Neil, Summarizer, 241-283

This passage begins with Norah venting about how the therapy had actually worked on her. It had revealed some things deep inside of her that she had no idea was ever there. In the long run she realizes that it may help but she is upset that she let the therapy get to her which resulted in her having a mild breakdown. Carol, one of the therapists, used a diagram method which helped Norah connect the molestation from her youth all the way to the suicidal thoughts she has had during her adulthood. She realizes that this therapy is working and she is happy to now have the tools needed to begin working on herself. Working on her happiness.

Towards the end of her stay Norah really realizes how much of a paradise Mobious is compared to St. Lukes and especially compared to Meriwether. They are not only given the two hour day passes each day but they do things like go to the beach or to the movies. If it was raining they would go to the museum or just hang around in each others apartments. The others complained about things like having to stay in the group and having to be driven around, but Norah is the only one who knows that this place is a paradise of mental facilities. Upon her release from Mobious the staff left her with warm and comforting good-byes. Her stay at Mobious was a pleasant and rewarding one she says, "in stark contrast to the way I felt when I left the other places I'd been, that I wouldn't be at all averse to coming back to Mobious for a tune-up if I needed one" (268).

She closes the book by looking back on her experiences in the three mental hospitals and trying to see what she has taken away from this experience. She has come to the conclusion that it is not only the hospitals fault for what she sees is a lack of caring, it is the patients fault as well. She sees it as many patients do not want to be there and therefore will not do anything to try and help themselves. "nothing and no one can do for a person what he will not do for himself, even if he is crazy" (274). She says the key to therapy isn't what type of institution you are in or what type of treatment you receive, the key is a willingness to change. If someone doesn't have the inner drive to change and help themselves become happy, there is no way a doctor or a hospital is magically going to be able to cure them. They need to go out and make a change they need to as Norah says "Do it yourself" (278).