I went in once, manic with psychosis for 5 months and I did not want to go. I was supposed to go to a step program that allows more freedom but once they learned I was also having psychosis I was sent to hospital. Ok I was barely able to function at all, I have three kids so I do need to be functioning and not trying to figure out how to get monkies into every room in my house to protect me from tiny people in my cloests etc. I was not as psychotic when I left but I was a mere shell of a human being let alone myself due to way way overmedicating me in the two weeks they kept me. I was not offered therapy that seemed to be reserved for depression only. I did get to try figure out how to dodge some aggressive patients who were withdrawaling of heavy drugs, who would stalk you through the unit trying to intimidate you for your stuff (whatever they thought you may have). It felt more like prison than anything, and I suppose since I never broke the law, never harmed anyone including myself nor suggested I might...that I would expect to be treated like a person, not a prisoner.

It was a positive experience in the way that it was such a horrible experience that it propelled me to do everything in my power to gain control back over my life and mind that I should never hopefully experience it again. All good changes in my life have come in wolf's clothing, this is one of them.

Activities?!? You mean some offer more than pacing the halls in an endless circle and a puzzle in one corner of a hall..

I tried for a long time to convince myself it was ok experience, in order to be able to deal with it.