Because I’m not a danger to myself or others when psychotic. Sure I start failing classes and acting weird and whatnot and I can get very paranoid but I’m just not a danger you know? So I don’t see a reason to be hospitalized when I’m that way. People on here seem to suggest I hospitalize myself during my episodes but I don’t see the practical purpose of that. Hospitalization is very expensive and a large hassle so I’d really only rather be there if I am seriously worried about my behavior. It makes more sense to me to commit myself during severe depressive episodes as I then become a danger to myself.
I’m happy that I’ve avoided the hospitals in all my sick years. But I don’t think this good thing will last forever. My symptoms get a little worse every year and my parents are gonna get old.
With my first psychiatrist, who I met when I was floridly psychotic, he wanted me to go to hospital until he learned that I don’t have private health cover. Then he wanted me to avoid going through the public system because the psych wards are full of people who have gone psychotic from using ice.
We made a pact that I wouldn’t hurt myself or run away and booked appointments every couple of days so he could monitor me.
My current psychiatrist occasionally threatens hospitalisation but I’ve avoided it so far.
My partner often over reacts to things I say and thinks I should go to hospital.
yes, sometimes its preventative but if you are a danger to yourself or others it is definitely the place to be. esp if you are suicidal,
if you are suicidal you really need to get help and fast, the faster you get help the better and it means you wont do anything silly to yourself that you might regret or worse
for those of you on this site who don’t think they need treatment I say…“o k, so you don’t need treatment therefore you aren’t schizophrenic.” I was “put into the hospital” because I was out of it. when you are truly out of it you don’t know you need the hospital. @Anna you probably aren’t schizophrenic.
I’m not schizophrenic either but my episodes are so powerful that I could potentially be a threat to self or others. I have no control over my actions when I’m psychotic. Therefore I usually end up in the hospital anyway, it usually isn’t me that makes that decision either.
I am glad I am not dangerous while psychotic. I could never forgive myself if I hurt someone. No I’m mostly terrified when it happens and do all these weird things to try to stay safe…the world becomes dangerous to me, I don’t become a danger to the world.
Honestly, I’ve sort of kept to myself about my illness and, since I exhibit few negative/cognitive symptoms, most people only know Im having a psychotic episode if I tell them. I kinda feel like I live a perpetual lie when I’m not by myself.
I did admit myself to the hospital twice at the beginning of my first psychotic episode, but the first time it was because of suicidal thoughts and the second–unfortunately, I think was just because I was tired–in every way.
I’m in the middle of my third psychotic episode, and each one so far has ranged from around 8-18 months. This time I’ve informed my pdoc, therapist, parents, and closest friends (got divorced during my second episode) and so far no one has mentioned the possibility of hospitalization. I think it’s really just important for people at risk of hurting themselves or others, like you said.
I do find comfort in knowing that if things get TOO bad hospitalization is an option, though. Odd, I grew up scared to death of doctors and psych wards but over the past 8 years (since the onset of my first episode) I’ve come to view them as a safety net. I’m on Social Security Disability and Medicare, though, so medical costs are a non-issue for me. It sounds like that’s not your situation, but still…in my opinion you SHOULD go if you feel you could hurt yourself or someone else.
I can relate. Many times when I’ve been at my worst I couldn’t do anything harmful to anyone because I was too terrified. If I did anything to bother someone I was sure they’d transform into a demon and attack me.
I think that there are certain indicators that suggest weather or not someone will be a danger to themselves or others while psychotic. A prior history of substance abuse is one of them. Being male may be one of them too. There are others.
Even if your not a danger though, do you still want to wander around and hide from all these unsafe things or get help immediately? I personally am grateful that I’ve been hospitalized a few times because even if I didn’t hurt someone I would never have known to get help.
Yeah. I remember locking myself in my room for hours at a time, covering all the cameras in the room, huddling in my bed and still freaking out that someone could get in and hurt me through the window. (I live 9 stories up…) I’m really quite helpless during those times.
Hmmm well I guess during my first major episode I wish I would’ve been hospitalized. Mostly because I was living in absolute terror 24/7 and felt my life was in danger at my house because of demons…if I could go back in time I would have changed so much about that.
I guess another issue is when I’m in a full episode I don’t think my fears are irrational so I don’t see the need to be hospitalized…if that makes sense.
My episodes don’t always come with a fear for my direct safety. It’s usually more a fear of a lack of privacy.
But yeah, when I have feared for my life I usually don’t respond outwardly or do much to try to prevent it. The self-hospitalization was one of the few exceptions…I started considering suicide because my paranoia had me convinced that the death I was faced with was far worse, more painful, and more drawn out than anything I could inflict on myself. But the suicidal thoughts scared me so much that I went to the hospital–besides, I figured since I’d be in the psych ward there’d be enough security, cameras, and witnesses to deter any kind of attack. The paranoia hasn’t gotten that bad since, but I definitely experience chronic paranoia…it just gets worse during episodes, and when I’m not hallucinating it usually just comes in the form of fear of people judging me.
Since the topic of actual diagnoses came up, I guess I should disclose that I used to be diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but have since been told it was a misdiagnosis. My current list is PTSD, bipolar type II, anxiety, substance abuse, and “personality disorder with dependent tendencies.” But I often wonder if the original diagnosis wasn’t correct
yea I mean hospitals definitely suck, its not private and there are other sick people there, you’ve got visitors coming in and nurses and doctors doing rounds, its really a zoo, and I would prefer to avoid them at all costs, unless its a nice cushy private hospital then sometimes they can be fun. In your case (and in my case most of the time) I can be treated as an outpatient and just recover at home. I think thats the most reasonable way to go about it. Hospitals are generally for major emergencies and if you have a little experience with your illness you probably won’t need to go to one.
I’ve been there, @Anna. I still make sure to draw the blinds and unplug every camera I can. My phone freaks me out pretty often.
I’ll admit, it’s REALLY hard for me to remember that my hallucinations aren’t real. For a minute this time around I tried to tell myself that since they were probably manifestations of my internal thoughts, maybe they could give me insight into my real thoughts/feelings–at the time of onset this time, my life was falling apart around me…my mom thought she’d only have about 2 months to live, for one, but she has a much better prognosis now. Anyway, the more I listened, the easier it was to get caught up into the strange fantasy world the hallucinations presented. During each episode, I’ve always wanted it to be real for some reason or other. Until it turns bad…
I hope that never happens. My parents have the same view of hospitalization as me so I think they will be unlikely to forcibly commit me if I’m not a danger. What were you doing that got you hospitalized?
