Checking in to a mental hospital - what should I expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m starting to think this poster is trolling. Who asks if they can play their French horn and telework at a mental hospital? OP, these things you’re talking about aren’t a joke.

Def a troll. I hate when they come up with a story where people are really concerned and trying to help. Much more fun when they post something like the “Tackfull potluck lady” so we can all pile on with how awful they are.

Maybe this OP just needs to get herself some waffles and a can of whipped cream and call it a night.

[Anonymous]

Not a troll. I heard the psych area at NIH had a grand piano for people to play. Why not bring a French horn? It’s like therapy.

[Anonymous]

Do you think a french horn will be calming to other people also in the mental hospital? When one checks into a hospital it's because they're sick - too sick for regular life. So no, you won't be able to telework! You need to focus on your mental health if you're so unhealthy you need to help of an inpatient hospital stay.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been in a couple of these transition stay psych hospitals for adults, children and teens. They resemble a mix of prison cells and older hospital wards, with single closet-sized rooms with a mattress, and usually rooms for group therapy. There is minimal privacy. Patients are stone-faced and drugged, while staff are busy doing paperwork and looking out for doors left unlocked so no one escapes. There is no space to recover alone. I can’t recommend it as a solo vacation spot. I’d check into the Holiday Inn for a few days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not a troll. I heard the psych area at NIH had a grand piano for people to play. Why not bring a French horn? It’s like therapy.

Can you imagine if everyone brought an instrument? Especially something like a violin which can sound awful when not skillfully played.

[Anonymous]

I am going to assume this is not a troll. OP, I read your earlier post. I have a son who suffers from bipolar - and suffer is the right word. I get how your husband feels. I too loved my son’s periods of mania. And the periods of depression are pure unadulterated hell. And I know my son feels every bit of what I feel only a million times worse. So I have a lot of compassion for you and your family.

As to the mental hospital. You aren’t going to get admitted. But if for some reason you do, you can take very few personal possessions with you and definitely no electronics. We’ve experienced many hospitals and there is not a single one that would have allowed a musical instrument. As to visitors, it depends on the facility. The ones my son went to would have allowed short visits from kids during specified visiting hours, which are very short. Whether you’d want your kids to visit is another issue you would have to grapple with.

I think the PP who suggested a resort is on target. But really, this is probably an issue that needs medication management along with some space and healing.

FWIW, it took awhile to get to relative stability and a lot of different trials, but the medication combo that works for my son is Zoloft, Lamectal and Vyvanse - he has ADHD as well and when that’s out of control, other mental health issues are so much worse. At times antipsychotics also helped but they were short term crisis medications.

I wish you the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m considering checking into a mental hospital. I posted in the relationship forum about my husband wanting to divorce me because I’m depressed. I’m bipolar and my husband appreciated the mania, but keeps fussing at me now that I’m depressed. I wonder if a hospital would give me the space I need to recover away from him.

I see a psychiatrist regularly and take meds religiously, but I have never been in a hospital.

Can I still telework? My coworkers communicate with me via text and sometimes email. I assume that is okay.

Can I bring my keyboard and my French horn to play when I’m not working? I need to stay busy and music is how I express myself.

What should I pack?

Anything else I need to know?

A psych hospital isn’t going to admit you unless you’re a danger to yourself & others + in severe emotional distress.

I am worried that if you move out, even for a few days, that’d be considered abandonment & hurt you for getting custody.

This is FALSE. OP can get inpatient mental health care without being a “danger to self or others.” That is the legal standard for involuntary commitment. Not the standard for voluntary admission or insurance coverage. OP’s primary concern for future custody is *stabilizing her mental health now.*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not a troll. I heard the psych area at NIH had a grand piano for people to play. Why not bring a French horn? It’s like therapy.

Can you imagine if everyone brought an instrument? Especially something like a violin which can sound awful when not skillfully played.

This place says they do music therapy:

https://manage.hopewayfoundation.org/public/content/admissions/Client%20Handbook.pdf

OP please talk to your p-doc and enlist a family member to get the help you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m considering checking into a mental hospital. I posted in the relationship forum about my husband wanting to divorce me because I’m depressed. I’m bipolar and my husband appreciated the mania, but keeps fussing at me now that I’m depressed. I wonder if a hospital would give me the space I need to recover away from him.

