Posted by claire 7 on June 5, 2000, at 21:47:32
In reply to Hospital Q's - scared don't know what to expect, posted by me-but-not-me on June 5, 2000, at 18:38:33
>
> They are not silly questions! I'd be scared, too.Although I've never been a patient, I've been the daughter of a woman hospitalized 3 timesduring the last 40 years, for a total period of about 5 years, and recently I've spent much time in the psych ward , as a visitor. A thing that stands out in my mind as appropriate to your situation is a wonderful woman who was a patient while my mother was --she was a mental health care worker, herself. The staff treated her with respect. She had valuable input to offer. She wore her own clothes (as did everyone who wasn't in really bad shape). Everyone who wasn't clearly psychotic could sign themselves out to smoke outside, or go down to the lobby to just get away, etc. There was a genuine, poignant atmosphere among the patients of mutual aid, care, and understnading. All age groups, from a 16 year old boy whom I witnessed being incredibly kind to my mother (age 79), to a really nutty old white guy who tried to tip
off a restrained old black guy about how best to get out of restraints. ("The more you fight against the restraints, the more they will restrain you.")My sister-in-law, who was a cutter among other things,benefitted greatly from hospitalization, and is now living a better life than she probably ever had before.
These of course are only my personal and particular experiences, but hospitalization, I think, can be a positive thing, especially if it's voluntary, and entered into BEFORE you
you are incapable of participating in your own
care.And, I imagine, a great deal depends on the hospital.All best wishes. It's a tough road, but you can
make it.
poster:claire 7
thread:36182
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000603/msgs/36213.html