This was a catch-all term for various forms of mental illness, often encompassing conditions like mania, melancholia, and dementia.
Mania/Melancholia/Dementia:
These were specific diagnoses used in the 19th century, with the cause often being unknown.
Idiocy/Imbecility:
These terms referred to intellectual disabilities, with "idiot" being used for those with severe intellectual impairment from birth, and "imbecile" for those with less severe intellectual disability.
Hysteria:
This diagnosis was often applied to women and was used to describe a wide range of emotional and behavioral symptoms, sometimes for speaking out of turn or displaying "over action of the mind".
More Specific Diagnoses:
Schizophrenia:In the past, what is now known as schizophrenia was often included under the broader term "dementia," which included delusions and hallucinations.
Bipolar Disorder:While not always clearly defined, some symptoms of what is now known as bipolar disorder would likely have been classified under mania or melancholia.
Major Depressive Disorder: Melancholia was a term used to describe a state of mental depression, and severe cases might be admitted to asylums.
Epilepsy: Some asylums also housed individuals with epilepsy.
Senile Dementia: Older individuals with cognitive decline were also often placed in asylums.
Other Reasons:
Social Factors:In some cases, individuals were admitted for social reasons, such as being deemed "feeble-minded" or for behaviors considered immoral, especially in women.
Overcrowding and Poor Sanitation:Asylums were often overcrowded and unsanitary, leading to poor living conditions and the spread of disease.
Lack of Community Support: In some cases, individuals were admitted because their families or communities could not or would not care for them.
Important Considerations:
Changing Definitions: Many of the terms used in the past to describe mental illness have changed meaning or are no longer used.
Subjectivity and Abuse:Some diagnoses, particularly those related to women, were subjective and easily abused.
Custodial Care:Many asylums were more focused on containing individuals than providing effective treatment.
This is to help come up with what a patient may have. Note: there are different methods to calm patients and to keep them in line. The key for staff is to keep patients from hurting self or others as well as helping them be able to get back into society. Patient deemed unworthy or unfixable shall remain in the institute.
This is to help come up with what a patient may have. Note: there are different methods to calm patients and to keep them in line. The key for staff is to keep patients from hurting self or others as well as helping them be able to get back into society. Patient deemed unworthy or unfixable shall remain in the institute.
Personality Disorders, such as Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
ASPD is characterized by a disregard for others and societal norms, according to MedlinePlus. Aggression is often a manipulative tool or a result of lacking empathy.
BPD involves difficulty regulating emotions, which can lead to impulsive behaviors and aggressive outbursts, particularly in response to feeling abandoned or rejected.
Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs): These disorders are marked by the inability to resist powerful, sometimes harmful urges.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is directly characterized by recurrent outbursts of verbal or physical aggression that are out of proportion to the trigger.
Conduct Disorder (CD), diagnosed in children and adolescents, involves persistent behaviors that violate the rights of others or societal norms, including aggression, property destruction, and deceitfulness.
Psychotic Disorders, such as schizophrenia: While the link is often overblown, some individuals with active psychotic symptoms, particularly persecutory delusions or command hallucinations, may pose an increased risk of violence.
Substance Use Disorders (SUDs): Alcohol and drug abuse can lower inhibitions and impair judgment, significantly increasing the risk of violence, particularly when combined with a co-occurring mental illness.
Bipolar Disorder, especially during manic phases, can involve grandiosity, impulsivity, and increased energy, which may be associated with aggression or violence.
Other Potential Links:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), often seen in children, involves a pattern of angry, irritable mood, defiant behavior, and vindictiveness.
Aggression can be a symptom of conditions like Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, and depression, often stemming from frustration or difficulty with emotional regulation.
Brain injuries, infections, tumors, and certain neurological conditions (like Huntington's or Wilson's disease) can also manifest with irritability or aggression.
Important considerations
Risk Factors: The presence of a mental illness is just one factor among many that can contribute to violence. Others include a history of prior violence, substance abuse, childhood trauma, and socioeconomic factors like poverty and unsafe neighborhoods.
Treatment: Effective treatment for mental illness, including therapy and medication, can significantly reduce the risk of violence.
Stigma: The perceived link between mental illness and violence often reinforces harmful stereotypes and stigma.
Disclaimer: The start of the setup of this blog is going to be in
Lisa’s pov. However, each blog member can add to it.This is my twist of how Matthew, Lisa’s ex disappeared from her
life. This can also be a storyline if taken up. Please note as time goes on
with Lisa’s post on anything there will be darker parts than others. This means
if you don’t think you can handle it please click the,
“X” button. Your mental health is important. However, horror, gore,
and psychological as well as physical twists will be added to the writing on
this character.
It felt like love would never end: Some background
Love
is a funny thing when it blooms after another relationship closes its chapter.
Perhaps Lisa had gotten into a relationship with Matthew quicker than she
should have after her former relationship had closed. However, Lisa just fell
for him and thought that he would be the one that she would be with forever.
Matthew was a sweet young man who seemed to have everything wrapped up in a bow
for a perfect life. Little did Lisa or
Matthew know that there was another watching in the shadows for a perfect moment.
Screams and lost love:
Lisa was getting off a shift for her residency with the psych ward when a chill
went up her spin. She did not know why the chill was going up her spin but
pushed it to the back of her mind thinking it had to deal with the fight that
she had with Matthew hours before for their shifts. Matthew and Lisa was in the
same program together; however, they knew they would go into different paths of
medicine. She wanted to be a nurse particularly for asylums to nurse those
minds who appeared not to be able to be in society. Matthew just wanted to go
into medicine at some local hospital or possibly go into an asylum so he and
Lisa could be close throughout the day.
