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JoePhilly

(27,787 posts)

84. My father was diagnosed as manic depressive with schizophrenic tendencies.

Thu Apr 3, 2014, 06:04 PM

Apr 2014

Medication helped some, when he took it. But it also made him tired. So did it really work?

He'd fly into a rage with almost no warning. Mom was usually the target, but not always.

At times he had a rifle, shotgun, and hand gun. He ended up selling the rifle and hand gun during a manic phase, which was a good thing.

The shotgun was stolen one night when, after an argument with some local guys at a nearby recreation center, he went back to explain how tough he was. He had it dangling out of the window while talking to one of them, when another snuck over, ran by and swiped it from him. Fortunately it was unloaded. Those guys smashed it to pieces. Which was also a good thing.

After one particularly bad night not too long after, mom left him. He made threats, to her, to himself. Murder Suicide kinds of things.

Started to take his meds again. Took a job driving all night. Fell asleep driving. Crashed into a disabled vehicle and died. Fortunately the other people saw him coming and got away.

If that crash did not happen, I'm not sure how things would have proceeded. At times, he'd get a look in his eyes that said "I will kill you". And you believed he could.

He should have never been allowed to have any guns.

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I have a diagnosed mental illness. [View all] ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 OP

... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #1

Anything to avoid the heart of the issue BainsBane Apr 2014 #2

Exactly, and this is one of those cases in which they are using outright bigotry to avoid the issue Bjorn Against Apr 2014 #4

Yup. nt Cali_Democrat Apr 2014 #7

We need to have the discussion. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #17

Excellent post: thucythucy Apr 2014 #79

yup. nt La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2014 #27

I haven't seen a single pro 2nd person on pipoman Apr 2014 #30

You haven't looked very hard BainsBane Apr 2014 #31

darkangel is a gun control advocate. pipoman Apr 2014 #38

That's why she says she supports the 2a in her post BainsBane Apr 2014 #39

And the most often heard phrase before a gun ban is suggested is I support the 2nd amendment. clffrdjk Apr 2014 #51

In an alternate universe pipoman Apr 2014 #54

A clever way to rationalize it to better maintain your perception. LanternWaste Apr 2014 #90

I support the second amendment abut I also support gun control and revised gun laws. darkangel218 Apr 2014 #196

there is no such thing as 'gun rights' that is a myth perpetrated by the death merchants bowens43 Apr 2014 #152

There is a distinction pipoman Apr 2014 #154

Only the 2nd mentions "a well regulated militia", Progressive dog Apr 2014 #155

asked and answered about 1000 times pipoman Apr 2014 #156

The reply was to your claim of a distinction between rights, Progressive dog Apr 2014 #159

Apparently you failed to read the statement i was responding to. .. pipoman Apr 2014 #161

I responded to you. Apparently you failed to Progressive dog Apr 2014 #162

oh, and pipoman Apr 2014 #157

You should have been there to set them straight Progressive dog Apr 2014 #158

And yet again, pipoman Apr 2014 #160

You didn't ask a question, so why do you expect an answer? Progressive dog Apr 2014 #163

nice point Vattel Apr 2014 #91

*Ahem* I call bullshit. NutmegYankee Apr 2014 #110

This is exactly what it is. hunter Apr 2014 #113

every instance of gun violence have one thing in common, a gun. Period. Guns ARE the problem. bowens43 Apr 2014 #151

What is this in reference to? nt SunsetDreams Apr 2014 #3

Most likely this: Make7 Apr 2014 #14

Thanks Make7 nt SunsetDreams Apr 2014 #15

Databases are for electronic data silly. geckosfeet Apr 2014 #5

Yes you should be in a database itsrobert Apr 2014 #6

At least your honest. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #10

There are plenty in there with convictions and involuntary committment. . pipoman Apr 2014 #34

