MARIA

Maria was born in 1954 in a family that was living through tough times an alcoholic father a brother in jail, and a house that was falling down and bad for her health. Her mother did not take care of her and put her in the care of "social services" who, after deeply examining the case, decided to "intern her" in a psychiatric institution. ("... the baby has an abnormal attitude; she is agitated"). She remained there until she was 29. During these years she was mostly left to her own resources. Little or nothing was done for her intellectual growth. She was deprived of every social stimulus and given a great deal of psychopharmaceuticals. When she was released from the institution, Maria began a new life, and began a search for her own self and for others. But perhaps thirty years in an "insane asylum" are too many to write off.