Often people find themselves in horrid situations where they simply can no longer cope. It all gets too much. Many turn to alcohol, drugs, get terribly depressed, become angry and bitter at the world, and at worst, become suicidal or homocidal. They don't seek help when they need it most

The greatest reason why people refuse to seek help isn't because they don't know where to go to get help, so much as because many people think that seeking professional help is the end of the line, that it means that they have lost the battle, and are weak. Not to mention that there is also a huge social stigma attached to admitting you have a problem and seeking mental health support. Speaking from experience, not only is it not that bad, it's absolutely wonderful!!!

There's two ways to get yourself into a psych ward. One is to avoid seeking help until you have totally lost the plot and end up getting yourself committed - if indeed someone steps in and helps you before you end up killing yourself - or someone else! That's the bad way to go. The other way is by voluntary admission. That's where you phone a mental health support line, make an appointment to see a councelor or doctor, or just rock up to the emergency ward of your hospital in an emotional mess and ask for help.

From that point on, everything starts getting better. They assess your case and how serious it really is - not by the actual situation you are in, but by how it is effecting you. Your problems may seem trivial compared to what other people are going through, but are you handling it as well as they are? That's what makes the difference, and that is what gets assessed. Your ability to cope is what is important, not what is actually happening to you.

If you are in need of help, you will get it. If for some reason you end up landed with a not-so-good councelor or doctor or whatever, you may feel like you got nowhere, but don't give up, just go and see someone else and keep talking until you find someone that will listen and take you seriously. The type of help you can get varies according to what you need. Maybe all you'll need is a bit of counceling, providing some good solid information on techniques that you can use to help you cope. You may need medication as well as counceling. You may need some in-home help and support. or you may need much more serious help and support - and a time out.

If you are really in need of a time out, they may suggest that you go into the psych ward (different hospitals give them different names, "special care suite" is a common one). If you are offered this opportunity, it means the professionals you are talking to really do think it will do you good. ACCEPT IT!!! Jump at the chance. It very well could be the best thing you've ever done!

Psych wards are not like they used to be. The horror stories of "One Flew Over The Cookoos Nest" are long gone. A psych ward is quiet, calm, and in fact rather boring. But there you can re-learn how to to relax and enjoy the little things, like reading a book, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, stuff like that. The little things that in real life you don't have time for and have totally forgotten how to enjoy. The staff are there 24/7 to support you and hand you as many tissue boxes as you need, as well as help you with coping techniques, etc. If you have been seeing a regular mental health worker that you have come to trust and find it easy to talk to, they will arrange for you to see them as often as possible. And you are allowed to have visitors.

If you are there voluntarily, you are allowed to take a bit of temporary leave any time you like. You can go for a walk to the shop, pay your bills, visit a friend, or just wander over to the hospital canteen to grab a snack if you feel so inclined. There are a few little rules and restrictions, the staff will likely want to know where you will be, what you intend to do and who you will be with, but that's not so bad. They just don't want you going to the pub to get wasted not come back! Of course if you're serious about getting help you won't do that anyway - as tempting as it may be at times. They may want you to take a phone with you, or be escorted by a good friend, family member, or social worker, but hey, a bit of company is good if you're in a dark place. If you need to have some time alone, they'll let you have that too.

The patients that are seriously messed up and dangerous are in a totally seperate area where they can't hurt or upset you. If someone in your ward - or one of their visitors, or indeed one of your visitors - is annoying or upsetting you, you only have to let the staff know and they will keep that person away from you. If you want to sit down and play cards or scrabble with someone, there's always someone around that will entertain you for as long as you feel up to it.

Of course the best parts are, you don't have to cook your meals, wash the dishes, do the laundry, clean the floors, or make your bed! LOL

So what happens in the outside world while you are there? What happens with your children? Well, if you have someone you trust that can look after them, good for you! Whoever is looking after your children can apply for assistance from DoCS to help care for your children, and the things they can do for that person is amazing. My friend looked after my son for me and she was able to arrange for a voucher to buy groceries. She was also able to arrange for a professional maid to clean up my house. There are more things available in the way of support from DoCS, but it depends on what your needs are as to what they can do.

If you don't have someone to care for your children, DoCS will arrange good quality temporary foster care. Be it for a night or a month, you can be sure your children are well looked after and DoCS will regularly check in to make sure all is going well with your kids. Your kids can be brought to visit you each day, so you don't have to be totally isolated from them, or you can arrange to go and see them somewhere. A day together in the park or a meal at McDonalds is always a good thing. And being temporary foster care, you can have your children back with you when you are ready to face the real world, go home, and have them back with you.

Once you are registered with DoCs you can keep applying for help if you need it. If you need a time out from caring for your children, they may be able to arrange for your children to be taken care of for a day or two, or help you in any other way you need in order for you to be able to properly care for your children. DoCS does'nt just investigate child abuse and neglect cases, they also do a lot of work in preventing such cases from occuring in the first place - and they are really good at doing that.

You don't have to worry about time off from work or study as you can get a medical certificate for the tiem you are in hopsital. A medical certificate does not have to specify why you couldn't attend, it just has to say you were too unwell to be there. That saves you the worry of having to deal with any other people's attitudes towards your reason for being gone. For all they know you could have just had a really bad flu or a broken leg! Loss if income can be counteracted as well, as you can apply for sickness benefits from Centrelink. Another worry off your mind if that is a concern for you.

If you are not coping and you leave it too long before seeking help and end up committed to a psych ward, you don't get these freedoms I've explained here. You can't leave when you feel up to facing the world again. You have to wait for your psychiatrist to decide when you can go home. You can't take that walk to the shop or spend a day with your kids at the park, because you aren't allowed to leave. The staff decide what visitors you can have and when they can see you. DoCS decides when it is safe for your children to return home to you. Being committed is not a good option. It's far better to accept the voluntary admission if it is offered to you and get your head sorted out by your own choice, than to wait until it is too late and that choice is taken away from you.

Of course, if all you need is some counceling and maybe a bit of medication, then by all means, go for it! If you're lucky to be well enough to only need that, it's a blessing. And never forget, no matter how bad things may seem for you, it could get worse. It's always better to seek help sooner than later, and there is no shame in doing so. You'd be surprised how many people have been to seek such help, even if they've never admitted it. If you think you might need it - of if a friend or family member has suggested it might help you - do it! It's far better than the other alternatives.