Triggering (Suicide) - Has anyone been Inpatient?

[sapphire hearts]

I tried to kill myself on Saturday - again - and tomorrow all the therapists i've seen lately are gonna meet up and decide whether or not I need to go inpatient at the cams unit. Has anyone ever been an inpatient? What's it like? I don't know if I'm going to have to go in or not, I just wondered if anyone has any experience of it.
Thanks
Katie
xxx

[Pomegranate]

hey hun, fortunately I have always escaped IP treatment but this link may help:
http://www.recoveryourlife.com/index.php?categoryid=120

It has info about what to expect in a psych ward etc. I hope things turn out well for you. Keep us updated xx

[surprising mystery]

I have been IP a couple of times in psych units, both adult and adolescent ones. I have had very mixed experiances of the different units, one of them was really good and the other was quite bad, so it very much depends on where you go and who you work with there.

Could you say a bit more about which place your going to? when you say 'cams unit' do you mean camhs (child and adolescent mental health services) or do you mean cambridgeshire?

Also are you under adult or adolescent team and where is the unit they are looking at sending you to?

xxx

[88shelz]

im on a waiting list to be IP im really scared .
good luck

[UnanimousAnonymous]

Ive been IP but only to adolescent units.
All IP's are different, its scary but can be really helpful but only if you let the staff help you. Dont try to push them away or fight against them as they are there to help you. I would give it a go if your team thinks you should go x

[Acephalous]

Wow i get to make the positive post for once lol.

I was an IP once last year at a local hospital.
The hospital at 3 wards, one for the elderly, one for adults and one for a mixture od adolescents and adults. I was in the third.
Alot of people have mixed experiences with these kinds of wards, however you might be interested to know that mine was actually a pleasant one.
The people i met on the ward are some of the nicest people i have met, that includes the staff and the patients.
When i went in i was extremely scared because i didnt think that my feeling suicidal automatically classed me as needing to be put in with 'a load of nutters'. I made extremely good friends with the people on the ward and worked out that they generally felt the way i did - which is something i had never come across. Ofcourse we all had different reasons for being there but we seemed to connect with eachother also.
There were 5 other teenagers there, one who moved to just weekends the same day i was admitted, as for the other 4, two of them were male, two female. We had movie nights, ordered in take aways and sat doing each others hair, playing fool, teaching eachother card games and generally supporting each persons progress.
There were a few shady characters that got admitted into the ward also but they tended to be much higher security and moved on somewhere else within a few days to a week.
This is not the same experience alot of people have had, but it can be the case so dont be scared off.
I hope everything works out for you - keep us updated :P

[*Uv_ragdoll*(Shelley)]

camhs units are usually great the on i was in was lovelky i was sad to leave,dont worry youll be fine . i made some of the best frinds ive ever had in there and di activities liek pink unicorn saidxx PM me if you need anymore help

[numb]

Hi ive been an inpatient on an adult psyc ward for 2 weeks even though im 17, at first it was really scary because there are some really ill people out there. This one girl tried to brain wash into running away with her to her fantasy castle. She was really ill, and i felt so sorry for her, everyone else i met was really nice, both staff and other patients, becuase it was a mixed sex and age ward someone from every age category was literally in there! i was the youngest and stayed quiet. Most of the patients looked after me to be honest. There were a few self harmers like me one was 64 yrs old he was so nice and really helped me out, i talked to him all the time. Being in hospital was a real eye opener to me and since my stay in hospital in Nov 07 i havent attempted suicide or self harmed. i would not like to go back in though, once is enough, i wish you alll the best, keep safe

Sarah X

[numb]

I had group and art therpy which was great fun

[x-Silvermist-x]

I've been an in-patient twice for a few weeks each time. Looking back it wasn't too bad I suppose but upsetting to see so many sick people. I found some of the staff to be helpful but there were the odd few who seemed like they couldn't be bothered. Some of the people I spoke to in there were so nice and I really did miss them when I was discharged.

I hope it works out for you.

[little_miss]

Firstly, im sorry things are so tough for you right now. I have been where you are many times. I was admitted to an adolescent psych unit for 5months in 2006. It was difficult to begin with-not knowing anyone and feeling alone-but then after a while you get to know people, and you make some really good friends, which can last for life. The staff were really friendly and supportive as well, and most genuinely cared.

[mitch]

Hey, I have been in a adult inpatient unit three times. The first time for 8 months, the second for 12 months and the third for 5 months. I guess it was beneficial because i am still here. It can be quite a frightening and traumatic experience though. I am never going to forget some of the things i saw from other patients. There is always the risk that you may become institutionalised. The first month i was there i was so scared i hid in my room, but if you need to be an inpatient then go for it, you have nothing to lose.

[Acephalous]

I agree with mitch, you do come across some situations which in such a setting are unavoidable and they scared me hugely.
I also became very institutionalized - i didnt want to leave lol
But its for the best kid - good luck.

[ems]

hi there, I'v been an inpatient for 6months now, am being moved to a secure unit, i'm now under section. It's.... well just don't be too scared. It's not the most pleasant thing sometimes, but it can be ok, and its best at the time. I've been in Marlborough house in Swindon.. if you're going there... i can tell you lots!! best of luck, xox

[nikki1922]

Hey,

I think I had a good experince , Like everyone said above its different for different places. But open up to the nurses since they are there to help you and talk you through those rough patches. I think if i could have my time back I would defianltyl open up more with them. You get great people in there, THEY are soo nice and understanding. It cane be really hard at first ( I cried for days )but you get used to teh rules and what is expected ect. I have to admit there were alot of stupid rules, But they were there to mkae everyone safe. Even though it may seem like horriable going in there, Try to turn it around and help yourself get better with everyone that is alos trying to help you. Oh and I also want to say all the people I was seeing before I went into the hosptail , met up and decide to put me in there, But in between the hate and weridness , I miss that safe comfortable place I had there. I still think about it from time to time and say wow , I can't belive i actually went through all that. Take care and PM me anytime <3

Nicole<3

[sapphire hearts]

Hey everyone, thanks for replying and being so supportive. I'm going into hospital in about three weeks, I'll let you all know how it goes. Once again, thanks for all the info and support.
Love
katie xxx

[Steel Maiden]

Good luck. It will be ok and I will not tell you my story, as schizophrenia generally has completely different "treatment" in hospital.
They will help you to get better, and as it is a CAMHS ward, you will be looked after well. There will be activities to do during the weekdays, but make sure that you bring things to do, especially over the weekends and public holidays (if you do cross any public holidays there). When I was a lot better (I came in really ill), but still IP, I made a couple of friends at the ward, one of which I still talk to.
The general public think of psych wards as white-walled barred-window places with severely ill people inside, but its not really like that. Ok, there are sometimes severely ill people there, but the walls are not usually white and the windows aren't generally barred like that. Hopefully the environment will be friendly and comfortable, as that is what I expect you will have.
Good luck and stay strong,
SM

[x-dying-inside-x]

ive been IP twice in the last year and a bit.
if you want to talk about it you know where i am.

[Steel Maiden]

I am around too. I will be online for about an hour, hopefully.