The evils of psychiatric holds and psych wards

[TAW122]

I normally don't find very good stuff on Quora, but these two posts are really quality posts from that thread.

The first one refers to one's experience with the psych ward and how it does more harm than good. The second one suggests how suicidal people are treated worse than dangerous criminals even though they have not committed any crime let alone been convicted of one.

There are many other posts there if anyone has time and wants to read in more detail, but these two that I've posted are the ones that really resonated with me. I may be preaching to the choir here (as I believe many of us already know about the horrors of psych holds and psych wards as well as the ineffectiveness of them).

 

[Severen]

Some psych wards are a lot worse than others. In many cases, it depends on the kind of people, working there. Not all of them are monsters but simply people just working a job. But yes, psych wards and everything associated with them are EVIL. It also depends on the laws where the psych ward is located etc... It's like prisons. In this world, there are prisons that actually treat inmates like human beings. And there are prisons that treat inmates like cockroaches.

 

[Broken Chimera]

They really don't help. But try telling the average person that. You get treated worse than a criminal because apparently "crazy" people deserve it. If you don't feel bad before, you will after staying in one.

None of my stays were that bad. My last one was great, but I'll never go back. I rather die than to be used like a lab rat for guessing at what drugs will or won't work.

 

[not_a_robot]

The psych holds are the nicest part. The real damage begins when one is released to the "care" system. It is very easy to believe liars who say they want to help, if one is desperate. That's the first mistake.

 

[Jean Améry]

I'm glad I was never involuntarily committed: the thought of being locked up must be suffocating. Of course it's ridiculous to lock people up for something that isn't a crime and it's never been proven such practics actually reduce the suicide rate.

I guess they must be trying to create a shock-effect and scare people straight.

In my view it only serves to reinforce the commonly held belief that the individual doesn't have autonomy over his/her life while hopelesness/loss of personal autonomy is what drives most people to suicide. No wonder the chance of a succesful suicide spikes right after an involuntary commitment: oh the irony.

I think by now it's clear as day the concept of mental illness is scientifically untenable and it's equally well known violence (to others or self) is pretty much impossible to predict with any degree of accuracy yet the world over there are laws that result in innocent people being locked on the basis of those two nonsensical, unempirical criteria.

It begs the question who's actually crazy/irrational: those who wrote and voted on those laws along with those who enforce them or us, the potential candidates for such barbaric practices?

 

[Egddios]

Spent about 2 weeks inpatient recently and here I am, planning to hang myself or use the night night method.

 

[Fish Face]

I spent 18 months on an adolescent unit that destroyed my life, my relationship with my parents and family, gave me anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, social phobia, emotionally unstable personality disorder. I was bullied so much by nurses and fellow "inmates". I lived there. One nurse suggested I should be beat up in a group morning meeting because I was introverted. That was the only reason, because I was introverted as if that's a bad thing. It works for J K Rowling and Bill Gates! I am now 47 and have lived with problems for as long as I remember. I despise almost all the nurses there. They were nasty, spiteful and just not competent at all. I have tried to get help throughout my life but none is forthcoming, not under any Government, Labour or Conservative. I was nearly sectioned a few weeks ago. I attended at hospital but the wait was so long (Medway, one of the worst hospitals in the UK) and then went missing. I got a taxi back to my house because I was sick of waiting. The police were out for me. I am told by my friend that I was reported in the local newspaper. That's why I won't drink anymore. I just cannot go back to a hospital and deal with the inhumanity of it because of my experiences. All they ever said to me in the unit was that I must have been abused and that denying it was a symptom of being abused! They just went on about it all the time. I wasn't abused by anyone. A psychiatrist there actually cried in front of me and said she fancied her dad so I must fancy mine! Another psychiatrist a few years ago asked me to diagnose myself, choose my own medication from a book and proofread her notes because her English was so bad. Each appointment took three times longer than necessary because I had to keep talking slowly so she would understand me at all (don't take that as racist because without foreign workers the NHS would not survive). We need to get rid of CBT, which is just BS and doesn't address real problems. It is not faulty thoughts that is the problem, it's real problems - that's why since the economic downturn depression and suicide has been rising - people aren't just thinking "faulty" all of a sudden. Now I am under the care of a psychiatrist who does not even contact me art all. I was lied to by the service back in October. I was told that I could not get CBT at all. This was not true. They just want to get rid of you and will lie to you to do that. I cannot get psychotherapy because of my drinking. This is all so much BS. They make me out to be someone who drinks from early in the morning to night and that is not the case. They just use it as an excuse to turn me away because the NHS has no money because rich people don't pay taxes at all anymore

 

[not_a_robot]

you guys are gonna love this. just another moneygrab by the predatory mental health industry.

Opioid overdose should be treated like attempted suicide: with an emergency hold

Having first responders provide a dose of buprenorphine after an overdose rescue is like having them provide Prozac to someone they just pulled from the ledge of a 20-story building and then leaving him there.

www.statnews.com

 

[Rocksandsand]

you guys are gonna love this. just another moneygrab by the predatory mental health industry.

