We have a friend that got out of prison a couple of years ago, and now lives 6 hours away by car. We have had her out to stay with us multiple times since her release, and our visits go pretty well for the most part.
After being locked in a cage and dehumanized for 15 years she has "issues", so sometimes we laugh/cry a lot. Last time, when i got up in the middle of the night i found her with her bedroom door open (doesn't like to be closed in), and fully clothed lying on top of the covers. This was the first time staying in that bedroom, so i hadn't seen her sleep before...i was suprised to say the least. She said she used to sleep that way in prison due to feeling unsafe...and she really hadn't thought about how it is not "normal" for most people.
Well, today she called me and told me she is finally sleeping under the covers in pajamas (still wears bra), and she wanted to thank me for giving her something to work on with her therapist. Her diagnosis of ocd has been changed, because the therapist thinks her behaviors are from being institutionalized, rather than a chemical imbalance.
I had big reason to
today.