Pine Rest 2004-2008

I was placed in Pine Rest in the July of 2004. I was brought to the psychiatric hospital for two reasons: one being that I had attempted suicide, and the other being that my food intake had gone so low, that I was about forty pounds under where I should be. I was placed in the C&A Unit, or the Child and Adolescent Unit.

While I was there, I was checked on every ten minutes while my mattress was in the Seclusion Room. The SR, as I like to call it, is a painted brick-walled room. When I say painted, I mean institution white. The color that the walls are in insane asylums. LOL. But anyhow, I was on suicide watch. Apparently, Pine Rest didn’t find it funny that I slipped by everyone the razor blade in my mouth through the checks by the nurses. I then proceede to harm (superficially cut) myself while I was in the bathroom.

I was also a "Food Monitor” patient. A FM is actually a program that they use for ED (Eating Disorder) patients. The program is designed to make sure the patient doesn’t purge food after “eating” it. So, after sitting in front of a plate of scrumptious, actually quite retched, food for a half hour, only eating a couple of small bites to appease the nurses, I was not allowed to use the bathroom for an hour so I couldn't throw up. I was super pissed because I had to pee!

I stayed in the C&A Unit for about three weeks. During this time, I was introduced to my soon to be favorite therapist ever, Linda Faust. The thing about Linda is the woman doesn’t beat around the bush for anything. Her philosophy was because it’s going to taste bad anyway, why would you sugar-coat it. I have adopted this philosophy. She is the most blunt person on the face of the planet. I love it.

I went through some major treatment while I was a Pine Rest. Some of which included, numerous medication changes and rigorous psychological therapy, that I probably didn't need in the first place. I was met weekly sometimes daily by Linda for ED and to talk about therapist stuff (like my feelings and whether or not I wanted to kill myself or anyone that day). I was met bi-monthly by the psychiatrist Dr. S. to see if my medication needed any adjusting. During the first couple of months, I was adjusted rather regularly. By the end of my four-year stay, they had me on a generous regimen of Depakote and Seroquil. I learned to take my meds, and eventually love them.

There were quite some crazy things that happened during my stay there, and surprisingly they weren't by me. Some of the residents there liked to cause trouble (like "going off" and destroying property). These "going off" sessions would include things like oiling the body is lotion then causing a fight. The lotion would allow them to slip out of restraints attempted by staff to control them.
There were a couple of times when I went rather nuts. It was not the same nuts as every other idiot though. I was evil and cunning when I was going off, and generally didn't go off myself. You see, what I would do was cause fights between kids. Kind of pit them against one another. For example, I would go up to one kid and say that so and so was talking about him. That child would then proceed to confront so and so about it. Confrontation and chaos would soon erupt. It was most comical.
I can't say that I really learned anything at Pine Rest except for always do what the man in power tells you to. If you don't your time will be much harder. If you listen and do what is asked of you, your life in an institution will be much easier.

I remained at Pine Rest for a month over four years. I was released in August of 2008.