They
lived together and did what every couple in their down time did even when it
came to fighting. Which had been happening increasingly lately due to Matthew
feeling that there was something that Lisa was hiding. It seemed lately that
they fought more when they were together and it was no different than the night
before when Lisa and Matthew both went on their shifts. In fact, they both
screamed at each other the whole way to the hospital almost to the point of
tears falling down Lisa’s eyes. It was not the fact they didn’t love each
other, but Matthew felt that something or someone would take Lisa away since
Lisa tended to be extremely popular. However, in Lisa’s mind nothing and no one
would be able to take her away since she was committed to him. It would have to
be someone or something taking him away first.
That same chill she had when she got from her residency for the night began to
slowly creep up her spine as she walked down the hallway to the outside where
her car was located. By the time she got to the car, Lisa looked at her phone
to see if she had any message that she missed. There was one from Matthew
waiting for her, “Hey, I’m at the apartment let’s makeup.” The message from him
read and it brought a slight smile to her face as she unlocked the car and
returned the message, “Let’s make up.” She replied in agreement, happy that
they were no longer going to be fighting nor would she be crying anymore. Once
the text was sent, Lisa turned on the car and pulled out of the parking spot
before leaving out of the parking lot.
It did not take her long before reaching the apartment complex which should be
a calming time, yet there was something that seemed to bother her. Lisa did not
know why but there was a gut feeling that began to creep up on her that seemed
to make her feel like something was going to happen within the apartment. After
parking the car and locking it up, Lisa made her way to her apartment door.
Upon reaching it something felt different, the door was unlocked, which was out
of the norm for them. Slowly she pushed open the door then walked into the
room. Flipping on the light quickly, Lisa’s eyes met a scene out of a horror
movie. A scream began to build up Lisa’s throat, but she forced it down as she
walked deeper into the living room. “Matthew?” she said softly with her voice
cracking ever so slightly. “Matthew this isn’t a game.” She said sounding a
little annoyed as she walked into the apartment further making it to the bedroom
that they shared.
She
should have turned back or just lived her life believing that everything was fine.
She could have just turned around like nothing happened, but it was too late as
she made it to the bedroom door. Turning it and then opening it, Lisa stood in
horror as blood was smeared all over the room. The bed and walls covered in
thick crimson blood that she knew could only be Matthew. It appeared to be
almost the full amount of blood that came from his body. Lisa walked over to
the bed and screamed as loud as she could, feeling her heart race, her body
become hot, and fear rising in her. The blonde stunner of a nurse knew that
other nurses were sleeping from their shifts but there was no holding back the
screams. “Matthew.. Matthew”
She kept saying over and over again to a high pitch scream. Her screams were so
loud that she did not notice another nurse who was in her residency come in the
room. “Lisa!” the nurse named Ruth shouted to get her attention. Ruth ran over
to Lisa and acted as if she did not even notice the blood all over the
apartment. “What happened to Matthew?” Lisa asked in a voice that began to crack
and tears flowing down her face. “Oh, didn’t you hear the Angel got him. The
angel gets anyone who upsets him or doesn’t follow the rules. You’ll just have
to live without him. Sucks I know because you two were so cute together, but it
is for the best.” Ruth said with a slightly twisted smile on her face. “Anyways,
you got a job.” She said holding out a red envelope with the name The Claybury
Institute written in bold letters. Lisa looked at the envelope for a moment
then took it gently from her hand. She still was thinking about Matthew, but it
was a job, and something was pulling her towards this institute. “You get to
get out of here and have a job. Lucky. There is nothing you can do about her
man. Might as well make something out of yourself. The police won’t even be
looking into this. The staff here at the apartment will just clean this up like
nothing happened.” Ruth said with the same twisted smile as Lisa opened the
letter and got a jolt of excitement.
Two days later:
Lisa had done her best to clean up the apartment and went through several stages
of grief. She knew nothing about this angel but felt in the ack of her mind
that there was nothing that she could do to find out what happened to Matthew.
After day two had turned into the afternoon, Lisa packed her belongings into a suitcase
which included a picture of her and Matthew. She then picked up the red envelope
and the keys to the apartment with the last month’s rent. She handled the closing
of the apartment, threw her bag into the car, and drove to the new workplace.
After what felt like hours, with fog building the last leg of the trip, Lisa
finally made it to the institute. The institute was known for true horror as
well as caring for those who went behind the walls; looked huge and gloomy.
Lisa parked her car in a parking spot marked for staff, grabbed her luggage,
then walked towards the front of the institute. Right away she could hear
screaming as well as a car driving up quickly with most likely another patient.
Without saying anything, Lisa walked inside to the security desk, fixed her
hair, then smiled, “Lisa Garland. Nurse Lisa Garland. I’m here to start a job
here.” She said pulling out the red envelope and sliding it under the bullet
proof glass. “Oh, you are the new nurse. Let me call the head doctor to show
you in and around. You will need this name tag.” The security guard replied as
if they had been expecting her. Lisa took the name tag which already had her
name and picture on it. “You can sit right over there.” The security guard grunted,
“You’re young and good looking for the head nurse position. “He spoke once more
with a smirk upon his face looking her up and down as he picked up the phone
and dialed. “Hey, Doc., the new head nurse is here. Nurse Lisa. Kind of young
and hot to be a head nurse but figured you would want to show her around. ”
Lisa listened to him as she sat down on the bench and fooled around with the necklace
that she always wore. The necklace that was given to her by someone in her past
was not Matthew, but someone she could never forget. She never took the
necklace off nor would allow Matthew to throw it away. Somethings are not meant
to be thrown away and somethings are meant to be forgotten. Screams filled her
ears from the other side of the large doors which held the gateway between the
outside world and the insanity behind them. “There is not turning back now.” She
told herself looking down at the necklace seemly lost in thought for a moment.
