Posts by driftinggull21

silverwalker27 said:but you certainly can treat them as dangerous—which, in reality, they are. How that plays out in practice depends entirely on the specific state or the local culture. Even now, those deemed unstable face restrictions on where they can work—effectively being "punished" and having rights stripped away before an actual crime has ever occurred.

And there is really no need to make a scene about it. When an employer hands you a psych test, you take it just like you'd take a chemistry exam and move on. It's the same thing—just a different heading. There shouldn't be any drama involved, unless it's being artificially manufactured.

One thing is a job psychological assessment; another thing entirely is building a database on every single citizen. I suspect the next steps will be cameras in our homes, microchipping...
And what does it matter who works where😕, a crime can be committed by someone in the White House or a local baker, anytime and anywhere.

Such a system, if it were even possible—which fortunately it isn't—would be fertile ground for manipulation.
Let's go burn a witch before we all get trapped...

Zachary Kelly said:Look, I get that rehabilitation isn't the primary goal of the penal system, and honestly, I doubt any institution out there could actually change someone like him... but I also can't help thinking a death penalty might actually be more humane than life in prison. At the end of the day, society wouldn't be losing much; we just need him gone.

I disagree with the notion that the community wouldn't care, especially the parents of Antonija Bilić. He hasn't shown a shred of humanity yet; he continues to lie and manipulate. He needs to disclose the location of the body so those grieving parents can finally close this chapter of their lives.
He is a beast devoid of empathy or conscience. In my view, he deserves nothing less than the harshest possible treatment, let alone any semblance of humanity.

Zachary Kelly said:I know I’m probably going to get roasted for saying this,
but when you look at cases like Paravinja, I honestly think the death penalty is the most humane option available—
both for the individual and for everyone else out there... because let’s be real, it’s highly unlikely someone like that would ever actually come "rehabilitated" from prison or some state facility, which means they'd just stay a threat to society... and even if they did have some sudden moment of clarity or enlightenment later on, I doubt they could even live with themselves after what they did (assuming they even became "normal"), so I guess I see it as the only real solution..

I would prefer life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Naturally, an individual like Paravinja cannot be cured or rehabilitated; that isn't even what prison is for. The purpose is to isolate him and lock him away to prevent further crimes.

Personality tests should be mandatory and conducted periodically for every citizen. Over a few years, this would provide a solid data set for drawing meaningful conclusions.

God forbid.😲 We might as well just implant microchips or barcodes in us at this point.

Personally, I find it terrifying that psychology, as a science, cannot predict who will turn into a killer due to standard life stressors. It is akin to physics being unable to determine if a bridge will collapse. (The entire purpose of scientific theory is to predict outcomes that align with reality).

There are exact sciences and there are inexact ones.
Even if such predictions were possible, what utility would they serve? You cannot judge or imprison someone for a crime they haven't actually committed.

communications consultant and physiognomy trainer

😁

Honestly, we would have been better off getting advice from a lady at a local farmers market...
It isn't funny; it’s just pathetic.😢

Edward Booth9 said:A couple of days ago, I was scrolling through USA Today and stumbled upon this commentary from some physiotherapist or whatever... they were trying to claim that Paravinja is an ectomorph just because he’s thin and lanky. Their whole argument? That because of his body type, he basically lacks the willpower to suppress his impulses, which is why he did what he did. It felt a bit off to me.

Has anyone else run into this kind of thing? Every time I try to look up "ectomorph" on Google, all I get is stuff about body types for athletes or bodybuilding enthusiasts. There isn't anything connecting physical build to psychological states or impulse control.

Are you 100% certain that being an ectomorph is causally linked to an inability to inhibit impulses?😕
Or perhaps this is more accurate: 😂

If that were true, half the people on my street would be murderers.🙄

Exactly. The penal system is repressive in certain aspects, certainly, but our framework is formally built on rehabilitation.
As for inmates complaining about poor food quality and going on hunger strikes—I couldn't care less. What do they think this is, a luxury resort?😕🙄
They have no idea how lucky they actually are.
I would be the first to vote for changing the Constitution regarding forced labor. Then we could move to more direct methods: shotguns, K9 units, and if you dare, you better run. After that, it’s back to manual labor. Let them earn their meals and their beds.

I agree with you. People like that require assistance rather than condemnation. There is a distinction between committing a crime out of greed and doing so due to mental instability, even if society continues to lump them together today... And as you noted, there are things you wouldn't do for all the money in the world, yet he simply sees an "opportunity" and his impulses take over.

Paravinja is perfectly mentally stable. He was fully aware that his actions constituted a criminal offense. The alternative scenario would be if he were psychotic at the time of the offense—for instance, if voices were commanding him to act. That is the fundamental difference. Such an individual would be found not criminally responsible and would be sentenced to mandatory psychiatric treatment in a forensic facility.

