I visited my partner Ivan every day- and sometimes two times a day when he was in the hospital in 1994. He was in the psych ward for three months, so that was a lot of visits. He refused medications unless I was there- which meant my life was basically on hold when he was so ill.
Going to the psych ward every day was quite an experience. It was certainly an interesting perspective. Not many people get to see how the hospital works and learn so much about the people on the ward.
I missed Ivan terribly during those months, but I never regretted that he was in the hospital. It was the only safe place for him and it saved his life.
If you are just out of the hospital, there is a good chance you’re scared, maybe upset you were in restraints, mad at your family for putting you there or really worried about life outside of the hospital structure. People react to a hospital with such a variety of emotions!
I always ask people who have been in the hospital to turn to the people around them and ask what the hospital experience was like for them- for example, if you tried to kill yourself and had to stay on a ward until you were stable, how did your friends feel about the fact you were in the hospital – or your family? I bet they have a very different view. Knowing that they were thankful you were there may help you see your hospital stay differently.
julie
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