At some point, who knows when, patients left the unit for recreation
and work activities without restraints and without needing medical
approval.
The transformation of the ward from being crazy and tense to being
peaceful simply occurred without conscious effort.
The transformation of the ward from being chronically understaffed to
being “overstaffed” simply took place.
So, I want to make it clear that I was a close and active family
member on the ward. I was not an onlooker.
Yes, I provided no therapy. I did no psychological testing. I attended
no staff meetings. I did not participate in case conferences on
patients. I did, however, become intimately involved in the workings
of the ward.
I was present when the first in-ward work project—baking cookies for
sale—appeared. I was present when the first off-ward activity—car
washing—appeared. I was present when the first off-ward recreation
program started.
I didn’t carry out the usual functions of a staff psychologist not
because I felt that they were useless. I just didn’t do them for
whatever unknown reasons.
I did, however, walk the ward and took part in the baking of cookies
and in jogging and tennis games off-ward.
But more than anything, I did my cleansing before, during, and after
each visit to the ward week in and week out for three years. I cleaned
with whatever was going on in me with the ward every morning and
every evening and if anything about the ward came up in my mind.
Thank you.
I love you.
Peace of I,
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