I live in the US, but since no one in Canada is responding right now, I'll post then you can see later on if it's different in Canada.

Yes, you can take your own clothes and anything else you want with you. If the staff at the hospital feel like an object isn't safe, they may lock it up while you're there and let you only have access to it intermittently or not at all.

I think this varies greatly from hospital to hospital in the US. But my experience was that if I took something with me that the hospital wouldn't allow me to have, they would lock it up safely and return it to me when I left.

Please try not to think too much about things that are not under your control right now or to think that anything anxiety-causing that happens will last forever. I know that's easier to say than to do.

It's very upsetting when our mental health problems derail our life plans, but I think that's a time for us to learn to be flexible.

As far as fearing what the future might bring in regards to lack of money, applying for disability, etc., I won't say that it can't be difficult, but I always found that the feelings of fear and dread that I had anticipating what was going to happen were worse than the actual events themselves.

I have only been in the hospital inpatient one time. It was very helpful for me, and was not scary once I got there. The nurses were extremely well-trained and helpful and kind, and I got to talk to my psychiatrist every day.

Hugs.