#1
What I really liked there is that it was okay to be not okay or to make jokes about our own "craziness". We didn't have to worry about unknowingly offending someone or say the wrong things because we could openly talk about all that. This never happens in the real world.
#2
I actually got schooled on my alcoholic thinking by a huge schizophrenic guy in a bathrobe haha. He was very insightful, and saw where I was trying to justify my drinking.
The orderlies at the ward confiscated the Stephen King book I was reading when I checked in, though. Super bummer, it would’ve been a nice distraction from my skin crawling and the walls moving.
#3
-Some girl thought she was a werewolf and would wander up and down the halls all night howling
-Another girl would walk inside of the toilet, like literally in the toilet, then complain about not being allowed to wear wet socks
-A lot of people wanting to start fights with eachother
The main thing I remember was this overwhelming sense that things weren’t going to get better for a lot of these people, which made me really sad.
A lot of people grow up thinking psych wards look exactly like they do in movies: chaotic hallways, constant screaming, violent patients, and dramatic restraints happening every few minutes. However as La Amistad Behavioral Health Services explains, that image is heavily exaggerated by pop culture.
In reality, psychiatric units are typically structured hospital environments focused on safety, monitoring, and stabilization rather than punishment or nonstop chaos. Daily life is often surprisingly routine, involving meals, medication schedules, therapy sessions, check-ins with staff, and quiet activities like reading, puzzles, or recreation time.
#4
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#6
I am so glad I got to go there. They really helped me turn my life around (yes, in only 14 days) and even if I have a long way to go before I am free from my depression I am no longer s******l and I can see the way forward out of my current situation.
Super friendly and helpful staff, they really care about you. What has been written in previous comments about opening up to the other patients is very true.
I brought a PC and a 4G modem so we could stream netflix, wound up having really nice movie evenings with the other patients.
The best days of 2020 so far has been the ones I spent in the psych ward....
Experiences inside these facilities can vary widely depending on why someone was admitted in the first place. Mission Connection Healthcare notes that some people voluntarily seek inpatient care when they feel overwhelmed, disturbed, emotionally exhausted, or unable to function safely on their own.
Others may need more intensive support than outpatient treatment can provide, especially during severe mental health crises. Involuntary admissions, meanwhile, usually happen when someone is considered an immediate danger to themselves or others, or is too impaired to make safe treatment decisions at the time.
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Many former patients also describe psych wards as feeling strangely disconnected from normal life. HelpGuide explains that repetitive routines, limited outside contact, and constant observation can create a distorted sense of time where days start blending together.
At the same time, people often form unusually fast and deeply personal friendships because everyone is sharing vulnerability in such an intense environment. Patients also tend to become hyper-aware of small details, from staff behavior and unit rules to noises, nighttime checks, and the emotional state of others around them.
#10
I would spend so much time in my room reading, they wouldnt call me for meals and just threw away my food.
I was technically there voluntarily but I was given the choice of "either you go voluntarily or I will force you to go" by a crisis counselor. Even being there voluntarily didnt mean I could leave whenever. When I kept asking to leave to be with my loved, they kept saying I would be kept longer if I didnt stop asking.
I would wail through the night because of how scared I was (also a withdrawal symptom) and a nurse came in and was like "can you stop?"
I would never go back.
#11
#12
I truly believed life was a lie, that everybody was an actor playing a role to mess with me. I mean everybody, from my mum crying during a visit because I didn't believe it was truly her, to the random workers and in-patients who were clearly making underlying threats and hidden meanings with every word they spoke. To vincent Kompany the Manchester City footballer on Match of the Day that night who was speaking to me through the TV after winning the league that day.
It was a real-life Truman show/ Shutter Island and the only outcome I could see was my own demise. I didn't trust anything or anyone and to this day I still have lingering doubts and bouts of paranoia.
This was in 2012 whilst I was suffering from D**g-induced Psychosis after a weird session of w**d smoking. I was only an in-patient for 2 nights but the after-effects are probably life-long unfortunately.
Even after leaving, the experience can continue to affect people in unexpected ways. The American Psychiatric Association states that psychiatric hospitalization still carries a strong social stigma because many people associate it with instability, danger, or "losing control", rather than seeing it as a medical response to a crisis.
Former patients may worry about how friends, coworkers, or family members will view them afterward, making decisions about who to tell, and how much to share, feel surprisingly stressful. Even when a hospital stay was helpful, public attitudes toward mental illness can leave people carrying shame or fear long after they’ve been discharged.
#13
I got to stay in my pj's all day, didn't have to wear shoes, I could read and draw and talk with the other kids there. Its where I learned origami. I very much needed it and it helped me a lot. Also the bacon was delicious and there was a cool orderly who took us outside to see the snow and played Modest Mouse for us.
On the other hand, every day was a reminder of why I was there. No razors, no privacy, and sometimes the other kids there would have outbursts that frightened me. You know those heavy weighted plastic chairs? My first night a girl threw one across the room in the midst of her rage. I couldn't call anyone but my parents who told me to stop feeling sorry for myself. I knew if I exposed the depths of the problems I had I wouldn't be able to leave, so I just scratched the surface in order to get out within a week.
Overall, Springwoods juvenile unit gets a 5/10 from me.
#14
But, I’m alive today, and if I hadn’t gone there I probably wouldn’t be, and for that I’m thankful. Even if your reason for not k*****g yourself is just that you’re scared you’d f**k it up again and get thrown back in a place like that, it’s a reason.
I think at the end of the day, psych wards are rarely as simple as people imagine them to be. For some, they were a turning point that offered some form of structure, support, and a much-needed pause from the outside world. For others, the experience was uncomfortable, surreal, or filled with moments they still don’t quite know how to process.
Mental health experiences are deeply personal, and no two stories are exactly alike, and that's why almost everyone walked away with a story they’ll never forget. Curious to see the full range of experiences people shared online? Keep reading for stories that are emotional, funny, shocking, and occasionally so absurd they sound like scenes from a dark comedy.
#16
It was absolutely wonderful! Felt like a hotel retreat (I'm not being sarcastic). First 2-3 nights were in a intensive care ward, so not allowed outside without someone accompanying you. My roommate (in hospital) stole my t-shirt and was behaving bit aggressive, so I had to sleep in a sofa (which was very comfortable). Afterwards transferred to a "supportive care" ward. I was allowed to go outside for a while and then to go home for the weekend. Had lots of different activities like physical exercises, arts and crafts, relaxations and so on. It really helped me get my life back on track. I could write a whole page about it, but you get the idea. Best thing is, everything was covered by the statutory health insurance, and I paid 75€ for the whole 4 weeks.
#18
Another time a woman looked at me and said “your husband beats you doesn’t he?” I was 19 and single.
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