Opioid overdose should be treated like attempted suicide: with an emergency hold

Having first responders provide a dose of buprenorphine after an overdose rescue is like having them provide Prozac to someone they just pulled from the ledge of a 20-story building and then leaving him there.

www.statnews.com

Fuck. That.

 

[hypo666]

I was diagnosed with a mixed personality disorder while in hospital without the psychiatrist even talking to me, she purely went off the observations of her nursing staff and when I argued about this ,she asked me if I was questioning the competency of her staff! And once you are diagnosed with PD, boy does it change.It is purely done in most cases I think,because it saves on beds. Because apparently those with PD's don't do well in hospitals so they can discharge them. It is disgusting because these diagnosis's stay on your records. I will never voluntarily go back to hospital now, I think it's a big joke. And as in my other thread, they are now trying to charge me for my care in the current place. I would stay well away from mental health care if I had knew what I know now,, whether I could have I don't know as there is certainly something not right with me. But still ,it's certainly not helped, one of the reasons why I want to leave this world really. Kind of feel nothing can help you.

 

[not_a_robot]

I was diagnosed with a mixed personality disorder while in hospital without the psychiatrist even talking to me, she purely went off the observations of her nursing staff and when I argued about this ,she asked me if I was questioning the competency of her staff! And once you are diagnosed with PD, boy does it change.It is purely done in most cases I think,because it saves on beds. Because apparently those with PD's don't do well in hospitals so they can discharge them. It is disgusting because these diagnosis's stay on your records. I will never voluntarily go back to hospital now, I think it's a big joke. And as in my other thread, they are now trying to charge me for my care in the current place. I would stay well away from mental health care if I had knew what I know now,, whether I could have I don't know as there is certainly something not right with me. But still ,it's certainly not helped, one of the reasons why I want to leave this world really. Kind of feel nothing can help you.

Counselors have admitted to me that PD diagnosis is intended as a punishment.

 

[alizee]

People don't understand how powerful labels are. Well the powerful do. Anyway what do people expect will happen when you lock a person away into a place for broken people and label them. Everything becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

 

[hypo666]

Counselors have admitted to me that PD diagnosis is intended as a punishment.

And if you question it, that means the diagnosis was right in the first place.... I have been told one reason I cannot get a certain type of therapy is because I won't 'accept my diagnosis', I told them I think pd is bullshit. Used those exact words, I don't give a fuck anymore.

 

[not_a_robot]

And if you question it, that means the diagnosis was right in the first place.... I have been told one reason I cannot get a certain type of therapy is because I won't 'accept my diagnosis', I told them I think pd is bullshit. Used those exact words, I don't give a fuck anymore.

Same. They haaaaaaate my guts but I don't care, they were never gonna help me anyway.

 

[Shamana]

The 2 times I've stayed at a psychiatric wards has been some of the very worst times of my life. I've been misdiagnosed and mistreated both times as well. I would never recommend it to anyone and I think the quality here in Denmark is probably better than a lot of other places. Most of the nurses and support staff were generally very nice though in my experience. But it's place of complete delusion and they will medicate you with AP's no matter how much you express they harm you.

 

[not_a_robot]

People don't understand how powerful labels are. Well the powerful do. Anyway what do people expect will happen when you lock a person away into a place for broken people and label them. Everything becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Or call a person paranoid for thinking ppl are manipulating them, then lock them up in a place with a care plan for people to manipulate them all day.
Have you ever read a case study of 'successful' treatment of paranoid schizophrenia? Basically subtle mental torture til the person complies by saying what they want to hear.
Chilling.

 

[alizee]

Or call a person paranoid for thinking ppl are manipulating them, then lock them up in a place with a care plan for people to manipulate them all day.
Have you ever read a case study of 'successful' treatment of paranoid schizophrenia? Basically subtle mental torture til the person complies by saying what they want to hear.
Chilling.

Yah it's so evil what's done and it continues to happen without anyone able to change it. I theorize it's because the economy is a disaster with inflation and wage staying the same for many years. People can't afford to protest or take time off to educate people because everyone is similar with just trying to get by in life.

 

[Jean Améry]

Or call a person paranoid for thinking ppl are manipulating them, then lock them up in a place with a care plan for people to manipulate them all day.

This reminds me of a quote from House MD: it ain't paranoia if they're really out to get you.

 

[Deleted member 1768]

Some psych wards are a lot worse than others. In many cases, it depends on the kind of people, working there. Not all of them are monsters but simply people just working a job. But yes, psych wards and everything associated with them are EVIL. It also depends on the laws where the psych ward is located etc... It's like prisons. In this world, there are prisons that actually treat inmates like human beings. And there are prisons that treat inmates like cockroaches.

These people would agree with that Sev, https://clasbc.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Open_Letter_MHA_Reform_June-27_2019.pdf

People don't understand how powerful labels are. Well the powerful do. Anyway what do people expect will happen when you lock a person away into a place for broken people and label them. Everything becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.