Andrea Yates R.N.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2006

No offense, but those kind of posts (and some others I've read) make me wonder who is being let into the nursing profession. It's frightening.

Manics seldom know what they're doing in the manic phase. Getting help is a first step, being compliant on meds is a 2nd step. As to why you called 9-1-1 after you wrecked? IME, manics are very selfish and very into themselves and very little else. Of course one would call to seek immediate medical attention on themselves. They're generall not out to kill themselves. I surely hope that by the lucidity of your posted you've sought treatment and it's going well. Good luck with that.

begalli · Jul 30, 2006

In regard to the idea that calling 911 was a moment of cognitive awareness...

Andrea Yates thought she was possessed by satan. Calling 911 was part of her psychotic plan to to kill satan (herself). She thought that if she called 911 after the drownings that she would be put to death by the State of Texas - thereby killing satan. She had two suicide attempts in her past that were unsuccessful. (this is just me - but maybe this time she thought it would finally work ad she would finally get rid of satan).

So because she believed she was possessed by satan, she believed that she "ruined" her children and that at least two of her children would be, as is found in reports, "a serial killer" and a "mute gay prositute" - that her children were going to go to hell.

She believed she needed to save her children from hell and so she killed them while they were still "innocent" and by killing her children she would be one who deserves death.

It's difficult to even go through these thoughts in my own mind. It's difficult to make any sense out of it and type it into words.

But this is what she thought, believed, lived with.

Calling 911 was in no way, shape or form a cognitive moment. It was part of the psychosis.

Many years ago when I was in nursing school during our psych clinicals, the instructor, who is a long-time well-respected psych RN, tried to give us an idea of what it would be like to "hear voices." We each took our turn and wore small ear buds that were connected to a recording of what has been described by patients as being what they hear as they go about their daily lives. The recording included whispering and yelling, sinister music and singing and an array of sounds. These voices told us how stupid, useless and hopeless we were and what an embarrassment to the human race we were over and over and over - loud and quiet - non stop.

Not one of us could wear these ear plugs for more than a few minutes. It was impossible to concentrate or go about doing normal activities because the recording was constantly interrupting any normal train of thought. As I watched my classmates, you could literally see them pausing to listen in their face and body movements.

Even though it is impossible to ever really know what it's like to be one who lives with this horrifying disease, on that day, I gained a world of insight and compassion. I can see how the TORTURE of hearing these voices can change the chemistry of thought....or maybe more appropriately, how the chemistry of thought causes this torture. It's absolutely terrifying.

PANurseRN1 · Jul 30, 2006

No offense, but those kind of posts (and some others I've read) make me wonder who is being let into the nursing profession. It's frightening.
Manics seldom know what they're doing in the manic phase. Getting help is a first step, being compliant on meds is a 2nd step. As to why you called 9-1-1 after you wrecked? IME, manics are very selfish and very into themselves and very little else. Of course one would call to seek immediate medical attention on themselves. They're generall not out to kill themselves. I surely hope that by the lucidity of your posted you've sought treatment and it's going well. Good luck with that.

That is a particularly cruel post. Also a bit hypocritical, considering you posted in another thread about your own MH issues and the meds you need to control them.

begalli · Jul 30, 2006

IMO, it doesn't matter where Andrea Yates serves her time. She will ALWAYS be a prisoner of her disease.

Liddle Noodnik · Jul 30, 2006

No offense, but those kind of posts (and some others I've read) make me wonder who is being let into the nursing profession. It's frightening

There is no blood test. And many of us start with "just" depression and anxiety, like you did

If anything, I wonder how people who don't try to understand, or are not compassionate, get into nursing.

In your defense, it is nearly impossible for someone to "get this" unless they have experienced it. The only way I WAS able to be compassionate, before I got sick, was to look at what I have in COMMON with mankind vs what separates us.

Manics seldom know what they're doing in the manic phase.

Nor do any of your "garden variety" psychotics. THAT IS THE POINT!

Getting help is a first step, being compliant on meds is a 2nd step.

As far as Andrea knew, SHE WAS. And I was at that time, too.

As to why you called 9-1-1 after you wrecked? IME, manics are very selfish and very into themselves and very little else.

Yes, that is, again, the point. If a person is that mentally ill, they CAN'T see reason.

Of course one would call to seek immediate medical attention on themselves. They're generall not out to kill themselves.

Not true - suicide attempts are a very common symptom of mania; in fact had I died while driving - I would have been perfectly happy (at the time!). Also, self-endangerment and risky behavior are commonly observed. If I was in "self-preservation" mode, why would I have been driving?

By the way, I did take myself out of nursing in 03 because my illness kept getting worse. It was more because of the depression and anxiety. My manic states are not very common for me and usually CAUSED BY "medication compliance"!!!

It was only the grace of GOD that I didn't hit anyone, or kill myself. It was NOT because I was "insightful".

Liddle Noodnik · Jul 30, 2006

...Many years ago when I was in nursing school during our psych clinicals, the instructor, who is a long-time well-respected psych RN, tried to give us an idea of what it would be like to "hear voices." We each took our turn and wore small ear buds that were connected to a recording of what has been described by patients as being what they hear as they go about their daily lives. The recording included whispering and yelling, sinister music and singing and an array of sounds. These voices told us how stupid, useless and hopeless we were and what an embarrassment to the human race we were over and over and over - loud and quiet - non stop.
Not one of us could wear these ear plugs for more than a few minutes. It was impossible to concentrate or go about doing normal activities because the recording was constantly interrupting any normal train of thought. As I watched my classmates, you could literally see them pausing to listen in their face and body movements.
Even though it is impossible to ever really know what it's like to be one who lives with this horrifying disease, on that day, I gained a world of insight and compassion. I can see how the TORTURE of hearing these voices can change the chemistry of thought....or maybe more appropriately, how the chemistry of thought causes this torture. It's absolutely terrifying.

I absolutely love this idea. We never had anything like this.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jul 30, 2006

This thread has been closed due to the overheated emotions and personal attacks between members.

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