Tips on looking after yourself in hospital
Going into hospital can be a stressful and upsetting experience, especially when you're feeling very unwell.
This page has tips and ideas that could help you to look after your wellbeing while you're in hospital.
You may find some of our tips work better for you than others, or that some don't feel possible right now. Be kind to yourself and only try what you feel comfortable with.
Keep in touch with family and friends
You could do this by calling a friend or family member, having people to visit, or sending letters or emails. It can help to plan regular phone calls or visits so you have something to look forward to.
Remember, there's no pressure to say ‘yes’ to seeing people, or to keep in touch if you're not feeling up to it. Saying ‘no’ can be a good thing sometimes.
Connect with people on the ward
Meeting new people in the hospital ward can feel scary, especially when you're in a new place and you're not feeling well.
But talking to people who are going through similar experiences can help you to feel less alone. And after a while, you might find that you have made some new friends.
There were 8 other people on my ward and as we spent all day together, we formed friendships and became quite close… Knowing I had an immediate support network if I was struggling was really calming.
Try to set a routine
Writing a daily or weekly planner could help you to feel more in control of what's happening.
Your planner could include structured wellbeing activities, like therapy or yoga. It could also include:
- Time to relax
- Some space for visits
- Any studying you feel well enough to do
In the evenings there was free time where we could have visitors or watch TV or chill in our rooms.
Journal or keep a diary
Writing down or drawing how you're feeling can help you to make sense of what you're going through.
Each day, you could also try to note down one good thing, or one thing that you're proud of.
Try not to worry about school or college work
Depending on how well you are, you might be asked to carry on with some work for school or college. You may find that studying helps to give you a sense of normality, or that it acts as a good distraction.
Try to spend some time outside
Your ward should have some outdoor space, like a courtyard. Ask your care team if you can use it to get some fresh air and have a walk.
Being in open space and natural light can help to improve your mood and make you feel less stressed or angry. It can also give you something different to focus on and help you feel calmer.
If you can't go outside, you could try to bring some nature inside with you. You could ask to have a pot plant to look after, or you could put up photos of your favourite outdoor places.
Find ways to feel more like ‘you’
Try to think of little things you can do to help you feel more like yourself. For example, wearing your favourite jumper or something comforting like slippers from home.
You could also find ways to express your creativity, like doodling or writing stories. If you have another idea you'd like to try, like baking or sport, speak to your care team and see if they can organise this for you.
Going into hospital was a very scary experience for me, but I liked to think of it as a chance to restart, to come out a stronger person. It gave me the opportunity to try and create a more meaningful life for myself. It also helped me realise I am not alone.
Know your rights
Knowing your rights is about understanding what should and shouldn't happen while you're in hospital. This can help you to make sure you're being treated fairly, and that you're getting all the things you need.
Your rights in hospital
Find out more about your rights in different situations when you're in hospital for your mental health.
Read about experiences in hospital
To read about other young people's experiences of being in hospital, see YoungMinds' blogs on:
Have trust in the staff and why you're there
Even if you feel like you shouldn't be in hospital, try to trust the staff looking after you to do the right thing for you. Having at least one member of staff who you get on with and can talk to can make a big difference.
If you feel well enough, you could also try to think about what you want from your stay in hospital, and let staff know how they can help you achieve this.
Remember it won't be forever and staff want what's best for you!
Ward
This describes the area of the hospital you're staying in. You may also hear it called a unit.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryAdvocate
An advocate is a person who can both listen to you and speak for you in times of need. Having an advocate can be helpful in situations where you are finding it difficult to make your views known, or to make people listen to them and take them into account.
See our pages on advocacy for more information.
Visit our full listing of Legal TermsRights
Rights generally exist to protect and help us. If you have a right or the rights to something in everyday life, it means you're entitled to have it or do it. Our rights are often set out in laws, like the Equality Act 2010. Sometimes, rights might be set out in other policies and guidelines.
Some rights can never lawfully be taken away from us. However, sometimes another law can interfere with or restrict our rights, like if we are arrested or sectioned.
For more information, see our page on your rights.
Visit our full treatment and support glossaryThis information was published in December 2020. We will revise it in 2023.
The quotes on this page are from young people we spoke to while making this information. They've given us their consent to use their quotes in our information. The words, experiences and opinions in the quotes are not related to the young people shown in any of the photographs we use.
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.