You're encouraging people with potential Union Scribe Apr 2014 #73

Has he or she committed a crime? HuckleB Apr 2014 #100

why should we be in a database? fizzgig Apr 2014 #179

I don't even want a gun. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #8

Please put that in the OP: SunsetDreams Apr 2014 #11

It's a shame that people are so passionate about a cause that truedelphi Apr 2014 #29

My father was diagnosed as manic depressive with schizophrenic tendencies. JoePhilly Apr 2014 #84

"It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt." MADem Apr 2014 #134

I think you should have to obtain, and maintain, and renew, a license to own a gun. JoePhilly Apr 2014 #182

If this is in reference to having guns nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #9

the vast majority of mental illnesses do not make one predisposed to violence. dionysus Apr 2014 #25

!!! zappaman Apr 2014 #35

BUT PTSD does...mostly suicides though....and we suddenly have ALOT more PTSD's VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #74

correct. however, it's highly wrong to treat all mental illnesses as the same. dionysus Apr 2014 #80

I understand...BUT the fact remains we suddenly have ALOT of PTSD VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #117

The problem here is WAR. n/t DebJ Apr 2014 #122

Yes! VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #123

If I was ever in the military (which would only happen by force), I'd likely commit suicide too. DebJ Apr 2014 #125

What you just described is what people who suffer from PTSD feel.... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #130

Lol.. X_Digger Apr 2014 #105

... maddezmom Apr 2014 #150

As someone that has suffered from severe mental illness since childhood, I agree with you, Nadin Mnemosyne Apr 2014 #32

You understand and I understand nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #40

I know too many people with untreated anger issues and I hate knowing they own guns. Mnemosyne Apr 2014 #53

This "delicate flower" thing: What does the metaphor mean to you? Eleanors38 Apr 2014 #133

Look up modern world and that phrase nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #164

Well, I found the meaning Psychology Today has... Eleanors38 Apr 2014 #165

I told you precisely where to look nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #166

I got that drift. Eleanors38 Apr 2014 #167

that was uncalled for nadinbrzeezinski. liberal_at_heart Apr 2014 #181

Pointing out that some people who happen to have a diagnosis nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #183

personally I believed everyone has one disability or another hollysmom Apr 2014 #12

I don't think Michelle Bachmann is mentally ill - hedgehog Apr 2014 #57

Well I agree about arms, but hollysmom Apr 2014 #59

Have you seen her eyes, hedgehog? Laffy Kat Apr 2014 #111

I don't think your assumption about a manic state is correct. DebJ Apr 2014 #121

Thank you for telling me about this! All i've ever read about are the happy manics. hedgehog Apr 2014 #168

The issue has to do with danger to self or others due to mental illness and not.. aikoaiko Apr 2014 #13

and lots of folks who aren't mentally ill are a danger BainsBane Apr 2014 #16

True, but most of the high death count sprees seem to involve significant mental instability. aikoaiko Apr 2014 #33

Like Bush Jr? ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #43

Cheneyitis aikoaiko Apr 2014 #47

statistically, people with mental illness are LESS likely to commit violent crimes BainsBane Apr 2014 #44

I'm OK with shooting while intoxicated laws. aikoaiko Apr 2014 #49

To follow your logic BainsBane Apr 2014 #204

This message was self-deleted by its author redruddyred Apr 2014 #202

Welcome to DU gopiscrap Apr 2014 #203

depends on the data base doesn't it dembotoz Apr 2014 #18

A good database will not include all nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #42

so what do you suggest people do ? you don't think mental health evaluation JI7 Apr 2014 #19

That's not the point. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #21

Perhaps only those certified as mentally perfect should be able to own a gun? Fumesucker Apr 2014 #23

i don't think most people should have a gun and would support strict laws JI7 Apr 2014 #26

Which is why I wouldn't vote for you if you ran The Straight Story Apr 2014 #45

You don't think people who want guns will avoid mental health treatment under such a system? HuckleB Apr 2014 #103

don't listen to the imbeciles who say medication and treatments don't work, they are fools. nt dionysus Apr 2014 #20

