hospital question

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I have a question to those Aspie's out there who've been hospitalized as a "risk to self"(as in like suicide risk)

My Psychologist mentioned it yesterday and the sheer idea of being in the hospital(as a patient) for any reason terrifies me, but I am curious what happens, like do they strap you to the bed or something to keep you from injuring yourself? what's the whole process? starting from the moment you decide to go in(or someone makes you)
and what happens when you meltdown in the hospital? what do they do?

You'd get strapped to the bed if you're acting out, yes. However, if you had voluneered to go in there, will be no straps involved. The medical team will simply assess you to see how deep your depression actually is and prescribe the needed medication.

I was actually strapped to a gurney and then the hospital bed because I was acting the fool on the street. That's different that what you're asking, though.

As you can guess from my answer you're treated VERY differently if you were brought in by the police or voluntarily walked in. You can bet that if you were dragged in against your will you will be medicated by injection.

Since I work in a hospital and have spent time interning in a psych unit, I feel I am qualified to answer this question.

Depending on HOW you get there, for example, if you are terribly combative and threatening to harm yourself or if you go in peaceful will determine whether you get the four point restraints and a shot of Haldol. I'm not even kidding.

If you go in on your own free will and are cooperative, you will still be put on a 5150 hold, which means that you will be held for a chunk of time (I forget how long...48 hours more or less...not ENTIRELY sure). They will take your blood and you will see a counselor. Depending on the facility and you personally, the care you recieve will either be helpful or you'll wonder WHAT possessed you to threaten suicide/self-harm etc. in the first place. I have known several people who have thought it a good idea to go 5150 until they get to the hospital and then realize that once they are there it isn't so easy to get out (you have to convince them that you are stable).

If you go in NOT on your own free will or are combative and a harm to yourself and others, you will certainly get four point restraints and a shot of something (usually Haldol) to sedate you. Blood will be taken, you will get a counselor also...but I imagine you will probably end up staying a little longer than if you are cooperative, etc. I also understand that not everyone is in their right mind when something like this occurs, so...kind of important to carry any medical information (meds you are taking, drug allergies etc.) on you at all times if this even seems like a remote possibility.

If anyone else has something else to add or if any of my information is wrong, please feel free. Again, I work at a hospital and have had experience in psych, but that doesn't mean I know everything.

I know I would react one of 3 ways, what would happen in each of these cases?-

Meldown- crying mess
Meldown- fight like all hell broke loose
Shutdown- blank state

also, I'm very clever, I'm sure I could find a way to escape, what measures to they have against this?
heh, taking my blood... surefire way for me to flip out or pass out

I would probably be going in on my own freewill(with some pushing from my psychologist)

did I mention the thought of being in a hospital as a patient terrifies me?

I've been admitted voluntarily twice without a 5150 since I got a referral from my psychiatrist. The first time I was sent to outpatient after much deliberation and the second time I went inpatient. The one thing I've heard over and over is avoid a county hospital.

The use of restraint, seclusion, or forced medication is usually a drastic measure. You go in, fill out some paperwork including an assessment of your condition, and get checked out medically. They will search you for forbidden items (more discretely than a government agency) and show you to a room that you may share with someone else. Most states require that they let you have your own clothes if you have them with exceptions for things like metal (non-decorative rivets for jeans and jackets are okay) and anything that can be used as a chord. You will be pressured to stay out of bed during the day. Where I was at, staying in bed during the group sessions and scheduled activities would set back your discharge date. Most places have a living area, a dining area, and an outdoor area.

They may increase the dosage of a new med to therapeutic level in a matter of days and it may make you sedated. They may give you a lower dose at discharge. It's best to tolerate with the sedation while you are there, but if you have other side effects, you have the right to try something else.

Meltdown-crying mess...This will likely get you some ativan and a counselor.

Meltdown-fight like all hell broke loose...Four point restraints and a shot of Haldol

Shutdown-blank state...They'll try to get you to talk or leave you alone, depending

As far as escaping...depends on the facility. If you go through the ER first and you aren't restrained, I would say it is fairly easy to escape. Once you on on the unit, however, it's pretty much lockdown. EVERYTHING is locked...the door to enter the building, to enter the nurses station, and then to enter the patient area...again, depends on the facility, and also, this is just my experience

Do you really feel the need to be hospitalized? Why are you considering it?

oh I forgot to mention with the meltdown-crying mess, I will probably run and hide. and good luck trying to reach me in this state( I don't hear/acknowledge anything)

No, I don't, I think it would freak me out, and I'd be wayyyy more likely to off myself some other way then my preferred method(jumping into water from a very high location).
but my psychologist mentioned getting me into a hospital if I felt I was going to harm myself(because I'm a "risk to self" yes I have a fairly precise plan, but I haven't made up my mind %100, and won't tell anybody when I do, I don't want to be stopped), she asked if I was going to off myself this weekend, I of course said no, but I really have no idea, it depends on how it's goes.

