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Has anyone else had a traumatic experience with mental hospitals before?
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Fishman- I am also so sorry you had such a negative experience, it's no fun in the park for anyone but you were treated badly. I would get my G.P to make a complaint if I were you. My G.P has done that for me before against a mental health crisis nurse. Don't even get me started on her, the cow did not have 1cm of compassion in her heart considering I had just come round from a coma!!!
Speaking from a UK perspective.
Police. I've had a few times when they've detained me on mental health grounds. Key is *do not resist*. Then they will not cuff you. Each time I've had experiences with the police, they've always been gentle and sympathetic. I've been held at the police station pending a mental health assessment. The booking in process is as quick and calm as possible. They then put you in a cell with the door open with an officer on 'cell watch'. If they get really busy, they might have to call the officer away, and then they do lock it. It's not pleasant, but the key is - do not get yourself arrested.
Hospitals. Oh boy, do you have to play ball with them. That's assuming you want to get out asap, which 99% of people do as it's not a nice place to be. Hospitals tend to house people with all sorts of mental health problems, and depression actually is quite low on the list of problems. Some people are out of control or so heavily dosed up as to be out of their minds. The nursing staff want it to be as easy a day as you do. Once again, cooperation is key. They note absolutely everything you say or do. If you get in a disagreement, or worse still - a fight, you then have a hard time explaining yourself. There are times when a patient will lose it. A fully grown man who's fired up is a formidable force and needs several men to hold them down. That's when injuries occur whilst they try and inject the patient with valium.
But probably the most important thing is - and this includes Police and hospitals - Do *not* even think about absconding. If you run after you've been told that you're being held for an assessment, or you have been sectioned, then Big Brother gets to work and they will catch you, lock you up and not even consider release for several weeks.
I know of a girl who did a runner from a psych ward when she was sectioned. She made it home. Collected her passport. Went and stayed with friends whilst she arranged to go and stay with friends in Spain. She booked a flight. Checked in. Went through security. Went through boarding. Was sitting comfortably in her seat. And then the 'men in black' came and hooked her off the flight.
Police. I've had a few times when they've detained me on mental health grounds. Key is *do not resist*. Then they will not cuff you. Each time I've had experiences with the police, they've always been gentle and sympathetic. I've been held at the police station pending a mental health assessment. The booking in process is as quick and calm as possible. They then put you in a cell with the door open with an officer on 'cell watch'. If they get really busy, they might have to call the officer away, and then they do lock it. It's not pleasant, but the key is - do not get yourself arrested.
Hospitals. Oh boy, do you have to play ball with them. That's assuming you want to get out asap, which 99% of people do as it's not a nice place to be. Hospitals tend to house people with all sorts of mental health problems, and depression actually is quite low on the list of problems. Some people are out of control or so heavily dosed up as to be out of their minds. The nursing staff want it to be as easy a day as you do. Once again, cooperation is key. They note absolutely everything you say or do. If you get in a disagreement, or worse still - a fight, you then have a hard time explaining yourself. There are times when a patient will lose it. A fully grown man who's fired up is a formidable force and needs several men to hold them down. That's when injuries occur whilst they try and inject the patient with valium.
But probably the most important thing is - and this includes Police and hospitals - Do *not* even think about absconding. If you run after you've been told that you're being held for an assessment, or you have been sectioned, then Big Brother gets to work and they will catch you, lock you up and not even consider release for several weeks.
I know of a girl who did a runner from a psych ward when she was sectioned. She made it home. Collected her passport. Went and stayed with friends whilst she arranged to go and stay with friends in Spain. She booked a flight. Checked in. Went through security. Went through boarding. Was sitting comfortably in her seat. And then the 'men in black' came and hooked her off the flight.
If you've been abused by psych ward staff and forced to have treatments that you stated you definitely never wanted, such as ECT or chemo-lobotomies called psychiatric drugs (or even psychosurgery lobotomies), then will you consider signing this petition?https://www.change.org/p/uk-house-o...ecisions-being-overruled-by-mental-health-act
This petition is to prevent mental health professionals forcing treatments on you that you have directed in an advance statement that you do not want, an advance statement is a legally binding document that must be obeyed by every medical professional in every medical profession... except those in the psychiatric or mental health profession...
Please sign and end the mental health profession's unique power to completely ignore a patient's advance statement, which is a clear breach of human rights (due to patients from every other field of health care being able to make an advance statement against certain treatments, and even if the treatment would be lifesaving, professionals HAVE TO, BY LAW (except in psychiatry/mental health services under the mental health act), OBEY IT) and in its very nature it is potentially very abusive
If even a tenth of the members of this forum signed... This could be well on its way to ending this abusive aspect of the mental health services in the UK
This petition is to prevent mental health professionals forcing treatments on you that you have directed in an advance statement that you do not want, an advance statement is a legally binding document that must be obeyed by every medical professional in every medical profession... except those in the psychiatric or mental health profession...
Please sign and end the mental health profession's unique power to completely ignore a patient's advance statement, which is a clear breach of human rights (due to patients from every other field of health care being able to make an advance statement against certain treatments, and even if the treatment would be lifesaving, professionals HAVE TO, BY LAW (except in psychiatry/mental health services under the mental health act), OBEY IT) and in its very nature it is potentially very abusive
If even a tenth of the members of this forum signed... This could be well on its way to ending this abusive aspect of the mental health services in the UK
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Whilst I agree that it is something that should be done to put people with mental health issues on an equal par with those not affected, I suspect that the 'powers that be' would argue that an advance decision made which insists that certain 'therapies' are not used cannot be rescinded at a later date when the patient no longer has the ability to make a reasoned decision. ie. They will say that if you change your mind later when you are severely ill, you may not have the mental capacity to make your (new) wishes known.