Or maybe they are people for whom medication and "treatment" didn't work? Fumesucker Apr 2014 #37

some individuals are resistant to treatment, like with any medical condition. but people have dionysus Apr 2014 #41

No, we don't understand it well enough. HuckleB Apr 2014 #104

I was diagnosed with depression. jeff47 Apr 2014 #22

The extra step sounds like a good idea, Jeff. nt Mnemosyne Apr 2014 #36

This thread isn't about the debate in the other thread. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #24

And it is important to reflect on the fact that truedelphi Apr 2014 #46

Good grief. DebJ Apr 2014 #124

My sympathy to you for truedelphi Apr 2014 #200

Thank you for your kind words, but DebJ Apr 2014 #201

Thank you for the post. The 'gun' topic interests me and I read most petronius Apr 2014 #28

Me, too. politicat Apr 2014 #48

Thank you for sharing! ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #52

Let me add a qualifier and ask you a serious question nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #60

Assessing a threat to self or others is difficult and not static. politicat Apr 2014 #118

No it is not, but right now he should not nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #119

And again, if he's a danger, I strongly suggest contacting an adult social worker. politicat Apr 2014 #171

THIS IS THE BEST POST I HAVE READ ON DU IN MY 10.5 YEARS HERE !!!!!!!!! DebJ Apr 2014 #127

Awwww.. politicat Apr 2014 #169

Thank you... F4lconF16 Apr 2014 #138

Thanks! politicat Apr 2014 #170

Excellent post maddezmom Apr 2014 #149

K&R LittleBlue Apr 2014 #50

The problem isn't mental illness, it's WAR n/t Holly_Hobby Apr 2014 #55

Don't take it personally, as a failing. It's a condition, and it locks you out of certain things. MADem Apr 2014 #56

Why should it? ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #58

People who are scared and fearful sometimes react out of those impulses, not out of violent ones. MADem Apr 2014 #61

And people who drink sometimes beat their wives. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #62

If you think, for half a second, I'm going to mitigate "spouse beating," you've got another "think" MADem Apr 2014 #69

People who drink might get in their car and kill someone. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #71

I am not going to answer this question because you are hyperposting to my one reply. MADem Apr 2014 #77

This message was self-deleted by its author Vattel Apr 2014 #92

You are a very nasty person classykaren Apr 2014 #96

Your opinion means nothing to me--I don't know you at all. nt MADem Apr 2014 #97

You mean nothing to me bully classykaren Apr 2014 #142

More name calling--real "classy," there, "karen." MADem Apr 2014 #143

Fear doesn't equal mental illness. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #72

I never said it did. I get the strong impression you're trying to pull a circular argument with me. MADem Apr 2014 #76

More nonsense. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #82

No, you've talked YOUR self into a corner, and you're being rude and nasty as well. MADem Apr 2014 #87

Forgo, this DUer is PRECISELY the type of person who needs people like you who have the courage to DebJ Apr 2014 #132

How lovely of you to paint me with your broad brush when you do not even know me. MADem Apr 2014 #139

His topic wasn't 'Gungeon'. Other posters brought it there. They missed the entire point DebJ Apr 2014 #136

I think I've made it clear (read through this thread) that I don't regard people MADem Apr 2014 #137

PTSD puts you at a higher risk of suicide than the general population.... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #78

Not all mental illness is PTSD. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #83

Exactly. Not even close. HuckleB Apr 2014 #102

Not at all... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #116

Nope. History is your friend. Learn it. HuckleB Apr 2014 #185

WTF does that even mean? VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #187

History is much longer than 10 years, which is why your posts are pointless. HuckleB Apr 2014 #188

Yes...History is longer than 10 yrs.. VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #189

