I have been in and out of hospital the last couple of years... But being in the UK my experiences are probably quite different to what yours might be. It's hard to go IP...like we can't just walk into the ER and then get sent to a psych ward. We have to go through the crisis team, who try to treat at home rather than send to hospital. I never get on with that so try to avoid as much as I can...

Length of stays have been varied for me, my shortest being about 3 days..the longest 6 weeks. The psych ward most local to me got shut down a few years ago...so I get sent quite a way from home each time. I've been on 5 different wards...4 based in one hospital..they all seem to know me now..so much so that if I go visit someone, staff on other wards start telling me to go back to my ward for meals etc.. a bit embarrassing!

I've always had my own room, with an ensuite toilet and shower. My normal hospital has been refurbed recently, now all the doors have sensors on them so if any pressure is put on them (for hanging) an alarm goes of and everyone comes running. I tried drying my towel over the door...that set an alarm off. The bedroom doors have a window which is normally closed, but staff have a key to be able to look in. Checks can vary from 10 mins to just as and when they feel the need depending on risk.

Generally not allowed any belts or cords. Some have no shoe laces. But again it depends on the risk...it never seems to have been one rule for all when I have been in.

Have always been allowed my phone/ipad. But not chargers...they stay in the nurses office and we have to hand them in to be charged.

There isn't much at all in the way of therapy while IP over here. There's art groups and similar, that's as far as it goes. I have never really taken part in them until my last admission...and it was more just to pass the time. It is so boring.

But if you are thinking IP then you probably need IP. And if you need it, you don't really notice how boring it is until you start feeling a bit better. My 6 week stint, 5 weeks of that I spent in my room, leaving only for the occasional meal. And somehow did not get bored. The last week though something clicked and I was like omg how have I sat here doing nothing for 5 weeks. It is so dull. I actually made a really good friend in the last week there.