What is it like to be a teenager in a closed psychiatric ward? An interview that will not leave a dry eye

Being a teenager in a closed psychiatric ward is not a simple thing. Hodia, who was a guest on the program "Open with Efrat Barzel," describes honestly the path that brought her there, the immense difficulty of hospitalization, and the late realization that the place she wanted so much to leave was also the place that kept her alive.

According to her, she was a happy child, but over the years she absorbed insults and bullying. Harsh words said to her again and again gradually turned into a cruel inner voice. Later, she developed obsessive thoughts and rituals related to OCD, until the anxiety took over her life.

"People think that OCD is just order and cleanliness," she explains, "but these can be rituals that you feel you must do, and you feel terrible if you don't do them."

The situation worsened to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Eventually, Hodia arrived at hospitalization in a closed youth ward. "It is a difficult place, but the only one that really kept me alive," she says.

The hardest part: seeing others free

One of her strongest memories is the feeling of imprisonment. She tells about the longing for her parents, the bars on the windows, and the difficulty of seeing people outside and feeling that she cannot simply go out and return home.

Even years after discharge, memories remain. Smells, places, and dreams can bring her back to moments from the hospitalization. And yet, looking back, she emphasizes: "It is not a shame to struggle, and it is not a shame to ask for help. It is simply taking care of yourself."

The medication, which she feared at first, was, according to her, a significant part of the recovery process. Today she describes a better ability to control thoughts and feelings, and above all, a deep change in the way she perceives herself.

When should parents intervene?

Vered Aviad, who herself went through a long journey in the world of mental health alongside her daughter, emphasizes that when it comes to children and teenagers, it is not worth waiting in the hope that the situation will pass on its own.

According to her, prolonged withdrawal, avoiding school, disconnection from the environment, depression that lasts for weeks, self-harm, or a sharp change in functioning are signs that require attention and turning to professional help. In severe situations, and especially when there is a suspicion of a psychotic state, she emphasizes the importance of a quick medical evaluation.

But alongside professional treatment, there is one more thing that must not be neglected: the community.

"Do not give up on them"

Aviad says that one of the hardest things for families is the distancing of the environment. Friends call once or twice, do not get an answer, and stop trying. However, a person who is in depression is not always able to respond, even if they are in great need of contact.

"Do not give up on them," she asks. "Continue to send a message, ask how they are, be there."

According to her, the parents themselves also need support. Not only to hold the child, but so as not to lose themselves along the way. Company, a walk, a cup of coffee, or a few minutes of breathing can become an anchor in a long and exhausting journey.

At the end of the conversation, the participants also return to faith. "May the Creator of the world give us the right strengths," says Aviad. A different strength is required for the body and a different one for the soul, and the hope is to find each time the right way to continue from here on.