My first (and hopefully only) hospitalization lasted 7 days and was probably the best thing I ever did for myself as far as bipolar goes. I was terribly unsafe at home and needed to go IP for my own good. It was a good experience overall...I hated not being allowed to have my phone and iPod, but there was a tablet at the nurse's station that we could use for 10 minutes at a time after activities and groups were over for the day, so we weren't completely without technology. Groups and daily meetings with my pdoc and therapist were helpful, and I wound up liking several of the other patients with whom I'm still friends on Facebook. Even the food was plentiful and good. I'm glad I went.