While I was at Western State Hospital in Lakewood, Washington I puzzled over why so many of my fellow patients acted so childlike. For example when we waited in line for our meals, it was just like schoolchildren waiting in line, asking each other to hold their places while they stepped out, or saying "No cuts!"
This was even the case among aged grandmothers.
I very quickly realized that it was largely due to the way we were treated by the staff. For example if one refused to take one's medicine in the morning, one would not be permitted to smoke cigarettes in the exercise yard that day. If one refused in the evening, one would not be permitted a root beer float.
At no point did any of the hospital staff explain to any of use WHY we were taking that medicine.
It is far, far more important for the mentally ill to know why we take medicine, than it is for us to actually take it at all.
If you treat someone like a child they will act like a child.
This was even the case among aged grandmothers.
I very quickly realized that it was largely due to the way we were treated by the staff. For example if one refused to take one's medicine in the morning, one would not be permitted to smoke cigarettes in the exercise yard that day. If one refused in the evening, one would not be permitted a root beer float.
At no point did any of the hospital staff explain to any of use WHY we were taking that medicine.
It is far, far more important for the mentally ill to know why we take medicine, than it is for us to actually take it at all.
If you treat someone like a child they will act like a child.