4 Children Fatally Stabbed in Memphis; Mother in Custody

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. But that would assume that she knew she was mentally ill

I have struggled with depression for the last 40 years. I've participated in several clinical trials. One of the things the always ask is "Do you hear things other people don't hear or see things they don't see?" I always laugh and say "How would I know?" They are not amused.

But that's the problem. Mental illness isn't like a broken leg. If you fall and your leg hurts like hell, you go to the ER. But it's not that way with mental illness. While a depressed person may realize something's wrong and seeks help, a someone who is psychotic may not. Those hallucinations are REAL.

I was in the hospital once and everybody talks about why they are there. One young woman said she was driving and God spoke to her. She was startled and jumped the curb, causing some minor property damage. The cops said she could go to jail or go to the hospital. So she was taking the antipsychotics they gave her and going along with everything so she could get out. But she didn't think anything was wrong with her. She said "I'm not crazy. I just had a spiritual experience. I don't know why they don't understand that."