Hi Annabella,

Yes, the restraints etc are probably from another piece with the context of
shock therapy (ECT).

Everything always seems easier/simpler when we look back, but I'm not
convinced that's so.

Cheers and thanks for reading.

Frank


> This... it took a while
> > but we fixed him up
> > he got better and we turned him loose
> > he hasn't been back
>
> ...is not suggesting what you're saying brillantly below. But then maybe
the
> restraints and copper mouth pieces are another poem.
> Thanks for hearing me out.  I really like your explanation, it is very
clear
> and it should be spoken.  Annabelle
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Pennine Poetry Works [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Frank Faust
> Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 12:03 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Sub - not a lot, anymore - Anabelle
>
>
> Hi Annabelle,
>
> What the character in this piece is referring to a patient/client came in
> with a clear cut psychotic condition, not involving the use of drugs or
> other contributory circumstances.
>
> He is harking to a time when (according to him), it was more usual to have
> uncomplicated illness - not suggesting the conditions were easy to treat,
or
> less problematic/traumatic etc, but when the illness could be recognised
for
> what it was and treated accordingly.
>
> What he isn't taking into account is that in those 'old' days' the
> treatments available weren't spectacularly good, caused awful side effects
> and of course the poor client often ended up spending very long periods of
> time in the institution.
>
> Nothing is ever clear cut in psychiatry/mental health treatment and it's
all
> pure nostalgia, reflecting a sense of never really knowing (these days)
what
> the real problem is, or how best to tackle it. There can be a real sense
of
> helplessness among staff when the involvement of drugs (for example) takes
> on a life/syndrome/spiral of it's own.
>
> Something like that.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Frank
>
>
> Frank,
> I kinda would like to know what "just crazy" means. I think it would be
> great if you unpacked it a little bit.  -Annabelle
>
> >
> > not a lot, anymore
> >
> > we're standing in the staff courtyard
> > it's break time
> > and we're doing coffee and a cigarette
> > when he says to me
> >
> > I've always worked in psych
> > I love it
> >
> > I've never been tempted
> > by anything else
> >
> > it's changed though
> > from the old days
> > oh
> > a hell of a lot really
> >
> > a deep drag
> > the blue smoke of a moment of reflection
> > a sip out of the styofoam cup
> > and he adds
> >
> > you know what
> >
> > about a year ago
> > we had a real old fashioned case come in
> > like we used to get
> > in the old days
> >
> > no drugs
> > no family history
> > no obvious causes
> > just crazy
> >
> > mad as a cut snake actually
> >
> > it was a first presentation
> > and it took a while
> > but we fixed him up
> > he got better and we turned him loose
> > he hasn't been back
> >
> > that's what I like best
> > good straight-forward madness
> > that you can do something with
> >
> > but you don't see much of that
> > anymore
> >
> > time to get back to work
> >
> > ~
> >