Wanting to be Sectioned

[JM2RXA]

Similar to what the title says, I want to be sectioned, but I don't know why.

I've previously had two suicide attempts, in both instances resulting in hospitalisation and in one instance an ICU admittence, but somehow despite this I didn't get sectioned at the time. I have been sectioned in the past when a nurse spotted self harm marks (yeah... somehow that was sufficient to send me to 136 and then on to a ward).

I know for a lot of people the psych ward is the last place they want to be, and I really don't know why I want to go back in.

I struggle a lot with impulsiveness, and I wonder if it's an SI trying to protect me. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be here and I do regret that my previous attempts failed.

The ward I was on wasn't exactly a hard place to be, and I have heard horror stories (is that part of it? That I want to torment myself?).

Anyway, I'm rambling now.

 

[JM2RXA]

Sorry to bump, my account wasn't new enough for this to be visible when it was first posted and since then it has gotten buried in new content.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I'm sorry you are suffering. How easy is it to self admit yourself? Surely- they ought to take notice if you say you feel like you are a danger to yourself- and you have attempted before?

I've never had experience in a psyche ward. I've heard varying stories ranging from horror to helpful. Still- if you feel like it has helped you before- seems like you should try it. Good luck. I hope you get the support you need.

 

[JM2RXA]

In the UK, sectioning is only done where there's an imminent threat to life, it's not something you can self refer to.

I've also been told in the past that they won't hospitalise me again because they don't see me as getting better; as it's only designed for short term holds, if they can't stabilise you in that time they won't bother... which to hear that from a senior mental health nurse was pretty hard to take.

 

[Forever Sleep]

In the UK, sectioning is only done where there's an imminent threat to life, it's not something you can self refer to.

I've also been told in the past that they won't hospitalise me again because they don't see me as getting better; as it's only designed for short term holds, if they can't stabilise you in that time they won't bother... which to hear that from a senior mental health nurse was pretty hard to take.

Oh God- that's terrible. I'm from the UK too. Doesn't really surprise me- still- it's bound to force people into taking desperate action because they can't get the help they need.

Are you seeing a therapist? Kind of a lame suggestion I know but have you ever phoned 111 or- even a helpline? Just to see if there are other options for you out there? It does seem like you want to reach out for help- they REALLY ought to provide it if they are really that keen on saving people.

I'd actually recommend posting in the 'recovery' section here too. The folks over there may know more about what help is available. Good luck.

 

[JM2RXA]

Thanks Forever Sleep.

I'm under a local mental health team and have been referred to a specialist service for treatment resistant depression (end game ECT type stuff). I can call one of the helplines I've been given, or go to A&E, but past experience tells me I'll just be sent home because they don't believe me, at which point I then tend to ruminate and it goes from a bad situation to a serious situation pretty quickly.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Thanks Forever Sleep.

I'm under a local mental health team and have been referred to a specialist service for treatment resistant depression (end game ECT type stuff). I can call one of the helplines I've been given, or go to A&E, but past experience tells me I'll just be sent home because they don't believe me, at which point I then tend to ruminate and it goes from a bad situation to a serious situation pretty quickly.

I'm so sorry. This is what infuriates me though! They (as in- the normies) want us all to carry on no matter what. They spew out all this shit about helplines and support. What happens when that doesn't work? Or worse- is refused? What then?

I'm so sorry. Whatever happens- sounds like you've been failed by the system. I just don't know what to say really. I wish I could help. Maybe try talking more to people here. Do try the 'recovery' section. Many people have said this place has helped them a lot. All the best to you. I hope you can find your way out.

 

[myownpetvirus]

It sounds like you are wanting to pursue treatments. Is there inpatient facilities for mental health?

 

[JM2RXA]

It sounds like you are wanting to pursue treatments. Is there inpatient facilities for mental health?

Part of me wants help, the other part of me wants to destroy myself (suicide or otherwise), and I'm constantly switching between sides.

 

[myownpetvirus]

Part of me wants help, the other part of me wants to destroy myself (suicide or otherwise), and I'm constantly switching between sides.

of course it's your choice but my personal opinion is to go for recovery as hard as you can first so at least you know you tried

 

[FuneralCry]

Psych wards sound like horrible prisons to me, and it must had been awful going through those failed attempts, failing ctb is certainly what I fear but anyway I wish you the best of luck.

 

[JM2RXA]

of course it's your choice but my personal opinion is to go for recovery as hard as you can first so at least you know you tried

Everything just moves so slowly, and I struggle to reach out when I need it for fear of it seeming like I'm disingenuous.

I just know I can't keep myself safe.

Truthfully, I want the whole aspect of safeguarding taken out of my responsibility.

Psych wards sound like horrible prisons to me, and it must had been awful going through those failed attempts, failing ctb is certainly what I fear but anyway I wish you the best of luck.

I spent about ten days in 136/Isolation and it was honestly the safest I've felt in ages, to not have that responsibility over my life.

I was then moved to a main ward in another county where I stayed for another fifteen to twenty days.

