idk what it's like but i came close to being in a hospital. i was scarde but then again i wanted to be there but my mom didn't.. even though she wanted me to be locked up

I had been in and out of pshyce wards from before 4th grade to 8th grade due to autism/bipolar combination.
I know each hospital is a bit different, but the basics will be the same.
Every week day will be scheduled hour by hour, or something to that affect. That is so people know where they are suppose to be.
There will be individual and group therapy that you need to attend. Also, there is things like fitness programs, art therapy, study hall, and visiting hours.
It is very scary and overwhelming at first, but for someone who loves routines like me, I enjoyed the schedule except for what we were forced to do lol.
It is not as bad as it may seem, although beware of doctors/personal who may be idiots and try to make you feel worse.
I do know that unless you are court ordered (even when you are under 18), they cannot force you to go in. However, if your doctor wants to admit you, I would go in willingly because he may feel he has to get a court order. If you have a court order, you cannot sign out anytime.
If you are there because you choose to be, you can sign yourself out. However, once again, if you doctor believes you need to be there, he could try to get a court order.
I don't know the process, but the doctor has to prove that you are not able to make reasonable decisions or decisions that are in your own best interest I believe.
Just hang in there, it may be a good thing. It may not.
Some hospitals may have better professionals than others, which is why I say that.
Let me know if you need to talk. And good luck with things.

I have no idea what it is like where you are... I was only in for 2 weeks after a suicide attampt... the regular hospital had already taken my blood etc... so, I didn't have to do that... I cried a lot and it sucked. I had to wear hospital gowns until I was cleared and I had to sleep in the hallway (I was on 24 hour watch) there was group therapy and visiting hours. there was a points system, you got points for eating, sleeping, not harming yourself or others, being good, etc... depending on your level- you could call people on an approved list, people on that list could call you, you could have visitors, they could bring you food, you could stay up a ahlf hour later on fridays, you could go to the game room... there was a social worker you interviewed everyone when they came in... all the regular questions, have you been abused, by whom, in what way, are you on drugs, smoking, drinking etc... you get assigned a p-doc,I hated mine! He was mean :( I cit myself and he tells me I'm going to be with them a long time >_< :( at first I became even more suicidal because I HATED it but when I started talking to the other kids (at first I was silent)- apparently one of the kids thought of asking me if I could talk... it got better... although I despised the place and I hope I NEVER go back, I did learn some good tips and ideas to cope... I know that wasn't uplifting but it is my experience, I'm sure others have had better times! and if you need it you should go! like I said, I think in the long run it did help me...

Mine was scary. It's an old victorian one and awful. The further in you go there are hidden away people. All the old junkies, alcholics and 'crazy' people were hanging around.. one guy even sat on a hill pretending to be the devil. His laugh scared the crap outta me!

yours def wont be like that!

thanks you've now scared me :D

It's scary at first, and I too cried a lot. I was incredibly disipointed, becasue the way my councilar talked about it, I thought going would fix all my problems in a week. But it didn't

Just make sure you eat, sleep, follow rules, and talk or they'll keep you therel onger. It drove me up a wall how they over anlized things.

Actually i'm writing a story and the main chary is in the hospital now. If you want to read that section of it, I'd be happy to give it to you.

I spent six weeks in an inpatient program. It was hard, but a very good program. I don't think you can base your experience on others as all the facilities / staff are so differant. I had a very private room - like a hotel room in fact. And we spent 8 hours a day+ working on our problems in group. I met some really wonderful people and found out I am not alone.

it sucks been in 3 times the worst part is not having ur family there everything else i could live with except the food

ps be happy ur doctors admittinng u the emergencey room sucks even more

Dont worry about it at all, i have been in many hospitals (wanna do medicine at uni next year so have been on work experience many times) all the psyche people are really understanding and will try there best to help you!!

henxXx

too be honest in pcyche wards was kinda the one place where i felt normal cause hell there is alot of people who really lost the plot then again it also made me feel that is where i am heading!! you know if i dnt straighten out my life and shite!! the longest ive been in a program was 18 months but then again i ran away twice in that time !! just hang in there it's not that bad try and be honest but not too honest DNT CUT while your there and rememba to eat!!! good luck hope youll be okay!!! ((((HUGS))))

any kind of in patient or hospital environment is really intense but sometimes its the only way to stop the cycle.... that being said its not exactly a permanent cure

I want you to know and Im not trying to be funny that I love the hospital. I've been in and out sice I was 16 and now I'm 27. Dont get me wrong it's not a happy picnic, but sometimes you just need a mental but safe vacation. It's a chance to get away from everything but be surrounded by safty. there are so many times I just want to be away from it all but dont trust my judgement, ya now? well my last trip there was in july f2 weeks, it was the first time since three years, but I needed it. Please dont be scared if it's for your own good. It can be a hlpful experience.

I've been hospitalized 7 times. it is somewhat scary your first time, but it's kind of nice, you get to do arts and crafts and have therapy a million times a day. oh but the rule, oh lord the rules. you can't have anything that can harm you. when i was in there when i was 14 i wasn't allowed to have caffienated pop, they had to watch me with a pencil, i couldn't have shoes with laces, or any pants with draw strings, to plastic bags, no "sharps" as they call them, you can't even administer your own aspirin.
oh yeah, and in my experience, all 7 times, i have wanted to sign myself out and they wouldn't let me. once you agree to be admitted, you are your psychiatrist's responsibility, so if they feel that you are still a danger to yourself, they WILL NOT let you sign yourself out because then they could be liable. i guess it could be different for different state, or hospitals, but i've been in 4 different psych wards in 2 different states. and you doctor can have you admitted without a court order, especially if you are under 18. once again, there's the liability, if your doctor sent you home knowing full well that you were a danger to yourself, they can get in deep trouble. again, i don't want to step on anyone's toes that had a different experience, but this is just my personal account. but i wouldn't be too scared or worried, i actually met one of my best friends during one of my hospitalizations. that was 3 years ago, and you meet people from all different walks of life, with totally different problems and diagnoses. sometimes it is interesting, even comical, to see what some of the people do. this one time, this lady was insistant for my entire stay that i owned Casey's Bar, just because my name is Casey. another time, there was this guy that was having a pretend wedding with Marilyn Monroe, like he was acting as himself and the priest saying "i do" and "i now pronounce you man and wife." all the things you see in there, you have to take them in stride and sometimes you just have to laugh at them. but i will tell you this, the psych ward, once again in my experience, is one of the safest places you can be, no one can harm you and you definitely can't harm yourself. i always look at it as a vacation from life to figure out my shit. but it'll be okay, i promise.