Day 3: In-Patient Mix Up

Journal Entry#4 Wednesday 11/8/2012
Kurt Hahn was also quoted to say,
"Without self-discovery, a person may still have self confidence, but it is a self confidence built on ignorance and it melts in the face of heavy burdens. Self discovery is the end product of a great challenge mastered, when the mind commands the body to do the seemingly impossible, when courage and strength are summoned to extraordinary limits for the sake of something outside the self--a principle, an onerous task, another human life."

Reflect on this quote using your experience with your internship.

I believe that this quote is extremely relevant to my internship in a multitude of ways. I will discuss points as they come chronologically in the quote.

1. Self Discovery: A lot of In/Out patient is a new beginning and many mentally ill patients will go to recovery centers where they can discover themselves and self actualize. In my own light, I am discovering myself by doing this process. Is helping people mentally what I should do? Is that where I am best put to use? I'm not sure, but I am figuring that out day by day. It's why I picked this field! The mastery of challenges can be found in many places; from going to rehab, to the challenges I discussed in yesterday's post.

2. "When the mind commands the body...": YES!! That's what this is about! Mental illnesses are problems with mind AND body and they effect each other! This is awesome and perfectly ties in! I am seeing it from a bit different light than my peers probably will, but hey, c'est la vie. Mind and body together can create help or a solution for personal problems, or solving patients' problems, creating techniques and environments where they can over come what they think might be impossible, over coming their fears and ailments. This takes courage, strength, and extraordinary limits by the patient and healthcare provider. The rest of the quote really falls into place with everything else I have already said.

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Today, I sat in to help facilitate two group therapies in both wings of the Mental Health In-Patient Facility.


The more acute side was first, and the meeting went very well. Patients had goals for when they were released and were happy and excited to be leaving soon. Conversation began between patients, and not limited to facilitators asking questions, but only towards the end of the session. It lasted a full hour, and only two participants fell asleep. Everyone seemed fairly mentally stable, until the end when one patient was talking about having to leave and go to space soon because the world was ending. He reported that he had been to the moon and mars before and he was going back after he left his halfway house.


The less acute side was not so peaceful. A woman with unexplained migraines came in crying and was pulled out halfway through the meeting. Later, two patients started flirting. Two other patients were acting as conspirators against the hospital. A few others were completely ambivalent towards therapy. It was a mess and very hard to contain. There was most definitely not a positive environment there.


Another Day, another Dollar... wait, I'm not getting paid! Just another wonderful day being a sponge of knowledge!