Comments on: The Psychiatric Hospital: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/ Raise: Elevate Or Help Rise To A Higher Position, Raising A Bipolar Teen Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:01:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dean Scott http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-1001 Dean Scott Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:58:32 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-1001 Woah!! I cant believe what i just read... seriously what you said is sooo true... the way patient are treat.. and in this case it is bout children.. SO sad! I found out it was in a spychiatric center for adult... same damn shit. what you said here and I quote "■It is not a place of healing. And the children do not receive therapy there. It is a place of power, punishment, confinement, control, and would make any person crazy if they stayed there long enough. In fact, I think this may be the problem with the staff. They are a product of the environment they have created." So real! Plus you're last line "Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for children or teens should really only be used as a complete and utter last resort." It should definitly be use only in realll last resort! But badly and sadly it is use in first choice... Patients that goes out of there seriously are way more hurt then before to get in... they dont need to stay months to have that bad treatment burn in there mind. just one day is enough to hurt real bad a person.. They all say that those places are for the "better", that is BULLSHIT! It make everything worse... and proof.. you have way more negative point then positive...! Nurse are bad! Iso is bad! lock a kid or adult is bad! Stay inside almost 24/7, never go outside for air or a walk, barely see the sun is bad! all staff is bad, from nurse to Appoint beneficiary (if its the way we calm 'em) or you can call em security guard if you want too... they're bad! Doctors for the most of em dont know shit bout what is going on... is bad! Anyway i'll stop or i'll never stop... Psychiatric Hospitals = REAL BAD TREATMENT peace out, and to everyone who wants to make that change, hit me up. I'm working on ideas to be able to change this real bad treatment, any comment on it, or ideas suggestion of change is well welcome. Keep your head up to everyone lock, one day it will stop... i'll make it stop, with all the powe i have, and no matter how it will be.. but i will make it stop! Woah!! I cant believe what i just read…
seriously what you said is sooo true… the way patient are treat.. and in this case it is bout children.. SO sad! I found out it was in a spychiatric center for adult… same damn shit. what you said here and I quote “■It is not a place of healing. And the children do not receive therapy there. It is a place of power, punishment, confinement, control, and would make any person crazy if they stayed there long enough. In fact, I think this may be the problem with the staff. They are a product of the environment they have created.” So real! Plus you’re last line “Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for children or teens should really only be used as a complete and utter last resort.” It should definitly be use only in realll last resort! But badly and sadly it is use in first choice… Patients that goes out of there seriously are way more hurt then before to get in… they dont need to stay months to have that bad treatment burn in there mind. just one day is enough to hurt real bad a person.. They all say that those places are for the “better”, that is BULLSHIT! It make everything worse… and proof.. you have way more negative point then positive…! Nurse are bad! Iso is bad! lock a kid or adult is bad! Stay inside almost 24/7, never go outside for air or a walk, barely see the sun is bad! all staff is bad, from nurse to Appoint beneficiary (if its the way we calm ‘em) or you can call em security guard if you want too… they’re bad! Doctors for the most of em dont know shit bout what is going on… is bad! Anyway i’ll stop or i’ll never stop… Psychiatric Hospitals = REAL BAD TREATMENT
peace out, and to everyone who wants to make that change, hit me up. I’m working on ideas to be able to change this real bad treatment, any comment on it, or ideas suggestion of change is well welcome.
Keep your head up to everyone lock, one day it will stop… i’ll make it stop, with all the powe i have, and no matter how it will be.. but i will make it stop!

]]> By: Wendy http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-934 Wendy Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:28:12 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-934 Thank you for sharing your experience. I went through a similar experience almost a year ago with my son and was horrified at how the hospital he was in treated him and my husband and myself. My son felt like a virtual prisoner and we were only allowed to see him twice the whole week he was there. Two phone calls, one from the Dr. and that was it. We never actually met with his doctor. My son sat in a room and watched TV practically the whole week. The bill? $8,000! I would never do it again and they really were not able to help him. His family doctor and counselor helped him more than anyone else. Thanks again, I am at least glad to know it is not just me. I was beginning to think I was the only one who saw something wrong with the way these places are run! Thank you for sharing your experience. I went through a similar experience almost a year ago with my son and was horrified at how the hospital he was in treated him and my husband and myself. My son felt like a virtual prisoner and we were only allowed to see him twice the whole week he was there. Two phone calls, one from the Dr. and that was it. We never actually met with his doctor. My son sat in a room and watched TV practically the whole week. The bill? $8,000! I would never do it again and they really were not able to help him. His family doctor and counselor helped him more than anyone else. Thanks again, I am at least glad to know it is not just me. I was beginning to think I was the only one who saw something wrong with the way these places are run!

]]> By: AA http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-821 AA Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:57:22 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-821 Meg, This isn't an issue of black and white, meds vs. anti-meds, etc. The issue is that Rye could have been killed with the punishment dosing of Seroquel. Sorry to be so blunt but that is plain and simple torture. That is worse than malpractice. AA Meg,

This isn’t an issue of black and white, meds vs. anti-meds, etc.

