Willowbrooke- Spread the Word
The day before Thanksgiving, I was admitted to a Willowbrooke psychiatric hospital and released late the following Monday night. I'm going to try to list the things I experienced that lead me to firmly believe that no one gets better there and if you or a loved one are seeking in-patient psychiatric care, you should avoid anywhere associated with Willowbrooke.
I saw a therapist one on one once, for 10 minutes.
In group, we were not allowed to discuss trauma.
We were not allowed into our bedrooms during the day and the bathrooms were kept locked.
There was a man who constantly had his penis out, staring at the women and masturbating.
We were lectured for not wanting to sit with him at meals.
Another woman there became very sick and could barely walk. She was told there was nothing they could do and to just deal with it.
She thought it was from the new medication they were giving her. They said that wasn't possible until several days later when her actual doctor came back. It was the medication.
A few staff members made fun of us.
Others seemed just apathetic.
They told us that they were not equipped to care for people for more than 7 days. Yet at least a few people had been there for months with no sign of being realeased soon.
Opening the door to check on us every 15 minutes at night in spite of the security cameras in our rooms. Techs yelling and laughing loudly all night.
When I was admitted, I was told I would be reavaluated after 72 hours and possibly realeased. The next day, I found out that that was a lie. I would have to wait until the following Monday.
My psychiatrist, who I had been seeing out-patient, while I searched for a better psychiatrist was also my in-patient psychiatrist. I was not allowed any input here.
The first thing he said to me was enthusiastic praise for Trump.
I, once again, tried to tell him about my past trauma. He, once again, would not listen.
When I finally saw him again the next Monday, he once again talked over me and would not listen to me.
I am 21 and have been abused by my parents. He made it clear that he was going involve my parents.
I have most every symptom of ptsd, including frequent flashbacks. He does not believe this.
I told him that my parents' house was a major trigger for me. He insisted that it was not.
He told me that I did not have a flashback, but instead I was upset about being separated from my boyfriend.
He told me I should not go to therapy or counseling because I'm not "strong enough." I ignored this because counseling is the only thing that has helped.
