Inpatient/Outpatient
On Monday I had an intake appointment for an outpatient community service type thing. It was with the Peel Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. They have some really great group therapy sessions/activities and set you up with a worker in their "Partnership Program" to set health goals. The lady who did my intake was extremely nice, knew what she was talking about, and was very welcoming. At the end of the bajillion question (do you harm yourself? Have you harmed others? Are you a drug user? etc etc) and about 4 forms I had to fill out, she gave me a tour of the facility. Don't get me wrong here, it's a great facility, but it seemed like a "cool hangout" for the jobless population of Brampton. It was busy. People everywhere. Just hanging out, a group of men watching tv on LOUD. And everyone was over 50 and I think probably smoked. It smelled heavily of cigarettes. I was uncomfortable, I was nervous, I was not going to go to group therapy with a bunch of 65 year old, male, alcoholics. I smiled, thanked the lady for seeing me and ran like hell out of there. I don't think it's a place I will be going back to. (I got a call today saying I was accepted into their Partnership Program.... thanks but no thanks.
That's the problem. I'm too old for pediatric care, but I feel like the youngest one in the room when I go to adult programs. Even in the wait room for my psychiatrist, I was a fish outta water. And a community facility like that, you get all ages, all disorders, and not a lot of personalized care.
So today, I visited an inpatient facility. Homewood in Guelph which is well known for high success rates, extremely personalized care, and a wonderful (basically mansion) facility.
The gist is, you have a whole team of health care professionals: nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, recreational therapist, dietician, etc. and they help you to be healthy over (in my case) a 60 day program (called IMAP: Integrated Mood and Anxiety Program).
The tour wasn't wonderful; my mom and I have done extensive research about it already and basically were there to see the facility. The tour was basically a volunteer telling us about all the awards the facility has won and "look how beautiful our 50 acre property is!" We get it lady. Except it's winter and it just looks like snow. There was another teenage type guy and his dad on the tour, and the him and I had to keep sitting down because standing for an hour listening to "50 acres! It's amazing!" is exhausting for people with mental disorders. His dad made great dad jokes. The lady made a joke saying "no darts or archery obviously" and I basically lost all respect for her then. INSENSITIVE. She couldn't understand why they don't have skating though. Hmm... yes, let us give the depressed people blades. BRILLIANT.
The facility has massage chairs, a beautiful fitness room, a greenhouse, a bowling alley and most importantly: food I would actually eat (plus other stuff, but you get it, it's ritzy... it's the place people go so no one knows they're ill. It's discreet. It's world renowned. It's expensive as hell.)
The greenhouse basically looks like the Herbology classroom from Harry Potter. Horticultural Therapy anyone?
Keep in mind, 60 days at this place will cost the equivalent of my first year of university... Residence, meal plan, tuition. The whole deal. Thank god for my parents.
I feel pretty good about this place. I was so relieved there were young adults everywhere. I will not be surrounded by 50 year olds in therapy!
Mom and I talked to admissions after the tour and they said they can take me in on February 25th. Which gives me a month after I get out before England! I'm probably going to have to drop my online course though to "put full focus on my recovery".
Some programs don't allow laptops or cellphones but in the IMAP program I can have both so I can bring y'all along for the ride (and still talk to my massively supportive friends). [SIDE NOTE: Thanks guys, I love you so much].
My family doctor put me on a new drug to help me sleep (Trazodone). I'm currently also on Cipralex 20mg and Abilify 4mg. I have lost almost 10 lbs since stopping seroquel (if any ladies are on it apparently it can cause massive weight gain and Abilify is a great alternative). This is the first combo that feels like it's working, hopefully the new drug doesn't throw me off.
Hope all is well in your lives, I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere and hope feels good!
Jamaica on Saturday!!!
Jess
That's the problem. I'm too old for pediatric care, but I feel like the youngest one in the room when I go to adult programs. Even in the wait room for my psychiatrist, I was a fish outta water. And a community facility like that, you get all ages, all disorders, and not a lot of personalized care.
So today, I visited an inpatient facility. Homewood in Guelph which is well known for high success rates, extremely personalized care, and a wonderful (basically mansion) facility.
The gist is, you have a whole team of health care professionals: nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, recreational therapist, dietician, etc. and they help you to be healthy over (in my case) a 60 day program (called IMAP: Integrated Mood and Anxiety Program).
The tour wasn't wonderful; my mom and I have done extensive research about it already and basically were there to see the facility. The tour was basically a volunteer telling us about all the awards the facility has won and "look how beautiful our 50 acre property is!" We get it lady. Except it's winter and it just looks like snow. There was another teenage type guy and his dad on the tour, and the him and I had to keep sitting down because standing for an hour listening to "50 acres! It's amazing!" is exhausting for people with mental disorders. His dad made great dad jokes. The lady made a joke saying "no darts or archery obviously" and I basically lost all respect for her then. INSENSITIVE. She couldn't understand why they don't have skating though. Hmm... yes, let us give the depressed people blades. BRILLIANT.
The facility has massage chairs, a beautiful fitness room, a greenhouse, a bowling alley and most importantly: food I would actually eat (plus other stuff, but you get it, it's ritzy... it's the place people go so no one knows they're ill. It's discreet. It's world renowned. It's expensive as hell.)
The greenhouse basically looks like the Herbology classroom from Harry Potter. Horticultural Therapy anyone?
Keep in mind, 60 days at this place will cost the equivalent of my first year of university... Residence, meal plan, tuition. The whole deal. Thank god for my parents.
I feel pretty good about this place. I was so relieved there were young adults everywhere. I will not be surrounded by 50 year olds in therapy!
Mom and I talked to admissions after the tour and they said they can take me in on February 25th. Which gives me a month after I get out before England! I'm probably going to have to drop my online course though to "put full focus on my recovery".
Some programs don't allow laptops or cellphones but in the IMAP program I can have both so I can bring y'all along for the ride (and still talk to my massively supportive friends). [SIDE NOTE: Thanks guys, I love you so much].
My family doctor put me on a new drug to help me sleep (Trazodone). I'm currently also on Cipralex 20mg and Abilify 4mg. I have lost almost 10 lbs since stopping seroquel (if any ladies are on it apparently it can cause massive weight gain and Abilify is a great alternative). This is the first combo that feels like it's working, hopefully the new drug doesn't throw me off.
Hope all is well in your lives, I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere and hope feels good!
Jamaica on Saturday!!!
Jess
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