Mental health and advice

3 Ways I Survived Life In a Mental Clinic

It has been three months for me, so here’s how to survive

I’ve been in a mental clinic on and off for the past three months due to suffering from psychosis, depression, and onset schizophrenia. I know it is a big handful of issues. Since November, I’ve been in and out of the clinic and am now on my third stay for three weeks. I can say I am pretty savvy about life in a mental clinic, in two different clinics.

So here are three ways I have survived life in a mental clinic and may help if you are to go in one… there’s no shame in it, by the way — seeking out help when you are suffering is one of, if not the best thing you can do!

Stay true to yourself, and don’t lose yourself on the way.

When being in a mental clinic, it is easy to lose yourself because of the surroundings, people, new routine, and medication inflicted on you. When first coming into a clinic, I can say that I lost myself in the midst of it all. The lack of routine and not doing anything (due to Corona, all activities and therapies were cancelled), so I lost my mind even more than I had gone in.

I remember I couldn't stop shaking, and my surroundings were making me feel as if I was legit crazy. However, when I received a therapy plan in the open station (a station where you are allowed outside), I began to develop my own routine back again. I asked my dad to bring my laptop, so I could start writing regularly again. I started posting on Instagram to keep active in my business (I am a yoga teacher and well-being coach).

You see, I found it easy to get lost in a mental clinic as there is a lot of emotion of yourself to handle and others around you. It can be exhausting and overwhelming, to say the least. One way to stay true to me was to stay in sync with what made me feel good. For me, that was doing yoga as and when I could use it as well as reading. Whatever it may be, stick with it so you can stick with something that can allow you to escape the vividness of being in a clinic to begin with.

Stay positive as much as you can

This one is tough. When you have negative energy around you, it is easy to get sucked in by it. When initially going to a closed station in a clinic where I wasn't allowed out and was just allowed in my room and the open space, I felt this when initially going to a closed station. Considering it was winter in Berlin (one of the darkest cities), it was even more depressing.

The people around me didn't help my mood or lift it, but my best friends say I have a natural positive vibe. This means that I can lift myself out of down situations and always see that things will get better. I guess you could say I have been gifted this since I was young, and even in my darkest of depression times, I could try to see the light- even if it was just flickering.

When the light is flickering, hold onto it and tend to it. Instead of putting it out by thinking of all the shitty things that are happening to you, remember the good things that you are being blessed with. It may not seem like you are being blessed when in a mental clinic (I feel you), but there is always something to be thankful for — even if that is just the hospital food and drink that is just about eatable.

No matter what, don't let the place eat your positivity up, or you will never get better. Remember the reason why you’re in a clinic, to begin with, and be with that motion, so it gets you into motion.

Be social and make the most of the company.

Ok, so there will be people in the clinic that you probably would never imagine meeting in your life or spending time with. One way to deal with this is to accept every person for who they are. I have met a lot of people during my time in the clinic these past months. I would never concern myself with some of them when being out of the clinic, others I have had the pleasure of meeting and who I will keep in touch with and fondly remember. Everything is about balance.

I got back into the bad habit of smoking while being in the clinic because there’s basically nothing else to do here other than sitting around… Picking up this habit again has made me realise how communicative it can be. Everyone gathers around two tables in our garden part and chats about everything and nothing. The feeling of being part of a community is very key to our wellbeing, so for that reason, I don’t mind smoking again — it gives me an excuse to exercise positive communication and get to know some people I thought I would never meet in my life.

There’s this guy who has been here for half a year now, and he smokes like a chimney. We sat outside, and he just randomly comments on how big my nose is. He said it by telling me about a comic and a character with the same nose as me. Of course, it took me by surprise, but then again, I’ve been bullied for my nose when in high school, so it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle or was used to. This is how random conversations will be when in the mental clinic, so just be prepared and try not to take offence — these people are sad.

So there you have it — three ways to survive life in a mental clinic include being social with others, staying positive as much as possible or at least when you can, and staying true to yourself, which is the most important — don’t lose yourself!

Before you go

Thanks for being here.❤

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