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What is the psych ward really like?
Saturday, January 09, 2010 @ 9:36 PM
"Don't get me wrong, if given the choice between prison and the psych ward (for the same amount of time), I'll take the psych ward any time. But prison does have one, single advantage in my opinion. The people who put you in prison and keep you there don't expect you to be grateful for it." -- Joanna Barker at Your Money's Worth
My first experience in the short-term psych ward was not what I expected. I expected intensive therapy - instead, I was lucky if I spoke with a doctor for five minutes a day. I expected group therapy - instead, there were a few "classes" every day, where an underpaid grad student would watch as thirteen doped-up people worked on word searches.
On the other hand, I also feared dangerous, violent people who might want to harm me. In reality, the patients were mostly just incredibly bored.
People go into psych wards expecting treatment. But all the psych ward can really offer you is a break from free will. They'll keep you away from weapons and you might get to make some sand art. Some of the staff will be well-meaning but powerless, and the rest will be assholes. And even if your admission is "voluntary" that doesn't mean you can walk out when you feel better. Odds are, you'll be there between seven and fourteen days, regardless.
I just think there has to be a better way.
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2 Comments:
At 7:06 PM,
Anonymous said…
I am in one right now. Your response is spot-
on. I really wish I could expect this to help, but all they talk about us "short term goals". I want to shout at them that sand art today won't fix tomorrow, or the next day, or the next.
At 9:47 PM,
Kellie said…
Thank you for your comment. I'm surprised you can access the Internet while incarcerated. I've barely been able to use a phone, much less a computer. I hope that you feel better - in the short term, in the long-term, in all the terms. I hope something helps you.
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