I witnessed several ligature attempts, lots of alarms etc. but overall my personal experience (at this singular unit) was okay.

I appreciate that a lot of psych wards are very much horrible places, with staff who are flat out criminal in their actions (of course we all know this, but it's only really just come to the public's attention with a number of recent, high profile cases).

Waking up after the first attempt I was pretty dazed, but I remember telling the psychologist person that I would try again at some point.

I don't remember much about the second attempt, apparently I got a taxi to hospital but I don't remember this. There's a few memories of being in ICU but my only solid grasp on reality was weeping to a nurse about how much I regretted it not being successful.

 

[justwanasleep]

I've been an inpatient in the uk twice and I haven't been sectioned. After my last suicide attempt I was still delirious in intensive care and the mental health team came to see my as they do, the first thing I said was your not sectioning me and they actually laughed and said don't worry.

It seems hard to get sectioned in the uk luckily for me. I think the idea of being looked after and away from the real world is nice but the reality of an Nhs mental ward isn't cute. And if you do get sectioned it's not just a little holiday for a week. you're completely under their control and there's no going home when you've had enough. They are very lonely places. Good luck.

 

[JM2RXA]

Please don't get me wrong, I fully understand the powers they have.

This is what I don't want, and why I don't like bringing it up with the "professionals"... people to think I'm glorifying it, making it feel cute or that it's cool -- you're supervised 24/7, they watch you shit, you're only allowed out for a limited number of minutes a day, treatment plans are non existent etc.

 

[LittleJem]

OP there is a bit psychedelic trial for TRD. Worth applying for:

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www.londontrials.com

ECT can be really helpful

sectioning - you could try going to A&E or back to where you were sectioned to self refer. I think they are more interested in mania and psychosis. I saw one or two people on the ward post attempt ( one of them with such shallow cut marks it was almost silly) but Im not sure how long they keep them for.

 

[JM2RXA]

OP there is a bit psychedelic trial for TRD. Worth applying for

Thanks, I have looked at them in the past but unfortunately you need to have some level of stability, as it's a trial.

It's worth keeping in mind, but for a lot of these experimental treatments I don't think I'll fit the criteria.

 

[LittleJem]

Thanks, I have looked at them in the past but unfortunately you need to have some level of stability, as it's a trial.

It's worth keeping in mind, but for a lot of these experimental treatments I don't think I'll fit the criteria.

I dont know if that's true for TRD. I think the exclusion criteria will be people with previous psychedelic use. It's worth applying
tell them you are stably depressed.

 

[spacehardware]

It's okay to feel like an inpatient setting might be helpful or an appropriate environment for you right now. But I think saying 'I want to be sectioned' is a little unusual, imo. Sectioning happens when you don't have the capacity to make decisions for yourself. Your rights to make choices are taken away, you can be medicated against your will, restrained, sent across the country to an out of area unit, have your leave removed, etc. It's all kinds of awful. Maybe it's just your wording and you meant that you want to be in hospital. You can be in hospital on an informal basis without being sectioned, and (in theory) you can keep some control over the management of your care. I say in theory because I've been inpatient informally and ended up getting sectioned when I tried to leave, which was ironic. Inpatient is definitely something to discuss with your care team, or crisis houses if they have any near you, but depending on your diagnosis or presentation they may decide that it's not a setting that will be helpful for you. In my experience psych wards vary a lot. I've had the relatively calm inpatient experience. But I've also had the constant screaming day and night, clumps of shit being thrown down the corridor, being physically attacked repeatedly experience too. It's a dice roll and can flip 180 at any moment. Some admissions were helpful for me, some were downright traumatising. Just bear in mind that it could make you feel worse than you did to begin with. Good luck, if this came off rude or mean that's not how I intended it.

 

[UKscotty]

I cant identify with that as sadly I am in the UK where being sectioned here might mean a few days in some severely underfunded MH hospital, or more likely, a police holding cell.

Most people say it makes them worse being sectioned here than before it. I hope your country is better than the terrible state here in the UK.

 

[LittleJem]

I cant identify with that as sadly I am in the UK where being sectioned here might mean a few days in some severely underfunded MH hospital, or more likely, a police holding cell.

Most people say it makes them worse being sectioned here than before it. I hope your country is better than the terrible state here in the UK.

they dpnt use police cells anymore - they put you in a 'place of safety' which the one I went to was a locked holding ward

 

[symphony]

Can you check yourself in? It's much nicer to go voluntarily than be sectioned involuntarily.

 

[wait.what]

I can call one of the helplines I've been given, or go to A&E, but past experience tells me I'll just be sent home because they don't believe me, at which point I then tend to ruminate and it goes from a bad situation to a serious situation pretty quickly.

Can you bring someone with you? Somebody who can reiterate what you just said above: a bad situation can turn to a serious situation pretty quickly for you.

I'm concerned because you seem to be unsure how much sense suicide would actually make for you, but you say you may attempt anyway. I can hear that and be worried, and I'm a certified death cultist (diagnosed by the New York Times and their research specialists, some people on Facebook). I don't know what to say if your local hospital shoos you on your way after you tell them, "I can't keep myself safe."