The issue is that Rye could have been killed with the punishment dosing of Seroquel. Sorry to be so blunt but that is plain and simple torture.

That is worse than malpractice.

AA

]]> By: Meg http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-817 Meg Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:53:37 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-817 Hi Lindsey: Welcome to the blog. This was actually my son's second time to be hospitalized. His first time was at 6 years old. And that was a private hospital. And to this day he talks about how hard that experience was for him as well. Although that program was far less creepy than this one. I think hospital experiences are precarious because rather than all good or all bad or private vs. public etc. I think so much has to do with the child him or herself at the time and where they are developmentally and otherwise and also, most importantly, who is running the program and who is working at the hospital at the time the child is there. We heard all good things about this hospital before he went and that is why we requested it (although in our state when your child is taken to the ER and is then deemed needing inpatient hospitalization (involuntary commitment) the state has the right to send them to any hospital in the state that has an open bed for them and who will take your insurance. So we felt lucky to get the one we got. And good to know for the future.) And my guess is that a lot of the parents whose child was there would say their time there was great. But people are different in their needs and expectations and staff act differently with different kids [and my son is bigger than most of the staff there and I think scared them at times] - that said, I never will understand what the deal was with the four year old and why they treated her that way. And my guess is her mom will never know she was treated that way. Overall, my son is much better off now than before he went in but it was a mixed bag for sure. And I hear the same thing about all 'therapeutic' programs, whether they are hospitals, RTCs, boarding schools, therapeutic day schools, etc. Some are great. Some are terrible. And so much depends not on the actual location itself but rather who is running the program at the time your child is there and who is working on a day to day basis as staff while your child is there. And you never know ahead of time how or who that is going to be. Hi Lindsey: Welcome to the blog. This was actually my son’s second time to be hospitalized. His first time was at 6 years old. And that was a private hospital. And to this day he talks about how hard that experience was for him as well. Although that program was far less creepy than this one.

I think hospital experiences are precarious because rather than all good or all bad or private vs. public etc. I think so much has to do with the child him or herself at the time and where they are developmentally and otherwise and also, most importantly, who is running the program and who is working at the hospital at the time the child is there. We heard all good things about this hospital before he went and that is why we requested it (although in our state when your child is taken to the ER and is then deemed needing inpatient hospitalization (involuntary commitment) the state has the right to send them to any hospital in the state that has an open bed for them and who will take your insurance. So we felt lucky to get the one we got. And good to know for the future.) And my guess is that a lot of the parents whose child was there would say their time there was great. But people are different in their needs and expectations and staff act differently with different kids [and my son is bigger than most of the staff there and I think scared them at times] – that said, I never will understand what the deal was with the four year old and why they treated her that way. And my guess is her mom will never know she was treated that way.

Overall, my son is much better off now than before he went in but it was a mixed bag for sure. And I hear the same thing about all ‘therapeutic’ programs, whether they are hospitals, RTCs, boarding schools, therapeutic day schools, etc. Some are great. Some are terrible. And so much depends not on the actual location itself but rather who is running the program at the time your child is there and who is working on a day to day basis as staff while your child is there. And you never know ahead of time how or who that is going to be.

]]> By: Lindsey http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-816 Lindsey Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:10:52 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-816 I found you while trying to research a possible link between bipolar disorder and dyslexia. Reading through your blog has been very interesting for me though because I have experienced so many of the same things as you. My son could probably be your son in four years (he is 8 now). I didn't want to comment on your hospitalization post specifically though. My son has been hospitalized 4 times- three times after actual suicide attempts and once while in a manic state. The first experience while he was in the manic state was similar to your experience and I was very leary when I had to hospitalize him the second time around. But, I also had no choice because my then six-year-old was trying everything in his power to kill himself. I chose a different hospital the second round. The hospital really does make a difference. I live in a rural area and small town also and all hospitals are a several hours drive in either direction. The first hospital was private and was actually chosen over the teaching hospital only because there were no beds available at the teaching hospital. The three stays he has had since then at the teaching hospital have been wonderful. My stepdaughter also had an inpatient stay there and she was 13 and said it was fine (actually kind of fun). I feel bad for you that you had a horrible experience at the hospital. It puts a bad taste in your mouth and makes you never want to let go of your child again. I want to protect my son as much as I can and I know the first hospitalization I felt they did more damage than help- he came out of the hospital ten times worse than he went in. I found you while trying to research a possible link between bipolar disorder and dyslexia. Reading through your blog has been very interesting for me though because I have experienced so many of the same things as you. My son could probably be your son in four years (he is 8 now).

I didn’t want to comment on your hospitalization post specifically though. My son has been hospitalized 4 times- three times after actual suicide attempts and once while in a manic state. The first experience while he was in the manic state was similar to your experience and I was very leary when I had to hospitalize him the second time around. But, I also had no choice because my then six-year-old was trying everything in his power to kill himself. I chose a different hospital the second round.

