[JaguarXKE]

For what it's worth, I have two sons. One is an Air Force Pilot (just got back from his umpteenth deployment to Iraq). The other son was diagnosed with a debilitating mental illness called Schizo Affective Disorder (sort of a cross between schizophrenia and BiPolar).

I'm going to take the opportunity of this thread to hopefully educate a few folks here about mental illness. Too often, mental illness is used as the basis of jokes and ridicule. What makes dealing with these illnesses so difficult in a loved one is the utter ignorance displayed by people regarding mental illness. Sadly, people don't view mental illness as "real" illness, and hence don't offer the same compassion as they do for other "real" illnesses, like cancer. Trust me, mental illness is a real biological illness and deserves the same compassion as any other serious illness.

I'd urge folks to get educated about Mental Illness before expressing uninformed opinions or making thoughtless comments. Remember the old adage "There but for the grace of God go I". Mental illness can strike any family. A good place to start is www.nami.org. I am my State's coordinator for family education and the Family-to-Family 12-week education program.

This story breaks my heart and is the sort of thing that is very rare, but it does happen. My son was involuntarily hospitalized twice for 30 days each time. After his first release, we knew he wasn't ready, but legally they had to release him anyway. Three days later he was back on another court-ordered commitment when he had a second psychotic break. This time, after 30 days, they finally got him on a medication that really seems to be working and he is not currently experiencing any psychosis nor hearing voices. We're lucky in that our son knows he has this illness and is compliant with his medication. He is doing much much better now and is back in college. Too often, people are in denial that they have mental illness and hence too often they are not compliant with their medication.

This is a very tragic story and its really a shame that this family did not get the help and support they needed. Honestly folks, mental illness is devastating and stops cold all the hopes and dreams a parent may have had for child and it pains me to hear people in our society making light of these illnesses and not extending the compassion that we would extend to someone with any other deliberating illness.

Thanks for listening.

[Wingy]

That was a very touching post and I wish nothing but the best for your sons. I'm glad that your ill son is getting the help that he needs, and I wish him a long and fruitful life.

That said, if everyone in the state were as knowledgeable and compassionate as you, toward the man in the original post, I can't see that it would make much difference. He killed his parents and that's a fact, as written. How could the attitudes of the general public change that?

This is absolutely not a knock on you or your post, but a genuine question.

[dadgum]

I hear you.
Diseases of the brain and how it affects consciousness are NOT given the same respect as cancer, or diabetes, or asthma, or ANY other disease state.

I know. I have been there. And, unless any would-be commentator had been there as well, then they have NO comprehension of the physical/emotional/spiritual HELL that this class of illness inflicts on the patient and their loved ones.

[EDINVA]

Thanks for sharing your and your family’s experience. It is hell to live through, and not to receive the support you need only makes matters all the worse.

My nephew is going through your experience with one of his sons. (I don’t know the complete diagnosis, other than ‘bi-polar’) but I know how he and his family are suffering.

Not the least to suffer is the patient who is bi-polar, because he really doesn’t have control over his episodes. I’m happy your son’s condition is presently under control, and hope it stays that way for all your sakes.

[Falconspeed]

mental illness… deserves the same compassion as any other serious illness.

True. Your Air Force son is truly brave. Your Schizo son is truly suffering. There are many times I lose my patience with my psychotic and schizophrenic brother and wish to wring his neck. But a few times it hits me how much he and other mentally ill people suffer. Pure hell. Those of us who can brush our teeth, put on clean clothes and drive should be very thankful. The death of the parents in the story of above is tragic.

[9YearLurker]

I respect your taking the time and sharing your circumstance as you have here.

It seems from even your own story, let alone those like this one in the press, that the laws regarding who is institutionalized need changing—or at least tweaking.

[MinuteGal]

Yours is a moving and informative post. Too many folks want revenge wreaked on the "animals" who commit a crime while mentally ill. They want them killed like mad dogs.

I can't add anything to your post. Those that try to understand the various psychotic illness will....those that don't understand never will.

I'll say one thing, though....when suddenly there's one in your own family circle you get an entirely different perspective......and love and the desire to help overcome ignorance and hatred.

Leni

[ToxicMich]

Great post...

[wintertime]

Too often, people are in denial that they have mental illness...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Also....Unfortunately psychiatric medications often have debilitating physical and mental side effects.

An especially difficult side effect is mental “blunting”. In other words, they feel as if 20 or 30 points have been knocked off their IQ and this makes many types of employment impossible for them, or even safe for them to do.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Thank you for your post.