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O Brien Critical Analysis Essay

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Analysis Before I even began to read O’Brien (2011), I had already made the assumption that the content was filled with horror stories about her days spent in a mental hospital. After reading the title, I prepared myself for the stories of abuse, neglect, over medication, thoughts of suicide, and calls for help. O’Brien (2011) outlined her typical day in the mental hospital where she had been staying and to my surprise, she concluded by clearing the stereotype known by many about mental hospitals. I found the first fifty-five minutes of her day to be quite depressing myself. Knowing what it is like to lay in your bed, trying to drift off to sleep, but never do. I couldn’t help but imagine the feelings of jealousy she must had felt when all she could hear was her roommate sleeping so soundly; the feeling of enmity. O’Brien described a nightmare she had that night and how she felt as if she was trapped in a house which was filling with water, where she gaped for air as she drowned. I couldn’t imagine having this type of dream, especially due to the sense of reality some dreams seem to produce. I also couldn’t help but question if this dream substituted for a metaphor for how she feels living …show more content…

I also found it very interesting that she said that the people she met there were perfectly normal, even though she had made the statement previously that for a split second they felt normal. O’Brien made the statement that going to a mental hospital is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed by. She is more than supportive of people taking the steps necessary to receive help. This belief is one that needs to be brought to the surface and publicized. How are we supposed to expect people to treat their disorder or illness if we make seeking treatment something to be ashamed

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