Those who make up the rules use any and all tactics to get it their way, not yours.
Those who make up the rules use any and all tactics to get it their way, not yours.
I disagree. These kinds of brain damaging 'treatments' should NEVER be permitted, at least victims should get a choice in whether to refuse these abusive and brain damaging 'treatments'
I, for one, will NEVER seek the help of these professionals when these abusive 'treatments' are unable to be refused
I, for one, will NEVER seek the help of these professionals when these abusive 'treatments' are unable to be refused
Don't get me wrong.... I totally agree that a number of 'therapies' are absolutely wrong, in terms of perceived benefit and invasion of personal choice.
I'm just saying that 'they' will argue until they're blue in the face as to why they should be allowed to carry on doing these things. I've seen people before and after ECT, and they're totally broken.
I'm just saying that 'they' will argue until they're blue in the face as to why they should be allowed to carry on doing these things. I've seen people before and after ECT, and they're totally broken.
The mental health "care" system is a joke. Their only goal is to make money, keep people locked up or zombified if they can't function in normal society.
I spent six weeks in a state hospital, involuntarily, after a suicide attempt. I was repeatedly physically injured by police and medical staff, although I never threatened anyone but myself. I just wanted the right to die. But they would imprison me, torture me (many times I was strapped at waist and wrists to a bed, once for 5 days straight), drug me against my will, belittle and humiliate me, etc. Only lying about my mental state got me out, and although that was 8 yrs ago I still owe that facility $14,700. Yay america!
Because of this I would never, ever seek help from a so-called professional, and would never tell anyone who knew me in real life about any suicide plans. Once I called a suicide hotline, when I hung up the cops came banging on my door. Its just not safe to ask for help or even share your feelings in this society.
I spent six weeks in a state hospital, involuntarily, after a suicide attempt. I was repeatedly physically injured by police and medical staff, although I never threatened anyone but myself. I just wanted the right to die. But they would imprison me, torture me (many times I was strapped at waist and wrists to a bed, once for 5 days straight), drug me against my will, belittle and humiliate me, etc. Only lying about my mental state got me out, and although that was 8 yrs ago I still owe that facility $14,700. Yay america!
Because of this I would never, ever seek help from a so-called professional, and would never tell anyone who knew me in real life about any suicide plans. Once I called a suicide hotline, when I hung up the cops came banging on my door. Its just not safe to ask for help or even share your feelings in this society.
wow, I am so sorry you experienced all of that. Strapping you down for 5 says straight because you were a risk and danger to yourself seems unnecessary considering most people in the psychiatric ward are suicidal. If you attempted in there, I might have a different view but honestly I don't think this is a way to treat anyone. And the bill of more than 14,000 is very high, thank god it's free here. A gentle hug :hug:
I wish you the best of luck. :hug:
I wish you the best of luck. :hug:
I was taken to one after I got a dui and spent a night in jail. It is exactly as you described. They do NOTHING but make things worse. I was locked in with meth addicts who were sedated and slept 2 days. I didn't eat but then my husband was telling me if I didn't act normal they could keep me forever. I ate that crap and paced the tiny hallway for 4 days. I STILL have no idea why they took me there?? They said because I was crying in my jail cell. WTF? I just got a dui and knew I was going to go through a horrible expensive process and I was LOCKED in a jail overnight--having to pee in front of cameras. What normal woman isn't going to cry? To take me to a mental facality the next morning made me feel like I wasn't even in America anymore. I felt like I was in some crazy communist country. It could literally make a sane person crazy.
Yes--I believe exactly the SAME THING. I had a little emotional breakdown last week in evening and had to talk with on call therapist. She is much more detachted and here's the rules kind of a therapist than my great Doc. Anyway--I pretty much got out of her that if you let them think you will harm yourself, they can and will lock you up. I asked, can I leave when I want--and she said no, it can become this huge legal process where you have to prove to a JUDGE you are sane. So after that little secret spy info. gathering session--I KNOW I will NEVER ever call to or go in to ER to tell them I'm feeling out of control because I could see where it could become a scene from One flew over the Coocoo's nest. No way. SOrry for your experience. You are MUCH BRAVER AND STRONGER than you are giving yourself credit for if you endured that and came out on the other side. I'm very proud of you. :wave:
I guess it depends on the hospital. I've been in several and they've never kept me for more than about 2 weeks. The worst one I was in was a state hospital. I've been to my local hospital several times and it wasn't that bad. It's a short term facility so they rarely keep patients more than a week or two.
I'm terrified about what will become of me.
They are going to have to detox me first (not even going to bother with the gory details), and I don't SEE this going well. I still hope I won't wake up long before it comes to this. I had only horrible experiences with being hospitalized, and I have nothing/nobody to live for when I'm released, so I think its a "no-go", and I'm just done with life.
My last hospital stay was a living nightmare - I WAS TREATED LIKE AN FILTHY WORTHLESS ANIMAL!!!
--FML--
They are going to have to detox me first (not even going to bother with the gory details), and I don't SEE this going well. I still hope I won't wake up long before it comes to this. I had only horrible experiences with being hospitalized, and I have nothing/nobody to live for when I'm released, so I think its a "no-go", and I'm just done with life.
My last hospital stay was a living nightmare - I WAS TREATED LIKE AN FILTHY WORTHLESS ANIMAL!!!
--FML--
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