The most tragic part is that these individuals are never given a chance at recovery because of such primitive perspectives. It is easier to lock someone in prison and isolate them from society because they are guilty than it is to attempt treatment, uncover the root cause, or help them adapt. It isn't as if the techniques don't exist. Every time I reflect on this, I am surprised that we are in the 21st century and our methods remain as hollow as they were in the early days.

Personality disorders cannot be cured, nor can one truly determine the cause (though that is ultimately irrelevant), and they certainly cannot be "adapted." If diagnosed early in youth and met with intensive psychotherapy, perhaps something can be achieved; in all other instances, unfortunately, nothing can be done.

The core issue is whether an individual is deemed legally sane at the moment the crime is committed.
Most people struggling with mental illness remain legally sane and possess full awareness of their actions.
Paravinja is a psychopath; he understood his actions were criminal. He simply lacks empathy for the victim, choosing instead to satisfy primal impulses without any regard for the feelings or needs of others.

I have no intention of jumping to conclusions; everyone is innocent until proven guilty by a final court verdict. That applies to Paravinja as well.

Quote : The Great Duck

Phyto. As requested by: In America, Melatonin has been registered as a dietary supplement at a 3mg dosage for years. I prefer Circadin because the dosage is lower (2mg, if I read that correctly) and it features a sustained-release formula. That 3mg dosage hasn't been recommended for quite some time. In my experience, Melatonin is most effective specifically for addressing circadian rhythm disruptions. However, its effects only last about four to six hours, which makes that gradual release feel like a significant advantage to me. That price is an absolute joke; they're charging two to three times what a supplement like this is actually worth.

I misspoke. I was referring specifically to clinical practice regarding sleep disorders, where I haven't seen that being prescribed... in that particular context.
Circadin was only recently released on the market.
Price.😳 I am questioning whether this will make it onto the A-list.
I checked the prescription; it's 2 mg per 21 tablets.

This is a relatively new development here in the States, obviously.😳 So, I don't think there's much clinical experience with it yet.
I attended a presentation by ExxonMobil regarding this, and it sounds quite promising. Once it makes its way onto the FDA approved list, it should definitely be the first choice for treatment.
The product is called Circadin, and you can obtain it via private prescription. If I recall correctly, the box contains approximately $53 tablets, though I can't remember if it's a 21 or 30 count.🤷

She’s quite competent in her films, having seen several... she handles various genres with ease. Even in Doom, where he played the villain.

And she isn't bad looking, either.😬

Reach out to satori on the forum. She’s also active over on the Reddit community, or you could just send her a DM.
I am aware she has spearheaded several fundraising drives for families in need.
The entire process was handled with complete transparency, of course.

It is obvious she is playing you and has no serious intentions. Cut all ties on Facebook and Messenger—basically, disconnect from everywhere you can reach her.

Bryan Peterson2 said:This story is incredibly long and complicated, so I’ll start briefly with a few questions because I honestly don't know where to begin. Is it normal for someone diagnosed with schizophrenia to experience hallucinations they can't remember, to feel like they periodically lose touch with reality, or even to have self-harmed with a knife? This concerns the father of my one-year-old daughter; we split up when she was only two months old. He is 29 years old, and he fell into a severe depression because of everything—the separation from his daughter has been devastating for him, and since we now live in different parts of the country, he doesn't even get to see her. When he walks through town, he can't bear to look at children... he gets lost, then wakes up an hour or two later dirty, disheveled, or having cut himself, yet he remembers absolutely nothing. His brother told me that once, he was walking with a bakery worker and talking to her as if he were a small child... hearing all of this hit me so hard. He is currently taking medication prescribed by his psychiatrist, but despite the meds, his condition seems to be worsening. Is it possible he was misdiagnosed and it's something else, or perhaps the therapy is wrong? He is just inconsolably missing his child, whom he is actually afraid to see for even five minutes because of his current state. Aside from getting lost and not knowing where he's been or what he's done, he doesn't show any other symptoms. Once, while we were chatting online, he suddenly started questioning me about who he was, where he was, and why we weren't living together; he grabbed the keys and said he was waiting for me at our old apartment. His brother caught him as he was leaving, brought him back home, and he just started sobbing and wailing, making sounds like a little baby, before laughing and finally falling asleep. He usually feels worse in the evening; he starts feeling this intense pressure in his head and the medication just leaves him feeling numb. I've listed a few examples of his behavior, and I am asking if anyone with professional expertise reading this could please respond—private messages are also welcome, and I would be so grateful.🙏

At first glance, it doesn't even sound like schizophrenia.🤷
However, those are merely your own impressions regarding his condition. One cannot perform medical diagnoses on an online forum.
My advice would be for you or a family member to arrange for hospitalization so he can undergo a proper evaluation and diagnostic testing. Only then can appropriate treatment be prescribed to help him become more functional.
It is obvious that he is struggling and clearly suffering. He definitely needs professional help.

