Question - if she had no understanding of what she was doing, why did she call the police?
"Question - if she had no understanding of what she was doing, why did she call the police?"
Have you ever had a dream where some things appear and behave normally, but other parts are totally irrational? It's kind of like that with a psychosis. Just because she called police does not mean that she was not in a psychosis. I'm sure if you'd ask dispatchers and 911 operators they would confirm that they hear from a lot of these people, and probably pretty frequently in large areas.
Within a psychotic episode some behaviors are still 'rational' to the outside world, although what is going on inside that person's head is completely out of whack. It's the same reason why some very mentally ill people are still able to function to some degree, and why some are able to hide it for so long. Also, the illness can act in "cycles" just as you are not happy every day, but have days mixed in where you are upset, or angry, or sad, people with mental illness have good days and bad days. When they are getting help the good days start outweighing the bad days. When they are not getting the help they need the bad days start outweighing the good ones...
I'm honestly grateful when people don't understand mental illness. It's a horrible affliction. I just wish those who didn't understand it would take a moment to really learn about it instead of completely dismissing what others say about these things simply because they dont's "get it". One of the most horrible things about dealing with mental illness is the fact that people just don't understand... And how could you if you've never experienced anything like it.
Another word of caution... Psychosis can also be caused by physical conditions (drug reactions, extreme dehydration, heat stroke, etc...) that can affect people who have absolutely no history of mental illness -- and people can be caught unawares of the risks as well. Before you condemn this woman, consider for a moment that there but for the grace of God go I... What decisions and such would you make if you suddenly had no grasp on reality -- where some things seemed familiar, but others were as if you were walking on Mars?
I grieve for her children. I'm wary of her husband and family. I'm disappointed in her doctors. Only God knows for sure, but if Andrea Yates is this ill, and especially if those around her failed in helping as some have said, I grieve for her as well...