Whoa.

That HAS to suck.

I'd have to imagine that ... since you're there ... you should tell them about ANY symptoms you're experiencing -- particularly things like excessive anxiety, depression or insomnia.

You're there to get help. Ask them to help you.

I wish you peace, health, and strength.

You mean aside from counting the holes in the perforated ceiling tiles? (which is what I would do at times during a long post-surgical hospitalization.)

Am thinking you first need to keep perspective that your stay is not of infinite duration and that care-giving (or controlled research trials) are usually boredom and anxiety inducing. You're reacting in a normal way.. Research trials don't like to introduce a lot of amenities for participants because they would be additional variables of unknown effect and prevent them from demonstrating potential efficacy of what ever treatment or etc. they are testing.

That said, I agree w/ david, discuss the fact that you are mentally/emotionally climbing the walls w/ what ever staff member will listen. Reading, TV, socializing, internet etc, find what ever distractions are available.

And mainly I do hope that by the time this is completed you will feel it has been worth the investment of your time and trust.

We are all rooting for you here. You are part of your family and I wish to send you our collective support in bravely pushing forward. Not every path leads out of the woods, but we keep trying paths until we find one that does. Know you are trying your best to move forward.

One of the hardest parts about the hospital is the environment. It can be either boring as toast (sounds like it's that in your case) or overstimulating. Everyone who is there probably needs to be there. If you are on the high end of that spectrum of need, you are not feeling good no matter where you are. Alternately, witnessing others going through what they need to go through can also be tough (and too stimulating).

Do what you can to get some peace. Letting people know if you need to be away from something that is going on can help.

As Letitbe is saying, working on focusing can help to pass time if the problem is you have too much time on your hands.

Asking for stuff to do can be hard. I have seen situations where even to do collage (no scissors for obvious reason- so materials had to be ripped into shapes) they had to get some kind of special permission for glue sticks! In my wildest imagination, I don't see the problem with glue sticks, but apparently there is more to it (good thing I'm not in charge of that, I guess). So the materials for hands on stuff might be minimal, but sometimes people can be creative- again, this involves working with the staff to help them to help you.

Best wishes to you in getting the help you need while you are there.

The longest I was ever hospitalized was for four days, but what long days they are in my memory still. I made friends there, but after a day or two found--in my case, just speaking for me--that a dynamic had taken hold among my comrades on my unit. It was a survival attitude that was understandable but that involved competing for who was the sickest. It wasn't my choice of attitude toward earning my way out of there. I was tired and slept a lot, like you say. I was so glad to get out. I hope you can soon, FindingKat.

Spent a week recently in the behavior health unit. To use up time, I read, watched TV, drawing, meditation, and spoke with other patients ( the ones that could interact with people well). You can also play games (cards are great), surf the internet (we weren't allowed internet :( ), tidy up you room daily, and spend more time grooming (braid your hair if you can).