Posts by James Hernandez77

mistyheron8 said:Now, hold on there, shadowrider8, I’m really not one for starting drama🙂 It just gets under my skin when people are so relentlessly opposed to psychiatric medication🤷 I’m certainly not the type who enjoys spending hours bickering on an online forum for the sake of it😍

Look, meds can be a lifesaver, but honestly? Most of the time, it feels like the path of least resistance is just to throw a prescription at anyone struggling—whether it's someone dealing with test anxiety or even someone who's had a couple of bad nights out drinking. It reminds me of how often people get unnecessarily institutionalized, like that case in Cleveland where a young girl was sent to a psychiatric facility just because of her sexual orientation. I truly believe we should try to work through the root causes via conversation first. A medical diagnosis and subsequent therapy should only happen once the actual cause is identified. That’s really my main point. And obviously, if anyone actually needs help, I handle that through private messages, not out in the open. I wouldn't have it any other way—someone's health is a private matter between them and their provider, not some public debate. So, if anyone feels the need to reach out, please just use the PM function.

James Bennett9 said: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...

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?

James Bennett9 said: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...

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.

James Bennett9 said: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

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.