The corridors of Athens Lunatic Asylum echo with over a century of troubled history. For 119 years, this imposing Gothic structure in Athens, Ohio served as home to thousands of patients – many of whom never should have been there in the first place.

What began as a forward-thinking facility designed according to Thomas Kirkbride's humane principles eventually devolved into a crowded warehouse of human suffering. The shocking reasons for commitment ranged from legitimate mental illness to simply being a troublesome teenager, experiencing menopause, or even masturbating. Women were particularly vulnerable to unnecessary institutionalization, often admitted for normal biological processes like menstruation or childbirth-related conditions.

Our exploration reveals the asylum's darkest practices, including unsedated lobotomies where doctors inserted ice picks through patients' eye sockets while they were fully conscious. We uncover the mysterious case of Margaret Schilling, who disappeared within the asylum in 1978 only to be discovered 42 days later. Her decomposing body left behind a permanent human-shaped stain on the concrete floor that resists all cleaning attempts – a haunting memorial to her tragic end.

Today, Ohio University owns this massive property, repurposing many buildings while preserving their haunting history. With 1,930 former patients buried in unmarked graves and countless stories of paranormal activity, Athens Asylum stands among America's most haunted locations. Journey with us as we separate urban legends from documented horrors, examining how mental health treatment has evolved from these troubling beginnings.

What would it take for you to be committed to an asylum in the 1800s? Listen to discover how close you might have come – and why these historical practices should never be forgotten.

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