From the very first news report of the unfolding story of Virginia Tech, I knew the question of mental illness would come up. How could it not? How could someone kill so many people in cold blood and not have a severe mental illness? And yet, we are surrounded here with people who struggle every day with mental disorders who are not violent, who do not lash out at the world around them. These questions, this dissonance are keenly felt by members of this community.
- I continue to feel frustrated by the fact that there is so much misunderstanding and outright ignorance of mental illness. Who knows exactly what if any diagnosis Cho had. Still anyone will have to admit that he certainly suffered for a lengthy amount of time with mental illness. Angelayaya
- This is only my opinion. He was not mentally ill. He was unbelievably angry and he didn't know how to deal with it. Sara
As one of the most highly functional bipolar-I people anywhere with no history of suicidal ideation but many major episodes and 2 hospitalizations, this type of event makes me…well, crazy, to be blunt. I have never once uttered a threatening word to another, let alone carried out an act of violence. It took me at least 10 years and more to realize just how stigmatized I became every time I disclosed this basic part of me. Every time some depressed mother kills her kids and herself, or a Columbine-type event occurs, I feel less inclined to be candid about my illness. I have it contained and under such complete wraps right now that no one can tell, but 2 years ago that was not the case. It feels as if, by sensationalizing the whole sordid affair, those of us with similar diagnoses that do not have such rage and, dare I say, personality disorders–defects?–will automatically be viewed as damaged, unpredictable, potentially dangerous and undesirable as friends or romantic partners. I can only guess at how many times I’ve been treated differently because of people learning about my illness. I guess this is why I was strapped to a bed in leather restraints during my second hospitalization, the only involuntary one, even though I was passive and resigned to whatever was to come. I threatened no one verbally or physically then, yet nevertheless was manhandled by a goon squad of no less than 6 people who then strapped me down and told me to “just relax and try to get some sleep.” Now I have PTSD issues regarding all my personal freedoms taken away. Is this procedure a result of what they believe every bipolar patient involuntarily committed (I was manic at the time, but never dangerous) has to expect?
My heart is heavy with this news, for all the victims, their families, their friends…and for all of us psychiatric survivors who have to figure out how to disclose our illnesses to potential friends and mates.
-Brian in Vermont
As a Rapid Cycling Bi Polar with severe PTSD and 30 years of military and police service I can attest to the fact that just because you’re mentally ill doesn’t mean you can’t follow the rules. You don’t shoot prisoners, civilians, old women and/or children. You don’t beat suspects or plant evidence. This person was a victim in his mind, blamed others for his victimhood and was seeking revenge for his victimization. To the best of my knowledge percieving oneself as a victim is not a mental illness. I’m mentally ill but I’m not a victim. Dealing with life is more difficult for me, but it isn’t impossible. Know enough to seek help (and hospitalization if necessary) when things get bad. Apparently dealing with being a victim was impossible for this person because he chose to be a victim. Rather than change his perceptions he killed out of frustration and anger, not necessarily mental illness.
In re of Eric’s comment in post 2:
You’re saying Cho was not a victim of mental illness and then that he CHOSE to BE a victim?? To me, that makes no sense.
Cho was a victim of the system ignoring all the red flags on Cho. I fully believe he was mentally ill and it got to the point to where he couldn’t stand it anymore and unfortuantely seen the general public as his enemy who was hurting him and so he decided to strike back just before he escaped his own mind by completing suiside.
Stormy
I have suffered with Bipolar Disorder since I was a little girl. Diagnosed nearly 20 yrs ago at the age of 25 – I have suffered so greatly at times that I, myself have wanted to die. But NEVER have I been violent toward ANYONE but myself. I had feelings of being a “victim” of many social issues, mental issues and personality disorder issues. After 20 years, I have FINALLY come to some peace within myself. Through all those struggling years, not ONCE – NEVER have I felt like harming another. I do not believe that you have to be “mentally ill” to be a cold blooded killer. And, if Cho was writing such disturbing things, why did the professors not pull him aside and just ASK – “What’s UP?”. What is wrong with our society today that no one wants to step in and offer a simple helping hand to someone else? OK – that is my rant. However, I believe Cho is a cold blooded mass murderer.
virginia,
his professors did send him to get counseling. The head of the English department, I believe it was, requested him to do so, because she couldn’t tell if his writings were real or not and for the nature of them she could not ignore the possibility that they were real. Warrents have been given for information from the school counselors. Also, an aquaintence did call attention to Cho that he seemed suicidal and I think that is what got him in the outpatient hospital, if I remember correctly. There was help, it just was not enough and not soon enough.
