Psychological Medicine Unit

It's my first specialised unit posting after finished all those hectic+ crazy examssss. For the next 6 weeks, I'll be visiting/ posted to specialised unit with my group members. First run for my group is this- what people call Psychiatric ward. You can say it's mini size of Tanjung Rambutan (you know, TR is in Ipoh and it's a mental hospital!).

Today is the first day I'm inside the 'lockup' place. We were all behind the bars with 20 patients who are mentally sick. Most common one is schizophrenia. Almost all of them are schizophrenic. At first I felt awkward stepping into the place. I felt super uneasy. I smelled a sense of ...... hmmm... i couldn't make myself clear here. The feeling was pretty bad for me at that first impression. To get use to the place for 2 weeks seems long to me. The emotion disturbance is there. The paranoia of " am I going to become mentally un- strong like one of them after that" haunted me.

Seriously, I made a conclusion within 1 hour in that boring place- Staffs working there should be all mentally strong and be able to overcome those abnormal sensations, emotions, behaviours and perceptions with great magnitude of tolerance, patience and knowledges and determinations. Ok, I said boring just now. Boring is in a sense of plain environment, plain colour, no colourful pictures along corridor, no windows, no scenery. To me, it lacsk of sensory stimulus that bring liveliness and joyful spirits.

Just today, I saw some great abnormal behaviors that were highly tolerated by all staffs in calm, cool manner, including/ especially Sister in- charge! In fact, I guess, most of us found amusing and funny. Imagine patients scold everyone in foul language. Foul language is a kind of joke for me if they are not directed to me or my family. Or even friends. It's funny 'cause most of the time, I don't understand what does it mean. For example, one accusing a staff for assaulting her and got irritated immediately, then running off while shouting "Pxkxma." Same, I never asked what does it mean. I just think that scene was "WOW!"
(Of course, it was a paranoia. Nobody even have a physical contact with her! Just purely turning violent in a glimpse of eyes. A glimpse of eyes- I mean it. I mean it as FAST!)

I got an attack from another one. It was my fault to check property in front of counter. I should have done it in a corner or at least not within owner's view. The patient hated me very much. Hated me for touching her things. Pointing finger to me, declaring I am a bad one for touching her belongings, it hurts me and renderred me speechless. My friends and I assured to her that we wouldn't touch her things anymore and I extended my hand, wanting to shake hand with her.

"Come, we shake hand. Let's be friend."
"No, you need to put in more efforts to shake my hands." *I guess I'm in her self- defined probation period to proof my ability and obedience*