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My little adventure was just under a week ago, and figured I'd share some tidbits. First off, the food was garbage. They gave me a menu with which to circle my choices, but never got ANYTHING I asked for. Ordered French toast, a blueberry muffin, and some cereal; instead got a minuscule piece of toast, lukewarm eggs, and the worst grits I've ever had.
Second, I was bored out of my skull most of the time. Of course you can't have electronics, but they had no books and only one tv in the common area. I spent a good chunk of my first day just sleeping. They had some group therapy stuff I participated in, but I mostly resorted to making up cost functions and solving for budget constraints on a spare piece of paper. They also did a game of family feud and karaoke. Maybe I'm just being a cynic, but I just feel this kind of false sympathy and go-getter attitude from social workers who do that kind of stuff.
All the other patients were fine, with just one exception. Chick was childish but mostly ok during the day but would go off the rails at night, shouting shit and trying to move into other people's rooms. Had fun trying to sleep the first night, and one of the nurses told me she was probably acting out because I was a new guy.
Overall I only spent ~36 hours in the place. Thank god I was voluntarily admitted and was thus able to get out as soon as possible.
Is... is it a metaphorical statement about gog forums ? I can't tell.

(No, seriously, you'd probably enjoy Erving Goffman's "Asylums".)
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sauvignon1: They gave me a menu with which to circle my choices, but never got ANYTHING I asked for.
How do you know? If you were really crazy then maybe you're unaware that you got exactly what you asked for and you've been creating false realities where everyone else around you are the crazies. o_O

If you're mentally stable but emotionally unbalanced though then psych wards do little for you other than show you how sane you are compared to truly troubled people. ^^
Sounds like you've still got a yearning for economics, so when things smooth over it might be worth trying to pursue that again.

The experience doesn't sound too bad given the difficulties the other patients could have had. They really should have had more things for you to do though, such as books and art materials openly available.

How are things with your folks?
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sauvignon1: Second, I was bored out of my skull most of the time.
THIS. This is the fucking worst thing about getting admitted to psychological treatment in a hospital. I got 30 minutes of talking to a shrink a day and the rest of the day I sat on my fucking ass. I read through 3 books while I was there and fucked off after being there 2 and a half days. I'd rather live with the fucking problems I have than spending another minute there.
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mechmouse: How are things with your folks?
Everything's fine with them. They're happy I'm doing better and made a point out of how I need to be more honest with them from here on out.
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mechmouse: How are things with your folks?
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sauvignon1: Everything's fine with them. They're happy I'm doing better and made a point out of how I need to be more honest with them from here on out.
That's really good news.

I was thinking about the military. How does the clerical side of it work? I don't except they take Squadies and officers off the field and put them into offices (unless there are unusual circumstances). So would studying economics and taking a clerical route through the military be an option for you?

Sure logistics isn't glamorous, but it is essential and would let you continue in your family heritage.
Did they also try to get you on several (expensive) drugs from day 1?
The last few buddies I knew that gave me a ward report said that.
And was there a way to get proper vegan food at all?

Regarding the casual "Cheer Up"-BS:
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.de/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.de/2013/05/depression-part-two.html

In general I think a general time off with no pressure whatsoever is sometimes more helpful than sitting around bored all day in a place like that.
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mechmouse: How are things with your folks?
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sauvignon1: Everything's fine with them. They're happy I'm doing better and made a point out of how I need to be more honest with them from here on out.
Hey, congrats for having chosen to speak to them!
I'm glad that you managed to express your feelings to your parents :)
Post edited April 14, 2017 by phaolo
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sauvignon1: Everything's fine with them. They're happy I'm doing better and made a point out of how I need to be more honest with them from here on out.
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mechmouse: That's really good news.

I was thinking about the military. How does the clerical side of it work? I don't except they take Squadies and officers off the field and put them into offices (unless there are unusual circumstances). So would studying economics and taking a clerical route through the military be an option for you?

Sure logistics isn't glamorous, but it is essential and would let you continue in your family heritage.
My diagnosis is an automatic no for any military route. I guess I could try to fight to get a waiver, but considering I just got through a stress related breakdown, I think the military ship has sailed at this point.
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sauvignon1: Thank god I was voluntarily admitted and was thus able to get out as soon as possible.
Unlike Randle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehPcYibzUKc

Was your psych ward anything like that or is it different nowadays?
Post edited April 15, 2017 by awalterj