It’s been almost two years since I was involuntarily hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
At the time, I thought that going in for an overnight stay would offer me some much-needed rest and recovery time. But what ended up happening instead is that my state of mind only worsened.
The next few months after leaving the hospital were a difficult struggle; my mental health had deteriorated to a point where it seemed as if nothing could ever return back to normal.
Seeing a therapist and taking medication on a daily basis became my new normal. Finding out that I had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) made me realize the full extent of how scary this process has been.
I’ve come such a long way since then and while there are still certain things that trigger me, with the right support system, coping skills, and self-care practices in place – I am slowly starting to heal from the lasting effects of my hospitalization and PTSD.