What are your guys’ experiences with Mental Hospitals?

[glided~hydrangea]

I just wanted to get on here and gauge where other people are in their perspectives and views on mental hospitals and other mental health institutions (psych wards, asylums, etc.) in relation to effectiveness, rehabilitation, experiences, professionalism, corruption, abuse, etc.

When I was a teen, I was admitted after telling a teacher I was going to ctb, and I spent about a week there and it was some of the most stressful, overstimulating, and life-altering times of my life. It was there that I was diagnosed and medicated for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. And I was SA'd by a teen guy around my age, who was also a patient, and I remember feeling so helpless and angry. I didn't report it or tell anyone out of fear that they would tell my parents—so I've just carried it for awhile and it honestly shaped the person I am today. We didn't receive any personal therapy or counselor services nor support, other than just repeatedly being forced to tell various staff and techs why we were there and what we think is wrong with us. Additionally, there was virtually no actual help given to any of the patients, it was more comparable to jail, as opposed to a supposed rehabilitation and care place for kids. We weren't allowed to take naps and it really just seemed like the staff found us all to be such a burden. It's genuinely like we're getting punished for being sad.

Everyone I've spoken to, now even in my adult years, has similar bad experiences with these types of places. I wanted to see who else had input and things to share.

 

[sanctionedusage]

does literally a single person on planet earth enjoy the MH system? and especially on a platform dedicated to free will and bodily autonomy that the concept of a ward is built against?

 

[glided~hydrangea]

does literally a single person on planet earth enjoy the MH system? and especially on a platform dedicated to free will and bodily autonomy that the concept of a ward is built against?

No it appears definitely not. I've yet to hear a SINGLE good experience. You'd think by the mass reports of abuse and neglect that patients have received over years that something would be done, but like anything, that's clearly never going to be the case.

 

[no-hope-no-future]

It felt to me like I was in jail. It was a case of take your meds and if your a good little boy then you will be released early. They made out they care but once released I was forgotten about very quickly.
If you have ever watched any documentaries about the prison service then I think that is pretty close to how it looks from the outside. They even walk around with massive key chains full of keys, only if they haven't upgraded to digital security or RFID entry systems.

Edit
I think the food is cheap microwave meals too.

 

[BillyBob]

Horrible. Unable to do anything at all. There was no activates to do but watch day time tv on the screen.
Wasn't allowed music or similar things to listen too. All that happened was got thrown lots of medications my way and that is all.
If you act out expect to have your stay extended.
You have no rights or freedom in there either.

 

[sanctionedusage]

No it appears definitely not. I've yet to hear a SINGLE good experience. You'd think by the mass reports of abuse and neglect that patients have received over years that something would be done, but like anything, that's clearly never going to be the case.

its just an industry, to be fair

psychiatry is the weakest study of all time, built on semantics and preconceived biases to see what you're looking for in any given data. in practice with patients & in large scale research.

Rosenhan experiment - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

it's why mental health resources don't fix or change anything besides the simplest (not mildest, but simplest) issues simply caused by isolation compounding on other struggles; the biggest benefit of resources like a hotline or therapy is the sole fact that you're talking to a human being who you feel you can trust on depend on. it does wonders for human health and the benefits of judgment free relationships is hugely understated, but that means they can keep you hooked on the fancier concept of certain theories, approaches, and specific therapies.

 

[heatnormal]

Everyone I've spoken to, now even in my adult years, has similar bad experiences with these types of places. I wanted to see who else had input and things to share.

the only thing i learned in the psych ward was that the next attempt has to be successful. half of my mind was lost to forced sedation. "the system is working as intended".

 

[glided~hydrangea]

Horrible. Unable to do anything at all. There was no activates to do but watch day time tv on the screen.
Wasn't allowed music or similar things to listen too. All that happened was got thrown lots of medications my way and that is all.
If you act out expect to have your stay extended.
You have no rights or freedom in there either.

Yeah, it reminded me of elementary school on crack.
If you behave well and are well-mannered and liked by staff and all around an "A plus" patient (which is stupid, because to be there you already have to be in a bad mental space) you'd be let out in a decent timeframe. But if you had even one bad day, breakdown, or stressful moment, immediate extension of stay and coldness followed.