I got a hospital place from September for 2-6 months

[Guest Annabel]

Hello guys,

Just wanted to update anyone who's interested and to say thank you to everyone who has supported me so far: I went for an assessment at a specialist hospital today and was offered an in-patient bed for 2-6 months starting in September.

I'm feeling a bit worried about it all and not 100% sure of anything but I'd love to get better (as I'm sure everyone else would!).

xxx

[Guest FlyingEagle]

this will get you better. this is what you need.

[Biccy]

Hi annabel

That sounds like a positive to me I would give it a go. Xx

[machiato]

Hey Annabel,

Glad you have been offered something. Just make sure that there is plenty of therapy attached to it and that during the day, you can be active and avoid sitting on that hospital bed all day. If so, great!

And make sure u have an internet connection. We want to hear from you!

[Guest FlyingEagle]

And make sure u have an internet connection. We want to hear from you!

this :-)

[Guest legend]

Best of massive luck Annabel. I am certain that this will be a huge positive x

[felix4]

Fantastic news! :original:

As hard as it is, try not to get anxious leading up to this, but instead focus on seeing yourself as better as an end result.

And make sure u have an internet connection. We want to hear from you!

Unless the doctor advises against this.

All the best.

xx

Edited June 19, 2013 by felix4

[Guest sarah1984]

That's fantastic news Annabel - I'm so pleased for you!

Just make sure that there is plenty of therapy attached to it and that during the day, you can be active and avoid sitting on that hospital bed all day.

I'm absolutely certain that Annabel won't be sitting on her bed all day. Springfield is a specialist centre for the treatment of OCD and therefore offers a regular programme of one on one CBT, group therapy sessions and activities. I remember getting a brochure from CADAT at last year's OCD UK annual conference and it contained a sample timetable for patients - they certainly don't leave you much time for sitting around and vegetating.

Annabel - it's only natural that you're going to be nervous but remember you'll be in expert hands and they'll help guide you through a graded exposure programme. I wish you all the very best of luck and I'll be looking forward to following your progress.

Sarah

[Guest FobicFairy]

HI Bella,

I am so proud of you, it was a massive step to get to Springfield and you did it! :cheer:

You will be busy, as you go along you have occupational therapy, some tougher tasks, like cooking and learning normal hygiene, I know that's an issue for you. They take you outdoors to face fears in small groups so you have someone keeping a close eye on you, but the other OCD patients will support you, and if you take a risk doing a task often they will follow your lead. Within a short time of being at Springfield I was sitting on the seats on the tube. Sometimes we played games in the grounds, rounders etc. Every so often you got a proper trip out, the others had been to the science museum just before I got there and they said it was a great day, but not long after I got there I was taken to London zoo.

There is a lovely art conservatory room, it's really light and full of art materials. It isn't art therapy, you can do whatever you want to. There is even a little garden in case you fancy growing something.

There is a gym and attending is encouraged and there are trained staff to help you to work out an exercise plan. You can also walk around the grounds, they are not huge but are well taken care of. You can run in the grounds or around the streets, you can get to Wandsworth common in a 5 minute run, and then stop off for afternoon tea at the Russian tea room. The immediate area around the tube at Tooting is a bit naff, but there are a few nice internet cafe's. Right down the other end are nice shops and lots of coffee bars and eateries.

Time spent with you therapist can be as little as an hour a week, then you have records to keep of what tasks you are doing and when, how you feel about it, level of anxiety etc. If you need the support of someone to help you with your tasks the nurses will stay with you when you carry out your daily task/s. It's usually little and often.

You spend 9 to 5pm Monday to Friday on the ward working on your recovery, but after that you are free to come and go as you please, weekends are your own time too. Get to Primark and try clothes on as therapy! What better way to expose yourself to your fears combined with looking at yourself with pretty dresses on. I had to buy things from a garden centre as I was scared of owning something that had been on the counter before I made a purchase, I was convinced it would have weed killer or ant powder on it. So I went to the garden centre and bought a pink fluffy bunny (what else!) and passed it to the cashier, but she didn't put it on the counter in case it got dirty so put it straight in the bag, so when she turned away to put my cash in the till I had to whip the bunny out and wipe it on the counter a bit. I hoped they hadn't got CCTV because over the weeks I was going in there rubbing containers of ant powder on my clothing!!

Of course it's terribly stressful and your anxiety levels will go through the roof at times, but somehow it does get easier, as you go along you learn that actually the therapy is working and you want to win over your OCD no matter what it chucks at you. Sometimes the nurses at the unit were a bit ****, but you soon learn who to ask when you need help. I was so lucky to get the ward assistant manager who was wonderful. I am so grateful for her support, I can't praise her enough. And the ward manager was always prepared to listen and help deal with anything that came up.

Ashley asked me if I would like to write about my experience at Springfield when I came out about 6 years ago and at that time I couldn't really think about it without feeling a upset, but now I can read my notes and think about my experiences and feel positive about it. It's like the best and worst of you life all wrapped up together. But the end result is brilliant and with an average success rate of 66% at Springfield it's worse taking a risk. I was smarting when I came out from my exposure tasks, it really takes it out of you, but I also felt elated, because if I could face my worst fears and drive through the centre of London in rush house every other week I could move mountains!

I wish I could go to Springfield with you and help out, I promise to do my best to visit when you go, I will be able to meet up with my other Springfield friends while I am at it, 6 years and we are still meeting up a few times a year, it's lovely to see them all progressing.

Now I am getting sappy and wittering on so I will try to force myself to clean the en suite, either that or read then have a nap

Still really pleased you had your assessment, I am so happy Bella, big massooovoh hugs.

Mshfb xxxxx

[Guest orange socks]

Bless you mate.....keep us posted ye.....(((((hug)))) xx

[Northern Star]

Congratulations, Annabel . That sounds like great news . I think it's normal to be nervous but you will be in a great place to get the help you need and deserve and show this horrendous illness what for!! :hug: