February 27, 2005

• I am fluctuating between excitement and sheer panic! In looking back at photos of the interior of "my" house (that still doesn't roll off the tongue - just give it time!) I think: this is going to be fun! Then I start to think: misslill, what have you done!

  
  

  That phrase stuck in my mind because one of my patients out of the blue just looked at me the other day, pointed at me and shouted in a deep booming voice: "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"  Sometimes I think my patients are on a special wavelength in the universe. On Friday another one looked at me and shouted: "What the F***"s the matter with you? You got no Goddamn sense!" Hopefully they have NOT developed psychic powers.

  
  

  Sheila hit the nail on the head when she stated that we are probably the only people in the world who are actually pleased when our patients form complete coherent sentences, even if they are filled with profanities!

  
  

  For those who don't know, I work in what is called a "Behavioural Unit". It is a very small (10 bed) area of a hospital that has been built like a bungalow or lodge to house patients that cannot be managed in any other setting or facility because of their severe behaviour problems. The behaviours range from physical violence, sexual disinhibition, pacing, rummaging.....on and on.Our hope is that through using a homelike setting (we do not look at all institutional, we have a kitchen, fireplace in the living room, lovely gardens etc. etc. ) and using our training we can either allow the behaviours to continue without causing harm to themselves or others, or manage to decrease the behaviours enough to discharge them back to a regular type of unit or facility. It is a highly specialized area utilizing alot of research and cutting edge theories and technologies. Despite the high tech nature of medicine today though, it is through strong, solid teamwork and communication that we manage to excel in our chosen profession.

  
  

  Some of my patients are quite high functioning, others quite severely demented so when they do manage to express themselves we are happy. We also hear more swearing than any other group of people!! As in all aspects of life there is always humour in tragedy, and I find in this job, in this particular area, a sense of humour is essential! That and quick reflexes!!

  • 9:33 am
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