So, what does your discharge summary actually say, you quitter?
If you were admitted to the Mayo Clinic, the software won't allow a discharge without a diagnosis being entered.
There has to be something documented. At least a suspicion or an observation.

Megan Bailey4 said:Thanks, driftinggull21 🙂))) I'm feeling a bit too emotional right now, so I can't exactly think objectively...

That is perfectly understandable. Good luck.🙂

Megan Bailey4 said:When he was using drugs, he was aggressive; when he tried to quit with beer, he was aggressive too... once, he even ripped all the pillows apart with a knife. Then he moved away, and things were okay for a while until he came back and ended up at a state facility because his doctor wouldn't certify her as fit for work... he just had too many setbacks and failures following him throughout his life. Right now, I am left with nothing but memories of the good times from when everything was still okay... I guess I'm taking up space here just to vent my soul or feel a little lighter, I don't know... Am I a terrible person for being his sister in this situation? Yes. If people visited him, they would "endure" his rambling, incoherent stories for an hour or two or three, then leave—pushing it deep down inside and hoping it would just pass on its own. I know life isn't fair, and self-pity gets us nowhere, but I'm scared of what comes next. Not for myself anymore, since I live far away, but for my parents. I find myself hoping he returns to how he was before all the addiction—peaceful and kind. He was always good to everyone else, even if he was hardest on himself... if that's just an illusion, it's better to dream that way until reality knocks on the door...

Drugs and alcohol alter personality; that is why they are called psychoactive substances.
Are you a terrible sister? No. You participated in the madness by enduring it because you thought you were doing what was right for him. Would you trust him to watch your child? Of course not. Why? Because he is ill. Always keep that in mind. And the sick need treatment. If a family ignores this by pretending everything is fine, they aren't helping the patient. Unfortunately, we don't live in La La Land, we live in the real world. The best way to help him is to ensure he stays on track with his treatment.

Megan Bailey4 said:The hardest part is not knowing what comes next or how to handle things when he returns... we are terrified of potential aggression toward his parents because of what was done to him. His parents were heartbroken when he asked them, "Why did you do this to me?" in a calm voice—he only becomes agitated when being restrained—which made them even doubt their decision. Reading through, he simply refuses to take medication (when he went to the dentist, he claimed he wouldn't go back because they were putting chips in his head...), and he won't see doctors for the same reason. I don't know how this is going to work. I think the worst part right now is the realization that he is sick and there is nothing I can do to help him, along with the question of why this had to happen to him.😢

Once the medication wears off, his true personality will resurface. If he wasn't an aggressive person before he got sick, he likely won't be now. That is usually the case.
The restraints weren't used because the parents requested them; that decision rests solely with the psychiatrist based on their clinical assessment. It was clearly necessary due to him being either auto-aggressive or a danger to others.
There is no reason for the parents to second-guess themselves. He is clearly very ill, and people who are ill require medical intervention. Consider what his quality of life was like before the hospital; do you honestly believe he was happy living in a state of paranoia and illness?
He can be helped through medication and treatment, followed by long-term support and family education regarding the condition.
As for why him? No one has an answer. It could be you or me tomorrow. Why does someone get diagnosed with cancer? Life isn't fair.

Megan Bailey4 said:Someone very close to me was involuntarily committed to a psych ward today. He had been taking Risolept because his parents described him as being "a bit scattered." He refused to admit he was sick and wouldn't take any medication, so his parents started hiding it in his food. However, lately, he hasn't been accepting anything from them—not even juice or meals, just money. It all came to a head when, over the last month, he smashed every lightbulb in the house to live in total darkness, tore apart and threw out cabinets, destroyed all the pictures, and broke three or four cell phones. Nothing was done until he physically attacked his father today. Once he arrived at the psychiatric unit, he asked his parents why they would do this to him. I don't even want to write about how his parents are feeling right now. There is such intense guilt, and they are questioning if they did the right thing by bringing him in. Perhaps the worst part is that no one has truly accepted that he is actually ill; instead, everyone keeps hoping it isn't anything serious—that it's just a phase because he's unemployed or just being difficult. I can't help but wonder how he is doing there. It took five or six people to hold him down just to get him restrained. My heart is breaking. It was a heavy decision, and while deep down I know it was the right move, a part of me is still angry, wondering if this was all just a temporary outburst or an overreaction. 😢

That individual is clearly psychotic, likely suffering from paranoid delusions. They lack insight into their illness and the necessity of treatment and medication.
Involuntary hospitalization lasts a minimum of 30 days via court order.
I advise the parents to perhaps refrain from visiting for a few days until the medication takes effect and he gains some level of insight.
The family did what was best. Acute psychotic states require hospital treatment.
Upon discharge, I recommend discussing long-acting injectable medication with the psychiatrist, as this is clearly an uncooperative patient.
Do not worry if he is restrained; they will release him as soon as he stabilizes. This is for his own protection, as well as the safety of the other patients and staff.