sm
member
I received word that a situation that occurred last week is turning out okay. Though not the usual situation one plans for as far as Strategies & Tactics are concerned it is something that is NOT reserved for the LEO or Professional Community.
Schizophrenia.
I am going to change some names to preserve patient confidentiality and anonymity.
Years ago like most folks I took Psychology in College. I again took Psychology as part of some Medical Classes, this time more in depth and included doing some clinical studies with patients in a facility.
Last week a classmate needed to take her vehicle in for service, so I picked her up and took her to College, naturally I was going to take her back to pick up her vehicle. After classes and exams we were starved, so BBQ sounded good. Some big trucks were parked in the front and along one side, so I parked out of the way off to the other side and more toward the back. Not my preference, but that is the way it works sometimes.
So we finish and the crowd has left and we start out, I scan the parking lot and notice my tailgate is down, something – somebody is lying in bed of my truck, curled up in the fetal position.
I don’t have a cell phone, and Betty left hers in her coat, which is locked in my toolbox along with our backpacks. I am carrying concealed. I stopped about ten steps from the driver’s side “excuse me – can I help you?†Nothing. I scan the parking lot , I squat down to look under my vehicle, there are no other vehicles around- we are isolated.
“Betty, see that piece of broken pallet, get the slat and then go to front of my truck and bounce my truck bumper a few times, if anything happens, run like hell back to the Restaurant and get helpâ€. Betty can tell from my tone I am quite concerned for her, and I am being really cautious.
The person wakes up – actually a girl of 23, attractive, not weathered so I am thinking not a druggie or homeless. My gut instinct told me to a) be careful, b) be very gentle, and c) this girl needs help. I make Betty stay behind and to one side, I want a witness, for whatever may play out.
That morning was cold , with a light frost- it has warmed up with the sunshine, hence the reason our coats were put away.
“Voices in my head said to sleep in the sun†– said Mary. “Do you hear the voices mister? [Click goes my brain – I know what is going on]
I reply “Mary I know the voices are real to you – I am sorry but I don’t hear them myselfâ€. I then notice a cuff bracelet. “Mary is there anyone that can help you understand the voices?†She looks at the cuff bracelet , the she pulls a chain out from under her shirt – it is a Medical Alert.
Mary tells me “I have a cell phone see? ( she pulls one out of her coat pocket)
“Mary that is a pretty cell phone, is there a phone number on the bracelet or on that pretty necklace?â€. Mary informs me she is wearing a Medical Alert, she is sick because of something in her brain won’t work right all the time. I suggest she call one of the numbers. She dials a number and obviously gets a family member, “ hold on†she tells the other person “where am I†, I tell her, she tells the other family member.
While we wait the 10 minutes Betty comes closer, she has stayed her distance, for one she was in awe of seeing someone with schizophrenia, and two I would not allow her closer. I suggest she go to the restaurant and wait, but do NOT turn around, walk backwards, I didn’t want to explain, and Betty didn’t ask and just did so. “Where is that lady going? Mary asked, I just said she needed to find a restroom.
Mary’s older brother came and Mary hopped out of my truck bed. Mark, wanted to say thanks and all, I suggest he head to the hospital – not waste time.
Follow Up:
I spoke with Mary’s Doctor, she is fine. She became upset because she dropped her meds all over the bedroom floor, she was sleeping in another bedroom while hers was being painted and became scared, disoriented and for whatever reason the Voices told her to sweep them up and toss in the toilet. Off her meds, didn’t want to tell anyone. Doctor suspects the Voices told her she would get yelled at for wasting money – a situation the Parents have thrown at her before, and one the Doctor has to constantly council the parents about. Schizophrenia wears down a family.
Doctor asked why I did what I did. I just told him my gut instinct told me Mary did not need a squad car rolling up to scare her. My gut told me she needed a familiar face – family- to come get her. She needed her “safe zone†of family and Doctors.
I mean I would have, not saying LEO is not better trained , I just had to trust my gut and try my method first. I was lucky- this time.
One of the patients I received permission to visit with back when doing clinicals and such had multiple Voices, I sat there ( with security, doctors and staff behind one way glass ) and observed 3different personality changes in a 20 min interview. We sat angled facing each other in chairs bolted to the floor in a secure area. I did not “meet†the 4th personality – that one killed his landlord.
Mary is going to say under observation for bit longer, get the meds regulated and all, Doctor asked if I wanted to come visit and say hello “ that nice man found my brotherâ. Mary keeps telling the Doctor.
