I was on Haldol too and then some kind of muscle relaxer, I remember a doctor coming to talk with me and we went for a walk down hallways and my legs giving out. I don't know if that was from the medicine or something in my thinking. It was one memory I didn't forget.

Ron and Mike, I agree with you on a silent brotherhood, something I also came to be aware of was that I can tell when someone is being abused or was abused, it's a sensitivity I have, though I can't tell you who is an abuser.

On girls on wards, I can't remember for sure how that was, I think in later times when I was hospitalized that's how it was, there was no separation of sexes, but we were all adults then. The first time I was hospitalized there was just one floor for everyone, it may be that one side of the wing was girls and the other boys... hm?... it's really hard to remember. I do know we had girls, I remember sitting and watching TV (which I think was done a lot) in this one smallish main area and I remember this girl, an officers daughter who hated herself and she would scratch her self with her finger nails, her face and her wrists, I remember her sitting next to me, or just one person over... she was someone I never forgot. Another person I remember in that same sitting, that same day, was this nice guy, who almost seems like a brother, who thought the TV was talking to him or more accurately that his brain was connected to the TV, I remember this white stuff on his mouth a lot, around his lips, I think that was from Thorazine or some other medicine, he for sure had the Thorazine Shuffle lol, he was a classic case on that lol. I remember a doctor or nurse talking to me that same day, while I was on that same couch, and I remember telling them that "such and such" person, believes his head was connected to the TV, he was sitting right next to me. I learned that he got that way from taking too many drugs, they were very popular at that time over in Germany and we were all so young. Like I said, this guy was nice, I liked him, I remember him smiling too lol.

Haldol was outlawed for sometime here in the states or at least in California, because it was considered a deadly drug. Now I hear it's back in use.
I remember everyone who took it turned into a zombie.

To me it seems that everyone was either on Thorazine or Haldol. I'm pretty sure that either what you were going through at the time, or more likely the medicines wiped out large portions of my/our memories.

Also, I'm still reading on page 33 or so, and so, I'm not reading what you guys are writing on pages 40 - yet.

Ron and Mike,
Is it ok to add you on Facebook?

brian wrote:Ron and Mike,
Is it ok to add you on Facebook?

yes Brian, no problem there.

What name will i be looking for in order to confirm?

I need all the friends I can get, lol

Brian Molnar
I have went to both of your pages several times, but wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to friend request you.

I agree with Ron....

Cool Mike, I'll friend request you too, right now.

Brian
What's your name on facebook?

Audrey,
I can't be searched on Facebook, but you should be able to find me on Ron or Mike's friend's list now. I will look for you there on theirs.

You don't show up on theirs. Find me.

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Over at our forums http://www.hall-18.com/forums/index.php we have our first Female former TCSH member, now the final chapter may be told.

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I mentioned that my mother-in-law, Mildred Cosner, was a student nurse at TCSH, it was in the 50's, but/and I had a chance to chat with her this morning and she shared a few memories:

Apparently her main job was to assist in "insulin shock treatments", I asked her if that hurt the patients and she said; "It was a good way to calm them down, it helped them with their anxieties, it didn't hurt them, there didn't seem to be any pain and the patients didn't seem to dread it". Keep in mind that she was a student nurse and her main concern was to learn what she was being taught and I'm sure she regarded as proper medical treatment at that time.

Mildred remembers a few patients, including two with their full names, I'll only include their first names in these short memories:

Mildred recalls a Matilda, who while being bathed, socked (that's the word she used) her. That was one of their jobs, bathing their patients.

She remembers a William (Bill) who apparently tried to "dunk" Mildred at "the lake", in a shallow area, she thinks he may have suffered from schizophrenia.

I must add that Mildred, my mother-in-law was (and still is really) a gorgeous young lady (I have seen many photos of her), I'm talking "model" material for sure, I'm sure she would have been a favorite of many a male patient back in the day She was only 18 or so, during her 3 month student nurse stay at TCSH.

Mildred recalls a young lady who spent time waltzing around like a ballerina (I'm just including as much of her memories as I can).

Mildred worked in what she calls the front building, or buildings, she says things were much better there for the patients, they got better treatment. She spoke of the back buildings ( I asked her; "The cottages?" and she said yes) where conditions were much worse, she said those there were there for a longer stay, they were forgotten by the doctors, she didn't have much opportunity to visit there, but the one thing she'll never forget is the strong smell of urine. She said the patients in the "back" weren't seen much by the doctors, she used the phrase "second class citizens".

Mildred fondly remembers a young lady patient (she can't remember her name) who knowing that Mildred was to be married soon, embroidered pillow cases for her wedding while still a patient at TCSH. Mildred says she was a very nice girl.

Mildred remembers the gardens where there was so much corn and fresh vegetables, she speaks happily of this, she also recalls oatmeal! lol, It must have been good oatmeal

Mildred remembers that the student nurses had to give a performance, a variety show, before they left, she remembers singing and maybe dancing.

Mildred is going to look for photos of her time at TCSH, and I will post them at http://www.hall-18.com if she does find them, she says she will look for them after Christmas.

Interesting irony, Mildred, who is really a wonderful lady, is now herself succumbing to the diseases of old age, I can imagine if it were an earlier time that she might have been a candidate for hospitalization at a place such as TCSH. Thankfully she has 3 great daughters and a wonderful husband (Jack) who are taking care of her.

Mildred remembers that some of the doctors lived at houses right there on the the TCSH grounds and others had homes on the lake.

Facinating, I would like to hear much more