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janey50
05-05-08, 17:45
Hi again all you long-suffering friends. I just wanted to know if anyone on here has suffered from acute anxiety and been in hospital with it, and how did you cope? It sounds like I'm getting closer to that option and I just can't imagine how I would deal with it. Would be glad to hear from anyone who has survived this scarey scenario. Thanks, Janey

decca
05-05-08, 17:53
Hi Janey,
Do you mean having to go into hospital because of an Acute anxiety state or do you mean coping with your anxiety whilst in hospital for something else?
Decca

smudgie
05-05-08, 17:53
Hi janey

yes ive been in hospital, 3/4 times. A few times voluntry and a few sectioned for my own protection.

I cant say its very pleasent feeling your in the hospital but you get time to yourself and you will meet others with problems and talk.

of course its where you go and the level of support you have, I must say i guess if i didnt have it at certain times i wouldnt be here now.

i dont like to think about it really but i does have its benefits.

Sorry i cant help you more, pm if you want and i wish you all the best.

take good care of you
smudgie

doodah
05-05-08, 18:04
Hello janey,

In the 80s my doctor suggested I go into hospital "for a rest". I didn't realise she meant a psychiatric hospital and of course One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest sprung to my mind back then! I was pretty anxious/nervous about going in and, I think, for the first day I was almost begging my parents to take me home! BUT ... I have to say I got more help in there than I ever have anywhere else. As smudgie says, I guess it depends what hospital you go to. I was a voluntary patient a few times. I have to say that I met some of the nicest and most genuine people ever when I was in there.

Also, if you ever want to pm me, please feel free.

Wendy xx

janey50
05-05-08, 19:37
Hi Janey,
Do you mean having to go into hospital because of an Acute anxiety state or do you mean coping with your anxiety whilst in hospital for something else?
Decca

No, I mean going into hospital because of my anxiety - sometimes it gets so bad I do think of self-harm etc. Thanks, Janey

marie1974
05-05-08, 21:12
hi janey i always keep busy to help my anxiety, so mayb kp busy indoors or go on a brisk walk as this works for me and halfed my anxietys i do it every day now, or get into a hobby just to take your mind off things hugs xxxxx

Bill
06-05-08, 04:26
Janey,

I went into hospital a couple of times when I was really bad. Once was for ECT which as you know I refused after the first treatment and the other time was to help with my self harming and od's.

The one real benefit were the therapies I was offered. I was taught how to use meditation, how to tackle panics and even tried art classes there.

Alot of us used to sit together in the evenings for a chat, play games or just watch a dvd. The hospital was "open" so we could come and go as we chose so I'd often take a walk into town. The only Bad part was the ECT!!! I met some very nice people there but at the same time I felt very sad when they told me of their suffering.

There was one woman in her thirties. She was suffering from severe depression. Her husband would visit with her kids and so you can imagine how upsetting it was for all of them. They were Such a nice family. I'll never forget them. It was So sad.

Don't be afraid of hospital if you find there really isn't any other alternative but I do feel you can get better without having to go in.
I wish I could do more to help you.:bighug1:

janey50
09-05-08, 17:47
Janey,

I wish I could do more to help you.:bighug1:
Bill, you're such a nice person, I can just tell. I wish someone could do something to help me too. today have self-harmed - only scratches but still a load of melodramatic nonsense which scared both me and the dog! And screamed and smashed up a plastic bucket (how very stupid) and just wonder where all this drama is coming from because I've never been like this before and I'm 51. Just get so terrified and tense. I'd just like to be taken away somewhere safe but I don't know where that is and the Crisis Team are scaling down their efforts as they can see I'm notwhat they deem to be 'at risk' - so it's tempting to o/d just to get atttention. How weird is that? I guess you understand that better than some. Feels like my life is disintegrating. No real sense of a direction therapy is going in - no more mention of ECT or Lithium, I'm just struggling on on this latest anti-d, Trazodone, and feeling like shit. Please keep rooting for me. Janey.

dawny
09-05-08, 20:43
janey,

im so saddened to read your post...please dont do anything silly......always remember janey that you will get through this,

the day will come janey when you will start to feel better....i know janey ive been where you are......im glad i held on in there......

