How long have you been suffering from sz, and how many times have you been to the mental hospital?

I’ve been suffering for over 26 years now. I went to the mental hospital once when I was 19 years old. I’m 42 years old now. My experience at the mental hospital wasn’t that bad. Also what was your experience at the mental hospital as well?

4 Likes

I went to the hospital’s psych ward when I was 22, maybe 40 years ago. My SzA didn’t kick in two until I was 30. I’ve been in the psych ward, hospital, maybe give or six times, the last time when I was 50. I’m 61 now.

I’ve been diagnosed since I was 22, had a psychotic break right after my 22nd birthday. I am 26 now. Had my second break about a year ago. First time in hospital was horrible, second time not so bad! I was relieved to be there again lol

1 Like

Seems like i had symptoms of some sort all my life, but dx 20 years ago. I dont want to say, but i was hospitalized many times.

I remember I was very delusional at the mental hospital. I remember they put me in a special room and a voice said, yell and say I don’t want to go to hell. So I yelled, “I don’t want to go to hell”. The door was open, so a lot of people saw the whole thing. Then they gave me a shot in my backside…I think to calm me down. If I remember right that was when I figured out that I was delusional. Three big men kind of took hold of me and put me in the room.

1 Like

I’ve been having symptoms of schizoaffective disorder since I was 15, so 26 years. I have been hospitalized eleven times. Most of the psych units I have been in have been fine, aside from one awful one. The awful one is where I ended up during my third psychotic break.

First hospitalized in 1980 at age 19. I guess my total is 10 or 11. My first psyche ward was like a country club; really new, good food, a pool table a ping-pong table, walks to the park, I went jogging with a counselor, they took us on a field trip. It overlooked some hills out in the back and I used to go out by myself and sit in a chair and enjoy the view.

My next ward was the exact opposite, kind of old and dirty, the people there were very ill and pretty hardcore. I was pretty wary of all of them, I was in there because of a mistake. I checked myself in one night but my parents visited and once they got a look at the place and the type of people in there they got me out of there immidiately.

Then it was on to the long term hospital for 8 months. and after that I stayed out of hospitals for 8 years before a nasty relapse sent me back in for 4 more visits in 1989. I was in some nice wards again. I remember they kept a 5 gallon container of ice cream in the freezer at all times that you could help yourself to any time you felt like it. I don’t remember anything I did in there and I don’t remember the nurses or any of the patients or how long I was in but I remember that ice cream was mint chocolate chip and I ate a lot of it.

Oh yeah, I do remember one group therapy session at 8:00 am and about 10 of us and two nurses were in a circle and I started talking and some girl I hadn’t really noticed before got out of her chair and said “Awww”, and came over and hugged me. The nurses angrily told her to sit down but two minutes later I was still talking and she got up again and hugged me again, lol.

4 Likes

I’ve been sectioned 14 times since 2010. I wouldn’t say I’m suffering though.

1 Like

I’ve had sz for two years now I’ve been in the hospital 8 times but I was non compliant or trying meds that didn’t work

I had my first break at 57 and went to hospital for 2 weeks, I’m now 61. It was awful they had me so doped up I had voices and hallucinations, I was fighting the devil and praying hard! Have u always stayed on your meds?

I was diagnosed at 16 but I have been having symptoms since 14. I’m 20 now. I can’t even remember how many hospitals I’ve been to, those past 4 years are really foggy now. I just remember I was constantly hospitalized from late 2015 to some point in mid 2018. Even after my last discharge things have been hazy. Not sure if it’s the Clozaril or something else

I was hospitalized 32 times but I have not Been admited for 8 years now

1 Like

I had a psychotic episode when I was 16. I’ve suffered micro-psychosis my whole life but didn’t get diagnose with sza until I was in my 40’s. I’ve been put on 51/50 holds 9 times and was sent to mental hospitals 7 times, 2 times I spent my hold in the ICU.

The mental hospitals I’ve been to have varied a lot. But they do have some things in common too. Some of the things I like about being in the hospital are having a schedule to follow and eating regularly scheduled meals.

Some of the things I didn’t like about the hospital is being around loud people, being over medicated and sharing the shower with strangers.

1 Like

Im 26. First psychotic episode when I was 16. Been in the mental ward for long stays 5 times.

First episode when I was 16. I have had about 8 relapses requiring hospitalisation

That means I have dealt with this ■■■■ for 17 years now.

I lacked insight until I found this forum, and the help of the community of other SZ sufferers who helped me understand greatly this illness. Much more than the professionals.

I first got sick when I was 23 years old and now I’m 50. So 27 years.
At first they wouldn’t let me into the hospital. I wasn’t doing well just outpatient, so I tried over and over again going to the local ETS. Finally I made a suicide attempt and after that I was in and out for years, culminating in 2 years in 2 long-term hospitals. After that, I started the pattern of in and out again. But they tried to conserve me again and I stopped going after I got off.
Haven’t been back since.

28 years. 1 visit to detox center due to abilify reaction. 4 visits to Mental Hospital. The visit to Detox Center was OK as I was allowed visitors, and they bought in clothes and books. I was working at the time and I didn’t think much of an activity where we painted ceramic birds to presumably make a living selling them. I also was shocked that cigarettes were being encouraged as an alternative to what the other folks who were addicts were using. Geodon, which they gave me, put me to sleep for the last few days and I had to go off of it when I went back to work. There was 2 moments where I went to sleep on the bus and the floor at work before then though.
The other 4 trips were for a combo of problems and happened in a half year span. I was shocked at first that some people were revolving patients before I fell in love with the places. Then I guess they got tired of seeing me around and gave me a good reason to leave after an experience I’ll never forget and I haven’t been there in over 5 years. However the group home has some similarities to it.

I’m been struggling with schizoaffective for 30 years and been in the hospital around 20 times. I’m over 50 now and not needing to be hospitalized as much.

I am 50 and have been dealing with it for just over 12 years. Didn’t start until 38 for me. I have been hospitalized 4 times. The first three were torture and that wasn’t really the place for me. I was put in against my will. The military just threw me in there. Once for a month and I needed to be working a mission I had planned that went on without me. It was horrible. I felt like I failed my whole country. Suicidal the whole time.

The 4th time when I quit my meds though it was where I needed to be. I was out of it. Don’t remember most of it. But I won’t quit my meds again. That scared the hell out of me and I haven’t been back since. That was in 2012.

1 Like

I’ve had several checkins with the local team but nothing like being in the in-patient unit since 2015.That was when I first got diagnosed. I think I’m pretty stable as long as I keep up with my team on the doseage I hope I don’t have a psychotic break but it can always happen I suppose. I just feel so gosh darn solid right now it would probably put me back into a depression to not be able to trust myself. I don’t know if I’ll survive without my family to be around if I have a psychotic break when they’re not here to help me.