Obvious. HuckleB Apr 2014 #190

I did not say that.... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #115

Your post indicates otherwise. HuckleB Apr 2014 #191

Whatever... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #192

I make good sense. You don't like logic. I get it. HuckleB Apr 2014 #193

As a matter of fact I do like logic.... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #194

Alas, your claims are not supported by your posts. HuckleB Apr 2014 #195

Proof... VanillaRhapsody Apr 2014 #199

Scared and fearful does not equal the set of people with neurobiological brain disorders. DebJ Apr 2014 #128

Excuse me. MADem Apr 2014 #129

The similarity is putting people in boxes that you have designed, and deciding that DebJ Apr 2014 #135

I don't think gun ownership is a "civil right." MADem Apr 2014 #140

This is pure ignorance. HuckleB Apr 2014 #101

And people who are alcoholics never fall off the wagon. Get treatment! Problem solved! MADem Apr 2014 #126

Blah. Blah. Blah. Derp. HuckleB Apr 2014 #186

This message was self-deleted by its author WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2014 #63

I don't know. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #64

My apologies, I didn't know there were multiple threads WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2014 #66

No worries. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #67

a lot of the stuff I hear suggested Skittles Apr 2014 #65

IKR!? Rex Apr 2014 #120

National Databases for medical conditions are a terrible idea. dilby Apr 2014 #68

Rec! Demo_Chris Apr 2014 #70

And many of us have loved ones who are mentally ill. BiPolar runs in my family. My brother who is jwirr Apr 2014 #75

There is no evidence whatsoever that "mental illness" in the aggregate Jackpine Radical Apr 2014 #81

But... as I said above nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #85

K&R lillypaddle Apr 2014 #86

According the the NIH, 26% of us have some form of mental illness. progressoid Apr 2014 #88

K&R JoeyT Apr 2014 #89

I don't pretend to know enough about the entire spectrum of mental illnesses LanternWaste Apr 2014 #93

Thank you for the post. You are to be commended. idendoit Apr 2014 #94

why not just restrict alcohol? bossy22 Apr 2014 #175

... handmade34 Apr 2014 #95

K&R Stellar Apr 2014 #98

A long, long discussion is needed in this country. dinger130 Apr 2014 #99

K&R! Phlem Apr 2014 #106

Please explain this..."diagnosed mental illness" Stuart G Apr 2014 #107

What? ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #173

I applaud your OP, the situation is worrisome...I do not want to see this evolve into Jefferson23 Apr 2014 #108

People with mental illnesses are statistically AtheistCrusader Apr 2014 #109

This is true. xfundy Apr 2014 #114

People with severe PTSD, anger management problems, schizophrenia... Vashta Nerada Apr 2014 #112

I love this quote by Archbishop Romero flamingdem Apr 2014 #131

A profound statement but not necessarily true. Live and Learn Apr 2014 #146

what medications are you on(that "didn't work") & what do you think about the side effects? Sunlei Apr 2014 #141

I've tried a few ssri's and hated all of them. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #172

That is good you are carefull with those medications & paid attention to side effects. Sunlei Apr 2014 #174

I'm pretty sure I read the sickening thread that lead to this post. Jasana Apr 2014 #144

Hey there! Why would i even dignify you with a serious answer when your question darkangel218 Apr 2014 #184

I did not ask you a question... Jasana Apr 2014 #197

And so is mine. darkangel218 Apr 2014 #198

IMHO everyone suffers from some kind of "mental illness" Live and Learn Apr 2014 #145

I understand you completely a la izquierda Apr 2014 #147

Thank you Dorian Gray Apr 2014 #148

A huge percentage of the population... sendero Apr 2014 #153

Is your illness blindness to the letter 'g'? randome Apr 2014 #176

Thanks for pointing out the spelling mistake. ForgoTheConsequence Apr 2014 #177

Crucial OP IrishAyes Apr 2014 #178

The majority of the country has a mental illness sometime during their lifetime. Depression being liberal_at_heart Apr 2014 #180