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Patricia Lane's avatar

I am the mother of my deceased son , Patrick. He suffered from schizophrenia and Crohn’s disease, both of which contributed to his death at 53 years.

There is such a huge Mental illness component currently as Donald Trump and his MAGA turn our world upside down . My family of origin was well represented in terms of mental Illness. My paternal uncle died by suicide after being put in jail for non payment of child support and died there. My family is also rife w alcoholism .

The current administration is a very mentally ill group of people . The president himself suffers from Narcissistic personality disorder which clearly interferes with his view of reality. He is grandiose and obsessed with self , as are many of his followers.

This administration is flooded with twisted enablers who create more chaos.

Until we get a grip on serious treatment for Mental illness, it’s going to give us a very hard time.

We need Treatment Experts and Insurance Companies who have to cover this treatment .

So far under Trump it’s only worsened and time will tell as to whether we’re allowed to go forward with this issue or attempt to bury it again unsuccessfully .

We need people who know it when they see it and know what to do and where to seek help.

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Eric B's avatar

There is a link to an unlocked version of the NY Mag article about Fetterman in this post on the Bulwark subreddit. You have to scroll down quite a bit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thebulwark/s/YDKR2wnlYs

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GW B's avatar

Technically, the ratio’s getting worse. 2 / 30 dolls = 6.66% , but 2 / 250 pencils = 2%

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Lee podeszeki's avatar

FETTERMAN just like trump flip flop

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Vincent Davis's avatar

You have him take his "To Serve Man" cookbook onto the spaceship he came down on and give him Trump, Musk, Miller, Vance and the rest of the MAGAS over to the Kanamit race he belongs to!

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Jenny Bloom's avatar

As someone who has a history of concussions, brain injuries (which can occur with strokes) have similar symptoms to bipolar disorder. Brain injuries often cause depression, irritability, and personality changes, especially in the early years after injury. Symptoms of brain injuries are alleviated with stemming behaviors, such as bilateral stimulation practices like pacing and staring out into nothing (giving the cognitive brain a break). These behaviors may be misinterpreted as erratic or bad behavior by others.

Suffers of brain injury symptoms such as depression have to reduce stimulation, such as retracting from highly overwhelming sensory experiences like being on active chats, or eating with a bunch of people at lunch. All of these actions, which you folks are suggesting are signs of mental illness, can actually be patterns someone is seeking for self-care. They are behaviors Fetterman may have been told to take by a medical professional so he can rest and recharge.

Unfortunately, this is difficult to describe by sufferers, and external persons may be unaware these are soothing behaviors; such things may even be protected under HIIPA. The Abelism in our country (as evidenced by the article’s concern and your post) regard such self-care behaviors as ‘illness.’ For persons who are neurodiverse or who have suffered brain trauma, these are essential behaviors to keep someone in a highly stressful job going.

We only get one brain. When it sustains injury, the person’s baseline changes. Energy allocation is no longer what it was before (minimal reserves), and any illnesses that may have been manageable before inquiry might not be manageable afterward without drastic changes to handle cognitive, physical, or emotional stress. This may be what is happening with Fetterman.

We need to collectively address mental health in our society and within the public service sector, but taking an Abelist approach isn’t the way. Injured people can still be high functioning if allowed the space for self-care, such as implementing soothing behaviors you and the article are suggesting as odd. These behaviors may be enabling Fetterman to function.

I would suggest you review how modern neuroscience speaks on healing brain injuries, and for how to address mental health in the public service sector and society, I’d suggest the writings of Dr. Bandy X. Lee, who was ahead of the curve in calling out mental health issues arising from DJT in his first term, and has continued to do so (links below).

I’d also encourage you reach out to Dr. Lee and perhaps have an interview. Your intention is good in this post, but you require more education on the issues. And, I completely resonate with your concerns. If someone in public service is not up to the task, they either need additional accommodation or policies need to be put in place to minimize impacts of mental illness within public servants should treatment not be pursued. That is a policy issue, but one we shouldn’t go about in the Abelist-manner of ‘mental health is unable’ - it needs more discussion in society.

Suggested resources: https://bandyxlee.substack.com, https://worldmhc.org, https://www.cusportsmedcenter.com/concussion-orthopedic-sport-medicine-specialist-boulder-co/ and https://www.bch.org/documents/lectures/8-21-24-Concussion-slides.pdf (a good deck on how brain injuries impact people - sports related vs stroke doesn’t matter too much, but the sports folks have a good handle on how to heal the injury best)

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Jenny Reineke's avatar

Still collect them but maybe not play with them

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Jenny Reineke's avatar

She did suck poor interview could not watch

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Kenneth Newman's avatar

I never watch any podcasts for a variety or reasons, chiefly related to my questionable hearing. Sometimes, very brilliant people who have valuable things to say just aren't that good at public speaking. That's why I always appreciate smart people writing well.

When Billary left the Senate to become SoS, there was talk about naming Caroline Kennedy to the Senate. Unfortunately, she did not present well on a major interview broadcast, and NY was left with a significant nothing.

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Ross boylan's avatar

Soz to say but you need to refrain from ya's and mm mm's and inane interjections...it's very distracting.

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Laurie Stricks's avatar

Thank you both for talking about this difficult topic in such a humane and clear way

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Elizabeth Merrick's avatar

Thanks for I formation about bird flu in addition to Fetterman. Scary stuff.

On top of everything else, it’s likely the election was stolen. Musk likely manipulated the vote. Please go to election truth alliance.org. They explain everything. We need an audit of the vote. Please amplify this message.

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Erik Huddleston's avatar

I saw that the space broke the link. Here it is: https://electiontruthalliance.org

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Kenneth Newman's avatar

If you are SERIOUSLY trying to coalesce an anti-tRump movement, how about focusing on REAL issues, such as his disregard--or ignorance of--his presidential oath (to uphold and defend the Constitution). And the fact taht his lackeys haven't got the slightest idea of the legal system.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/05/lawyers-wonder-can-trumps-right-hand-man-on-immigration-read.html

These are realistic approaches that can likely sway independents and those few R's who still have active brain cells.

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Kenneth Newman's avatar

Same as 2020, huh? If he couldn't steal the WS judge election, how in the world could he manage a presidential one?

Try not to sink to the level of tRump paranoia. It's the same as Alcoholics Anonymous: unless you accept the truth that Harris was a poor candidate forced on the party by Biden, you will never be able to move on. tRump undoubtedly inspired his base and some independents with rants about "crooked elections"; all progressives trying the same tactic will do is turn off anyone with a shred of intelligence.

PS your link to "alliance.org" doesn't work! Try citing something that has been around for more than, say, 15 minutes.

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JMac's avatar

Trump Admin is cutting funding for SAMHSA - addiction resources & services.

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JMac's avatar

RFQ,Jr is INSANE!

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Vanessa Marino's avatar

Coughing up blood can be a sign of Tuberculosis. Chest x-ray and blood tests are means of detection.

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Patty Pericak's avatar

Mental illness, no matter where or when first experienced, is so very difficult. I am hoping Sen John Fetterman gets the help he needs. You can do this, Senator!

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Janice's avatar

My husband has a brain injury. His personality didn’t change. However, personality can change with brain injury. Strokes can be brain injury that would cause personality change.

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