Boundary Isssues

I haven't posted in light years and when I finally do...

Anyways there has been a common theme running rampant at my mental health placement. All of the patients have boundary issues and it keeps revolving around me. Its gotten to the point where I don't even want to report any "incidents" to my Supervisor because its always me.

In real life, I have no problem ignoring guys or telling them to leave me alone when I feel uncomfortable. In fact, I'm a bitch to strange men.

But in my mental health placement, I'm scared that I will say something to set them off. I don't want to be at the recieving end of a psychotic break. I'm just a student, I have lots to learn. Apparantly I have no idea how to ward off someone with schizophrenia.

And its not just the "clients", its some of the staff as well. Its gotten to the point where I don't even want to mingle with any of my male patients.

It doesn't help that I'm younger than most of them and I spend most of my time "playing games". Its not all fun, its therapy...in disguise.

Whatever. Tomorrow with my shoulders squared and my jaw set, I will walk in and face another day.

What I learned at Fieldwork Today

Caution: I'm on my period and am extremely emotional right now.

Here is what I learned today at work:

Students get the short end of the stick. They make us do meaningless things and claim that its a learning experience. No, its called indentured servitude.

I can never eat potatoes again. The progam is having a picnic tomorrow and instead of BUYING potato salad, someone thought it would be fun to have the students who were teaching cooking group, make it. We had already created our plan to make macaroni and cheese with the participants. Obviously no one cares about our precious plans. I'm not sure how many people attend the program. All I know there was a hell of a lot of potatoes that needed to be peeled and cut...by us.

Did I mention that there were no potato peelers. I thought it was a potato peeler, but it wasn't. I think I got carpal tunnel syndrome.

The participants were pissed  because half of the motivation for their coming to cooking class is to eat the final product. When you are cooking for a hundred and such people, there is no final product. There is no end in sight, just mounds of potatoes. Thank God, there were no boiling of eggs. I would have just died.

So the participants left because their group ends at 2:00. I was forced to stay and peel, cut, and boil these abominations named potatoes.

My supervisor got to leave early for the day and one of the staff came in after complaining about the potatoes. I wanted to punch her in the face. She came in AFTER the potates were peeled. What the hell are you complaining for?

So tomorrow when I am forced to attend the picnic, I will refuse to eat any of the potato salad. All I know is, everyone else better stuff their faces with that damn salad.

My only consolation for the day was that we got to duck out early and there was cake in the fridge.

This is the end of Week 4. Eight more weeks to go. Lovely.

Small Mercies in the life of an OT student

Even though this FW placement can be so freaking frustrating sometimes, I thank God for small mercies.

1. The other OT student who has the same name as our very own Banana! I liked her from the very first moment we met. Not only is she insanely OT oriented and intelligent, this chick is funny as hell! She is my partner for running groups and a primary witness for all the craziness that we see and deal with. This rotation would be drastically different had I not met her. Plus the participants have decided to ignore our names given at birth and rename us: Barbara and Heather...

2. My fiance is always my rock. Enough said.

3. Coming home to my new apartment where I don't have to deal with shady looking people or a restaurant under me. Living above a restaurant not as cool as I previously thought. I.e. Don't do it.

4. PNN-I don't know what was going on a little while there but you guys have pulled it together. I love having a place where I can come and vent freely and get feedback. Plus I get my best laughs from you lovely ladies!!!

5. Gossip sites: Sometimes I really need to know what Beyonce and Rihanna are doing in order to get on with my day...

6. My BFFs from home: We don't talk all the time but knowing that I can always call makes me feel that much better.

7. Last but definitely not least: Knowing that I am not yet a professional is such a blessing!! There is so much to learn in the real world that no one teaches you!! Its exhausting acting like I know what I'm doing all day. Even though I hate "them" whoever thought of this idea of rotations was brilliant! Nothing like good ole real life context to whip you into shape...