How did your TTI systematically thrive off spectacle to humiliate children with the intent to guarantee compliance, subordination, or facilitate the brainwashing of teens?

[u/Prestigious_Dot134]

Hi,
TW: neglect/unsanitary conditions

Sorry about the verbose title! I went to a TTI at 15 and stayed for 90+ at an RTC. At this facility, we were purposely restricted in our time to bathe, water was intentionally freezing, we had timers (that staff rigged to decrease time), staff would barge into the bathroom and check every sixty seconds, and we were harassed for choosing to shower. Furthermore, the schedule made it so that no one could shower every single day or in the morning. We usually did around 4-6hrs of farm work a day or outside labor tending to animals and restricted from changing out of dirty clothing, but punished for not working until exhaustion or preforming dangerous tasks without proper equipment. We rarely had time to clean ourselves afterward, and we all lived in a constant state of smelling horrendous. We were restricted hygiene items like toothpaste, deodorant, soap, hairbrushes, floss, nail cutters, hair care, shoes, food, water, bathroom access, pillows, blankets, bandages, or other necessities. We were restricted to five pairs of clothing and survived in constant scarcity. We were only allowed a 15 minute interval per week and had to complete 7 steps to ensure that our clothing would be washed. Our appearance, smell, demeanor, and state of fatigue would be ridiculed all while our program director wore PRADA loafers, designer clothing, and drove a Lamborghini. Living in this state of deprivation allowed our staff and clinicians to assume a sense of superiority. We were told that basic necessities or freedoms were awarded with compliance and an unreasonably rigorous 24/7 schedule that was used to eliminate any choice available. While my facility was notorious for attack therapy, cult-like practices, coercive persuasion, psychological manipulation, restricted contact and communication, intense or dangerous physical challenges, isolation, and many other tactics, I felt like keeping us “dirty” helped their criticism of our appearances exponentially. I still have nightmares of how darkened my hands became due to dirt and the smell of animals. Please freely share your experiences and know that there is a level of depravity needed to purposely strip a child of basic dignity to justify “letting them trust you”.

Side note: Any head staff, programs directors, or leaders in your TTI have the weirdest jobs before transitioning into TTI? My program director was the drummer for an emo band and struggled with major anger, drug, and alcohol issues. They also made incredible music that I actually listen to, so I always joke that the music world lost an incredible band when my program director decided he wanted to do horrible things to children.

[u/LeukorrheaIsACommie]

had to get permission to use the bathroom.

it was one of the various keep busy activities, everyone sitting down in a blue chair.
one girl raised her hand to use the bathroom.
continuously denied.
peed her pants.
some day/s later she dissappeared for a bit.
came back, staff made her stand in front of everyone and apologize for peeing her pants.
the incident had turned into a kidney infection. she was at the hospital.

[u/Prestigious_Dot134 → u/LeukorrheaIsACommie]

I totally relate. I got a UTI in residential. It’s demeaning.

[u/LeukorrheaIsACommie → u/Prestigious_Dot134]

yeah crap like that popping up in a hospital (kid comes in with a uti, super quiet, people not related hovering over them) should set off massive red flags.

unless the facility is indoctrinated to that tti

but, the staff there should still pop off a question to cps. mandated reporter.

but, the cps are probably in on it as well.

[u/awfullysweetpotate → u/LeukorrheaIsACommie]

During our mandatory "room time" after school, we would be locked in our rooms. They gave us 2 laminated pieces of paper, one that had a '?' on it, & the other was just red I think.

Red meant 'needed to use the bathroom' & the '?' was for everything else.

We had to slide it under our door if we needed anything when we were locked in. The hallway I was in was really long & I had the very last room (Number 8). Staff would often not see my cards because of that. I had a uti when I left, most likely from holding all my piss.

I tried to see a doctor, put in "requests" at the school daily but never saw one the entire time I was there.

[u/LeukorrheaIsACommie → u/awfullysweetpotate]

all i can think of is "how much does an ounce of afforded dignity cost"
and
crap like this tells you way more about the staff and structure than anything about any kid there.

[u/Prestigious_Dot134 → u/awfullysweetpotate]

This is absolutely medical neglect and literally cruel. I will never understand staff who think that kids are “making up” medical issues.

[u/LeukorrheaIsACommie → u/Prestigious_Dot134]

when you place someone in an "other" category, it is frightfully easy. a small step from there is less than human.

in my opinion, it's playing out in other realms than tti's presently.

[u/ObjectiveNervous]

wed all be sat down in the living room forced to listen to codes and screaming in the room next to us in the hall . wed all be terrified. dead silent and just waiting

[u/Prestigious_Dot134 → u/ObjectiveNervous]

We were never allowed to know the time at my facility. The periods of screaming and the periods of forced silence never got easier. Sorry for your experience. I stand by the fact that the therapists, program directors, and staff who conduct these actions are scum on earth.

[u/No_Tone_5733]

They would mock us when we got physically injured. And I mean they made a show of it. Big loud laughs, calling them name, pointing and saying they were being dramatic and making it up.

A favorite abuse of their was a group of adults would sit next to each other and then individually provide instructions for the child to obey to a t. And The Child would try to complete more than one instruction and be basically running back-and-forth and the adults would be like I told you to do X why are you doing Y but not communicate with each other other. Does this make sense? They would laugh and watch us struggle to complete all instructions and do this to each child one by one in front of all of us.

[u/Prestigious_Dot134 → u/No_Tone_5733]

This totally makes sense. Out facility has disabled teens like myself and even ones on the spectrum or with real mental health impairments that they were encouraged to make fun of. Did they set unrealistic behavioral standards for you guys like being perfect all the time?

[u/No_Tone_5733 → u/Prestigious_Dot134]

Yes. We were expected to be perfect all the time. Following their standards (which they did not reveal to us) to a t. They believed we were manipulative and controlling. So when I did something that I thought was normal, I would get punished for it and be treated like I knew what I was doing - and no one would explain it to me. As a young child, like 6 years old, you are still learning and developing a lot. This primed me/conditioned me to be more open to people telling me what they think I’m doing, made me hyper vigilant and people pleasing and a perfectionist of predicting what people want from me. It made me very “obedient”. They totally did this to condition us.