Maxime is engaged in the REPII program for only three days and, while he is not yet daring to place too much hope in this hospitalization, he is curious about the effects of these intensive fifteen days on his symptoms. The young man has nightmares, suffers from insomnia, has constant flashes, and feels “not functioning,” he explains. However, caregivers assure him: the evolution of patients’ conditions is visible over the fifteen days of treatment. “We see a transformation of patients, who start to smile again, who say they are relieved of a burden… There are all these bodily sensations and verbalizations from patients that make it tough, but we really see results,” rejoices nurse Adeline Serez.
Hospitalization, and then what? “We commit, we engage with the patient,” summarizes Davina Nogé, a nurse who confirms the importance of the changes that take place over two weeks. “Seeing the evolution in mood, seeing how the patient evolves, seeing how they open up to others, express themselves, and even take care of themselves physically, it really leaves a mark on me.” According to caregivers, there is something spectacular in this transformation. “It’s true that we see how these patients, who are sometimes very withdrawn, start to open up, communicate with other patients and with us… and see how we, as nurses, doctors, therapists, become the medium of this upheaval. We may become the first secure zone through which trust will pass again, because we know that trauma alters their vision of themselves, others, and the world,” confides Adeline Serez.
“Very often patients tell me: I would like to get better to be like before, but the idea is not to erase the trauma, but for them to stop suffering from their symptoms and be able to reconstruct a satisfying life after being treated,” observes Arnaud Leroy. The REPII day hospital is firmly part of a care pathway. “We raise awareness, provide psycho-education, and there is a clear clinical improvement,” explains Adeline Serez, “but things continue to move beyond hospitalization. The movement initiated here continues in the following weeks. Even if there are setbacks, the tools provided can help them, and patients know the way to get better.”
