Men Have Called Her Crazy

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of sexual violence, physical abuse, suicidal ideation, mental illness, and self-harm.

At Dalby House, a dog named Biscuit visits the house. The women pet the dog and play with Biscuit, and Tendler tells them about Petunia, who, despite her health problems, Tendler loves deeply. Later, the women do jewelry therapy, and Tendler makes a bracelet that spells “new year” with letter beads to inspire her to view the year as full of changes instead of inherently bad. The therapist measures the bracelet.

Afterward, she meets with Beth again. Beth asks her about her experience with physical and sexual abuse. Tendler recounts a vivid memory of her mother spanking her during a family celebration for Tendler’s birthday because Tendler did not want her photo taken. Her mother spanked her as she screamed at Tendler and then forced Tendler to stay upstairs for the rest of the night while everyone else ate her birthday cake. Tendler also mentions her relationship with Sam, but she describes it as consensual despite their illegal age difference; she admits she feels increasingly weirder about it as she grows older.

Beth tells Tendler that her team of doctors recommends that Tendler stay at the hospital for another 30 days for an inpatient dialectical therapy program.