For the very few of you that read my blog, I am not sure if any of you know about my career. I am a social worker ( I have a BSW and an MSW in social work, my masters with a clinical concentration). I work as a therapist at an all boys residential treatment center which houses about 55 boys ages 10-21. My boys are in the enhanced program meaning they have a complex combination of developmental delays ( most with MR level IQ's and a few on the autism spectrum) and mental health issues ( schizophrenia, bi-polar, PTSD, ADHD, ODD to name a few). My job is challenging but I love it and would not trade it for the world.
Yesterday however, I was assaulted, actually attacked and while I have been "roughed up" before, never to that degree.
One of my boys, a almost 16 year old with PDD NOS, PTSD, ODD, ADHD and possible chromosomal issues that are yet to be determined, attacked me completely unprovoked. This is a boy I protect and advocate for, who I really really like and enjoy working with. He ripped a necklace off my neck that I got on my honeymoon and destroyed it. He shoved me and punched me in my back really hard. He pulled my hair trying to get my sunglasses off my head, and when he did he destroyed them too. My ego and my back were hurt and so were my feelings.
Today I feel like I got in car wreck, I am really sore. This boy is BIG ( 200 plus pounds). I am sad that it happened and also sad that he feels sad ( he was really apologetic). I am sad that my necklace from mexico is gone. I am surprised how "sad" the whole situation made me.
3 comments:
Oh my goodness! Hoping that you feel better soon! SO GLAD you are okay.
~Elyse
wow... that's so awful. i used to work with severely ED kids (as a high school counselor) and was very fortunate not to have any experiences like that. It's so difficult b/c you really care for the kids.
I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. I hope you're feeling better -- physically and emotionally -- today.
*Hugs* I hope you feel better soon
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