There are two simple things you need to remember when it comes to successfully being released from the hospital. The first is telling the truth. Each and every time you have a therapy session or meet with your psychiatrist, you have the option of telling the truth or not. Many patients believe that the best thing to do is cover up their problem. So they go into therapy meetings and lie, and then they go into their doctor and lie. Their assumption is that by lying about their feelings, making themselves appear healthier than they are, they will improve their chances of getting released. Now, while there is some sense in that, it is still not the best thing to do because it hurts your LONG TERM RECOVERY chances. The fact is that if you aren’t feeling well, TELL THEM! If you’re not better yet, TELL THEM. Don’t put yourself in the position of ending up back in the hospital two weeks later because you lied about your mental stability. Trust me, it’s not fun. Been there done that. Its much better to focus on making your first trip to the hospital your last one.

The second bit of advice that will help you get out of the hospital is STAYING OUT OF THE QUIET ROOM! The Quiet Room, as you might already know, is a room with a bed – with restraints. That is where they put patients who are disorderly. Coming from a man who has spent more than a few nights in the Quiet Room, it is definitely best to avoid it altogether. Don’t cause trouble. Don’t get into arguments with other patients, and DON’T BE VIOLENT. Some patients have trouble getting this into their heads, either because they are too busy trying to kill themselves or because they don’t understand that the more time they spend in the Quiet Room, the longer they’ll be in the hospital altogether.

Be patient, be passive, learn what you can, take your meds, and you’ll be out of the hospital in no time.