Inpatient in pysch ward - AMA

[JuiceyBetty]

Just that, really. It’s my third time here in the last two years. Having treatment for my OCD after a suicide attempt.

I’m a private patient in a private hospital, although there are some NHS beds.

Ask me anything :)

How are you doing OP? 💐

Is it a single sex space you're in or mixed? I've heard stories about women being intimidated or harassed by male patients in psych wards and wondered if it is standard to have mixed sex wards.

Are the staff compassionate?

Is it any easier to sleep there than on a maternity/other hospital ward, if you've spent time on one to compare?

@Boscoismyspiritanimal thanks for asking. I’m mostly ok. Finding it so hard that we can’t have visitors though due to covid and really missing my OH and DS.

@daretodenim it’s mixed sex which really worried me the first time I came in, but there’s been no problems. There is a female only corridor with a female only lounge at the end.

@FourPlasticRings definitely better than maternity!! We have our own rooms which helps although they come in and check on you throughout the night, which is hard to get used to.

@daretodenim oh and yes, the staff are generally compassionate. There are some agency staff (especially at night) who don’t say two words to you but the rest are great. I was here for six months, six months ago, so got to know many of them well.

However I was shocked to find out how little the HCAs get paid- £10 something an hour in a hospital which charges guests a grand a night.

It must be hard to be in there without visitors. Do you have things to do? Books/tv etc?

what treatment 're you getting..

Did your insurance pay for the full 6 months and if so who are you insured with?

A grand a night?

@Boscoismyspiritanimal there’s a tv in my room and I’ve got my iPad. Friends have sent colouring books, jigsaws etc and I’ve got my crochet. Still terribly boring though.

@IKEA888 I’m having CBT and ERP plus sessions with my therapist 3 times a week.

@MrsWonderland yes insurance are paying thankfully, I’m with Bupa through OH’s work. We are hugely grateful for it.

@allfallsdown yep.

@MrsWonderland I should say that the HUGE majority of patients with insurance aren’t as lucky as me. They tend to have 28 or 45 day caps on their policies.

I’ve heard ERP is very tough going on the patient

Yep, it’s not easy. Putting yourself forward to be triggered.

I wish you well on your journey to recovery and a peaceful transition to home life.. hugs

How’s the food 🥘

@Boscoismyspiritanimal verrrrry good!! Benefit of private hospital though, loads of choice. It’s all healthy stuff though, only have fish and chips on Fridays.

At least that’s something to look forward to!

How old is your DS. How is he managing?

@Honeyandapple he’s 10. He finds it really difficult and I feel incredibly guilty about it.

What does a typical day look like?

@Boscoismyspiritanimal there’s two group sessions a day. Today is a goal setting group and then CBT after lunch. I have a 1:1 session every day with either my therapist (3 days a week) or a student therapist the other two days. We do exposure in these sessions.

Then there’s the evenings which feel LONG. Dinner and hanging out in my room crocheting mostly, although there are activities for the more social patients like quizzes etc.

I hope it goes well for you OP.

My dd was recently discharged, but only she stayed for 21 days.

Have you formed any sort of bond with fellow patients, and from previous admissions, have you kept in contact with them?

My dd was in a teen unit and so they did become quite close as did all their group therapies together, but her psychiatrist didn't recommend keeping in too much contact with the other patients when she went home. She was concerned that not all can move forward and cope at the same speed and fears that by keeping in touch, some may overload her with their problems/issues which are quite overwhelming at times.

Have you found this at all?

Does it feel very institutional? Are any of your fellow patients intimidating?

I hope things work out well for you

@highlighta I hope your DD is doing ok now. I made really good friendships the first time I was here that are still strong now, I was here for six months so a long time to get to know each other. On the OCD program we go through a lot together with exposures so it’s natural to bond. I can imagine they don’t encourage the adolescents to bond though.

@TheSockMonster thank you ☺️ not sure what you mean by institutional but yes some can be intimidating, and aggressive. I tend to keep to myself though and don’t go in the social areas.

It tends to be the men who are worse than the women in that regard 🙈🙈