Do you lose certain rights by going for psych inpatient treatment?

[Nikia]

If you go voluntarily? Voting? Owning a gun? Working with children? Anything like that?
I just wondered.

[Droopy]

1. Just for a few days

You don't lose anything major and nothing permanantly.

In my experience you just lose your freedom for a few days especially if you've expressed thoughts of suicide or harming others. They will make you stay on the ward for at least 72 hours in that case. The doctor can then decide whether to hold you longer than that. I guess it's kind of like being in jail except the food is better. They held me for 7 days the last two times I was admitted to the hospital for mental illness.

[Ladyhawk]

2. It isn't a good experience.

Of course, different hospitals could be better, but I'm never going back. It's something to be avoided at all costs.

It would be better to get into some kind of program that helps, but since no one can afford those...*shrug*

And of course, the in-patient psychiatrist here is a goddamn fundy.

[Nikia]

4. I have got a positive recommendation for this one

From women in my support group. They say everything else in the state is a "hell hole". My doctor recommends that I go there and said that my insurance will cover it. The problem is that with my insurance that it will cover only the first 6 days, which is the absolute minimum amount of time in the program. Each additional day is $1,000.
I think that I am getting better, but it has been kind of shaky. The program is for anorexia. I am eating now and have told myself and others that I am committed to recovery. I see a therapist once a week and a support group once a week. Still, I find myself backsliding at times and have a lot of issues. I also have anxiety disorders, which have been described as severe. My depression has significantly improved since I have been eating though.
I am hoping that I don't need to go to such a program for a variety of reasons, but it is really hard. I feel like I walking a tight rope or something with my recovery.

[mopinko]

6. get your sleep, too

sleep can make a big difference. there are a lot of little things you can do, like covering your windows tightly, making sure it is cool at night if you can, keeping pets from waking you up. if you don't sleep well, see a specialist, or at least see if the p-doc you are seeing can help you. a lot of docs give a lot of lip service to sleep, but don't know what to do about it. my sleep doc says bad sleep can almost always be improved. it can make all the difference.
again, good luck to you. do everything you can to get better.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Importance of sleep cannot be overestimated

I work nights and also suffer with anxiety-driven insomnia from time to time. Whatever I'm dealing with is intesified when I don't get enough sleep. I've read there's a direct relationship between sleeping and appetite too. People tend to ignore hunger and satiation cues and overeat when they haven't slept enough. I don't know how that plays into anorexia and other eating disorders but I wouldn't be surprised if it exascerbates them.

[mopinko]

8. yup, i have lost about 10 lb

that has a lot to do with a lot of other things, but no doubt i have a more normal response to hunger, and eating.

[Ladyhawk]

10. Yep, I have sleep apnea.

I think I still have it, even though I have lost a lot of weight. It took two sleep studies for the technicians to find it because I was too nervous during the first study to enter a deep sleep. My counselor at the time had to practically sit on them to get them to do a second study. (That wouldn't have been pleasant since he weighs 400+ pounds.) The story of getting health care in America is always one of overcoming obstacles. The doctors and technicians are rarely on your side. My friend / ex-counselor calls it "slaying dragons." All it amounts to is making the health care system do what it should have done the first or second or third time around.

Not once has a technician come out to check my CPAP or see if it needed replacement parts. It's been a bitch getting replacement masks, etc. Time to slay more dragons.

[Ladyhawk]

9. I'm glad you found a place that isn't a hell hole!

I'm not sure if such a place exists in my state. Probably it does, but I am not aware of its existence. :) An intensive program would probably do you a lot of good. I wish I could enter one, sometimes, but I've found that others tend to minimize my issues...not fun. Intense groups and Ladyhawk don't mix very well.

Good luck with your recovery. It takes time. So far, I've found that I only get "remissions." I hope someday one will "take."

[mopinko]

3. i can't answer your question

but i want to wish you luck in getting the help that you need. take heart.

[Nikia]

5. Thanks

For your support. See my reply above for more info, but what I am facing.