I've been an in-patient in a psychiatric hospital for over 2 years - AMA

[UndertheCedartree]

I've been an in-patient in a psychiatric hospital for over 2 years - AMA

I am so sorry about your childhood, you deserve and deserved love.
I respect what you are doing, and wish you all the very best

@Wilmalovescake - it is awesome! I am so fortunate to benefit from it. It has saved my life and I will always be grateful.

Yes, I am scared of returning to 'real life' full time. I am so excited about it too and can't wait to be with my DC full-time. But I think you can't be in hospital for so long and not be institutionalised to some degree. But I think the way discharge is gradual and the way home-leave gradually increases helps with this. The Occupational Therapists do things like public transport work with us to feel confident to use buses and trains. We do cooking sessions to gain confidence in cooking for yourself again. Before I'm discharged psychological therapy and occupational therapy will be set up in the community for me. I have been helped to get on top of taking my own medication at home by being given a dosset box that has an alarm set for when my meds are due. They will help me plan a routine for going forwards which will include exercise, self-care and hopefully some voluntary work. I am getting help at home to budget my money and pay off my debts. But it will be so hard to say goodbye to the staff and patients. I will keep in touch with some of the patients. I'm scared everything will fall apart again! At hospital I can have a 1:1 with a staff member whenever I need it. But hopefully with support from my community team I can integrate into life at home again.

@RickOShay - thank you - that was so nice of you to say

I have eupd too and it's absolutely rubbish. I wondered are you and your husband still together?

@fantasmasgoria1 - no we aren't unfortunately. However, we are good friends and co-parent well.

I'm sorry to hear you have EUPD too - it really is difficult. Have you had any therapy and/or on any medication?

@UndertheCedartree I've got a good psychiatrist who I'm supposed to see 3 monthly but my last appointment was postponed & it will be 6 months.
But I've had to phone the mental health team regarding my psychosis symptoms & they email my psychiatrist for me.

I take 30mg Aripiprazole & 337.5mg Venlafaxine as well as epilepsy meds.

I think because I generally take my meds & have my parents & sister keeping an eye on me the mental health team aren't bothered.
Also I have no DC & although I have problems with negative symptoms such as lack of motivation for example I even struggle to clean my teeth, shower, do housework the duty worker said 'it's not in the mental health teams remit' to do anything to help.

@LilyJade - sounds like it would be good to get a medication review at your next psychiatrist appointment. It's a shame you are not getting much support but I think you're right as they know you have a support network they don't bother as much. It is very hard sometimes to get the motivation to do even basic things. The only thing I find helps is to make small goals - like today I will put a laundrey load on - don't try to take on too much. I also have found having a schedule like every Wednesday and Sunday I will shower and make that your goal for the day. I do hope things improve for you.

Thanks @UndertheCedartree

Thank you so much for this post. It's lovely that you are getting better and that there is some success and availablity for this intensive work in the mental health system. There's such fear it seems to me among mental health management to allow this much "dependency" as they call it - yet it sounds like you will be able to demonstrate well that that period of dependency is needed to regrow and come out a confident person. I don't think this is down to budget only either, I think it is due to the type of managers who have risen to the top in mental health who can't bear vulnerability and deny it in the patients too, blaming the patients instead...and there are clusters of this in some units too like that awful sounding assessment unit you were in.
Sorry for the rant, just seen so much cut around here of the activities that are helping you.
Wishing you all the very best for a happy future.

Thank you @backtonormalname. Yes, sometimes intensive support and dependency is needed. I think as long as discharge is handled well we can go back to being confident and independent.

I'm on 5 types of medication for eupd and mental illness associated with it. I tried psychodynamic therapy but couldn't carry on after 6 months as all I could do was cry before, during and after the sessions. I was really unwell at that point. I am now awaiting a therapy related to dbt.

@fantasmasgoria1 - I'm glad to hear you are going to start therapy related to DBT. It really is so helpful. When I was first assessed my psychologist said I needed schema or trauma therapy but that I wouldn't be able to cope with it without skills. DBT is great to give you those coping skills so you can then do further therapy. Good luck.