I've never been ..but thought I'd BUMP your Topic.

You are asking all the questions I would ask

Good luck

I have been in several times. I have went in because I od'd . I haven went in because I was just losing it. I did feel safer in there. You can't wear anything that has strings. No shoestrings. Most of the time it has helped me a lot. Some places you have group everyday and other places you don't you have crafts and you have someone that comes in and talks to you and you have a councilor. You get in line to take your meds. Some places take your vitals everyday and some don't. It does get a little boring so I would take something to read. I also to word search puzzles. The people are just like you and me. There are some with a little more challenging problems but on the most part they are just like us. You can't shave without someone watching you so I just didn't shave while I was in. It is like sleeping in the hospital. You have visitation that doesn't last very long. Like maybe a couple of hours. I hope this has helped some and if anybody has anything else to say that I may have forgotten or if you have experienced something else, please feel free to tell.

You have too many questions. For me it was better to be scared in hospital than to be scared and out running the streets. Your experience will depend on you. Aspects of my hospitalizations were very bad while some was very good. All together it was a learning experience and I've been hospital-free for over 30 years.

I've been hospitalized over 20 times and each time is different. Call up the place where you want to go and ask them these questions. Like Tommy said, You are asking a bit much.

You need a different shrink and better meds. Getting on the right meds can change everything for you in a matter of days.

1. scary daily routine. meal, maybe 30 minutes outside, crazy people all around you.

2. Rarely ever say professionals
3. Yes I felt safe.
4. way crazier than me.
5. sitting in a tree
6. Police took me there
7. Family looked at me differently, was a crazy person from that point forward.
8. I got meds
9. not voluntary 1 time, and 1 time yes.
10. no internet, no mobile phone, rarely phone calls at all.
11. nothing
12. shoelaces, anything sharp.
13. steal everywhere, stainless steal
14. 30's

you get a rating... and as you move along, your number changes, this determines what you can do.. go outside, go swimming, stay in a confined very small place, go to classes, etc.

Do everything your told and your rating will change quickly.

I was involuntarily committed. It was the most expensive vacation I have ever taken. The pros I saw most were the ones who serve dinner and change the linens. As a housewife, I enjoyed them allot more than yet another person telling me how to live. After my husband saw how expensive a hospital stay is - even with good insurance - he quit arguing against the independent vacations. Personally, I find retreats far more healing. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The routine was strict and stabilizing. Yes, I felt safe. The other patients were the most amusing part of the experience. My inpatient experience was pre-cell phone, but I have not been allowed to carry my cell into any recent visits.

Therapy and monthly tdoc helped me stay out of the hospital. But I still had to go at least yearly.

I hate going in because of the damn uncomfortable chairs and shitty food.

Best of luck Jellybean!

1. What was the daily routine?
We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. Played sports, went to therapy sessions and had smoke breaks. Only 8 per day.

2. How often did you see professionals, and how long were the sessions?
Rarely saw professionals. They would come and grab you out of therapy sessions and speak to you for about 2 minutes. They didn't help at all. But they were the ones to decide if you could leave or not.

3. Did you feel safe in there?
Yes

4. What were the other patients like?
Worse off than myself. Most anyway.

5. What were you in there for?
Bipolar and drinking.

6. How was it recognized you needed in-patient help?
I went through a very long manic phase that turned into psychosis.

7. How did your family/friends react to you being there?
They visited me. They were very supportive and encouraged it.

8. How much do you feel it helped?
It was a nice break from reality, but it didn't help too much. The patients were what helped the most. Just chatting with them everyday....made you feel less alone.

9. Were you in there volountry or not?
Not really.

10. Were you allowed to use the internet/your mobile phone?
No.

11. What possessions were you allowed to take in with you?
Clothing, cards, blankets, etc...cigarettes, art supplies, flowers without the vase, books.

12. Any prohibited items?
Phones, shoe laces, razors etc..

13. What was your room like?
White and bland. Very small cots to sleep on. Hard too. But it was warm, so that was nice. Everyone had a roomate. I got along really well with mine, so that made it less awkward.

14. How old were you when you went in?
32

I think it might be best i go in - i just don't know how to get in. Whenever i see professionals, i don't know what to say. The most that i can get out is a quiet sob and 'i just feel shit'. And the fact that i want help so desperately, but its so impossible for me to get it/say how bad i actually feel, makes me feel even worse. I just don't know what to do anymore.

My first roommate peed on the floor and then walked around the room naked. They moved her out of my room. After being in a couple of hospitals I figured out which one I felt safe in and stuck with it.

I was psychotic was the reason for my hospitalizations.

No cell phones allowed or anything with staples. We had art classes during the week and saw a shrink and a social workers a few times. No therapy and no smoke breaks. If you were a smoker they would give you patches if you asked.

Very dull and boring.

it was boring and shitty and scary, but it saved my life each time.

maybe write how you're feeling down on paper before you go in, so if you can't find the words, you can just give them the paper. be blunt and brutally honest, and give them a worse-case scenario.

i'm sorry you're feeling so terrible. i hope you can get in and start feeling better.

1. What was the daily routine? Breakfast, Color on coloring books, group therapy, lunch, preacher, activity...do nothing until Dinner...therapy.

2. How often did you see professionals, and how long were the sessions? Once every three days and I only spent 5 minutes with him.

3. Did you feel safe in there? Yes.

4. What were the other patients like? Tired and worn out like the rest of us...seeking answers to all the questions we don't know.

5. What were you in there for? No.

6. How was it recognized you needed in-patient help? I was killing myself...slowly...still am.

7. How did your family/friends react to you being there? No reaction...it was needed I suppose.

8. How much do you feel it helped? It helped me realize I needed to be in there...but very thankful when I got out.

9. Were you in there volountry or not? Yes...I was.

10. Were you allowed to use the internet/your mobile phone? No...everything was taken from me.

11. What possessions were you allowed to take in with you? Hairdryers are iffy because they have cords, smae went for shoe laces, sweatpants and shorts...anything you can hard your self with is taken.

12. Any prohibited items? Razors, cell phones, lighters...

13. What was your room like? Spcaious, private, clean.

14. How old were you when you went in? 31 I am 33 now.

Good Luck

I'll try to give a general answer:
We had to get up at a certain time; I think 8 or 9, in order to have breakfast. Then we might have some kind of activity like morning stretch or whatever. Then maybe art therapy or a game. Then some free time. Then check in. You had to eat your meals at a certain time.

They discourage you from staying in bed all day but you can if you want to. I didn't have a cell or a laptop so I don't know. I don't know if I would bring valuables into a hospital. There's usually a pay phone.

As far as safety, it depends. One state hospital I went to felt a bit weird; it was the State and so very ill people were there. I didn't exactly feel threatened but still it was depressing.

Overall I've been about 5 times and each time it saved my life. Some hospitals, like Kaiser, give you the option of going to Aftercare afterwards where you go to therapy for half a day and then go home. This helps you readjust to life post-hospitalization.

BTW, these hospitalizations were spanned out over years so I can't remember how old I was. First time I was probably about 30.

Also I recommend bringing a book with you. One of the places I went to had "Shutter Island" (cant' believe they had it on the shelf) but it really helped to be able to lose myself in a book. Otherwise, lots of bad tv and staring into space. Which in itself is depressing.

Also, I didn't usually get to talk to a dr or therapist as nearly as much as I wanted to. I think they're sort of in high demand in that situation.