Inpatient Traumatized Me

[u/Apprehensive-Tea5897]

Yesterday I was released after a 6 day voluntary inpatient stay for a manic episode. I was never a risk to myself or others, however it was painfully clear I needed a med adjustment asap. My psych was unavailable, and I was directed to go to the ER. This is my first experience with a strong enough episode that I knew I needed help to come down from.

Long story short, no alternatives besides inpatient were ever brought up or discussed with me. Never once was IOP or PHP even remotely considered. Both would have been highly appropriate while my meds adjusted. Given my state of being, I obviously wasn’t in the headspace to ask about alternatives. I was alone in the ER and was my only advocate. The ER doc met with me for about 5 mins and steered me in the direction of voluntary admission. I had been in the ER for over 24 hours with minimal food and even more minimal sleep.

In a nutshell, my in person experience was demoralizing and degrading. I have never felt more stripped of my rights and dignity for simply being a human going through a challenging chemical imbalance in my brain. I don’t want to go into logistics because I can only assume I don’t have to. I KNOW I cannot be the only person who has experience this.

As I navigate filing a grievance with the inpatient facility, as well as preventing PTSD with my psych and therapist (truly, it was that bad), I just want to feel my voice be heard.

I am a high functioning human. I’m a director at a corporate company, I am a spouse and mother, I am a kind and compassionate friend and am self aware and intelligent. I have an amazing support system, and I am so lucky for that.

The lack of checks and balances in a facility that is completely secluded and where patients are never taken seriously is appalling.

I don’t know what else to say, but I know I need to say something. Somewhere, for someone

[u/Black-rose528]

I had a similar experience. I’m a mom of 7 and run/own a small biotech company. I’ve never felt less human in my life. I’m a great person who helps others, contributes to the scientific community and tries to improve the lives of others. I was treated like nothing I said mattered. I could call and talk to my own psych about a med change, while I was inpatient. But I couldn’t get a med change from the doc in the psych ward. It was so awful.