tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post2348576116174517688..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: feeding the poorSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-35625263804907421952009-08-29T17:27:48.968+00:002009-08-29T17:27:48.968+00:00Cogi - It is very difficult to resist reading some...Cogi - It is very difficult to resist reading some of these diagnoses as rather expedient. I mean, in Z's case he seems to exist in a complex fantasy world that doesn't relate at all to how things really are. And some of the aspects of his fantasy world are violent - which is quite a worry. All I can think is that when he talks to the psych team he appears very much more normal. <br /><br />Sorry that your daughter had such a rough time. Glad to hear that she's coming out of it now. <br /><br />Liv - The last time we picked up Z he'd been quite badly beaten, and I think he must surely be at risk from violence again. It's surprising that nothing more can be done, but we'll see what happens (hopefully nothing too awful). <br /><br />BTW - VM in A History of Violence - excellent!<br /><br />Manda - Sorry to hear about your brother. I hope he's okay and getting the help he needs.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments! ;) xSpence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-19771825071315831412009-08-29T06:50:43.055+00:002009-08-29T06:50:43.055+00:00Thank you for all you do - even if it feels like l...Thank you for all you do - even if it feels like little. You treated him with respect and dignity. My brother, here in the states, is very much like that sans mohawk. He currently believes he is a state trooper (policeman) swat team member.Mandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14239688345779069575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-13549670266997435322009-08-28T21:11:30.035+00:002009-08-28T21:11:30.035+00:00Poor Zachary. It seems so wrong for him to be out ...Poor Zachary. It seems so wrong for him to be out in the street, not least for his own safety. Some yob somewhere might take offense at what he says and hurt him very badly. Seems people can see this (you can obviously Spence) but the rules dictate this, that and the other and they can't do anything about it. It's a shame.<br /><br />Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. Excuse me whilst I got off into an uncharacteristically girly daydream. :P<br /><br />Liv xxxloveinviennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08061067320547283159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-4875615341467718592009-08-28T21:05:54.792+00:002009-08-28T21:05:54.792+00:00Ah yes...the convenience (for certain psychiatric ...Ah yes...the convenience (for certain psychiatric health workers) of placing an altogether different label on a composite and complex set of problems so as to avoid providing a diagnosis...<br /><br />I well remember that... <br /><br />In our case (one of my daughters) alcohol was repeatedly quoted as the disease rather than just a sympton (attempted self medication)<br /><br />Fortunately she got herself off the booze and is now receiving the help she needs from peer groups and the voluntary sector...cogidubnushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542717738481600745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-56878426925310108122009-08-28T19:06:40.360+00:002009-08-28T19:06:40.360+00:00kmkat - I would guess the only element of truth in...kmkat - I would guess the only element of truth in Z's story is that he has a daughter he's estranged from. I bet she is pretty bright, but perhaps not to the extent Z was describing.<br /><br />cogi - I agree. In fact, when I read your comment I made an effort to do a follow up with the mental health team. <br /><br />I told them that the first time I met Z he'd had access to a sword and been involved in a serious altercation, was in police custody at the hospital and was led away to the cells after being d/c. The second time he was in a pub trying to sell a chess set - which was a shock, as I'd thought he'd been sectioned and out of harms way. I told them that in conversation Z had seemed dangerously delusional - especially with regard to the sword and his secret samurai covenant. (Although I must admit I didn't see the sword myself. That detail came through on the notes, and I can't remember if the police on scene verified that or not). <br /><br />But I was amazed to find out that although Z is certainly known to the mental health team, having presented at A&E on a number of occasions, he'd been fully assessed and not diagnosed with any personality / psychotic disorder. His problems were deemed to be more of the anti-social / eccentric / potentially violent type, and as such were a police matter. <br /><br />So I hereby renounce any claim to be able to second guess what constitutes a psychotic condition. I've met a few psych patients in the 3 years I've been a tech, and I would put Z high up on the list of people to watch. But there you are!<br /><br />Sorry to hear you've had family experience of this. I hope the situation is better now, or at least well controlled.<br /><br />Jo - Although Z scared me the first time we met, this second time (without the blood and without the bitter Pam Penistone angle) he was good value. I loved the fact that he transformed that junky old chess set into a priceless heirloom. <br /><br />I liked LOTR as well. Viggo Mortensen - what a hero. I'm looking forward to seeing District 9, produced by Peter Jackson, I think. <br /><br />Thanks for all your comments!<br /><br />:0) xxSpence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-54319009264560348272009-08-28T03:20:13.513+00:002009-08-28T03:20:13.513+00:00Hey,
I really love the two versions of 'realit...Hey,<br />I really love the two versions of 'reality'.<br />Zachary is certainly a character and a half.<br />And it was Ian Mckellen, not Ian Holm, he played Bilbo Baggins.<br />Oh how I love/loved those stories and the films did them justice.<br />jolulu's missiveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00137536605784710186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-13591671194718710932009-08-27T23:40:53.046+00:002009-08-27T23:40:53.046+00:00I'm sorry...As someone who has had some family...I'm sorry...As someone who has had some family experience of the issues involved, I have huge sympathy for anyone so obviously suffering from mental illness...<br /><br />But how come somebody, so clearly unbalanced, that he took a samurai sword from his flat, with which to attack his neighbour, is still out and about, presumably unattended, on the streets?<br /><br />This is SO wrong on SO many counts... not the least of which it certainly isn't fair on Zachary...<br /><br />...unless that is, you're somehow testing us all, without actually disclosing all the relevant information...<br /><br />Either way, Spence, it ain't right...cogidubnushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542717738481600745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-41416676857500788722009-08-27T20:08:13.434+00:002009-08-27T20:08:13.434+00:00Oh, Zachary, where to begin? Is there a scrap of t...Oh, Zachary, where to begin? Is there a scrap of truth in anything you say?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com