tv: Mental Illness portrayed all wrong on Private Pracitce
 

Hi
Last night on Private Practice's season finale a mentally ill patient that we've seen before is off her meds. Even though no one on the show says that the patient has bipolar, the audience knows it is bipolar because the writers drop a few hints.

The problem for me is that it is not really bipolar.
It has one or two things that might be bipolar.

Then the patient does something horrible and very frightening that is not remotely bipolar.

I'm going to send a letter to the producers.

I'm mad. :mad:
If they are going to portray bipolar, they could get most of it right -- try for 75% maybe. :confused:
There are plenty of horrible things about bipolar.

They did not need to completely break from any plane of reality.


M.

I didn't see or hear anything that hinted she was bi-polar, must have missed that. What I did hear and see is that she had Delusional Disorder.

The definition for DD would be right on if this is what they are portraying her to have:

Delusional disorder, previously called paranoid disorder, is a type of serious mental illness called a "psychosis" in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. The main feature of this disorder is the presence of delusions, which are unshakable beliefs in something untrue.

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/delusional-disorder

BTW, I agree about the ending. It made my jaw drop to the ground. But, in the same breath we had a case similar here in Illinois where a woman did what she was about to do. I wont say since some may not have seen the episode.

Wow I am glad I didn't see that, can someone PM me more details about the show and tell me what network it's on? Or better yet link to a episode guide with details on this episode? I'll gladly add my voice to you guys but I need to know what went on or be able to watch it and see this for myself....

The thing with delusional disorder is that some, not all, can have such hallucinations that they can find themselves in a situation where they cannot separate reality from the delusion. It's sad but can happen in rare instances from what I have read on the disorder. I will be interested in hearing what the producers say and will be watching this thread. I too wrote Lie To Me about how they portrayed MS and have yet to hear from them and I wrote twice. :rolleyes:

What these TV producers in LA have got to stop doing,is depicting people with mental health issues as violent. I've heard people on the news,and on talk shows say bad things about people with these challenges. They put everyone with mental health issues in the same boat.

I've only come across one truly violent person in my life who pulled a knife on me,for something that was very small. His brother had to talk him down. Know that young man was phychotic,and dangerous.

I've come across many bullies who are really not serious,compared to phychotic.

Out of all of the thousands of people who I've met,I've only come across that one violent person.

Most people with mental health challenges are not violent,nor do they show sociopathic traits.

I'm getting annoyed at how the media uses their terminology.

We are not in the dark ages.

Mari I back you up in your message to that network. BF:hug::hug::hug:

According to wikipedia: Not insane
 

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Wikipedia has an article about 13 "Fetal Abductions" in the US since 1987

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_a..._United_States

I started checking in real life about whether or not those women were able to successfully plead mental illness in a court of law but I gave up because I started getting creeped out.

M.

Dear Sandy,
Thanks for the link.

I missed the part of the show where they described her as having Delusional Disorder.

That still does not make sense as a diagnosis.


Here is what your We MD link says:


-In the show, Pete says that the patient is off her meds and acting euphoric.
-He tries to warn Violet.
-Then the patient commits a horrific crime that is extremely well planned out and that takes some skill.


The message boards at abc Private Practic are all lit up.

Some people are disturbed not only by the nature of the crime but the way that abc portrayed it.
They said that the plot device and the scene do not belong on a show like that -- which is basically a night time soap opera.



Pam,
I'm sorry that I can't find an episode recap for you.
The abc site will let you watch the show for free.


Dear Friend,
Thank you.
I promise myself that I am going to stop watching television and then I watch it anyway.
I need to find something else to do to relax. -- because this was not relaxing.

M.

your delusional disorder
 

Mari
 

I didn't see the show,but I was generalizing on what I usually see on TV. I've been watching MacGyver on CBS.com. I didn't see them back then,so I'm watching all the episodes that I can. It's very entertaining,and makes you feel good. I'm on Season 3.

Hi BJ. I'm glad that you are better.

SandyC It's always a pleasure to hear from you. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Dear Friend,
MacGyver was a fun show.
A friend of mine loved it and when I was in trouble and needed company I remember going to her house and watching the show with her.
M.

