Day 20:

The Therapeutic Community:

I found being in the Therapeutic Community very difficult and extremely stressful. It is a planned, structured environment which in no way resembles the real world. We were supposed to be learning how to have better interpersonal relationships, without arguments, discussing any problems we may have with anyone else in the group. People often argued and then wouldn't turn up for 3 weeks so that person had to wait "patiently" for them to come back to resolve the issue. By then, they had either worked themselves up into a rage or couldn't even remember what the argument was about. Again, that would never happen in real life. 

We were supposed to have a say in the running of the TC and would discuss things in meetings, raise matters that we thought important and then nothing would be done about it. Lots of people dropped out never to be seen again and others came late or missed weeks. Even staff members came and went which was frustrating because you would start to trust someone and they would leave!

 For one hour in the day, we did DBT which I found really really difficult. It was all about breathing excercises and being in the moment. Not thinking about past or future events that you can't do anything about...Hello, have you met me..... more tomorrow.