Ask a patient in a psychiatric facility

[Jackalope]

Ever wonder what life is like in a psychiatric ward?

I happen to be currently residing in one and I'm happy to answer questions about what life is like here. All I ask is you keep the questions sincere and not mean-spirited.

[robvalue]

What were the circumstances leading up to residing there?

(Of course you're welcome not to answer.)

[ignoramus]

Is this a one off? Why are you in there bud? You sound more sane than 90% of the users here? What's going on?

[Excited Penguin]

Been there, done that.

You should try writing, if you have a knack for it. Or maybe even keep a journal. Try practicing lucidity, or try out meditation - I'm sorry I didn't know about those when I was in the loony bin.

Good luck.

[Excited Penguin]

But why are you there? I'll happily tell you about my experience, if you want, even though it's got more to do with the shitty parents I have and the corrupt society I live in than with anything else. Oh, well, maybe also with being a dick and a show-off to a greedy unscrupulous shrink.

[Edwardo Piet]

Well we agree that the decor is usually shit.

I'll tell you if I think of any, having been on 3 myself I may have to think about it

[Excited Penguin]

Mine was fucking hell. Boredom. I hate the shit out of boredom. And medication I didn't need that made me write really shitty prose. Betrayal and a lot of other stuff.

I will say though I was kind of an alpha male over there, despite being a fifteen year-old kid stuck with adults. But then again, I might've been one of the few people there who were admitted both illegally and for no good reason.

[Jackalope]

What were the circumstances leading up to residing there?

(Of course you're welcome not to answer.)

It's a long story actually. Struggled with mental illness all my life, misdiagnosed, etc. Most recently I found myself overwhelmed with anxiety and depression. On advice of.my.therapist I checked in so that I could safely get on meds again. I had been experiencing some suicidal ideation.

[Jackalope]

Is this a one off? Why are you in there bud? You sound more sane than 90% of the users here? What's going on?

No, I have been in before. Once in 2011 for about two weeks and several in 1985 totalling about two months.

I'm quite sane, but I suffer from mood instability and mild psychosis from bipolar disorder and very high anxiety from post-traumatic stress disorder.

[robvalue]

I'm very sorry to hear that

I can totally sympathise, having spent years doing almost nothing except fantasising about suicide. It sounds like a sensible decision for the time being.

Have you been off meds for some time?