It depends on what state of mind you're in when you get admitted. If they think you're in extreme danger of hurting yourself or hurting others they might put you in lock-down. Lock-Down is basically an area of the psych floor where you'll be given a room with windows and all it will contain is a bed. You can usually only have one item in your room at a time and you need to retrieve your items from the nurses station. You wont be allowed to use razors or flat irons on this side. There will be a shower room and one or two washrooms that you can use. There's usually a small eating area where you will have to eat your meals with everyone at mealtime. When I was in lock-down the television was also in this room. Sometimes there's a quiet room with a phone that you can use. You will notice that your bed will have straps on it. You will only get strapped down to a bed if you're acting out in a violent manner or threatening to kill yourself or if you're found trying to kill yourself or hurt somebody else.

Then's there's usually an "other side" on the psych floor. Usually you get more independence on the other side. You usually get a room mate in your own room and a shared bathroom. You can have your belongings in your room except for hazardous items. If you get priviledges you can go to the nurses station and use a razor and flat irons. There's usually a large dining room with puzzles and games and a television. There's usually another room that offers group therapy and similar classes throughout the day. You might also get outdoor priveledges as well but you usually have to go out with everybody else and they'll only give you 15 or 20 minutes. Some people get weekend priviledges as well, so they get to go home for the weekend.

In both of these situations your psychiatrist will come and talk with you everyday so see how you're doing. She'll also adjust your medication until you're stable.

If you have a meltdown you'll either get sent to lock-down and they might strap you down to a bed or doctors, nurses and psychiatrists will come to your room and talk to you and may even sedate you. It depends on the type and severity of meltdown.

When I went to the hospital I stayed for two weeks. My mum took me because I was really depressed and I was acting psychotic and throwing things around my room and crying. I was sent to emergency room and then a psychiatrist came in to asses me. She recommended that I admit myself and my mum agreed with her so I signed the form. Later a nurse came in and brought me a snack and gave me ativan to help calm my nerves because I was shaking so badly. She came back later took my blood and pulse and told me to
change into the hospital gown. Later she came back with a security guard and I was walked over to lock-down. I stayed in lock-down for 3 days and then I was sent to the other side where I has more freedom. I stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks overall. Overall it was a pretty good experience for me. I joined the 7 week outpatient program after that and made some great friends. Don't be scared or ashamed of going to the hospital. In my experience the nurses were very friendly and you make friends with a lot of the patients.

Last edited by lostgirl1986 on 15 Jun 2012, 7:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Crying Mess-You'll be sent to lock-down if you try and run off and maybe restrained but it depends on the situation.
Fight-You'll be sent to lock-down and probably restrained to your bed.
Shutdown-It depends for how long, but I'm assuming lock-down if it's for a long time.

P.S-They have cameras and security guards everywhere in lock-down except for the bathrooms.

the being in part doesn't sound as scary, but the going there/being admitted part sounds scary


anybody else have experience with this?




~

It's not too bad. When I got admitted to the hospital my mum and I took a taxi to the nearest hospital. I had to wait in the emergency room and then I got assessed by a doctor who asked me a lot of questions. She told me that she was putting me on a form to go to the nearest hospital that had a psych ward because she thought that I was in danger of killing myself. I was sent by ambulance to the nearest hospital with a psych ward. I had to wait in a private room in emerge because they didn't want me to escape. They finally took me to an examining room and the psychiatrist on duty asked me a whole bunch of questions. My mum and her strongly recommended that I be admitted to the hospital. I reluctantly agreed and my mum went home to grab my stuff. A nurse came in and took my blood pressure, took my blood, checked my pulse and gave me some Ativan. She later came back and told me to change into a hospital gown. Later the nurse and the security guard took my up to lock-down where I was greeted by a nice nurse. I had to hand over my purse and belongings. After that I got used to the routine really fast and I was way more calm than before because they gave me medication to relax me.

In the US, I haven't heard of anyone going to a high security area first in over a decade unless there was a need for it, and they usually try to get you ready for discharge in a week. The intake process takes about a half-hour to an hour if you get a referral, but maybe longer if you go to the ER. The thought of going there is worse than the intake process and being there if you can stay cool and ride it out.

yeah, the thought really freaks me out, in fact I won't even tell my psyD precisely how I feel, for the sheer terror of going in

It's kind of unnerving at first because you don't know what to expect but after awhile you get used to things and eventually comfortable because you realize that everybody there has problems.

When I worked at a state hospital the psych techs threatened my imprisonment.

It's not a prison, you must have been really incompetent, and really got on their nerves bad. They were venting, and it would have required several court proceedings or a medical conservator's decision to commit you.

Local short term hospitals are a totally different story. They don't send people to state hospitals for feeling suicidal and them referring someone for commitment to other long-term facilities is a very drastic measure that they are slow to do and very rarely ever request such a hearing. They don't do that for suicidal ideation and they won't do it for autism unless you have no other means of support to stay alive and safe. You don't have a documented history of being unable to take care of yourself medically, and you have some semblance of a support system and a place to live, so you don't have to worry about all that.