I have had mental health problems most of my life , though never been in the system. Mental health issues mostly related to childhood trauma, which I’ve only just began to accept recently. A few days back I had what felt like a mental and physical breakdown. My legs would hardly function, I was hardly sleeping. I went to A&E as really wanted my symptoms checked out and had the most terrifying experience of my life. I appreciate I was experiencing mania and probably delusions but the whole experience truly made it worse.
When in the waiting room I wanted to leave and they wouldn’t let me. I did run out of the hospital but they came after me and were physically hurting me. I had to accept going back in. I had heard voices during this episode, which has never, ever happened to me before but they were positive. I was in a side room for hours with nurses and doctors. I made it very clear I had no intention of hurting myself or anyone if they released me, but they wouldn’t let me leave. They were also very vague about what was going on so once they sectioned me I was terrified. I walked around the wards a bit to try and talk to other patients.
I was then restrained by security. They struggled to restrain me even though I’m not that strong, and it took multiple people to do so. They kept getting rid of my partner and then calling him back. The nurse then asked him to leave. I was then restrained on a bed by multiple burly men who appeared to be roughing me up a bit on purpose. I was injected multiple times and given drugs. I didn’t really react much to the sedatives.
The next day I was finally seen by mental health doctors and social workers, who asserted they thought I was ok and could go home. I’m covered in terrible bruises and in quite a lot of pain now.
Is this a normal A&E experience for mental health or were theynparticularly bad? I now can’t leave the house and am more traumatised then I was going in.