My mom and I decided to try and get copies of the medical records for my great great aunt and great great grandmother. They died at SW Mental Institute in Marion, VA. Yesterday I recieved a packet of information--the social services notes for my great great aunt. Turned out she was diagnosed with "manic depressive disorder with psychosis, manic type". My mom had been told by her grandmother that her great aunt had entered the hospital because she quite speaking after her father refused to let her marry. In reality, the woman was psychotic and having hallucinations, hearing voices, etc. The notes talk about her wearing a string around her head to keep it from falling off, thinking she owned the hospital, refusing to wear shoes because they "choked her" and saying that the radiators and commodes would take the brains of people who got near them. She was also violent. The note says that in 1941 the doctor wanted her diagnosis changed to what is now known as schizophrania but it never happened.

The information provided about my great great grandmother pretty much just said that when she was admitted for the third time she was diagnosed with "brain syndrome" and that her physical exam showed that she had a vitamin B deficiency, was malnourished and had chronic alcoholism. She had three admissions--one in 1905, one in 1909 and one in 1938. My mom said her grandmother said they never saw their mother again after she was admitted in 1909 so we have no idea where she was between 1909 and 1938. We've requested her complete records so we can see what diagnosis was given in 1905 and 1909.

While we were talking about this, my Mom let some stuff about my sister slip that truly caused a WTH moment. We're talking and my mom brings up my diagnosis and asks if I ever hear voices. I told her that sometimes I hear what sounds like someone whispering but I can't understand what is being said. Other times I hear a lot of people whispering or hear people arguing in what sounds like the next room. She goes, "That's what your sister hears! She heard voices all the time before she went on the anti-depressant and saw people who weren't there. She'll say she's been on a trip and totally believe it even though she's been home all week. It makes us worry about what kind of shape she'll end up in if she ever goes off her medicine."

And they have been refusing to take her to a psychatrist? WTH?! I'm like, "You know those are signs that there she's really mentally ill, right?" My mom goes, "No, she's not! Everybody does that at times!"

I've decided my mother may very well be the most out of touch person I've ever met! That or she's experiencing the same things and truly believes it's normal.