I was inpatient for 3 days and in the "partial hospital" (you're there 8 hours a day, but you get to go home and sleep in your own bed at night) for 4.

After I'd been all checked in, etc, I did have a moment of standing in my room alone and saying to myself "How the f*** did I get here?" -- I never thought I'd have to resort to it. It was a little scary at first, but once groups get going, you have no time to be scared or anything else.

I'm not sorry I agreed with my pdoc's decision -- it was the best one for me at the time. It was pure willpower that I hadn't made a serious attempt before that appointment, but I certainly would have within the next day or two, had he not had me admitted. His office is like a 3-minute walk to the hospital, and the whole way he just kept saying, "I'm so relieved, I've been so worried about you." I was kind of worried about me too, so I'm glad I went. It's a safe place in a time where you most need to be safe.

Again, don't hesitate if you think this is what you need. I resisted for a long time -- there have been other points in the last few years where I should have gone, but chose to stick it out instead -- but now that I know what it's like, if I need to go again, I'm going.

Candy