....ive never been admitted to hospital, but then i would have been to afriad to go anyhow, but janey, please dont give up hope, nothing ever stays the same...your life will move on....

take care

dawny xxxxx

Bill
10-05-08, 01:12
Hello Janey:hugs: ,

Yes, I understand how you're feeling.:hugs:.................

today have self-harmed - only scratches but still a load of melodramatic nonsense which scared both me and the dog! And screamed and smashed up a plastic bucket.........so it's tempting to o/d just to get atttention.........Just get so terrified and tense. I'd just like to be taken away somewhere safe but I don't know where that is.......Feels like my life is disintegrating.

............because I went down the same route. Sometimes I used to get So frustrated with my anxiety and my life that I wanted to release it by hitting a brick wall down just like you did with the bucket. Try hitting a pillow next time!:winks:

I then used to try and release the anxious feelings by self harming which helped for a short while but then I found myself in a cycle of self-harming because the pain always returned.

As a last resort I turned to od's. I just felt so desperate for the pain to stop that I didn't care in the end what happened to me because life just didn't feel worth living. I just wanted the pain to stop and to feel safe.

I think you're suffering a general "insecurity" because you only feel safe in the home And if your husband is with you. As you say below from your previous post.....

I am so agoraphobic it would freak me out. I have a Mind Befriender but it's not been a very fruitful relationship really, in that I am so consumed with anxiety that I can't make the most of the contact - initially we took the dofg for a walk together but I couldn't do that now, or I should say, at the moment. i keep hoping I will feel better one day but at the moment I just feel worse and worse.....you will until you take back control of your life.

I feel you're in a spiral where worry is compounding worry to the point that you're feeling trapped by your fears and everything is feeling hopeless. You just want the the anxious feelings to stop and to feel safe so you're looking to medication to ease the symptoms and your husband to provide the securities you need.

There are couple of things you need to install in your thinking - self-belief and self confidence - and these can only be installed by learning that you're actually more capable than you're feeling.

You need to learn to switch off your awareness side of your mind. When you're at home alone you've been doing gardening which although it can be helpful, it isn't really engrossing your mind so that you're still thinking about being on your own. You need to find something that you Really Enjoy that is Totally engrossing say by doing something like a complicated jigsaw puzzle. You need something to keep your mind from thinking about your surroundings because it's "your thoughts" that are driving your anxious feelings. Also, engaging in conversation can stop your anxious thoughts.

You also need to confront your agoraphobia no matter how difficult it feels because you Have to break free from your trap that is creating all the problems for you. Use your befriender to take you out just for a short walk or ride at first then keep building on it by taking a small step further each time.

If you allow your anxious feelings to control you and stop you from feeling free by not allowing you to get out then your anxious feelings will just feel worse.

Honestly, you will be amazed how much better you'll feel once you start taking steps to regain your life. You just need to install more faith and courage in yourself because I Know you CAN beat this just as I managed to stop the cycle in my bad days.:bighug1:

janey50
10-05-08, 17:45
janey,

im so saddened to read your post...please dont do anything silly......always remember janey that you will get through this,

the day will come janey when you will start to feel better....i know janey ive been where you are......im glad i held on in there......

....ive never been admitted to hospital, but then i would have been to afriad to go anyhow, but janey, please dont give up hope, nothing ever stays the same...your life will move on....

take care

dawny xxxxx

Dawny, thanks hon. I need to be told over and over again that it will get better, as at the moment I can't see how, but today has been a better day so I suppose that's a glimmer...

Bill, you're a star. It is so encouraging to read that other people have got back from the brink, and everything you write makes sense. i know I've got to start believing in myself again somehow, instead of putting all my security in other people, which just doesn't work. No one can wave a magic wand. I think I do need to be more outward looking cos at the moment it's ALL in my head and like you say, even the gardening, which is positive, leaves me too much time to think. But a jigsaw puzzle would get me far too tense the way I am just now, same as I get really wound up by Sudoku!! Stupid things! I can only manage one new number per session, and end up wanting to scream. Thanks to everyone for the support. janey

Bill
11-05-08, 03:36
Hello Janey:hugs:,

I'm glad at least you still thinks me a star....not that I feel I am though!

