DISCLAIMER: This contains triggering content such as self-harm (not in detail just mentioned), suicide, and drugs. All names are changed. This post is mostly just explaining my visit for therapeutic purposes for myself. And my experience is simply mine; it doesn’t mean yours was the same.
Last time, I left off with me in an ambulance on my way to the psychiatric hospital. The first thing they did was check my body and write down any injuries and took standard vitals. I don’t remember much after that on my first day, to be honest. I have problems with dissociating when in distress. (Dissociation in this context is mild detachment from surroundings).
But I remember the next morning much more. I was really lucky because I got a room to myself. And I remember being woken up really early to do vitals (again) and then I was given a form to fill out. The form asks you questions about your mood, if you’re feeling suicidal, etc.
At breakfast, I was sitting with a bunch of other people like myself. It was actually kind of comforting and I got along with a few of the people. There were a TON of groups throughout the day. Basically it was overnight summer camp for those with mental disorders. We did therapy all day and did homework as to figure out how we ended up in the ward in the first place. But don’t get me wrong it was very emotionally tolling on me. It’s really difficult to open yourself up to people you’ve never met before.
You’re not actually supposed to keep in contact with people you befriend inside the ward. I’m not sure why, to be 100% honest. But I actually am still friends with some of the people I had met on instagram and facebook.
I ended up being in the psych ward for a little under two weeks. But the psych ward visit it in the end really did help me a lot. It helped me realize, that I needed help. And what was going on in my life and what needed to change. So at least in my experiences, no the psych ward isn’t even one tenth as scary as the media paints it to be.
Thank you for listening and if you are ever feeling suicidal please call 1-800-273-8255. And if you ever need to vent, I am always here for you.
-Lauren
Lauren's Blog 🌈 