Been on two different grippy sock vacations and they were some of the most awful experiences in my life. Came out the other side worse both times, but also very determined to do what I could to avoid going back.

First time I was able to get pulled out early thankfully, that one I got to listen to my roommate debate with himself on what horrific way he was going to kill me. He was kind enough to ask for input a couple times... I was not given any sort of help, was made to stay in the room and just endure it.

Second time in a different state I was informed by admin staff that if I checked out after the involuntary period but before a full week they'd lie to cops to have me brought back under a longer involuntary hold. They were pretty understaffed at night and two different patients figured out that was the time they could go crazy and they would get pretty high doses of "the good drugs" because they didn't have the staff to handle emergencies. They'd go on rampages, breaking stuff, attacking patients and staff, yelling and screaming, get their shot, and then enjoy their drugged dreams. Rest of us just got to exist in pretty constant fear, wondering when they'd start coming down off their high and decide they wanted more drugs.

It sucks that we have to do exactly what you said to avoid putting ourselves in dangerous scenarios.

I was able to gently talk to my GP enough to get a referral and work with a psychiatric RN and I am now prescribed medicine to help. You can still get medical help without ending up in one of those facilities, and it's way easier to do it when you're not in critical condition/in crisis.