Comments on: The Psychiatric Ward http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html Information and support Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:42:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ben http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html/comment-page-1#comment-1830 Ben Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:59:28 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html#comment-1830 My wife and i live in a small alaska town and the psych ward is a plane flight or a long drive away. We had an excellent psychiatrist in our town but his life has taken him in a different direction. Losing him has been very difficult for my wife. And not being able to find a suitable replacement has been even harder. Her current local doctor wanted my wife to admit herself to the Anchorage hospital tonight. She went just looking for some help. She has not been feeling her best but she is far from her worst. Sitting in the doctors office with my wife and her new doctor listening to my wife being told how flying to Anchorage and being admitted would "help" her and listening to my wife saying that she did not want to go felt like we being sold something by a pushy used car salesman. I stand by my wife with all my love and I support her unconditionally. When she said that she just wanted to go home, i stood up, put my arm around my wife and said lets go. We are sitting at home now happy and healthy. Our town desperately needs a GOOD psychiatrist. Not one of the charlatans, but a true honest-to-goodness person capable of managing people's meds and giving insightful advice. If you know of one that wants to live in live a magical place, please tell them about Homer, Alaska. I wish everyone living with bp all the love and kindness in my heart. Ben My wife and i live in a small alaska town and the psych ward is a plane flight or a long drive away. We had an excellent psychiatrist in our town but his life has taken him in a different direction. Losing him has been very difficult for my wife. And not being able to find a suitable replacement has been even harder.

Her current local doctor wanted my wife to admit herself to the Anchorage hospital tonight. She went just looking for some help. She has not been feeling her best but she is far from her worst.

Sitting in the doctors office with my wife and her new doctor listening to my wife being told how flying to Anchorage and being admitted would “help” her and listening to my wife saying that she did not want to go felt like we being sold something by a pushy used car salesman.

I stand by my wife with all my love and I support her unconditionally. When she said that she just wanted to go home, i stood up, put my arm around my wife and said lets go.

We are sitting at home now happy and healthy.

Our town desperately needs a GOOD psychiatrist. Not one of the charlatans, but a true honest-to-goodness person capable of managing people’s meds and giving insightful advice.

If you know of one that wants to live in live a magical place, please tell them about Homer, Alaska.

I wish everyone living with bp all the love and kindness in my heart.

Ben

]]> By: Joe http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html/comment-page-1#comment-1409 Joe Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:16:54 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html#comment-1409 Hi, Kara-- After the brief hospital stay I describe in this post, Cecie relapsed and ended up in a different mental health facility where she stayed for three weeks. She was much more comfortable there, and as Colin points out in his comment, the hospitalization was necessary. It sort of rebooted everything and gave the new medication (lithium) time to kick in. The 2008 summer edition of <em>bp Magazine</em> was entitled "Going to the Hospital: Setback or Reset." For us, the second hospitalization was definitely a reset. Hi, Kara–

After the brief hospital stay I describe in this post, Cecie relapsed and ended up in a different mental health facility where she stayed for three weeks. She was much more comfortable there, and as Colin points out in his comment, the hospitalization was necessary. It sort of rebooted everything and gave the new medication (lithium) time to kick in.

The 2008 summer edition of bp Magazine was entitled “Going to the Hospital: Setback or Reset.” For us, the second hospitalization was definitely a reset.

]]> By: Kara http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html/comment-page-1#comment-1408 Kara Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:19:19 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html#comment-1408 I am someone who suffers from Bipolar. Most of the time I don't use the word "Suffer" because I have it under control. I am unable to sleep right now and am up just trying to do quiet things to tire out my brain. I am really conflicted right now about whether I should self admit right now. I am really feeling uneasy about myself. I just don't think I can control myself at work. I broke down last night and was going to self admit but like Joe said the good things are taken away. I mean it's not that I fear hurting me, I'm not suicidal I'm just really leery of the way I will react to what goes on around me. I can't loose my cool at work. I do plan on talking to my boss (Luckily they know about my condition and are pretty supportive) but if I tell anyone like them or my doctor why I feel so scared I'm sure to be put in the hospital anyways. I just didn't see this episode coming. I'm really not happy with the possibilities. I feel for your wife. These things come into play at the worst times. I am someone who suffers from Bipolar. Most of the time I don’t use the word “Suffer” because I have it under control.

I am unable to sleep right now and am up just trying to do quiet things to tire out my brain.

I am really conflicted right now about whether I should self admit right now.

I am really feeling uneasy about myself. I just don’t think I can control myself at work.

I broke down last night and was going to self admit but like Joe said the good things are taken away. I mean it’s not that I fear hurting me, I’m not suicidal I’m just really leery of the way I will react to what goes on around me. I can’t loose my cool at work. I do plan on talking to my boss (Luckily they know about my condition and are pretty supportive) but if I tell anyone like them or my doctor why I feel so scared I’m sure to be put in the hospital anyways.
I just didn’t see this episode coming. I’m really not happy with the possibilities.
I feel for your wife. These things come into play at the worst times.

]]> By: Colin S. Wood http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html/comment-page-1#comment-1138 Colin S. Wood Fri, 06 Jun 2008 06:43:37 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html#comment-1138 Hospitalization can be a nightmare, but sometimes is nec. It can change someone for the better or for the worse. Just remember to ALWAYS take the meds! Please feel free to come to my discussion forum at www.diagnosedbipolar.com Hospitalization can be a nightmare, but sometimes is nec. It can change someone for the better or for the worse. Just remember to ALWAYS take the meds!

Please feel free to come to my discussion forum at http://www.diagnosedbipolar.com

]]> By: Joe http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html/comment-page-1#comment-1125 Joe Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:32:07 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/hospitalization/the-psychiatric-ward.html#comment-1125 Follow up: I picked up Cecie at 11:30, and she is tired but fairly stable. Knowing what I know, to see her this well after only two days is miraculous. We will see her therapist (Lucy) on Thursday. Lucy called several times while Cecie was in the hospital, which makes me think that she will be an excellent support person. Cecie had one other therapist who was A+. Usually, I have to hunt down the professionals - it was a welcome change to have Lucy call me. We'll need to speak with the doctor later. Yes, Kerri-Jo, we are frustrated and furious. This is a hospitalization that could have been prevented. We're thankful, though, that Cecie is home and fairly stable. I hope in a few days she will be back to her old self. Follow up: I picked up Cecie at 11:30, and she is tired but fairly stable. Knowing what I know, to see her this well after only two days is miraculous. We will see her therapist (Lucy) on Thursday. Lucy called several times while Cecie was in the hospital, which makes me think that she will be an excellent support person. Cecie had one other therapist who was A+. Usually, I have to hunt down the professionals – it was a welcome change to have Lucy call me.

We’ll need to speak with the doctor later. Yes, Kerri-Jo, we are frustrated and furious. This is a hospitalization that could have been prevented. We’re thankful, though, that Cecie is home and fairly stable. I hope in a few days she will be back to her old self.

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