I don’t know, I don’t have the gift that Okie and others do, that is why I changed directions in College.
Schizophrenia.
I am going to change some names to preserve patient confidentiality and anonymity.
Years ago like most folks I took Psychology in College. I again took Psychology as part of some Medical Classes, this time more in depth and included doing some clinical studies with patients in a facility.
Last week a classmate needed to take her vehicle in for service, so I picked her up and took her to College, naturally I was going to take her back to pick up her vehicle. After classes and exams we were starved, so BBQ sounded good. Some big trucks were parked in the front and along one side, so I parked out of the way off to the other side and more toward the back. Not my preference, but that is the way it works sometimes.
So we finish and the crowd has left and we start out, I scan the parking lot and notice my tailgate is down, something – somebody is lying in bed of my truck, curled up in the fetal position.
I don’t have a cell phone, and Betty left hers in her coat, which is locked in my toolbox along with our backpacks. I am carrying concealed. I stopped about ten steps from the driver’s side “excuse me – can I help you?†Nothing. I scan the parking lot , I squat down to look under my vehicle, there are no other vehicles around- we are isolated.
“Betty, see that piece of broken pallet, get the slat and then go to front of my truck and bounce my truck bumper a few times, if anything happens, run like hell back to the Restaurant and get helpâ€. Betty can tell from my tone I am quite concerned for her, and I am being really cautious.
The person wakes up – actually a girl of 23, attractive, not weathered so I am thinking not a druggie or homeless. My gut instinct told me to a) be careful, b) be very gentle, and c) this girl needs help. I make Betty stay behind and to one side, I want a witness, for whatever may play out.
That morning was cold , with a light frost- it has warmed up with the sunshine, hence the reason our coats were put away.
“Voices in my head said to sleep in the sun†– said Mary. “Do you hear the voices mister? [Click goes my brain – I know what is going on]
I reply “Mary I know the voices are real to you – I am sorry but I don’t hear them myselfâ€. I then notice a cuff bracelet. “Mary is there anyone that can help you understand the voices?†She looks at the cuff bracelet , the she pulls a chain out from under her shirt – it is a Medical Alert.
Mary tells me “I have a cell phone see? ( she pulls one out of her coat pocket)
“Mary that is a pretty cell phone, is there a phone number on the bracelet or on that pretty necklace?â€. Mary informs me she is wearing a Medical Alert, she is sick because of something in her brain won’t work right all the time. I suggest she call one of the numbers. She dials a number and obviously gets a family member, “ hold on†she tells the other person “where am I†, I tell her, she tells the other family member.
While we wait the 10 minutes Betty comes closer, she has stayed her distance, for one she was in awe of seeing someone with schizophrenia, and two I would not allow her closer. I suggest she go to the restaurant and wait, but do NOT turn around, walk backwards, I didn’t want to explain, and Betty didn’t ask and just did so. “Where is that lady going? Mary asked, I just said she needed to find a restroom.
Mary’s older brother came and Mary hopped out of my truck bed. Mark, wanted to say thanks and all, I suggest he head to the hospital – not waste time.
Follow Up:
I spoke with Mary’s Doctor, she is fine. She became upset because she dropped her meds all over the bedroom floor, she was sleeping in another bedroom while hers was being painted and became scared, disoriented and for whatever reason the Voices told her to sweep them up and toss in the toilet. Off her meds, didn’t want to tell anyone. Doctor suspects the Voices told her she would get yelled at for wasting money – a situation the Parents have thrown at her before, and one the Doctor has to constantly council the parents about. Schizophrenia wears down a family.
Doctor asked why I did what I did. I just told him my gut instinct told me Mary did not need a squad car rolling up to scare her. My gut told me she needed a familiar face – family- to come get her. She needed her “safe zone†of family and Doctors.
I mean I would have, not saying LEO is not better trained , I just had to trust my gut and try my method first. I was lucky- this time.
One of the patients I received permission to visit with back when doing clinicals and such had multiple Voices, I sat there ( with security, doctors and staff behind one way glass ) and observed 3different personality changes in a 20 min interview. We sat angled facing each other in chairs bolted to the floor in a secure area. I did not “meet†the 4th personality – that one killed his landlord.
Mary is going to say under observation for bit longer, get the meds regulated and all, Doctor asked if I wanted to come visit and say hello “ that nice man found my brotherâ. Mary keeps telling the Doctor.
I don’t know, I don’t have the gift that Okie and others do, that is why I changed directions in College.
