My last two hospitalizations were direct admit from my psychiatrist's office, since she works at the hospital, and the first of the two my psychiatrist let me wait in her office for a bed to open up. I was lucky and a bed opened up that day.

The second time was last November, and it was already afternoon when my psychiatrist decided to admit me. Again there were no beds, but this time I was sent to the psychiatric ER to wait for a bed. For the first day, I didn't even get a bed. Just a chair. Then, I got a bed, but waited in the psych ER for 2 days because there were still no inpatient beds. Lights on all the time, no groups or therapy, nothing to do but stare at the wall, with frequent commotions and outbursts and people throwing things and banging on walls.

I don't ever want to go back to the hospital, because waiting through those gruelling days in a holding tank waiting for a bed does damage.

I hope you have a better experience. Good luck.