SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES ON MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS

For a start, regardless of why you are in it is kind of a one way door for a while until you can agree with the doctors on a way out. Once you are there, you will get a diagnosis or series of them. Other patients will try to helpfully discuss them with you and this is a choice as to how that goes for you. I would suggest that we may have more than one tag but only 4 of them can be managed per stay. So it is not that you don’t have the same illness as your breakfast buddy or art class companion, but it is just not one of your top 4 being worked on during this admission.

I often say that depression is like pasta without the sauce or pizza without the cheese; both are totally do-able but not a whole bunch of fun. So this brings me to my daily management of this. I would say that I used to be one of those people that always looked for a gold medal, 100% and best of the best. Now I settle for some ‘bronze medals days’ I still get the jewelry but a lesser level and at much less cost to me and my support team.

Hospitals have a great set of chefs that cook the food; be polite to them for no other reason than it starts a simple and daily habit to practice gratitude and simple manners. Some wards also have a cheese fairy who miraculously brings nibbles and morning tea to the ward. You may never see this creature but learn the routine to get the most out of the lazy nights in front of the TV.

in short, ensure you have a good Doctor; be polite to the Nurses they are either the gate keeper or cinema usher to you getting through they day with one role being inherently much more customer focused.  Try to make friends with those around you but don’t overshare – this can get complicated for you both. Go to as many or as few groups as you can to achieve balance. Art groups are always a great place to start as a non judgmental step forward.

Finally start to plan your first day/week/ month outside the hospital as there are many talismans and lessons that can only be gathered inside before you jump in a cab. There may be some critical conversations to be had with your tribe. This should cover both expectations on each side and perhaps also some ground rules. There is also much to be gained from a physical or figurative sensory box that can help as a quick first aid measure to prevent relapse. a special toy, some music and some other items of significance as a starter would work.

If you get leave, take an hour to get some air, sun and catch a few Pokemon, Maybe a coffee or some shopping. If you get visitors maybe meet them away from the ward if possible for some normality. I am not a huge fan of long periods away from the ward if it is a place you need to be.

As mentioned above. You also need to have a healthy relationship with food, exercise and alcohol. Some good routines will be the backbone of this and open and honest communication within your tribe will flesh it out.

There is a great cocktail of medications (based on an NaSSA and a SNRI) refereed to as ‘California Rocket Fuel’; I exist on a proprietary modification of it that to avoid some of the side effects of the CRF replaces the SNRI with a SSRI. . Given where I was when the prescription was written I call it RRF or ‘Richmond Rocket Fuel’ being an NaSSA and SSRI combo. Please remember this is a blog of my story and does not replace professional advice from an open and honest relationship with your care team.