How many Hospitalizations have you had?

Hi,

I am 33, I have had bipolar for 12 years now, and have had 8-9 hospitalizations due to mania. I have an episode practically every year, and then experience mania/psychosis that usually puts me in hospital for 3 -4 months. This is followed by an intense depression that lasts several months, where I lose all my confidence and experience a lot of anxiety, I tend to pick up for about 3 months of the year - feeling ok, then the cycle starts again and I go manic once again. It is relentless and heart breaking, it has effected my ability to work and hold down jobs, broken up relationships and pushed away friends. I often feel isolated and lonely and even suicidal. I have tried many combinations of meds over the years but nothing so far has seemed to be able to hold me. I feel condemned, and dream of having just a few years without an episode. Just wondered if other people seem to have as many episodes / hospitalizations as me, and what has helped them, and if any of them manage to work and hold down jobs. Thanks x

Oh my gosh, I am so embarrassed to even post how many times I have been hospitalized. I posted this question earlier here and found most people who responded were at about 3-4. My longest stay was for a month. I am prone to very suicidal behavior when I am depressed which comes and goes often. I am 49 and have been in and out of the hospital since I was 25.
Once a year may seem like a lot but I have met many who have the same type of issues as you have and need more. Guess as long as you are safe.
Hang in there.

I have only been hospitalized once, but I can't count the number of times I've narrowly avoided it.

I've never been hospitalized for mental health problems - though I think there have been times that it would have been the right thing to do. I have my problems, but I think I have pretty "mild case" of bipolar (at least compared to many people in here) and the only "very bad" problems I have are with bad depression. If I manage to avoid going back to that stage for the rest of my life (yes, I am hopeful) I guess they won't see me at the hospital . But of course I would go if my situation demanded it...

I guess it has lots to do with how you are treated (are you getting effective treatment outside the hospital and how you are responding to meds and stuff) and how serious is your illness.

And about being able to hold jobs, well, I don't have personal experiences about it, but I'm already having problems with completing education (getting a profession to start with, I did finish highschool, I'm 22)... I'm afraid of never getting as far as having a profession and starting a career... It terrifies me. I'd like to study something first, but I'm afraid I can't manage it.

I'm fairly new to all this. Diagnosed about 6 months ago. About 4 months into it I was in the hospital for 6 days. I left AMA but I had things to do. Then I was out of work for a month and homeless for awhile.

I hope to never go back, but due to not wanting to take meds, I'm fearful that it may get worse (that's what they say anyway) that I will be hospitalized again.

Long story short, 22 year old man, hospitalized once.

sixprime wrote:I have only been hospitalized once, but I can't count the number of times I've narrowly avoided it.

Same for me.

I've once been taken by the police to the ER as a suicide risk, but they did not keep me. Instead they released me to the care of myself and the local psych crisis organization. I should have been hospitalized, IMO, but I apparently present very well and so I was sent home to do outpatient therapy.

In the words of Hyacinth Bucket, just the one dear. 12 days. Very good experience which I understand is unusual. If I have to go back I'll go without hesitation, and even stranger -- I miss the food! I hardly ever eat as well as they fed me.

Three hospitalizations, six weeks total...

Two, so far. I hope I get put in a nicer place next time.