Posts by James Bennett9

Jamie Patel4 said:Well, Wednesday will be here before we know it. The priority is just making sure she’s alright. Is she doing better? Has she moved past the symptoms mentioned in the original post? Or not quite yet?

She's calmer now. I don't know if it's because of the medication they gave her or something else entirely, but she still has these fears... and her memory isn't quite right either. Honestly, I'm not even sure how to gauge where she stands right now. She's definitely different than when I first posted, but whether that's actually an improvement... I just don't know...

Jamie Patel4 said:Forget asking the nurses; you'll have a hard time getting anything useful out of them unless you really know how to work the room.
I don't understand why the doctor isn't available. Avoid showing up during rounds—they are never around then. Try heading over in the morning and just being polite; they'll usually make time for you if you ask nicely.
Ideally, her parents should be the ones going in so you can get the facts from them. Dealing with this yourself is enough to drive anyone crazy. At least, it would for me.
In any case, keep your chin up. I truly believe everything will turn out fine in the end.

I was actually there with her mom, and her sister mentioned the doctor won't be back until Wednesday. Apparently, it's the same guy who admitted her. I guess they each have their own specific patients or something... I don't know...

The doctor won't be back until Wednesday, and there hasn't been an official word yet, but the nurse dropped a hint that the drug test came back negative... she wouldn't say it outright, though, because she isn't supposed to...

Jamie Patel4 said:Well, I am truly glad to hear she’s feeling a bit better.
Were you able to catch any of the doctors for a quick verbal update regarding her acute condition, even if they haven't released the official paperwork? I know how impossible it is to actually track down medical staff on a Sunday...
Do they have an idea of how long they plan to keep her there? At least having that timeline might take some of the weight off your shoulders.

It’s exactly what you said... it’s impossible to get any info. We don't have the test results yet, and we haven't been able to talk to anyone because there's nobody around. All we see are the nurses and some guy who handles locking and unlocking the doors... so yeah, we're completely in the dark right now. It's tough. Hopefully, someone will say something tomorrow...

I stopped by to see her today. Things seem maybe a little bit better, perhaps... we haven't received any of the test results back yet...

What do you mean by "commune"? This girl is dealing with some serious mental health struggles, and I’m just trying to make sense of it all. I mentioned earlier that she confessed to taking a pill, mostly because I was almost certain she wouldn't do something like that...
So, now she’s in the psych ward. Her mom took her there—maybe to the ER, I’m not entirely sure—but she talked to the psychiatrist, admitted to taking the pill, and they decided to keep her there for observation. I honestly don't know if it was just one single pill, or if this has been going on for a while, or if one solitary pill was enough to trigger this whole breakdown... I really hope they can run blood and urine tests to figure out exactly what she took and how long ago... and maybe the pills are just one piece of a much larger puzzle, I don't know...
There's something else, too. She watched Paranormal Activity with me. Do you think a movie like that could actually have that kind of psychological impact on someone? Like, could it cause a reaction like this?
We watched the movie about a month or so ago. She seemed completely fine right after. Just to recap, things started shifting about three weeks ago, then she became a totally different person four days ago, and today she completely lost her grip on reality. She was admitted to the hospital a few hours ago... I won't be able to see her until tomorrow...

She was at the psychiatric hospital and ended up staying there after telling her doctor she’d taken some kind of pill... I'm honestly pretty shaken up... don't have any more details just yet...

James Hernandez77 said:It’s pretty common to run into these kinds of struggles in a family dynamic like this—especially when there's that missing parental figure. Even if a stepfather is genuinely stepping up and trying his best, the kid often still feels like they don't quite fit in. It’s like they carry this nagging sense that they're just an extra burden, or even a roadblock standing in the way of the parents finally being "perfectly" happy together.

Man, I’m guessing she just can't bring herself to accept him right now—maybe because of that whole situation with her stepfather. It’s interesting, though... she seems totally fine with his half-brother, probably since he isn't the one responsible for everything that went down. But honestly? I can't help but wonder if she's using him as an ally, whether she realizes she's doing it or not.

Making peace can definitely act like a soothing balm for the soul—but let’s be honest—it isn't some magic cure that just makes all that lingering family resentment vanish overnight.
Talking to her isn't exactly easy right now—it’s like there’s this constant weight on her mind. She’s dealing with this deep sense of restlessness, fear, and sadness that just won't let up. It makes it almost impossible for her to focus on normal, everyday conversation because she's just so preoccupied trying to make sense of everything she's going through.

What’s her take on anything spiritual or supernatural? Does she actually go to churches or religious sites? Also—and this is a big one—would she ever consider joining an organization or a group that might fall under those "sectarian" definitions people always talk about?
Young minds are really just a product of how they're shaped—and honestly, that includes all the subtle ways people try to manipulate them.
Look, things are getting pretty serious here, but I really don't think they're unsolvable. Has she ever actually sat down with a therapist before? And more importantly—how does she even feel about the whole idea of therapy?

The stepfather and mom have basically lived together since she was two or three. She always talks about him as her real dad and accepts him as such because that's how she grew up. Her brother is only seven, so I don't really see him acting as an ally here.
As for religion or anything like that, she’s not really involved. She went through the motions with her baptism and everything, but there’s no real connection there. She probably hasn't stepped foot in a church since her First Communion... and regarding cults, I don't think she has anything to do with them. Do you all think this is some kind of illness, or is it truly just a product of inner turmoil and dissatisfaction...?

James Hernandez77 said:Alright, look—if she isn't using drugs, then we're dealing with a slightly different beast, but a word of caution: people who *do* use substances can be incredibly crafty at hiding it.
Keep watching the situation closely.

