What's Hospital Like?

Because mental health is so stigmatized, a lot of the experience is hidden by professionals and also individuals having a mental health experience. This is hidden behind the need for privacy, but my take on it is that it is about shame. It is perceived as shameful to have a mental health experience. One of the areas that we might see this is that spending a bit of time in hospital for your mental health is difficult to find out about. So what actually happens when you are in hospital? What does a normal day look like? Hospital is really what you make it. It can be horrifying, or you can spend your time being constructive and doing things like meditation, yoga, and the activities that are provided for you. The activities provided may be yoga, art, cooking, or exercise. If you are lucky, there might be psychoeducational activities available. It's pretty boring on a mental health ward, and if you have an active mind and lifestyle like me, you will need to occupy yourself, and a good way to do this is to get a good routine. There are set meal times, and as you are more trusted, you get time to go out into the hospital grounds and go for a walk. I used these things to create a routine to stave off boredom. I would get up at 8 a.m., get some toast, then meditate and do yoga. Then I would go for a walk around the garden and socialize (you meet lovely people on a mental health ward). I would then spend time vaping and doing any clothes washing, tidying my room, etc. After this was lunch, then more meditation and yoga, and use my allotted time to go for a walk outside of the ward. If there was an activity on, I would participate in that (this helps you get out more easily). I would also take an hour-long nap; this helps your brain have downtime to recover. Next is an evening meal, more yoga and meditation, and then some TV in the evening. You will have time where you don't know what to do with yourself; I spent time advocating for myself. At intervals, they will make you see the psychiatrist. Try to spend time with your fellow people after this, as it's often unnerving, and talking to people is grounding. This is a typical day in hospital; it's nothing to be scared of and, in my opinion, should be made more accessible to everyone to reduce the stigmatizing effect of being admitted.