The Naive and The Manic

"Good evening, Sir. How can I help you?" the nurse asked from behind the window.  My friend had taken me to a local mental health hospital.  This was a new experience for me, and I was very nervous.  I calmly told the nurse behind the window "I, I think I'm manic".  She just said "Ok, have a seat and someone will be right with you".  And so, I did as I was instructed.  I sat for what felt like an eternity.  But it was probably only about 15 minutes before they called me back into a private screening room where the staff took my blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and asked me a few health questions.  Simple.  The nurse said, "The doctor will be with you shortly" and she walked out the door.  Then, my condition further progressed into a new symptom.  This was a terrifying one I had never experienced.  I began to hallucinate.  By this time, it was late into the evening.  I believe it was somewhere around the time of 11:00 pm.  I had not slept except for a short nap on a couple couches in two days.  I had technically been sleep-deprived for an exceptionally long time.  In my hallucinations, I was watching the wood grain door pattern wave back and forth like an ocean rolling in with the tide or seeing the wind blowing the waves in what was a very lonely sea.  For that's how I felt. Very much alone!  The doctor arrived and I told him about what I had been feeling. Doing. Seeing.  After a brief interview and medical exam, he admitted me to the hospital.  This was my first time.  When I arrived in the unit, the staff took my street clothes and gave me a set of hospital pajamas to wear and showed me to my room.  I received supplies such as hospital approved deodorant, a toothbrush and toothpaste, comb, clean towels and a washcloth with soap, etc.  I was already wearing sandals without laces, so that was not a problem.  I learned that clothing items with laces and strings or belts are not allowed in in-patient mental health units.  Everything and everyone coming in was monitored, even visiting family were to be screened to ensure that they were not carrying anything that could potentially cause harm to the patients on the ward.  However, they did provide me with the socks with the grips on the bottom (these kept my feet warm on the cold floor).  I believe I still have a few pair lying around my house to this day as my feet frequently get cold.  Overall, I had never been in this type of situation before.  There were many people in "the unit" as it was known to be called.  I could see names on the doors on each of the hospital patient rooms along with the doctor they were assigned to.  However, most of the patients appeared to be sleeping.  It did not seem to be a scary environment.  It was nothing like what is seen on television or in the movies.  There was a common area where the patients could gather.  In the large room, there were televisions, board games, seating that appeared to be comfortable, a piano, and tables to do crafts and draw/color, etc.  After receiving my health and comfort supplies and doing my intake, the staff asked me if I was hungry and gave me a small meal.  It did not compare to the food I was used to at home, but it was filling.  After that, the staff told me I could have a shower and a little while later they gave me my clothes back.  They had been washed and dried.  When my nightly routine was complete, I was instructed to come back to the desk.  The staff gave me medication to help me sleep that was approved by my assigned doctor, whom I had not yet met.  We'll call him "Doctor M".  He would be my psychiatrist, and like my other recent events, would continue to alter the course of my life.