The hospital really does make a difference. I live in a rural area and small town also and all hospitals are a several hours drive in either direction. The first hospital was private and was actually chosen over the teaching hospital only because there were no beds available at the teaching hospital. The three stays he has had since then at the teaching hospital have been wonderful. My stepdaughter also had an inpatient stay there and she was 13 and said it was fine (actually kind of fun).

I feel bad for you that you had a horrible experience at the hospital. It puts a bad taste in your mouth and makes you never want to let go of your child again. I want to protect my son as much as I can and I know the first hospitalization I felt they did more damage than help- he came out of the hospital ten times worse than he went in.

]]> By: sherry http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-812 sherry Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:26:37 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-812 I am glad that he is home. I too, am thinking along AA's lines--the administration of an overdose is either a mistake or malpractice. In an inpatient setting, all meds given must be charted, this would mean that there is written record of what was given when, and how often. Wouldnt it be quite obvious that he was dangerously overmedicated? I mean, lawsuits are filed over less negligence than this! I am glad that he is home. I too, am thinking along AA’s lines–the administration of an overdose is either a mistake or malpractice. In an inpatient setting, all meds given must be charted, this would mean that there is written record of what was given when, and how often. Wouldnt it be quite obvious that he was dangerously overmedicated? I mean, lawsuits are filed over less negligence than this!

]]> By: AA http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-811 AA Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:07:02 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-811 Meg, I am so sorry for what has happened. Have you considered reporting this hospital? I fear a kid is going to be killed by this type of abuse. I know you have alot going on but when the time is right, I hope you will report them. I am not even sure how to go about it but I am really worried that someone is going to be killed by these practices. Meg,

I am so sorry for what has happened.

Have you considered reporting this hospital? I fear a kid is going to be killed by this type of abuse.

I know you have alot going on but when the time is right, I hope you will report them. I am not even sure how to go about it but I am really worried that someone is going to be killed by these practices.

]]> By: Adrienne http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-810 Adrienne Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:13:20 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-810 Oh, wow. I'm gobsmacked. That's absolutely horrifying. I'm feeling incredibly grateful that the children's psych center here, imperfect as it is, is much, much better. That's a strange thing to say as everything tends to be worse here in NM than anywhere else, but not in this case. The half dozen kids I know who have been patients there tell mostly good stories. SO glad to hear that Rye is doing better and that you all got a break, and hoping for a long, long period of stability! Oh, wow. I’m gobsmacked. That’s absolutely horrifying. I’m feeling incredibly grateful that the children’s psych center here, imperfect as it is, is much, much better. That’s a strange thing to say as everything tends to be worse here in NM than anywhere else, but not in this case. The half dozen kids I know who have been patients there tell mostly good stories.

SO glad to hear that Rye is doing better and that you all got a break, and hoping for a long, long period of stability!

]]> By: Mama Bear http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-809 Mama Bear Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:32:19 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-809 I'm really speechless, it all sounds so cruel. I'm angry that this is the system that our kids have to face. That we haven't created a more respectful way of dealing with kids in crisis. This would be all over the news if a child with cancer was treated this way, but if we are a parent of a mentally ill child, we are helpless. I'm glad his meds are on track and I hope this transition is a success for your whole family. I’m really speechless, it all sounds so cruel. I’m angry that this is the system that our kids have to face. That we haven’t created a more respectful way of dealing with kids in crisis. This would be all over the news if a child with cancer was treated this way, but if we are a parent of a mentally ill child, we are helpless. I’m glad his meds are on track and I hope this transition is a success for your whole family.

]]> By: Taz's Mama http://raisingbipolar.com/2010/06/14/the-psychiatric-hospital-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-808 Taz's Mama Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:43:09 +0000 http://raisingbipolar.com/?p=2729#comment-808 oh my god meg! that sounds terrible! i'm so sorry rye had to go through that and you hearing those terrible noises. i worked a therapeutic school for about 6 months and it was similar. punishment, control, restraint (no chemical though). and i remember children being antagonized to the point of restraint then the screaming and crying while 4 adults lay on top of them face down. how humiliating and scary. then there was no reparation after that. i only lasted 6 mo. cause it was traumatizing. and i can't imagine if that was my child! i am already so protective of Taz. i don't even like my extended family snapping at him or disciplining him in any way. of course, it's okay for me to, but no one else :) thank God rye is home and i'm glad you had a least a little good come out of it. just curious what you will change now that you recognize the enabling and everything. maybe you can write a post about that? oh my god meg! that sounds terrible! i’m so sorry rye had to go through that and you hearing those terrible noises. i worked a therapeutic school for about 6 months and it was similar. punishment, control, restraint (no chemical though). and i remember children being antagonized to the point of restraint then the screaming and crying while 4 adults lay on top of them face down. how humiliating and scary. then there was no reparation after that. i only lasted 6 mo. cause it was traumatizing. and i can’t imagine if that was my child! i am already so protective of Taz. i don’t even like my extended family snapping at him or disciplining him in any way. of course, it’s okay for me to, but no one else :)

thank God rye is home and i’m glad you had a least a little good come out of it. just curious what you will change now that you recognize the enabling and everything. maybe you can write a post about that?

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