Either side of the door
=======================

* C Cliffe

*   Mental health care
*   Doctor

> > *I hear their footsteps outside the door*     ***A locksmith, five in blue, four of us***
> > 
> > *They shout, loudly, I cant take anymore*     ***Beaten in number, sanity and force***
> > 
> > *‘It's the police, we have a warrant’*     ***Atmosphere awkward; breathing tense***
> > 
> > *My bodies numb; thoughts incoherent*     ***We are here for their best interest?***
> 
> > *I panic; they want to take me away*     ***We wait behind the door patient, poised***
> > 
> > *Are they deaf? they hear NOTHING I say*     ***emotion clouded by background noise***
> > 
> > *Cursing, shouting, I scream unclearly!*     ***all sounds drown out my inside thoughts***
> > 
> > *Holding the door- I cling to life dearly*     ***Shouts resonate: “Stop I cant take anymore”***
> 
> > *“\**\*|\* Off this is my house, my front door”*     ***The door is broken, they run inside***
> > 
> > *Within a second I am thrown to the floor*     ***They launch, pin, pull them outside***
> > 
> > *They bind me in cuffs; I am pinned to the ground*     ***The assessment is brief but this they find***
> > 
> > *I shout loudly, drowning out background sound*     ***No one's safe, in this state of mind***
> 
> > *Forced out the door, I try to kick out*     ***Relentless, screams spread so paranoid***
> > 
> > *They tie my legs; I scream loudly, swear, shout*     ***Attempting to avoid the inevitable:***
> > 
> > *Tearing me away from my home, my freedom*     ***An admission,***
> > 
> > *There it awaits; I have lost; I am beaten…*     ***But in this mental state theres no joint decision*** 
> 
> >                ***Strangers stare, confused, full of fear***
> > 
> >                ***Blue lights, sirens pierce both ears***
> > 
> >                ***It speeds, steady, loud down the street,***
> > 
> >                ***I stop, breathe, he is safe***
> > 
> >                ***Relief.***

## Footnotes

*   Competing interests None.

*   Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.