91 Clinical treatment interventions and personal recovery I: Does the medication help you? R: Well, my thoughts are a bit more ‘closed’ in a way [by the medication]. […] But on the other hand, they [the voices] enriched my life. Because these voices are negative and that helped me to become very positive [respondent smiles] ~ P006 3. Hospitalization Most respondents had experienced admission to a psychiatric hospital at some point during their treatment. For many respondents, the moment of the first admission could be seen as some kind of ‘turning point’ in recovery, both positively and negatively. Positive experiences R: “[…] it [admission] does of course give you insight. All of a sudden you realize you really are ill.” ~ P053 Most respondents argued that the admission was, in hindsight, necessary. They described that the admission had its positive effects, like enabling them to get rest in a stressful period, as well as insight in themselves and the acceptance of treatment that they needed. R: “On the day of the admission, you have a clean bed and a meal. And nothing had to be done. It was actually a liberation for me. It was absolutely not a bad experience. […] I really calmed down there. We were close to the sea and I often went biking, going into nature. So no, I have never experienced my admissions as bad.” ~ P067 Negative experiences Nevertheless, some respondents also mentioned downsides of admission. One participant felt that the support of care professionals during the admission was not actively focused on recovery: R: “In the clinic the staff is nice, but also very distant; a little formal. I wasn’t very happy about it. Recovery is something you need to do by yourself there. They take care of the environment, but recovery is your own business.” ~ P031 4. Coercive treatment Positive experiences Several participants called, in retrospect, coercive measures supportive. For example, forced admission was sometimes viewed as a protection from society or a safe environment: 5
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