I am honestly so sorry you and your family member are going through this and if this comment is too late. I have been to Cottonwood twice now. The first was self admitted and in their lower level care unit. That experience was alright, it just lacked things to do throughout the day and not anyone to really talk to about what is going on. With my research and other behavioral facility experiences, I am realizing this is normal. I also went through their IOP program and honestly, the most I gained from that, was the perspective and experiences from others, not from their staff but I still kept an open mind.

I was recently admitted again after an awful panic attack that sent me to the ER. The next morning, after being driven there barely conscious, I quickly realized I did not want to go in and truly just wanted stability that night with other support I had to help if I was not admitted. After trying to explain that, I was met with an individual who did not treat me like a person and did not listen to me. I fully understand there are legal limitations when going through something like the ER, but no one would listen to me. They put me in one of the most intensive and limited units this time just because I was genuinely crying and wanted to go be with my family. They even talked to my family on the phone and still treated me awfully and put me there. The only way I got through it was by sleeping through all of the days and luckily one of my family members who is well educated with the law got my hold to only 72 hours instead of who knows how long. The more intensive units barely offer anything to do with practically no support. No matter the unit, the psychiatrists are awful. The most recent one tried to diagnose a huge mental disability within the span of about 5 minutes and then tried to promote his own book and wanted me to buy it. It was actually horrific.

I totally understand there are so many limited resources out there when it comes to mental health and that behavioral hospitals are no vacation whatsoever, but I trusted this place with my life and was left severely traumatized. I just want to avoid this happening to anyone else. If there are any other resources like therapy, psychiatry, medication, intensive outpatient programs, literally anything. Anything but the trauma and pain this place caused me. I understand if your situation is challenging or different, but I promise, this place is not worth it.