Well, I am diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and have been in the psychiatric hospital 9 times total...4 of the admissions were due to OCD and the other 5 due to Bipolar Disorder, primarily depressive symptoms. Suicidal thinking, intent, and attempts were the prime reasons for me being admitted.

Once we figured out what mental illnesses I had, hooked me up with a therapist and with a good med cocktail, my pdoc and I agreed that the only time I would ever go into the psych hospital would be if I felt suicidal, and it would be as short a stay as possible. Because for me, prolonged stays can actually make things worse. I hate to say it, but I can become "institutionalized", meaning that I grow accustomed to the hospital routine and as a result am afraid of leaving. So for me, if the hospital ever becomes a necessity, short stays are the answer.

However, everyone is different. I personally think that if you are genuinely suicidal, then hospitalization is a smart decision. Don't let your tdoc try to "scare" you into getting better, make sure you get the help you need.