The inconvenient truth

I went to Philippine General Hospital just this afternoon to visit my aunt for she was hemorrhaging. She was confined in the psychiatric ward because she's a bipolar. I was hesitant to enter the ward because I was afraid of those people who are not so mentally healthy. My knees were trembling as I was walking the hall to my aunt's bed. My other titas warned me about these patients who were just roaming around the room and you cannot really distinguish who they are because they are not wearing gowns, not even hospital tags. So, I went on with walking and finally saw the scenario myself. First impression-still scared. I was able to meet this girl- whom I learned from my tita-who keeps asking for everything she sees. Like, when my ate brought food for my aunt, she asked her to give her the food. And I saw this thirteen-year-old girl who is suffering from schizophrenia. She approached my aunt's bed and slowly wrapped her arms around my aunt's and told her to take care. She calls my aunt "lola." She thought my aunt will be able to go back home. My aunt told her to get well soon and get back to studying. By the way, the girl had mental problems because of studying too hard. I was astounded upon knowing her story. After hearing those from my aunt, my ate told me not to be hard on studying or I might get crazy. I was expecting for gloomy and insane patients, but they seem to behave well as if they are not suffering from any psychotic disorders at all. After asking my aunt how she is I finally decided to go out to let the others visit her since they are only allowing one person per patient. I slipped out toward the door and another patient, a woman wearing a green-striped shirt, was wailing about the nurse who shooed her away from the door. She was saying things loudly like Susan Roces is her lola and she has a very good-looking husband. It was scary because she looks very angry and irritated. She is at the nurse's desk near the door and I was scared she might do something to me. So, I tried to calm down and passed the door with all the horror kept inside me.

I feel sorry for the patients and I think they don't deserve such discrimination. I feel so sorry for being so insensitive and how I wish I could help them. I felt very sorry especially for the thirteen-year-old girl. For such a young age she's suffering from a very serious sickness. She's very gently and loving, I don't think she deserves being there. Going to such place is an eye-opener to me. They deserve more than insults and laughs. That made me think of Psychiatry as an option for college.