Hi SunnyD,
I found that looking back other people were trying to help me by encouraging me to talk to someone. When I had passed the point where I could have/should have set up a psych. appointment my husband and mother brought me to the doctor's office and then they referred me to the ER. If you ever have thoughts or hurting yourself or someone else I would say it is definitely time to go to the hospital. Otherwise, if you are just wondering if you need to be hospitalized I would think it would be OK to just set up a doctor's appt. and ask them what they think. If you are worried you won't be rational enough to do this, go ahead and reassure someone close to you that it is OK for them to bring you somewhere when they think they need to. I know I protested when I was in the ER and in the psych ward but afterwards I saw it was the best thing for me. Since then, I have told my mother and husband what I want and where I am willing to go in advance should I ever become manic again.