I'll just describe what's it like in the psych ward where I went last January 2008:

Mine was an in-stay one, for 8 days straight. It wasn't a pleasant experience AT FIRST because there's no contact to the outside world, except for a television in the lounge. No phone call, no visitors from family/friends.

Of course, scheduled meals, therapy sessions like baking, cooking, art and craft, et cetera. In my ward, there's a gym if you want to work out. As for the smokers, we have a smoking schedule every day. It's only twice a day, 30 minutes after lunch and dinner.

In my hospital, if you don't want to eat the hospital food served, you can ask for food delivery from nearby restaurants and fast food, but we do it on a scheduled time only.

You get talked to by psychiatrists and psychologists too everyday. You can also play with the nurses, PSP and board games. You can bring a book but only if your Doctor approves of it. I wasn't allowed to bring my iPod with me ;[

The ONLY thing that made my hospital stay good was meeting a friend who share the same problem as me... and we became real life close friends after we both got out of the ward. ;] It was wrong timing because I had to stop my studies in the University and all... and the year just started >.> So what a nice beginning of 2008 for me!! >.>

I hope it sort of answered some of your pondering ;]

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>