I see a psychiatrist regularly and take meds religiously, but I have never been in a hospital.

Can I still telework? My coworkers communicate with me via text and sometimes email. I assume that is okay.

Can I bring my keyboard and my French horn to play when I’m not working? I need to stay busy and music is how I express myself.

What should I pack?

Anything else I need to know?

A psych hospital isn’t going to admit you unless you’re a danger to yourself & others + in severe emotional distress.

I am worried that if you move out, even for a few days, that’d be considered abandonment & hurt you for getting custody.

This is FALSE. OP can get inpatient mental health care without being a “danger to self or others.” That is the legal standard for involuntary commitment. Not the standard for voluntary admission or insurance coverage. OP’s primary concern for future custody is *stabilizing her mental health now.*

In many areas, psych patients are boarded in ERs for days before they can get a bed. The situation might be different in cash pay private facilities

[Anonymous]

No, you can’t telework. They will take your phone. And your French horn. And your shoelaces. No, your children won’t be allowed to visit. Maybe your husband, but not whenever he wants.

Have you spoken with your therapist and psychiatrist about your current symptoms? Do they think you should be hospitalized? Bipolar disorder is difficult but treatable if people follow a treatment plan. Are you doing that?

Realistically if you are hoping to continue participating in your regular life, you should consider things like PHP or IOP. Please ask your actual providers for help understanding what level of mental healthcare you need. When I worked in the DMV, Georgetown Hospital had a decent PHP program for adults so maybe start there. If they think you need to be inpatient, they will make sure you get there.

[Anonymous]

The kind of place you want exists but it is costly and not something you access by going to the local ER. It’s voluntary and more “resort” like as a previous poster mentioned but offers meds and therapy but lots of other wholistic services and therapies. If you have the financial means talk to your doctor.

[Anonymous]

Do you think something like a wellness retreat would help?

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/yoga-wellness/best-wellness-retreats-us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m considering checking into a mental hospital. I posted in the relationship forum about my husband wanting to divorce me because I’m depressed. I’m bipolar and my husband appreciated the mania, but keeps fussing at me now that I’m depressed. I wonder if a hospital would give me the space I need to recover away from him.

I see a psychiatrist regularly and take meds religiously, but I have never been in a hospital.

Can I still telework? My coworkers communicate with me via text and sometimes email. I assume that is okay.

Can I bring my keyboard and my French horn to play when I’m not working? I need to stay busy and music is how I express myself.

What should I pack?

Anything else I need to know?

A psych hospital isn’t going to admit you unless you’re a danger to yourself & others + in severe emotional distress.

I am worried that if you move out, even for a few days, that’d be considered abandonment & hurt you for getting custody.

This is FALSE. OP can get inpatient mental health care without being a “danger to self or others.” That is the legal standard for involuntary commitment. Not the standard for voluntary admission or insurance coverage. OP’s primary concern for future custody is *stabilizing her mental health now.*

In many areas, psych patients are boarded in ERs for days before they can get a bed. The situation might be different in cash pay private facilities

That’s for when it’s a literal emergency. OP is talking about checking herself voluntarily into a facility covered by insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, you can’t telework. They will take your phone. And your French horn. And your shoelaces. No, your children won’t be allowed to visit. Maybe your husband, but not whenever he wants.

Have you spoken with your therapist and psychiatrist about your current symptoms? Do they think you should be hospitalized? Bipolar disorder is difficult but treatable if people follow a treatment plan. Are you doing that?

Realistically if you are hoping to continue participating in your regular life, you should consider things like PHP or IOP. Please ask your actual providers for help understanding what level of mental healthcare you need. When I worked in the DMV, Georgetown Hospital had a decent PHP program for adults so maybe start there. If they think you need to be inpatient, they will make sure you get there.

That’s not necessarily true about her kids visiting.

Everyone needs to stop giving uniformed advice to OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kind of place you want exists but it is costly and not something you access by going to the local ER. It’s voluntary and more “resort” like as a previous poster mentioned but offers meds and therapy but lots of other wholistic services and therapies. If you have the financial means talk to your doctor.

Places like McLean take insurance.