We woke up today
And I thought I was yesterday
-A L'oree Des Bois, Plants and Animals
It's summer and it's weird to have life continue as is. I've had summer jobs and taken spring courses in the past of course, but none of them have been particularly grueling. Actually- strike that. Taking organic chemistry in the spring after my 1st year definitely falls into the gruel category. Regardless, at the end of the year, I've always had some time off....until now. I'm not sure if everyone has this sensation when they first leave school, but it's not a pleasant one. Every morning, in that period between sleep and waking, my brain starts congratulating itself on a good year and gets ready to shut off for the rest of the day, when it is rudely interrupted by the realization that I am, in fact, required to go do something useful. I'm not sure if it is this phenomenon that is causing me the cognitive dissonance I'm feeling these days or my brain is just syncing with some of the patients on the ward. Who knows. It kind of helps to remember that most people work year round with inadequate holidays, and although it apparently feels like working in a salt-mine to some people (I assume that feels hard..... and salty), my gig is a pretty good one.
Psychiatry can be crazy-making and depressing, but there are glimmers of hope. And more often, moments of entertainment. For example.
Me: And can your fiance use telepathy as well?
Patient: Yes, but he prefers to use the telephone.
Me: What do you think of the time you spent here?
Patient: Well, it was great, met a lot of good friends for life. People you will never want to see again but people you would really like to meet up with in the future, you know?
Me: Not really
Patient: ...and we used to have a painting company, look, here's our business card! (pulls tattered card out of wallet). Do you know what it's missing?
Me: Ummm....not sure
Patient: A SEAGULL!
Me: Ahhhhh....yeah. That would be good.
One more week of Psychiatry.
And I thought I was yesterday
-A L'oree Des Bois, Plants and Animals
It's summer and it's weird to have life continue as is. I've had summer jobs and taken spring courses in the past of course, but none of them have been particularly grueling. Actually- strike that. Taking organic chemistry in the spring after my 1st year definitely falls into the gruel category. Regardless, at the end of the year, I've always had some time off....until now. I'm not sure if everyone has this sensation when they first leave school, but it's not a pleasant one. Every morning, in that period between sleep and waking, my brain starts congratulating itself on a good year and gets ready to shut off for the rest of the day, when it is rudely interrupted by the realization that I am, in fact, required to go do something useful. I'm not sure if it is this phenomenon that is causing me the cognitive dissonance I'm feeling these days or my brain is just syncing with some of the patients on the ward. Who knows. It kind of helps to remember that most people work year round with inadequate holidays, and although it apparently feels like working in a salt-mine to some people (I assume that feels hard..... and salty), my gig is a pretty good one.
Psychiatry can be crazy-making and depressing, but there are glimmers of hope. And more often, moments of entertainment. For example.
Me: And can your fiance use telepathy as well?
Patient: Yes, but he prefers to use the telephone.
Me: What do you think of the time you spent here?
Patient: Well, it was great, met a lot of good friends for life. People you will never want to see again but people you would really like to meet up with in the future, you know?
Me: Not really
Patient: ...and we used to have a painting company, look, here's our business card! (pulls tattered card out of wallet). Do you know what it's missing?
Me: Ummm....not sure
Patient: A SEAGULL!
Me: Ahhhhh....yeah. That would be good.
One more week of Psychiatry.
