(((((((Phoenix)))))))

I see what you're doing in that situation not as facing your fears, exactly, but more as trying to overlook them so that you can continue to do what you see as your duty.

i guess so

You may even (I'm guessing here) find yourself trapped between fear of getting attacked and fear of failing to do your job.

yes, between a rock and a hard place lol

I don't claim to know much about PTSD but that sounds to me like a recipe for it.



I see the job situation you're currently in as highly unnatural, for want of a better term. In what I'm calling a natural situation it would be just you and the patient and you'd both be free to relate, as the spirit might move you, in any way that suited you including having nothing to do with each other. You might, for instance, ask the patient from a comfortable distance whether he'd like some company that day or not; he'd be free to accept or decline; and if he turned out to be in a foul mood and came after you, you'd be free to get away and stay away. Among other things, that arrangement might in time get it through to the patient that he had nothing to fear from you and no need to attack you.

but a lot of the time we cant leave them alone even if we want to cos they have bad balance or they are in dnager of hurting themselves..... or other clients/patients

In your current situation, you're there not as yourself but as the nearest available representative of the system that's keeping that patient confined and frustrated. He can probably figure out on some level that you're there not because you enjoy being with him but because you're carrying out orders. If he wants to send the system some message such as "Let me out of here, you *******s," he doesn't expect to be taken seriously so he's taking out his frustration on the physical plant and on any staff impudent enough to get within reach.

its strange cos this guy actually wants company and its when hes left alone there is trouble - but once he starts up he cant keep that in his mind - just wants out - the other day the door wasnt locked (grr therapists) but he didnt try the handle - just tried to break the glass
its when we try to physically stop hijm form hitting glass - or climbing gate - cos it is dangerous for him that he goes to hit us.

It might be a little different if the system really worked, if when he got aggressive he'd consistently find himself surrounded by enough well-trained people to protect him from himself and settle him down.

thats what we used to do ... but lots have left snce then and some are too scared to help its ok to be scared - but you have to do whats right for the patient - look after their safety....

When it's just you, though, you're in effect communicating to him that although the system is badly broken and you're there unsupported, you'd like him to play along and pretend there are four or five of you and everything's working as it should.

yep... so why doesn it work lol

He's pointing out to you in the bluntest way that he doesn't want to play along and questioning equally bluntly why you'd want to, either. You now seem to be searching for a satisfactory answer to that.

yes and the answer is........ drum roll please...... hey wheres the answer???? no fair....

I hope you'll either prove me wrong or get yourself out of there before the patient proves me right.

did i prove you wrong?