I can’t say that I’m surprised by this television take on the subject, but I’m certainly disappointed that Private Practice portrayed things the way they did. I know the sensational cases bring the better ratings, but if you must be sensational at least be responsible. Even more, don’t trivialize the incredibly difficult struggle of those living with a mood disorder. That's some of what I wrote in my response. :mad:

I wrote on their website and got an automated reply too Mari. But I did find an address and phone number.

ABC, Inc.
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4551

(818) 460-7477

I need the email to send a letter to...I definitely am disgusted by this episode...Definitely not a responsible thing they did, they should NOT have discounted the way the patient behaved IN Session, WHY Violet didn't express more concern for her own well being AFTER that session where the patient basically committed assault by putting her hands on the baby uninvited....that was upsetting enough I would have committed her had it been me...It didn't seem to me that Violet expressed that incident properly to the men in the scene where she was saying she knew what happy looked like...

When I get back from going out with Mom and Jackie today I am writing a letter, I just need the email addy to send it to....:mad: :eek: :p

Here's the link to contact ABC Pam. I don't think anyone actually reads them. That's why I'm going to write and send it by regular mail too.

http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.htm...r&lpos=CONTACT

This is the reply I got from them:

Maybe if enough of us complain they'll take notice. We just have to somehow let them know the disservice they have created for millions of people who are mentally ill. If they are willing to own up to it, just maybe, they can air a correction.

Shows like this help promote the stigma that surrounds mental illness,alienates us, and will most likely deter people from getting help for fear of how they will be treated and what people will think. :mad:

I think I found the snail mail addresses
 

Here are two addresses


Private Practice:
(Shonda Rhimes is the brain behind the show. The actors mention her when they are talking about their story lines)


Shonda Rhimes, Lauren Schmidt, Mark Tinker
Executive Producers, "Private Practice"
ShondaLand
4151 Prospect Ave. 4th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90027-4524




ABC:
ABC network/ABC Family/Lifetime/Disney Channel/A&E/ABC Studios
Robert Iger
CEO of The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

CORPORATE PHONE: (818) 560-1000
CORPORATE FAX: (818)560-2500

M.

Thanks BJ & Mari, this upsets me enough that I will write a physical letter (which are harder to dismiss IMO) AND use that contact form....They really need to know what they aired was not fair to mentally ill people everywhere and is just going to make more stereotyping rather then to further understanding and bridge the gaps between people like we need as a society...

These TV people aren't derogatory toward physically ill people,and they shouldn't be derogatory toward people who have mental health issues either. That is just wrong,wrong,wrong!!!

Programs like that make me feel worse about my illness,thinking what are people out there thinking about me.

It's not helping us to forg an alliance with the general public,insurance companies,medical help that we need,congress,social security,or anyone else out there.

We where not,so to speek,standing in line to get mental health issues,and it wasn't our choice,and it's very hard to deal with.

They should not cause further misunderstanding to the public about mental health problems.

They should cease,and desist from further programing like that now,and in the future. BF:Demonstration:

I watched the season premiere of THE PRACTICE: spoiler alert
 

HI,
The writers completely changed the vibe of the cliff hanger last season.

I.
Tonight's show mostly skipped to Violet and baby being in the hospital.
Her doc friends Naomi and Addison and nurse Dell were working on her and her baby and pulling for them.

In tonight's plot the baby has three surrogate fathers for now:
1. Pete and Sheldon one of whom might be the father of Violet's baby
2. Sheldon who is Violet's best friend
These three men in Violet's life hovered around outside in the hallway and waiting rooms.


II.
BUT the second story was also a big one.
The audience learned that year's ago Pete's wife died in her sleep from an aneurysm.
. . . Also, that he hated his wife.

That totally wierded me out and scared me.

I need to stop watching TV.

Certainly I can find a way to listen to classical music OR something.

M.

What day of the week is the show on?
What time?

I'm sorry that the show/plot upset you.

You can watch it on www.hulu.com :)

I am having trouble getting my stupid computer to show it to me without it resetting but it's OLD and I think the video card is giving out...I didn't like what I saw of it Mari, disturbing as the season finale was. :(

HI,
The show is on Thursday nights at 10:00 on ABC.
I don't know why I watch the medical shows on tv -- too much upsetting stuff.

The crime shows are worse.
The comedies are insipid.
I don't watch ANY reality tv.


Craig Ferguson is good.

M.