 

[pickajack]

Just wishing you luck and encouragement with whatever you decide(d). Everything you said makes total sense to me. I understand flipping between wanting to try to recover and wanting to ctb and how it would be a relief not to be responsible for the decision.
I'm glad you felt safe during your previous stay. Anyway, just wishing you the best.

 

[UKscotty]

they dpnt use police cells anymore - they put you in a 'place of safety' which the one I went to was a locked holding ward

Sounds just as bad to me. I really do emphasise with the OP wanting help but to me, being sectioned here in the UK is just sadly more likely to make the situation worse. The situation here in the UK is dire for MH. We have a government which absolutely despises MH services and would happily cut them all if they could.

 

[JM2RXA]

Thanks everyone, I am going through your replies but ended up getting into a bit of a state and was drinking heavily last night.

It's okay to feel like an inpatient setting might be helpful or an appropriate environment for you right now. But I think saying 'I want to be sectioned' is a little unusual, imo. Sectioning happens when you don't have the capacity to make decisions for yourself.

Yeah, fair enough -- me expressing a desire to go into hospital suggests an element of mental capacity of knowing what's right for me.

I say in theory because I've been inpatient informally and ended up getting sectioned when I tried to leave, which was ironic.

Yup, I've seen that happen before; we want you to voluntarily go to hospital, and if you refuse we'll section you and take you anyway.

[...] or more likely, a police holding cell.

[T]hey [don't] use police cells anymore - they put you in a 'place of safety' which the one I went to was a locked holding ward

Yes, typically a "136 Suite" which'll be a set of very basic rooms, possibly away from the main building of the hospital, where you'll have locked security doors, ports to monitor patients through, and possibly a small caged square outside.

They do very much look like prison cells, but you are still in a hospital which is the important distinction.

 

[KuriGohan&Kamehameha]

OP, you may have more luck getting referred to an urgent community mental health team as an alternative to sectioning. There are also many charities that provide mental health services in lieu of NHS backlogs, however, many of them may not take acutely suicidal patients on as clients, so that is something to be aware of/keep in mind. If you've spoken to your local services like the mental health team or GP, they will be able to tell you what you're eligible for.

There are out of hours GPs that might be able to issue an urgent perscription or advise you on what to do next, but don't be discouraged if it takes a long time to get through to them, they will call back eventually- things are just very backed up and slow at the moment. Waits at A&E may be even longer than out of hours GP services and 111, depending on your location.

If you have the money to go private, I would honestly reccomend it, as you will have greater access to off-label treatments and be able to get appointments in a much more timely manner, which honestly sounds like what you need right now. Waiting around for callbacks and appointments in your current state sounds like it would be very distressing.

 

[UpandDownPrincess]

Would a day program help? I found them to be my best help but I still got to sleep in my own bed every night, which was nice.

I did need a hospital admission when I knew I needed to be protected from myself. I can understand some of your angst - I felt so much safer being there. But at the time I was sectioned because I had an active plan. Means had to be removed from my home before I could return. It was winter then, and I remember watching out the window and feeling warm and safe. I knew I had to no access to my materials of choice and that made me feel reassured.

If there is a day program in your area, I'd try there first and see if you can self-admit. It might be easier to get admitted to a unit from there.

 

[JM2RXA]

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll try and write down my thoughts (vocalising them is a challenge), and share them with my CPN when I next meet her.

I did need a hospital admission when I knew I needed to be protected from myself. I can understand some of your angst - I felt so much safer being there. But at the time I was sectioned because I had an active plan. Means had to be removed from my home before I could return. It was winter then, and I remember watching out the window and feeling warm and safe. I knew I had to no access to my materials of choice and that made me feel reassured.

I do have a plan, which is what scares me when I'm okay but what keeps me sane when I'm not.

During a low point I ordered SN, but without a necessary date for when or if I'll use it, if it even arrives. I think my "sane" brain is scared of how I'll react if I do ever see it in my postbox... do I run away? Do I take it? Do I keep it for a rainy day?

This is where I mean when I say, I can't keep myself safe -- there's just too much inpredictability and my past experience of trying to seek help has resulted in the attitude of, "you've seeked help, therefore you're not serious" type demena.

Sorry, ranting now... drunk and ranting.

 

[LittleJem]

Sounds just as bad to me. I really do emphasise with the OP wanting help but to me, being sectioned here in the UK is just sadly more likely to make the situation worse. The situation here in the UK is dire for MH. We have a government which absolutely despises MH services and would happily cut them all if they could.

I didn't like being sectioned but I don't think they could do any better even with more funding. They can't cure my depression or even do much to treat it. I hate the artogance of psychiatrists and I hate hospital food. But at least when sectioned no-one expects anything from you and you get looked after a bit. It's the food and the psychiatrists that would stop me going back. I was in one place that was well run and two as boring as hell.

 

[JM2RXA]

But at least when sectioned no-one expects anything from you

This