Sure. There was a patient who thought he was a superhero. One day, he tried to 'fly' off the balcony of the hospital's rec room. Fortunately, the nurses caught him just in time. He then said his powers were just 'charging up' that day.
Definitely. There have been accounts of poor sanitation in some psych hospitals. Dirty rooms and unhygienic conditions can be very distressing for patients, not to mention the potential health risks.
One horror story is about a patient being left alone in a cold, dark room for hours without proper medical attention. The staff just ignored their calls for help.
In a psych hospital, a patient thought she was a mermaid. She refused to get out of the bathtub during bath time and would splash water everywhere, singing what she claimed were 'mermaid songs'. The nurses had to be very creative to get her out without causing a fuss. One day, they told her there was a 'mermaid party' in the cafeteria and she happily hopped out of the tub. This shows how sometimes, you need to play along with their delusions in a fun way in a psych hospital setting.
I'm not sure of a specific title off the top of my head, but you could start your search by looking at medical history sections in libraries or online bookstores. Try using keywords like 'Bellevue Hospital psych ward patient experiences' or 'Stories from Bellevue Hospital's mental health unit'. There may be memoirs written by former patients or staff members that would be really interesting reads.
There was a patient who thought the food trays were alien devices. He would carefully examine them and then try to 'disarm' them by poking at the food with his fork. It was so funny to watch his serious face as he did this.
Sure. There was a patient who thought he could communicate with plants. He would spend hours talking to his potted flowers, believing they were giving him advice on life. Another one was a person who was afraid of odd numbers. Every time they saw an odd number, they would feel a sense of unease and try to avoid it.
One interesting aspect could be the historical context. Understanding the social and cultural attitudes towards mental illness at the time when the stories took place in Bellevue Hospital's psych ward is crucial. It can show how far we've come in terms of mental health awareness and treatment. Moreover, the stories might also touch on the architecture and layout of the ward, which can give insights into how the patients were managed and cared for. For instance, if the ward was overcrowded or had separate sections for different types of patients, it all adds to the overall picture of what it was like to be in that psych ward.
Sure. There was a patient who thought he was a famous singer. Every day he would hold an imaginary microphone and sing at the top of his lungs, even during group therapy sessions. It was hilarious because his 'performances' would sometimes make the other patients forget their own problems and just laugh.
One of the most interesting funny psych stories I know is about a child who thought that his toys came to life when he was asleep. He would leave out little treats for them every night. Another one is a man who believed that his car had feelings. He would talk to it, apologize when he hit a bump too hard, and even sing to it on long drives.