Heritage Oaks Hospital

This hospital changed my life. I was there for about three weeks after ending up in the ER. The treatment I received was the best by far out of all the six different psychiatric hospitals I’ve been to. I was put on life changing meds and really got the help and support I needed. I recommend this hospital to any of my friends or family who are having a hard time facing suicidal thoughts.
My doctor at Heritage Oaks also took me off methadone (which was ruining my life and I’m not exaggerating) and replaced it with Suboxone/​Subutex for a previous opiate (pain pill) addiction. Suboxone gave me my life back. I had confidence again and actually liked myself instead of the weight gain, lack of motivation and energy and self loathing methadone made me feel. I believe you have to go to Heritage Oaks dual diagnosis wing in order to be treated for substance or alcohol addiction. Their dual diagnosis treatment center was by far the best thing I have ever gone through.
One serious word of advice to get the most out of your treatment is to place all of your faith and trust in the doctors hands. Be willing to try the medication they think suits your needs best. I never thought I would actually MISS a psych ward, but my experience here was so excellent that at times, I do miss the hospital. I made some awesome friends who I could totally relate to. I loved the other patients and the nurses became a lot like family. My doctor had a very paternal way about him that made me feel really comfortable and almost like he treated me like his child. He really wanted to see me get better. The transformation was huge and yes I do miss this place. Perhaps I’ll be back if I ever need a «life reset» again. God bless you, whoever is going on this incredible journey. Don’t think for a second you’re weak, it is actually a strength to have the courage to come here. You and your loved ones will be so glad you did! A vacation for your soul!

So, how’s a mental hospital for my first review of the year, eh?
But whatever, I’m done hiding behind the display of happiness and ready to face my demons — and that’s why Heritage Oaks is actually a good place to be, if you or someone you know happen to come upon needing it. If you’re struggling with any sort of mental health issue, it puts patients in a place where the focus is entirely on getting better. In a modern world where there are way too many ways to distract yourself, it’s a safe environment for people to go when they really are at risk to themselves.
From beginning to the end of the stay, the hospital really ensures your best treatment. It’s a pretty brick building nestled in front of a little creek and a bunch of trees, which gives a peaceful view when looking out the windows. To enter you have to intercom the front desk, which ensures the building remains locked safely. The lobby is spacious with nice couches for anyone waiting. Upon arrival (either from a hospital or walking in) a patient is given an assessment to make sure they’re placed on the proper wing. This is helpful in that you’re staying with a group of people in a similar situation to you.
Each wing has beds for about 20 people (I believe), and at any given time you have four different staff members specifically devoted to your area. They check in on you every fifteen minutes, which can be annoying but is actually a really good thing. There is a common day room with a television, cards, games, coloring pages (hey, it helps), couches, a table, and usually some juice/​coffee. Each room has two beds, two desks, two chairs, two cabinets, and a bathroom with a shower. The rooms themselves are fairly large, as well as the hallways, so even being on «lock down» for a few days you’re not completely confined.
There is a weekly schedule posted on the wall, although it wasn’t followed precisely while I was there (it was New Year’s weekend). For my wing, they wake you up with the sunshine for breakfast in the cafeteria, then you have a morning group where you state your mood and write your treatment goal for the day. Starting each day with a simple goal that’s JUST about your well being for the day really helps you focus on attainable step in the process of getting better instead of the overwhelming task of magically being better. After that, throughout the day you had other meals, snacks, medications (including vitamins), and social worker group lessons. The social workers gave manageable group talks on issues like anxiety, coping skills, and being mindful. At the beginning of your stay you’re given a cheery orange envelope to store the lesson papers in. Basically, preschool — but in a very refreshing way. My wing also included AA and NA meetings (one a day, switching off days). You also got hours at the gym, doing crafts, or patio breaks for some fresh air. Anything you didn’t want to do, you didn’t have to. Nothing was forced but there were options for help whenever you needed it — options that before going into treatment, I probably would have ignored.
The majority of the staff was friendly, nice, and genuinely wanted the best for the patients. From nutrition to psychology to nursing, they have someone in there to take to you about every possible need. They treated you like a fellow human — with jokes, laughter, and conversation while still being mindfully of the reason why you were in there. It’s a place where you can face whatever mental illness you have in a way that acknowledges you’re a normal human, but that you do have something to get better from.
Here’s how it weighs out:
PROS: Big rooms, pretty views, a built-​in support group, constant focus on your well being, art classes that are specifically designed for relaxation, strong lessons, caring staff, and probably saved my life.
CONS: It’s a hard place to be, the food kind of sucks, the gym is tiny, the paintings hung in the rooms remind me of a 1950’s hotel room, and you have to press some of the showers every ten seconds just to stay on.
According to the pretty pictures with steps written on them displayed across the hallway of my wing, Step One is «rock bottom». When I arrived here after a suicide hotline call, I was definitely there. Getting checked-​in was my first sign at Step Two, «hope». After a few days of getting to the staff, they gave me Step Three — «trust». Then, after 5 days without contact to the outside world, through group meetings and conversations, I really had a chance to go through the honest inventory that was Step Four. A chance to think and assess in an environment that was devoted to letting you do so. So although it’s shitty hospital food and kind of challenge to survive, I’m giving them four stars because I probably wouldn’t be alive without them.

On the advice of my physician at the time, I signed myself into this hospital after having what I now know was my first panic attack. After less than six days of observation, the staff diagnosed me with bipolar disorder and put me on a treatment plan. I was medicated extensively for 14 years. The psychiatric drugs made my life a living hell. It’s been almost two years now and I’m free from all the poison I was prescribed. I am still recovering from the physical, psychiatric, social and economic effects their mis-​diagnosis and treatment had on my life. The physical layout is beautiful, the people are nice and the food is good. Nevertheless, This place is EVIL.