In my personal experience, what they told you is merely what they say, when they have had someone in for a while, and they start to stabilize JUST enough to go along okay with the routine of the hospital, but the hospital staff knows that they can't really do much more for that person, they want the bed for more urgent emergency cases, and they kinda fabricate this viewpoint and project it, this idea that you are, "becoming institutionalized", blah blah blah. In other words, it's bollox. You ever watched, "M.A.S.H."? You know how Hawkeye is always calling what they do, "meatball surgery"? When you go into the psych ward, it's like meatball psychology. They patch people up shoddily and quickly so that they can make the appropriate amount of checkmarks on their forms, and it probably causes more problems than it solves, because people like us routinely get sent home when we're not sufficiently stable. They DO make you feel like it's your fault, like you, a grown person, should be ashamed of wanting to stay here. You have to go out in the real world, we can't wipe your *** forever, type thing. Don't buy into it. You came there for legitimate psychiatric care because you have legitimate psychiatric illnesses. They are saying they can't help you anymore, which is also to say, "Well, you know how we made out like we had all the answers? Um, well, the truth is a bit thinner than that.....", but rather than admit that their services are extremely limited, they shift responsibility onto you with the subtle shame game. Yes, I've experienced their little mind games, and found it very scarring, which is why I want you to know it's not you, it's them. They can be so helpful in some ways, and then really screw you over.
My advice is that if there is anything you can find that helps you find some stability that you can rely on better than what the hospital can give, use it, because they will always be there, but they will always have people who will give you those types of attitudes, and I can't take it personally. (((((((((((hugs))))))))))) I hope it all goes well.

It's one of the reasons my pdoc is VERY reluctant to admit me back to the hospital. I'd been going so often that I lost a lot of my coping skills for the real world.

Maybe you should look into an IOP or PHP out-patient program. You would still get help, but you could integrate back into the outside world- without being shoved head first into it.

You didn't do this to yourself. You have an illness. It's not your fault that you need help. Talk to them about other options besides in-patient care.

If you aren't moving forward in your treatment then talk about what might be holding you back. ((hugs))

Sorry I didn't put that I'm actually a Day Patient at the moment, which means I go 5 days a week for the day (a bit like school hours) and i'm home at the weekend.

How long have you been going day patient?

Maybe they can slowly work you down from four- to three etc. Get you used to not going. Or there might be a center nearby, a clubhouse perhaps.

That's what their aim is. They've explained everything will be done gradually.

haveing just read your post on depression support group about "institutionalization" just though I would pop in on this support group and say hello, Buddy.
Hello.