I’m a mental health nurse working on locked ward with females with personality disorder - ask me anything

[Dino90]

Please ask away if there’s anything you’d like to know

No questions for you, just wanted to say well done. I couldn’t do it. I work with high risk offenders and those with PD can be exceptionally challenging to deal with.

Do you see any hope for the people in your ward to recover and lead “normal lives”? Can people really recover from personality disorders?

And how do you cope? It must be a very stressful job.

What role do you feel trauma plays in the mental health of the patients you treat?

@BananaPop2020 ah thank you. I’m sure what you do isn’t easy either!

Are you aware of the work of Dr Jessica Taylor? I’m very interested particularly in her work looking at women who have been abused and traumatised and then labelled with personality disorders.

Do you ever have strong feelings of dislike towards any of the patients whose illness might make them very unpleasant to be around? Or root for others? Or are you just neutral towards all?

That must be an intense and demanding job, fair play to you. Are all of your patients long term residents on the ward, or do they come and go?

Are there any particular therapies which help?

@BadgertheBodger

Are you aware of the work of Dr Jessica Taylor? I’m very interested particularly in her work looking at women who have been abused and traumatised and then labelled with personality disorders.

Have you read her book “why women are blamed for everything”? It really is excellent

Very interesting thread. Do you find it depressing working with severely affected mental health patients?

How often are you worried for your safety?

What is the most common one?

Do you think many autistic women are misdiagnosed as having things like EUPD?

@peachpearplum01 Do you see any hope for the people in your ward to recover and lead “normal lives”? Can people really recover from personality disorders?

No, I don’t think many of our patients (if any) will ever recover. They may make good progress in our very contained environment but will almost definitely revert to their maladaptive coping strategies when faces with the real world again.

And how do you cope? It must be a very stressful job.

By working alongside a team with a good sense of humour. Also most mental health nurses won’t admit this, but we’re pretty desensitised to most of what we see and/ or hear. Oh and of course, wine!

Do you think out of area placement on private wards for women with this diagnosis is simply the NHS's way of washing their hands of risk that this client group often pose?

Would you say the care you provide is evidence based? How does it fit with NICE guidelines?

Are you aware of the work of Dr Jessica Taylor? I’m very interested particularly in her work looking at women who have been abused and traumatised and then labelled with personality disorders

Great question. I’m halfway through her book and it’s brilliant. OP, you should definitely read it if you haven’t already.

@BadgertheBodger

Are you aware of the work of Dr Jessica Taylor? I’m very interested particularly in her work looking at women who have been abused and traumatised and then labelled with personality disorders.

I was going to ask this also

@Itsatoughgig What role do you feel trauma plays in the mental health of the patients you treat?

All of our patients, bar none, have suffered trauma in their early years. Most of what we do involves trauma therapy

Do you ever feel any of your patients should not be on the locked ward? I ask as have worked in this area myself and don't any longer because of various concerns, including this one.

Do you find that your patients try to play manipulative games with you? How do you protect yourself from this?

What would YOU do with psychological services with (almost) UNLIMITED money ?

No questions just a lot of admiration for the work you do.

Do you ever feel like what's the point they will never get better or be able to function safely and productively in society?

Do you ever fear your safety?

Did you always know this is what you wanted to do?

@Youngatheart00 Do you ever have strong feelings of dislike towards any of the patients whose illness might make them very unpleasant to be around? Or root for others? Or are you just neutral towards all?‘

Yes, almost all of us have a small handful of patients we like working with and an odd one or two patient we cannot abide. Then there are those inbetween. The skill is in not allowing your patients to know which camp they sit in. A lot of mental health nursing is acting

What's the typical tipping point that sends someone from the outside world to a locked ward?

@AfterSchoolWorry

What is the most common one?

Do you think many autistic women are misdiagnosed as having things like EUPD?

I was coming to ask similar - and ADHD too.

OP, do you find yourself spotting PD symptoms in friends/family/acquaintances? Like a sort of sense/radar?

@DotTheCaddy That must be an intense and demanding job, fair play to you. Are all of your patients long term residents on the ward, or do they come and go?

They are with us on average 18 months -
2 years