
xxxx

There's another member of RYL who is currently there. I'll see if I can remember their name.

It's carla1983.

You could send her a PM or something.

^ Carla's at Connect, in Birmingham, which is slightly different.

i went to Main House. it was hard work but really try and give it a go. it's a good place. xxx

Hey
Thanks for replying,
Did you find it helped you Laura?
I'm really trying to give it a go, just struggling because its far from where i live and even just going for the afternoon is really difficult. I have to go next week and i'm dreading it because its such a long journey and i have to go on my own. And when i think about going to stay there i feel really scared. Idk just wish it was closer to home

i went down from Harrogate, near Leeds, and yeah the journey's kind of hard but you get used to it. i guess just try to think of ways to make it fun, or at least less scary, like listening to music or reading magazines. also, if you can try to pre-book a seat on the train (if you're going by train) that makes things easier. Birmingham New Street station is a pretty okay station, and when i was there, all you had to do to get on the bus to Main House, is walk out of the station doors (left when you go through the ticket barriers) and walk round the corner to the left where all the bus stops are, and it's the number 61 bus (if it's still the same from when i was there - i haven't been down since August-time).

it's normal to feel really scared before going into Main House, and also when you first go, because it's such a very different place to most psych. hospitals. but just remember that everyone there's been new once and we all know how scary and hard it was. don't expect too much of yourself because the programme is for a year and the first few weeks should just be all about settling in and getting used to it all. in fact, it takes at least six weeks before you're not even considered a "new resident" anymore.

are you starting at Preparation group? that's usually a fairly quiet group in a nice room in Main House with some nice staff (i think it'll be Judith and Anita, both of whom are very cool, but i'm not 100% sure). the group i believe lasts 1 1/2 hrs and two residents from Main House should also be there to tell you a bit about it. believe it or not, that's sometimes quite nerve-wracking for the residents too!

in some ways, it helped me that Main House was so far away from home, because it made it harder to up and leave when things got difficult. people who lived in Birmingham got it worse in a way, because it was so easy for them to just leave. xxx

oh, P.S. sorry, yes i definitely thought it helped me. since i've left, i find my care team listen to me and help me more, and i can communicate with them better. i also self harm much, much less than how i used to. i'm better socially too because i got to talk to quite normal people at Main House (because people there all have PDs/complex needs, rather than the mix you get in hospitals with people with psychosis and stuff) and make new friends. xxx

Thank you so much for that, it helps to know that its worth doing you know? I do want to go, want to get better its just so hard to imagine. I have been to the prep group once with my cpn and once on my own, i've been having a bit of a dip the last week though and i'm worried about going there on my own again. It seems like a big thing and i don't know if i have any strength left to do it, all i seem to do is sleep atm.
I understand what you mean about it being being harder to walk away when you are further from home, i can see that would be a good thing for me, stop me from walking out impulsively.
Thanks x

Hi, i've just joined and wanted to say thanks as ive found this thread really useful. Main house is something my care team have recently discussed with me and i was struggling to find any info on it. I hope it works out for you dark light - good luck x

Hi dink
Are you going to be referred there?
I'm going in a couple of weeks - so nervous now. But also looking forward to it cos I know things need to change.
Here if u want to talk x

Im not sure if im going to be referred yet, but i think its something that will happen in the near future. I can understand how nervous you must be, im nervous even thinking about the prospect of having a look round, but like you said, you know things need to change. I think you must be really strong for giving it a try and i hope you gain something from it. Thanks for being here, you can always talk to me too x

I have never been in a therapeutic community, but I wish you the best of luck.

hi im at connect which is bit differant but main house staff and resdaints do come here monthly for meetings etc
i was at the henderson 2 yrs ago which the main house is the sister of so i kno how it works
it is really good work hard at times but it needs to be tough as that helps u to face your fears etc if you have any other quistions let me kno goodluck hun u grab this change xx

Hi carla
how are you finding it at connect?
hope its helping
Jo x