Another of our friends is going in hospital... (29)

They are letting me out for 4 hours per day from tomorrow and should get discharged next Monday 20th July.

Is it inspiring at all over there? (Serious Q)

Over where?

I find Gozo inspiring - yes.

I don't think being in a short-stay psychiatric hospital is particularly inspiring........... the nurses are ok although some obviously get a kick of having power over other people. The other patients are a mixed bunch - some suffering personal trauma and some very quiet and quite dignified and some volatile.

One young lady likes dancing vigorously in front of the tv on a table which is amusing.

There is a smoking room which the patients seem to hate because of the noise of the extractor fan............. so they smoke everywhere but where they are supposed to!

The whole place is air-conditioned with very strong double-glazed windows that are permanently locked - I now have 'garden grounds' permission but it is so hot outside that it is nice to come back in after a few minutes real fresh air.

My bad, I could not make me call it a hospital, but had no other word for it either...

Thanks for the vivid description though, I've always wanted to know if one would feel strengthened or saddened when supposed to recover from traumas, stressed out syndrome or depression.

I was very down a few years ago, really below what is healthy, but I dared not apply for help, thinking that I would feel even less inspired by the environment they invite me to. Your words kind of strengthen that feeling in me, I would not have felt encouraged to go on trying.

Funny how we see things differently, you see the humour where I probably had seen hopelessness. Or maybe not, then I was in a different state to now, I can not really say how I would have responded.