From what I’ve read about Cho’s personal life, I do believe he’s suffered. I dont think cold blooded killers would talk about dying like Jesus Christ or “us” making him doing this. They just do it. There is a difference between a psychotic and a psychopath altho both can be called psycho which is confusing. Cho was considered a psychotic by one professional at least, that I know of, because of his delusions.
I believe that Cho was very mentally ill, but that he was also competent and could have stood trial had he lived and been captured. This individual planned and carried out this attack (getting guns multiple times over months following gun control laws).
I feel very sorry for all involved, but I’m also aware that children and adults across the country need to also be aware that most mentally ill people are not going to suddenly pick up guns and commit horrific crimes.
I am not a doctor. I am not a psychologist. I am not a psychiatrist.
I have done much research, however, in the field of mental disorders. Furthermore, I have Bipolar II. In the months to come, I predict that the experts will decide that the VT shooter suffered from……….
SEVERE PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA.
To me, it’s cut and dry- a classic case, with classic symptoms and behavior. In my opinion his actions do not at all fit the profile of someone who has bipolar disorder (I, II, rapid cycling or any other), in neither the manic nor the depressed state. Paranoid schizophrenia is a MUCH better fit. Whoever even MENTIONED that he suffered from bipolar, to me, is an idiot.
I believe part of the problem lies in doctors’ abilities (or willingness) to diagnose some disorders. Today, in comparison, bipolar is a fairly common disorder. Thousands of people each year are diagnosed with it. When someone like Cho Seung-Hui comes into a psych’s office, statistically speaking, the chances of him having full blown paranoid schizophrenia are slim… And it makes it even more difficult to diagnose someone who seems to be as uncommunicative as Hui was. As a result, I think these people sometimes fall through the cracks and leave their doctor’s office with an incorrect diagnosis- often (I would guess) bipolar… a kind of “catch-all” diagnosis, if you will.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my psychiatrist. I love my therapist. They are amazing and I am humbled by their lines work. I just think those in the mental health profession need to be very careful and not rush through patients. Furthermore, society can help allievate this problem by becoming more aware of the signs and symptoms of mental disorders.
In the middle of a downwards, self-destructive spiral (after months of sheer happiness) I ended up sobbing in my doctor’s office, telling her I think I needed to talk to someone. She was the one who, since she recognized the symptoms, sent me to a psychiatrist who specializes in bipolar… I just thank God for my caring and careful doctors. I wish Cho Seung-Hui had had the same.
Just to clarify:
I am not assigning blame to his mental health professionals… or to society… or to his classmates or his professors or even VT campus security *eye roll*.
Regardless of his mental state at the time of the incident, he is clearly GUILTY of pulling the trigger. No one can argue with that. At this point, I firmly believe that assigning a secondary blame, adopting a MacCarthian point of view, and going on witch hunt to find a scapegoat is pointless and will accomplish nothing.
Our main objective should be figuring out what we can do to prevent a future tragedy such as this.
Jen – I wrote my opinion almost immediately after the mass murders. After hearing more info afterwards, I agree he was mentally ill – for a very long time. I do not know what was wrong with him. But – I do agree that the term “Bipolar” that was given to him does not make sense. My heart goes out to the victims, their families and friends – also to the entire community. I can only hope that our psychiatric professional community – All Types (scientists, lab people, researchers, etc) can come up with – someday – a CURE for all mental illness. It’s like a cancer; there is no cure. Sheng-Hui Cho killed himself at the end – ending the torment in his mind for good.
What angers me is that he murdered 33 people and wounded 29 in the course of his mental torment. He
What confuses me is when I look up in wikipedia what it says about paranoid schizophrenia it says it has the presents of hallucinations and delusions, but the absence of thought disorder and affect flattening. On the only clinical record for Cho, it states that his affect was flat and that he does not acknowledge a thought disorder. And that his mood was depressed. I don’t know a lot about schizophrenia, though.
I thought he had some similarities to borderline personality disorder but even that didn’t fit quite right. He did have a suspected abuse because of the plays he wrote. Plus, he named one suspected and one convicted teacher (of sexual offense) in his manifesto. The rejection from the bullying possibly. His rage and anger I thought might be considered. His inability to deal with relationships or friendships. The sense of self or identity questioning with the question mark maybe. This can come with paranoid ideation, too. I think there was more, but I can’t remember. I’ve just recently been looking into this disorder so I’m no expert at this either.
It was sad that his papers said “need hospitalization” and “is a danger to self” and something happened that he was just sent back to school.