Earlier this week I mentioned I wanted a new job. I’ve worked at the mental institution for 2+ years now. To clarify - my employers do not like it when I refer to it as a “mental institution.” It is deemed a “residential treatment center” despite the fact that the staff psychiatrist consistently labels it a “mental hospital” and the facility is psychiatric. I suppose semantics make all the difference when it comes to regulating the social stigma of the patients.

I was watching A&E late one night last week and some show called Parking Wars was on, featuring the zany interactions those employed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority have with the general populace. Featured were many employees getting cussed at (as they stoically stated “this is part of the job”), one man getting hit on by a woman to get out of her parking ticket, and a lesbian couple out on a date that was interrupted by their car getting towed (much to the amusement of the impound employee, who stated “you never know what’s gonna happen here”). As I was watching this, I was in the middle of disinfecting a bite mark on my knee that I received from an 11 year old multiple rape victim, whose base reaction to anyone remotely threatening is to immediately assault or, infinitely worse, attempt to simulate some sexual act on. Her mother has a repeat history of dating known sex offenders. I’ve spoken to her on the phone, but thankfully have never been around whenever she has come to visit. I want to bash her face in with a crowbar. No lie. This is just one example in about twenty.

On the other end of the spectrum, I’m also tired of working with conduct disorder kids. They are the future John Wayne Gacys of America. If you think I’m exaggerating, I surely am not.

I find myself somewhat close to losing control lately. I’m not unstable by any means, but I’ve hit the point that my low-simmering disgust and rage has the potential now to boil over.

I could talk about this more, and I probably will later, but for now I feel irate enough with the above. I won’t get into the politics of the place or the mammoth amount of unreasonable guidelines and expectations placed upon staff there.

What kind of facility with a full time psychiatrist isn’t a mental institution, anyway?