I'm not crazy but will like to check myself into SOMETHING like a mental institution....?

Question

To begin with...Is there any places like this anyway?I need help... i'm not suicidal.. but i need help finding myself and i know therapy.. or counseling only won't cover my problem.. i need something a bit stronger.. so how do i go about checking myself into one of these places.... i'm 19 years old.. and i have medicaid/health plus as some type of insurance... and i live in NYC if that helps.. what can i do?

Answer 1

These days there are strict criteria for psychiatric hospitalization, you have to be a danger to yourself, either suicidal or very psychotic. They don't even hospitalize homicidal people usually. Inpatient treatment is short term, less than two weeks, often only a few days and is for stabilization. Psychotherapy is minimal and medications are used primarily along with groups.

If you feel that you need more intensive psychotherapy than a weekly therapy session, you should call the access center of the psychiatric hospital of your choice and ask about partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient therapy. Usually you attend several psychotherapy group sessions a day, 3-5 days a week. Once a week you have a private psychotherapy session and once a week or so you will see a psychiatrist to discuss medication. Medicaid will probably cover this.

Answer 2

You really don't want to check into a mental institution, believe me! It's not like it's a hotel where you can just go in, but a place for people who have some really, really serious, possibly life threatening and dangerous problems and need the full attention of the trained professionals. If you have not been referred by your doctor, you will not be covered by medicaid or your private health insurance. You will not 'find yourself' in a mental institution. You do need to see someone professionally so you can find out what is holding you back - there's a lot more that goes on than just therapy or counseling. You might need behavourial training, which is more about learning how to handle situations than talking about a problem, or you might need medication for a short time. There's other things that might help you, but a professional will evaulate you and help you figure it out. Go see a professional and find out what help you need, but please don't overburden the mental health professionals in institutions until you know what is the right treatment for you. They are overworked and underfunded in a terrible way.

Answer 3

I think a very common form of 'finding oneself' is to join the armed forces. You could also consider doing volunteer work in the third world or engage religion (not that that would be my personal choice).

Martial arts also help some folks find their center.

If you're not crazy and you're not depressed/suicidal or otherwise mentally impaired, a mental institution isn't going to help.

Not knowing what to do with one's life is very common at your age and entirely normal.

Answer 4

I used to want to do something similar. At the time I was suicidal though. But from what I've heard, such places can be quite destructive.

You are quite young. Isn't it normal to be confused at that age? You won't find yourself any time soon. You need experience and wisedom to do this, and this won't happen till you are older. So just try to relax and if you are depressed or severly distressed, then go see your doctor and tell him or her about it. Maybe you will get some meds.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Stay away from mental institutions! I have been to a few myself because of my depression (and I am also 19) and they do NO GOOD if you are able to deal with day to day life. I like what the first guy said, armed forces or volunteer work are great ways to find yourself. Good luck!

Answer 6

You seem to want some structure to your life. I am a veteran of a life long service in the department of defense.and I don't recommend joining the armed forces. If you need help finding yourself some volunteer work in community service might be in order. Join the PEACE CORPS or VISTA! You don't need insurance for those and you will get more structure and less "brain washing" than in the armed forces. Besides you get a little pay, travel and a great sense of accomplishment. Here are some links for more information:

www.peacecorps.gov;

www.americorps.gov;

or just type in "peace corps" and "Volunteers in service to America" into Yahoo! search and a number of informative links comes up.

Good luck, good health, peace and love!

Answer 7

Okay, here's my take. Do not check yourself into anything. Do not do this. I do know what it feels like to BELIEVE that you need to find yourself. This belief alone, is what prevents you from having the experience of knowing who you are. In a sentence, when we believe something, we create that belief and it becomes our reality. (in your case, you believe that you have to FIND yourself which translates to believing that you are lost to yourself). This is the reality that you are creating for yourself. This lost-to-yourself belief. In each and every moment we live, we have the opportunity to know ourself in the way we act, and talk and respond. In each and every moment we live, we can celebrate that we are who we are, and there are no real mysteries about who we really are. You are simply believing something about yourself that's not real. Well, it actually IS real, because you are the one making it real. But, when you change your belief system, your reality changes. It's the law of attraction that the SECRET addresses (you can google the phrase "The Secret" and learn more about the law of attraction). It is a Universal Law and when you learn how this works, you can be or do anything you desire, simply by practicing this law of attraction. Presently, you are attracting the energy of feeling lost to yourself, so that's what you are receiving. If you were to begin picturing yourself, imagining yourself to be someone who knows EXACTLY who they were, imagining how that person would talk and respond, you would begin living more fully in THAT way because that's what you would be attracting to yourself. The moment you have the thought or the image that this is not true, then you throw yourself back into attracting to yourself something else. Do yourself a favor and invest your energy into finding out more about the law of attraction and what's called, The Secret. You will amaze yourself.

Answer 8

You should go and see a therapist, and tell them how you feel. Let them make the decision if you need to be put in a mental institution or not.

Answer 9

Hi,

Please email me. All the things u said is like is me.
I am considering this myself. Because i dont know
why u feel this way though i dont know if u have my
same pro. Anyways please email me if u can...