Not the Grippy Sock Treatment! How Our Fear of Psychiatric Hospitalization is Keeping Us From Getting the Help We Need
Published March 13th, 2026
Originally published on The Trauma Informed Human Blog.
In the last two weeks, I’ve sat with three different women who all shared the same hesitation. They were struggling—deeply—but they waited to seek help. When we unpacked why, they all used the same phrase: they were terrified of the “grippy sock treatment.”
For those unfamiliar, this is internet shorthand for psychiatric hospitalization. But underneath the slang was a raw, valid fear: “If I tell you how bad I’m actually feeling, will you lock me away?”
If you have felt this hesitation, I want you to know that I hear you. This fear doesn't exist in a vacuum. For many, especially within the Black community, there is a painful historical context to consider. The medical and mental health systems have a documented history of mistreating Black individuals—often when they were at their most vulnerable.
When your history involves a system that has historically pathologized your pain rather than seeking to understand it, "losing control" to a provider isn't just a clinical worry; it’s a safety concern.
As a licensed counselor, I am permitted by law to recommend an individual for involuntary commitment (often referred to as a 72-hour hold). However, I want to demystify this: very specific, high-level conditions must be met before that recommendation is even on the table.
Hospitalization is a tool of last resort, and is used when:
- There is an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others.
- There is an inability to provide for basic physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) due to a mental health crisis.
- Community-based safety plans are no longer sufficient to keep you alive.
My background is in suicidal crisis, which means I view risk and safety through a seasoned lens. I am not reactive to transient suicidal ideation—those intrusive thoughts of wanting to die that occur without an accompanying plan or the means to carry it out.
As a result, I don't race to hospitalization when a client tells me that living life feels hard for them. My principle goal isn't to lock you away. Instead, my role is to work ethically and collaboratively with you to find ways to keep you resourced and secure so that suicide doesn't have to be an option. If you are responding favorably to treatment and we can maintain safety in your natural environment, then keeping you in that natural environment is the priority. While I will never shirk my responsibility to recommend a higher level of care when it is truly the only option left to keep you safe, I know how to hold space for dark thoughts without panic.
Finding the Right Partner in Your Healing
If you are struggling but afraid to speak up, it might be because you need the reassurance that your therapist can hold your story without becoming reactive to your lived experiences.
Here are some tips on what to look for when looking for a culturally sensitive, crisis informed therapist:
- They hold your lived experience with compassion. This means that they ask questions and are curious about your reasons for living and also why you would want to die.
- They are not easily "spooked". That's because knowledgeable, skilled therapists are generally more available to discuss ideation without unnecessary reactivity.
- They prioritize your autonomy: Which means that they should be comfortable discussing suicide, and should approach suicide prevention as a collaborative process, not a top-down mandate.
If you are struggling, be sure to find a therapist who is crisis-informed, culturally sensitive, and clinically grounded. This means finding a provider who doesn’t just see a "symptom," but sees you in the full context of your lived experiences.
Finally, please know that you don’t have to carry the weight of your thoughts in silence. Whether you are ready to start your journey or just have questions about how to find a provider who feels "safe," I am here to help.
- Are you looking for a therapist? I am currently accepting new clients and would be honored to hold space for your story. We can work together to create a plan that prioritizes your safety and your dignity.
- Not sure how to choose? If you have questions about what to ask a prospective therapist to gauge their reactivity or cultural competence, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to share tips on how to interview a provider to ensure they are the right fit for your needs.
- Ready to connect? Send me a Direct Message, or visit my booking page to schedule a free 30 minute consultation.