“I wasn’t even thinking, boy, this is a shitty way to spend Christmas, because I would have given every Christmas just to feel like myself again.”
Christmas can be a fraught time for many, but for some people it can be a time when their mental health is badly affected. Here, Katie describes the reality of being admitted to a psych ward for Christmas.I had been in the depths of an intenseattack for over a week, hadn’t slept for more than a few minutes at a time and had barely eaten. I felt like I was constantly missing that last step on a flight of stairs and falling; that nauseous lurch in the pit of my stomach never went way.
It was exactly what I needed to hear. I was exhausted and just wanted to put my health in someone else’s hands. I agreed to go to ER and tell them I wanted to be 51/50’d, which is where you are labeled a danger to yourself or others and taken to psych ward for a 72-hour hold to see if you are mentally stable.
You’re meant to have a certain number of outdoor breaks but being Christmas, they were short-staffed and so we only got to go outside if we specifically asked one of the kinder members of staff. There was no exercise; apparently there had once been an exercise bike but it had been taken away. There were, in short, all the same problems the NHS has but you pay for it.
We’d walk laps of the corridors late at night just to try and tire ourselves out so we could sleep properly. Other than this friend, everyone else there had more severe mental health problems, from ex-soldiers with PTSD to elderly people with dementia.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prince Archie steals the show on Harry and Meghan's Christmas cardIt's the royal Christmas card we've all been waiting for
Read more »
Richard Ratcliffe interview: my daughter is back home for Christmas but it's really tough without NazaninRichard Ratcliffe interview: my daughter is back home for Christmas but it's really tough without Nazanin | FreeNazanin
Read more »
Anthea Turner can't wait for Christmas with new fiancé Mark ArmstrongAnthea Turner is backing the Mirror's Give Kids a Cracking Christmas campaign as she realises how fortunate she is at Christmas - and reveals it's chicken, not turkey, in her household...
Read more »
Try not to panic, but ASOS might be about to blacklist serial returnersASOS might be about to blacklist serial returners 😟
Read more »
Try not to panic, but ASOS might be about to blacklist serial returnersEep: ASOS might be about to blacklist serial returners 😟
Read more »
Santa Claus wins WWE 24/7 championship on Christmas showFather Christmas captured gold on Raw this week as he joined the likes of Marshmellow in holding the title.
Read more »