What a Difference a Day Makes

So yesterday, I blogged here saying about how I wasn't 100% happy with my leave being unescorted, how I wanted to stay on my section and that I was going to move into a flat of my own. Those three things have changed overnight. (Having support worker sessions and the medication issues are still the same.)

Today's Ward Round

Just a quick update as to what happened at ward round today. My leave has gone to two hours unescorted again (as in, I can go by myself), which I'm not 100% happy with, but I did manage to go out for most of the two hours today by myself. I'm still on the section at my request and my psychiatrist is saying that when I'm ready to come off it, I'll be off it straight away.

Another Huff Post Piece

I've made it to the front page of the UK site of Huffington Post! I used a blog piece that had especially good feedback, tweaked it a little and sent it off. The piece can be found here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/katy-gray/mental-patients-the-truth_b_4179147.html but if you're quick, you should be able to see me on the front page here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk (If you're not from the UK, you may need to change the 'Edition' - a little box on the top left - to UK.) I'm about halfway down on the left hand side!

The 30 Wishes Challenge

To celebrate hitting 30,000 views on here, I decided to set myself a challenge. I wanted to see if I could come up with 30 wishes for my future. It was a real challenge coming up with 30, but I managed it. Once I'd done it, I wondered if other people would be able to do the same. So to you, reader, have a look at my 30 wishes and see if you can come up with 30 of your own!

Sometimes to Move Forwards, You Have to Take a Step Back

Last week, I had two hours of unescorted leave and there was talk of me getting off my section today. This week, I've been given two hours of escorted leave and am staying on my section. (Unescorted means going out by myself; escorted means having to have a member of staff with me.) At first glance, this seems really unfair. However, I requested these two changes myself.

A Psych Ward Update

I thought I'd write a blog post about how things have been and currently are for any who aren't on Twitter.

Things seem to be looking up at long last. This last week, I've been allowed two hours of unescorted leave to the local town. To be honest, I've found the full two hours to be extremely stressful so I've only been taking about an hour of it. It's been good though, being allowed to leave the ward without a member of staff with me but at the same time, I found the escorted leave to be less stressful! It's also good that they allow me to walk freely around the unit. A few weeks ago, when I walked anywhere near the doors of the ward, someone would watch where I was going. Now, I not only walk near the doors, but walk through them and around the unit without being watched. So that's good.

The Worst Things in Psych Wards

Psych wards are daunting places to say the least and it can take several days or even weeks to settle in. But once you do settle in, you start noticing that as well as noisy patients and intimidating staff, there are other stranger 'worst things' of psych wards. Like the loss of freedom, the boredom, the loneliness and the uncomfortable beds!