Don't know. The closest thing I came to that was when I did my arms in. I had a psych evaluation and it was recommended but I didn't wanna go as much as my mum didn't wanna put me in. Unsure.

My one experience at a psych hospital, which is one I had to say I voluntarily came into, was one of the best hospital stays I had. Of course, the amenities were not there, (lol, I am not Britney Spears), but it was okay. I had a decent room, great medical care, got diagnosed properly for meds. The only thing I regret is the stigma of being in a psych hospital.

Chris, I know exactly how you feel. I was admitted into the hospital 3 weeks ago for suicide but then the doctors realized it was just severe OCD. I secretly want to go back because it was so helpful.

i will admit, that i have once believed in the stigma of psych floors/hospitals.....if they tried to put me in one, i'd probly run the other way. i had a dream my psychiatrist wanted to put me in one, but i escaped before he had the chance to...

but thats the great thing about this site, i've heard how people have had great experience with them. i'm still afraid, but i'm getting over it.

for the record, i'm very afraid of doctors in general. (especially getting shots)...so any hospital experience ends up with me crying.....

I was in an adolescent recovery program twice when I was sixteen, for a couple of weeks at a time, and it was wonderful. Everyone needs a safe place sometimes and being somewhere that everyone was trained to deal with my illness was a breath of fresh air. Now that I'm an adult with a job, a family and my own house a vacation sounds great but I haven't been to the point that I was dangerous to myself since I was first diagnosed and it wouldn't be helpful for me now, but hospitalization is not the leprosy that people imagine and it can do someone in a bad place a world of good. PLEASE if there is anyone out there considering taking thier own lives at least give this option a chance. It will open doors and help you to see that you are not alone and there are options, people who want to help you and you can continue on.

I am like jax I am terrified of D!. I was taken by the cops once in hand-cuffs! They didn't admit me tho they thought I was just someone wanting drugs.
So my advice is don't run, they will get ya.

My experiences of hospital are not good, but I was held against my will. What can't be denied though, is that I would probably be dead now if I hadn't been there. They are not the bad places some think they are, but some are definetly better than others. You never know if something is going to help until you've tried it

I used to work on in the psychiatric unit in a hospital (housekeeping)...I was never a patient, but I really like what I saw as far as the transformation from when the patient was admitted to their discharge. Sometimes I wanted to join in on the activities and group sessions...I saw a lot of them not happy to be there at first, but by a day or two, they were "at home" and feeling better. Hope this helps.

I was in Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital "Trauma Ward" for two weeks in August of this year. I was scared at first, but everyone is. It was the best decision I ever made. I am a new person. I went in wanting help and I got it. Everyone was terrific. I highly recommend Two Rivers "Trauma Ward"

There are psych wards (jails and hospitals) and there are rehab clinics and it really depends on where you live and the community that can support it financially, etc. I feel that going voluntarily is better than being dragged-in by the sheriff or whatnot....
Is there a stigma~ hmmm, I guess it's all a matter of one's own perception, but I will say that it's still socially on the outside of acceptance for most folks. If someone has been diagnosed with a serious illness, like Bipolar, Schzoid, etc, maybe less so. It's hurtful to one and all to feel judged and for me it just comes to down to me taking care of myself and my spouse. I honestly don't worry about what others will or will not think. Besides, you know there's never a shortage of "tiny minds!"

It was definitely a very lonely experience. There were few ammenities, because they were afraid of us hurting each-other or ourselves. I was in there for 3 days and was terrified. But, in the end, it was actually hard to leave because one gets so scared about what was on the outside--inside the facility was "safe."

I would have to say I've been very fortunate when it comes to going into the hospital. They all accomplished my goal, to keep me safe from harming myself. Most of the time I've had pleasant staff who were knowledgeable of what was going on with me. I think the hardest step is to get there and walk through the door. They take alot of personal items away from you and they ask so many questions about different aspects of your life. But if you need to be safe, you need to be safe.

I've been hospitalized three times. The first two not of my own accord and the last voluntarily. My first two admissions were into a hospital psych floor, and my last admission was into a specialized mental health clinic.

My first hospital experience was difficult, but I think that it had more to do with the fact that I wasn't ready or willing to deal with some of my issues. I was a very angry 18-year old at the time.

My second hospital experience when I was in my 30's was more positive.

My last admission, 7 years ago now, was my best experience. I got so much out of it and really came away with a better understanding of how this illness affects me, as well as having learned better coping skills to deal with it.

The differences between the hospital stays and my last stay were the type and quality of programs/groups/etc., that I was able to access.

Bottom line really is that you need to be ready, and willing, to accept the help that is offered to you. You can't just pay it lip service.

All the best to you.

I spent 13 days on a locked psych unit. I was so embarrased that I was locked in I asked my husband not to tell my kids OR my parents. As time passed, I came to realize that the doors were locked for MY protection, so I felt like I was in a safe environment. I was suicidal and had two plans, one as a back-up if the first failed. I was escorted by my therapist and another, my husband and a policeman (hospital policy) to the ER (it would have been straight to the psych floor but it was too late in the afternoon for direct admits). They were going to EOD (Emergency Order for Detainment)since I was suicida, but I eventually agreed to go in voluntarily because if you go EOD, a judge decides when you are ready for discharge, not you and your doctor. Since I was on suicide precautions, I couldn't have my bra, my husband took all my other clothes home (the VA hospital provided pajamas), I was most thankful that I could keep my underwear. I was so miserable, I didn't care about anything, I just slept when I wasn't called to meals or for meds. Eventually, my doctor got me on the right meds, and correctly diagnosed with not only MDD, but also PTSD. I made several friends, several of which I've seen on the "outside" and it's always, "hey, how you doing?" But friends from the psych ward asking that question isn't irritating like when the docs or nurses ask, I don't know why. Anyway, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. My doc was great, the nurses were sweet and some you could really tell that they cared and wanted to help you get better. I'm really glad I went in. In fact, I've been having a rough patch for a while now and I want to go back in but I'm waiting to see if I get into a women's PTSD program in Florida first.

my thought process can definitely be changed...when i was younger, i thought psychiatrists and therapists were for crazy people. obviously i'm wrong!! i was young and naive then. that dream really scared me though. about having to escape before i got put in a hospital...i was worried that the few friends i do have would up and leave me. i myself would try and tell my parents to not tell anyone...i actually have downplayed my suicidal thoughts to my psychiatrist in worries that my dream would come true....