Remember that you have the right to know everything that is going on. You have the right to know what medications they are giving you. You have the right to know about any treatments they are planning on giving you, whether they be invasive or not. You have the right to not comply or give permission for any treatment and you have the right to an independent second opinion. You do not, in any way, check your basic human rights at the door. If they are asking you to pull down your pants and have something in their hands you just ask. "What, what, what? What is that, what are you going to do with it and what’s it going to do to me?"
Don’t worry about other people who are on the ward there with you. They are probably as sacred of you as you are with them. Try at all times to have a smile for the other patients. Putting up a mean front to keep the sinful away is generally counter-effective. A frown attracts the wrong type, a smile works wonders on everyone. I know this can’t always be possible given the situation. So choose one or two people you feel comfortable and click with and use each other for support. Smile at everyone and when you need to, pull your confidants aside and tell them how you’re really feeling. Sometimes other patients can be more therapeutic than a legion of doctors. On the flip side do be wary of who you associate with, most people you will meet are harmless. But be careful, as there is always an exception to the rule.
There will be many activities provided to pass the time. Join in as many as possible. They vary from anything like watching videos to painting and clay work. Most all kinds of artistic pursuits can be had. They will generally have recreation rooms with televisions and a stereo for music, sometimes table sports like billiards or ping pong, which of course will have to be shared.
Remember you will be being observed during everything you do by members of staff and have it reported so that the doctors can better assess you progress. Don’t worry about this. When you first arrive they will set regular times to do this, anywhere from every fifteen minutes to an hour. This will then change to as little as once a day.