Would you who have been there speak about what you got out of the experience -- in addition to being in a safe place at a time when you felt you needed to be.

Backstory: A few weeks ago, I was asking the same question as Anathea. My meds kicked in, and I decided I wasn't that unsafe.

I toured the hospital with an intake counselor who was young enough to be my son. Biased though it may be, I do not believe that young people have gone through enough of the experiences of life to be the right counselors for me, no matter how great their education may be.

<font color="red">ANATHEA, I want to emphasize that I would have gone had my meds not started working. I was in a very, very bad and out of options. </font>

I would appreciate any specific examples anyone can provide about how being in a hospital helped. People tend to cycle in and out of depression, and I may need to know in the future.