You need to find a hobby that you can look forward to which is enjoyable, engrossing but relaxing too without adding to your feelings of frustration but you'll need to have a think!:shrug:

I also feel you need to learn a relaxation technique such as breathing exercises to try and ease the tension you're feeling. Perhaps meditation also. All it means is laying on the sofa or bed listening to a relaxation cd that gives you instructions. They often say things like imagine you're laying on a beach etc and tell you to focus on the different muscles in your body to help you relax them.

If you lay on a bed in silence, your mind will work overtime on worrying thoughts which is why you need something to focus on such as a meditation cd.

I did find it helped me as it gave my body a breather from my anxious feelings.:hugs:

janey50
12-05-08, 15:43
Honestly, you will be amazed how much better you'll feel once you start taking steps to regain your life. You just need to install more faith and courage in yourself because I Know you CAN beat this just as I managed to stop the cycle in my bad days.:bighug1: [/quote]
Bill, thankyou so much. You are reminding me of who I really am at core, and that I do have personal resources. I don't really understand why I am looking to other people to solve this for me - it isn't working because they can't. I need to remind myself to foster my self confidence and self belief. they've taken a battering. the big test - or so it seems- is tonight when my husband starts a run of 7 Nights (he's a nurse). i am dreading it to the point of being sick, yet i know it can be done and it's all a question of attitude. For his sake I need to try. Where this wimpish 'me' came from I don't know, but thankyou for helping me fight it. Any further inspiring thoughts always gratefully received! Janey

lizzie29
12-05-08, 16:51
Janey - I don't really know much about your fears and worries, but I always worry when my husband is out at work late, etc. You mentioned your husband is working nights - I always try to focus on the fact that I know where my husband is, he's only a phone call away, and if the worst came to the worst, I could always go there and see him (I don't think I ever would, but it reassures me).
I think you're so brave, as my husband doesn't work nights and I worry when he's not here in the day!!! So for you to spend nights on your own (which I find harder than days) I think is amazing.
Hope you get on okay, sure you will. x

janey50
12-05-08, 20:27
Hi lKenny - have I got that right? Thanks so much for yr encouragement. I'm writing this in anticipation of my hubby leaving within 20 mins and it's horrible. I've taken the dog round the block for a walk just to distract myself, but it's like a countdown. I couldn't go to where he works - I'm agoraphobic and anyway, no car once he's gone. All I can do is take tranquillisers and sleeping pills - not a very good strategy but it's the only way I'll be able to sleep. Wish me luck! He's left big notes all round the house telling me to ring him if I get in a panic, or the Samaritans. I need to realsie how brave I am being actually, cos this has seemed like an impossible situation coming up, for weeks now, and actually it is going to happen, whether I like it or not. God, what we put ourselves through!y son will be here when he gets back from the pub so at least there will be a body in the house overnight. Thanks again for yr support. janeyx

janey50
12-05-08, 20:32
[quote=Bill;334942]

Hi again, Bill. You'd laugh if you saw me taking yr advice this afternoon. Took up my knitting again, which I'd put away thinking I couldn't concentrate on it. Well I proved myself wrong, but I did have to unpick everything I'd done, twice!! as I'd misread the instructions. Still, it's a start, and something I can continue with tomorrow if I've not imploded overnight. Puzzles drive me nuts - I had one for Xmas last year and it just made me so tense so maybe I'll give that one a miss. Thanks again for all yr encouragement. janey

lizzie29
12-05-08, 22:17
Hi Janey

Well, I guess it's been a couple of hours since your husband went to work - how are you doing?

I'm dreading the fact that my parents are probably going away soon. I have my husband but like them near as a backup, "just in case" - I'm sure you understand!!!

If you're like me, the thought of something like this is always harder than it actually is, although it's by no means easy. Every minute seems like an eternity and it's so mentally exhausting. I know how you feel!

If you want to chat more, you could pm me. Maybe we could help each other through the hard times, particularly when one of us is alone and needing more support.

Hope you're doing okay - I always try to break it down into small chunks - so many hours gone, so many to go, etc etc.
Good luck!