Feb 23 • 10:11 UTC 🇸🇪 Sweden Aftonbladet

Sigrid wrote down every time she was restrained by psychiatry

Sigrid Steen shares her harrowing experiences of being restrained during psychiatric treatment, highlighting the challenges she faced with anorexia.

Sigrid Steen, now in her 30s and thriving, recounts her difficult journey through psychiatric care, beginning with her first hospitalization at age 14 for anorexia. She meticulously documented every instance of being physically restrained during her treatment, totaling around 600 occurrences. This stark statistic not only underscores her struggle but also reflects the often traumatic reality of mental health care for vulnerable adolescents.

Throughout years of treatment, Sigrid found herself repeatedly subjected to restraint, particularly during her time in both children's and adult psychiatric care. She describes a significant lack of understanding and support from staff regarding eating disorders, which contributed to her prolonged suffering and sense of isolation. It wasn't until she reached adulthood that the gravity of her condition was fully recognized, with medical professionals indicating she was nearly in a life-threatening state due to starvation.

Today, Sigrid advocates for mental health awareness and shares her story with others, emphasizing the need for more effective training for psychiatric staff and better resources for patients suffering from conditions like anorexia. Her experience sheds light on the critical issues within psychiatric care systems and urges a reevaluation of how treatment is approached for young individuals in crisis.

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