I'm curious about her family background—does she actually get along with them, or is she coming off a rough breakup from a toxic relationship?
People tend to hyper-focus on the immediate crisis, but they often miss the bigger picture—those surrounding circumstances that shape who a person is and drive them toward happiness or total heartbreak.

I was talking about things at home above. I'm her boyfriend, and everything is fine between us, so there aren't any relationship issues. And regarding the drug thing, her finances honestly wouldn't even allow for that. Plus, I've spent quite a bit of time with her—staying over for several days straight, for example—and I've never seen anything out of the ordinary...

James Hernandez77 said:From what I've seen, these repetitive, obsessive actions suggest we really need to pin down the underlying cause of these behavioral habits. I'm curious about her home life—who does she live with, what's her social circle like, and is she using alcohol or any drugs?
I've dealt with several cases where patients feel trapped in their own homes, experiencing this overwhelming fear for their loved ones—almost like they're being consumed by guilt, intense anxiety, or waves of empathy and grief stemming from a specific event.
This definitely isn't a minor situation that's just going to blow over on its own.
What's the family history like? Are there similar patterns in the family?
As a first step, you really need to sit down and talk to her—find out exactly what is upsetting her, what's bothering her, and what's causing this distress.

She lives with her mom, her stepfather, and her half-brother. When this behavior started shifting—about two weeks ago—she told me she was fighting with everyone. She couldn't believe how they acted, how they were never around the house. She said her brother was the only one she could stand. But then, just the other day, she told me they had all made up, and everything is fine now... Let's say she drinks a little on Saturdays, maybe once a month, just small amounts. Maybe a bit more a few times a year. Drugs? No. I'm 99% sure she's never touched them. As for the rest of the family, she isn't originally from around here; she moved in with her mom. From what I know, the relatives haven't dealt with anything like this. Talking to her isn't easy. Her answers are vague, pretty much useless... and that's just me talking to her. A professional would see it differently, obviously. What you wrote describes her perfectly... "they feel an inexplicable fear for their loved ones, in a way, as if their conscience is burning, fear, waves of empathy, sadness, and pity"... that is exactly what she's showing!
But I just don't know what event could have triggered it...

Jamie Patel4 said:It isn't necessarily a question of permanent versus acute consequences... though it is difficult to predict with any certainty how this will impact someone's nervous system, especially through the medium of the internet...
Of course, it doesn't have to involve drugs. I certainly hope that isn't the case.
It could be anything... and to determine exactly what, you will need the assistance of a professional.

In any event, persist in helping her. The fact that she lacks health insurance should not be an obstacle; you can pay out of pocket, and if you are truly committed to helping her, the cost becomes secondary. Assuming, of course, that you have the means. I hope you at least have enough set aside for the initial examination.

Online comments might help you weigh your options, but they are by no means a permanent solution.

I completely agree with everything said, but I'm starting to panic a little. I just really need some outside perspective because I've never dealt with anything like this before. It occurred to me that over those few weeks, she blew through all her savings—about $333—and my mind went straight to drugs. But then, by pure coincidence, she told me last week exactly what she spent it on. At first, I thought she was lying to me, but now I know she was being honest. So, I'm 99% sure we can rule out drugs... I appreciate any input, and thanks to everyone who's chimed in so far...

She’s definitely going to see the doctor. Hopefully this Monday. There's also this whole complication with her health insurance—it seems like she didn't renew it or something like that... I'm not entirely sure on the specifics. But regardless, she'll go. She hasn't left the house for the last three or four days, obviously. It doesn't make much sense for her to go anywhere in her current state. Usually, she was heading to her classes at the university and doing all the usual stuff most people do. As for drugs, I don't think she's that type of person. Even if we were talking about substances and she had taken something, who knows what... she would have to stop immediately, right? Or are you telling me there could be lasting consequences?? If she did use anything (and again, I really doubt it), it would have only been within the last four weeks. But then again, you need money for that, and I don't think she's in a position to afford it...
I realize nobody here on a forum can give me an actual diagnosis, but I just want to see what you all think while we give her a chance to get back to her old self. If we don't see any progress, we're going to have to seek professional help, unfortunately...

Hi everyone. I’m asking about a 20-year-old woman who hasn't had any mental health struggles before this. It all started about three weeks ago when her behavior shifted suddenly, for no reason I can figure out. She used to be pretty calm by nature. But three weeks back, she became incredibly high-energy, driven, and talkative... just a complete 180. A totally different person. And then, about 3 or 4 days ago, she became something else entirely. I don't really know how to describe it, so let me give you an example of what’s happening. She’ll lie in bed, get up, lie back down, get up, go to the kitchen, sit, stand, sit, stand, start walking toward her room, then halfway there turn right back to the kitchen (she does this several times) until she finally makes it back to the bed. Then she'll pull the covers off and on dozens of times, or adjust her pillow dozens of times... she spends the whole day doing this, occasionally changing the pattern. When she’s alone in her room, she just paces constantly—lying down, getting up, lying down... If you ask her something, she answers if she knows (though she doesn't know much right now), but you have to practically pull the words out of her. You have to ask over and over again. She sighs heavily all the time, her eyes tear up, she stares at her hands hundreds of times a day, touches her stomach just as often... she touches other parts of her body too, almost like she's checking to see if they feel warm or cold. She says she's scared. When you ask what for, she says things like "I'm scared for everything," "I'm scared for myself," or "I'm scared of my bed"... just these strange, made-up things. She isn't sleeping well, isn't eating much. I've noticed it's like she's herself for a few seconds, then not herself for a few seconds, though the ratio is maybe 1:10 in a bad way... I'm pleading with you to tell me whatever you think this could be, whether from your own experience or your knowledge... we haven't taken her to a doctor yet...
Thanks for any answers or comments you can offer