What is inpatient like?

Where I stayed there was no TV. Both hospitals.

I have stayed in four different ones. What folks have said is basically what I experienced in each one. Yes, when you are in a "locked ward," you are constantly being watched and can't leave within a certain period of time, even if you sign yourself in. It sort of was like a prison that way (although I've never been in one of those!)

They try to keep you busy. We were never required to participate in anything, but were always told if we didn't, then that would not be looked upon favorably and we would need to stay longer.

Now smoking is not allowed in most places. Used to be there would be times where people were allowed smoking breaks in certain areas of the hospital.

There were wall phones in the hall and people could call out--or receive calls from an approved list of folks who had to have a certain code. Phone calls were expected to be short, though, and the phones were turned off when activities were being held.

All places I was in had a TV, but the programming was monitored, and, again, it couldn't be watched when hospital activities were taking place.

Psychiatrists would check in twice a day, except on the weekends. Weekends were boring, because none of the regular activities took place. Some had church events on Sundays, and others didn't.

Each weekday morning a team of nurses and doctors would meet and discuss each patient!

If you caused trouble or were seen as a danger, then you might be assigned a nurse or aide who would literally follow you all day, even into the restroom.

Thanks for the info, everyone.

Do they let you have paper and something to write with?

I finally was able to schedule an appointment with a psychologist. It won't happen for about 2 weeks, though.

I went and did the paperwork yesterday and got it out of the way. I thought it was going to be the stuff they need about my insurance, but it was also asking questions about my history, what's wrong, what I think is wrong, when I think things went wrong, etc.

After gathering my thoughts on paper over the last month or so, it was weird to actually fill in the blanks and tell them what they want to know. It's a good thing I made time every once in a while to jot things down, but still they asked things that I haven't thought about for 20 or 30 years.

While I was there, I found out there is an outpatient day program. That's good to know.

My train of thought lately is maybe they can sign me up for the outpatient day program to help get through whatever is going on with me lately, get my meds figured out, and depending on how long that takes I could take either short-term or long-term disability from work and be able to sort of put my job on hold (since I'm about to be fired, once again) while still getting the majority of my salary.

Guess I was a little freaked out when I originally posted this question, thinking my only option would be inpatient. It has been a great little learning experience for a lot of us here on the forums to read this info.

My hospital gives us a folder with a legal pad to keep hand-outs from groups, medical papers, etc. and take notes. I usually use it to journal. You can also bring in your own journal (as long as it is not wire bound in my hospital). I also usually take word puzzle books because I find I can't read, but I can work puzzles. Some people bring in coloring books and crayons.

Be sure you get exactly what you want when you go and no all of your options before you pick one. I found out after I came out of the hospital that since I was 18, I was not at all forced there, but since I couldn't make my own decisions, my parents told the doctors not to tell me. But it was better that way, they needed to keep me there.

So make sure you get what you want out of the hospital. It's for your benefit, not theirs.