Do you have friends from when you were hospitalized?

[LMCello]

If you have ever been hospitalized, I have a question for you. Why is it discouraged to have contact with other patients after discharging? It seems that you could build some valuable friendships and support by staying connected with people you got to know during your lowest of lows. Have you ever cultivated friendships from hospitalization? I am thinking of forming a group where we can get together and just do activities like hiking or painting or something. Not therapy, just friendship. Thoughts?

[Lizzo30]

I think that is a great idea my sister had bipolar disorder and she made loads of friends from hospital many of them visited her at home she was vey social I am sure there is a need for it you could call it a support group maybe even make it a charity but just start small and see how it goes Not only that I think the people that go in hospitals with problems are usually very interesting

Wishing you the best of luck

[mschloe]

I also was discouraged from having contact with people whom I met while in the hospital. The ward I was on only had people who were there for depression, anxiety, suicide thoughts or attempts, etc., so we had alot in common with each other & gave hugs & support to each other. Several of us ignored what we were told to do once we were discharged & for a while I maintained contact with a few others. It was comforting for a while but in time we all just ended it and went on with our lives. I still think the contact was beneficial to all of us and if you want to maintain contact, I say go for it. I found the doctors and social workers to be of no benefit to me while I was there so think you should make your own decisions once you get out.

[Blue-eyed]

I think sometimes it can be good and other times tricky. I have close friends that I made in treatment and also made some bad choices with a guy I met in a hospital. It put me in danger.

Overall, if you feel that you have a strong sense of who and what is safe and say no to those who aren’t then it can be a beautiful thing. Sometimes only people who are going through it can understand truly.

[Chase888]

I did make a connection with a guy who was sympathetic about my dog dying and then my mother plus the landlords wanting the house back.

But further down the road he turned on me saying

"You're a walking depression. Your dog died, your mum died and the landlords want to evict you ".

I left him.

[EnergeticTortoise]

There's one creepy dude whom I met once, keeps Messenger-ing me...