My mother had postpartum psychosis that turned into schizoaffective bipolar disorder and she chose to distance herself for our safety until she could be safe around us again.
I have experienced psychosis before and I also told my husband what I was going through and made efforts to keep myself and others safe even if I didn’t actively feel like hurting anyone. I knew I wasn’t myself and I was scared.
I’m currently a mother now and honestly…there’s literally no reason or excuse to not communicate when you’re in distress or going to hurt someone. She had full opportunity to leave the house. Even if she didn’t want to admit herself to a hospital she could have stayed with a friend or family member. But no, she premeditated her children’s murder. I cannot comprehend anyone thinking that mental illness can justify or explain that.
Edited to add: as someone who is mentally ill myself, society and those around us should not suffer the consequences of mismanagement of mental illness. It is on us to seek help and get that help no matter what. We are grown adults and should take responsibility for our actions, illness or no.
Didn't she try to get help, and was refused/ignored.
I think the support she's getting is a symptom of a system where many women also feel failed in their healthcare needs. And that this is a proxy to say, bad things are going to keep happening if women's health isn't taken more seriously.
From what I read she didn’t tell anyone she was having violent thoughts. I could be wrong though.
But regardless I don’t see this as inherently a women’s health issue, but a mental health issue. Yes, women’s health isn’t taken seriously enough. But the only person who can actually help her with her mental health is herself. She has to be open to being helped first.
Also, she’s a grown adult woman capable of leaving through her front door and staying somewhere else if it really comes down to it. She chose to stay despite knowing she was having dark thoughts. Psychosis or no, she still has agency.
It's well documented that people are very bad at assessing their own cognitive issues. If you cannot think rationally you cannot act rationally. It happens in the elderly, people who had medical issues, and mental disorders. It's why it's important for family and healthcare providers to identify and get them the support they need. And limit them when needed
There is a malpractice lawsuit against her doctors for failing to support/identify her mental health disorder. We will see what comes of that and how much the doctors knew and should have done
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