I Spent A Week In A Psychiatric Hospital And I'm Ready To Talk About It
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

I Spent A Week In A Psychiatric Hospital And I'm Ready To Talk About It

And there weren't any cages or straitjackets.

977
I Spent A Week In A Psychiatric Hospital And I'm Ready To Talk About It
Pixabay

Never in my 14 years of life had I ever felt as alone as I did on the night of January 6th, wrapped up in a blanket of a fabric I couldn’t identify and ballroom dancing with myself. Here was my new home. Here, tucked away from the real world, my story was exposed and vulnerable for all to see, but my name was unknown. We were all nameless stories, faceless diagnoses: the tortured runaway, the walking panic attack, the bipolar pot enthusiast, the hostile pregnant girl, and me, the suicidal depressive.

It has been three years. I don’t remember the names of most of those girls, but I will never forget why they were in there with me.

A psychiatric hospital was the last place I had expected myself to end up that year. I was the shining straight-A freshman whom I believe to this day is the kind of student teachers dream of having. But my image was glass and my mind was dynamite; looking back, it’s no surprise I shattered.

The moment I stepped into that empty hospital room, I knew that my hands could no longer hold even the pieces of that fragile image. The constant success I had so looked forward to was gone forever. I’d failed, and I had to face my dynamite mind--alone.

And so there I was, my first night incarcerated, sitting in a corner forming shadow puppets on the lusterless walls, wondering if the other two beds in the room would be occupied. I had hoped that they wouldn’t be--I was a quiet girl who needed her own sanctum. But alas, there came two slightly older girls who were assigned to my room. They were the closest things I had to friends during my stay at the hospital. Roommates are family. Roommates take care of each other.

The morning of the 7th, a nurse opened our door and told us we needed to get up. To this day, I have no idea what time it was. There were no clocks in the psych hospital, but it didn’t matter. Most of us wanted to end our lives. We were already living on borrowed time.

I ate my tray of breakfast — cool waffles, a pint of milk, and some other assorted items — in the common room with the other new patients. Nobody was allowed to be escorted down to the dining hall until they’d been there at least 24 hours. This rule was not made apparent to me. I accidentally joined the veteran patients down in the dining hall. The overworked staff paid no attention to me. Quiet girls, I discovered, get away with everything.

Despite the unauthorized “privilege” of eating dining hall hamburgers instead of whatever limp leftovers the newbies were forced to consume, my first day was absolutely miserable. Because I had been transferred to the hospital directly from the emergency room, I, unlike most of the other girls, had not had any opportunity to pack my belongings. A nurse the night before strip-searched me and confiscated most of what I’d had in my coat pockets. She told me that my parents could bring bags to the front desk, and the things would be searched, processed, and delivered to me swiftly in the morning.

Something went wrong in the processing. By the evening, I still had nothing. I was already indisputably, clinically depressed, but there is nothing more depressing than having to wear the exact same change of clothes for more than one full day.

After visitation ended (which was 8 p.m., my parents told me), I asked a nurse on the floor if by any chance my bags had finished processing. She told me to stop complaining and be patient. I apathetically shuffled back to my room, trying to accept the fact that I would be wearing the same socks for the foreseeable future. But — lo and behold — on the desk next to my bed were piles of belongings. Among these things were three pairs of pajama pants, five fresh shirts, a dozen pairs of socks, my own toothpaste, shampoo, a brand new gel-handle hairbrush, and slippers. The light above the desk was on, illuminating my gifts. I did not see a wall lamp. I saw the light of God’s own smile beaming tenderly upon the amenities that, I realized, everyone so takes for granted.

Each morning brought more stories that I wish I had more time to tell — like the time one girl got in an argument with one of the nurses in front of all the other patients and I had to hear about it for the rest of that evening.

Or the time I snuck markers and crayons in my slippers (we weren’t allowed to have them in our rooms due to the threat of suicide by crayon consumption, but I was a writer, and nothing would have made me more insane than I already was than the lack of written expression).

Or the time I almost took another patient’s medication. Or the time I was so starved for fresh air that I listened to the fizzing in my watermelon-flavored water and pretended it was a summer breeze.

The seven days I spent in the hospital were not pleasant by any stretch of the imagination. There’s nothing pleasant about sleeping on paper thin, breathable, suffocation-proof pillows.

But, almost four tumultuous years later, I love those seven days.

I love how they shaped the rest of my journey through psychiatric hell and back again.

I love how they changed the way I look at other people and how I talk about mental health.

I love how they gave me a story worth telling, a story that I hope, one day, can be made into a memoir.

Most importantly, I love how they taught me that the worst of times can become our greatest adventures.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71107
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132821
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments