Psych Ward Bingo Part 2/ Digital Detox

Cheeking meds	Quiet Room	6 Am Vitals	Apple juice	1:1
Hardboiled eggs	Pet therapy	Group	Uno	Rounds
Courtyard	Self-injury	Music Therapy	Doctor’s Meetings	Psychological Testing
Case studies	Christmas tree	Visiting Hours	Zombieland	Tuna fish sandwich
Code Red	Six Am Coffee	Pay Phones	Email	Body Maps

Hardboiled Eggs- This might be a hot take. I liked weekdays because the kitchens weren’t open and we got hardboiled eggs and a pastry. Breakfast was my favorite meal at both hospitals. This could be because I was in much better spirits in the morning, usually because I had something small to look forward to. Some days it would be a special visitor or the opportunity to shower. Other days it might be a promised present. Other days the sun was shining so I knew we could go outside. I also really cardboard eggs and this time I didn’t even have to make them myself!

Pet therapy: One of the hospitals (guess which one. Yep, the one that actually gave a damn about the patients) offered pet therapy. Twice a week a dog and her trainer would visit our ward. One of them was a golden retriever (my favorite type of dog). The other dog I honestly don’t remember but they were both so friendly and well behaved it was so much fun when they visited us.

Group: I was stunned to learn my second hospital did not offer group. At the first hospital, there was a whiteboard and the staff would write the group schedule so we could attend. There were several groups: group therapy where the patients tried to work out problems that cropped up in the hospital, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy). The day started with goals group where we went around the room and everybody listed a goal from “I want to get off status” to “I want to call my mom” At the end of the day you summarize how your day went and if you accomplished those goals.

Uno: There have been times where I’ve actually had so much fun I actually lost track of time. My friends Ryder and Olivia and I would play cards at night like we were in some swanky hotel. Another time a group of us played Scattergories till they made us go to bed. But I will always remember the huge Uno game we played- patients and staff that cut into dinner.  Sometimes yes, it is bearable. And beats being lonely.

Rounds: Every fifteen minutes a tech or nurse has to do rounds to check on everyone. Sometimes this is helpful. Like when the nurse found me that first night in the second hospital crying in the bathroom, scared I’d claw my eyes out, she knew to check in there because during rounds I was not in my bed. Rounds were pretty much the same at both hospitals but the second hospital they didn’t knock which is why a guy opened the door to see me standing there in my underwear (just in time, I was about to take everything off). He apologized and backed out but you know what would have been nice? Knocking in the first place.

Side Note: This year for Lent (although I’m getting an early start) I am going to take a digital detox from Facebook and Instagram (i don’t have Tiktok otherwise I’d take a break from that too). I find I waste so much time on it. If I want mindless videos, I’ll just go on Youtube. Instead I don’t have to spend time feeling fat, or left out or less than. I really need to stop comparing myself with others. Maybe a small detox won’t help me but I might as well try.