The hospital I go into is a locked unit for dual diagnosis, meaning some are there for detox, some for psychiatric. I see my pdoc every day. There are structured classes during the day that keep you very busy. One class a day is a process group, more like a group therapy situation. The nurses and techs were wonderfully kind and attentive. But from what I heard, the hospital I go to is the exception, not the rule. The other psychiatric units in the area were much less positive experiences for those that had been to them.

I go into the hospital when I am a danger to myself. When my depression is so severe that I am barely functioning. The advantage to the hospital is that it is a very safe place, and meds can be more closely monitored and more quickly changed and increased. Most psychiatric units anymore are crisis stabilization units like mine that are there to keep patients safe, get them stabilized, and send them out to get care from private practitioners. The average stay is 3-4 days, but my stays are usually around two weeks or so.