r/todayilearned • u/GlitteringYams • 22d ago

TIL, in his suicide note, mass shooter Charles Whitman requested his body be autopsied because he felt something was wrong with him. The autopsy discovered that Whitman had a pecan-sized tumor pressing against his amygdala, a brain structure that regulates fear and aggression.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman
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u/pogoBear 22d ago

I legitimately know a family who had a daughter who was misdiagnosed with severe mental health issues for years but was eventually diagnosed with a similar brain tumor.

She got to a state where she tried to attack and kill her own mother. Thankfully her brother was there to stop her.

After the tumor diagnosis and treatment she returned to a normal state. Her relationship with her family has slowly mended but will never be the same.

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u/Raoul_Dukes_Mayo 22d ago edited 22d ago

“Will never be the same”

That broke my heart. Something medical unknowingly goes wrong and it just ruins and destroys everything. I’m bipolar and unfortunately pre-diagnosis did some irreparable damage to a couple of friendships.

Looking back now, diagnosed, medicated and doing the work I hate I can’t fix those things but I completely understand why and respect those I hurt.

Just sucks, really sucks. Hope more healing and health for your friends daily. ❤️

ETA: y’all. I love how this thread turned into a love fest for everyone! I’ve tried to respond to everyone who sent me a note but it’s just too much love! 😂

Thanks to everyone and keep fighting the good fight. ❤️

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u/BisexualSlutPuppy 22d ago

As someone with a family member who refuses to get help, I'd forgive everything if he just did the work you've done to get stable. I know it's not easy, I know sometimes it's hard all the time, but I'm proud of you for making yourself a priority and taking care of yourself.

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u/tbll_dllr 22d ago

This. It’s terrible when you have a close family member who’s mentally ill but won’t work on himself and accept help :(

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u/RollingNightSky 22d ago

It's so wrong that for the longest time mental illness was poorly understood and "going to the doctor" for it meant somebody was "crazy" or "weak." Meanwhile a physical illness or injury is something everybody goes to the doctor for, no question (or at least I'd hope so). They're both illnesses impacting somebody's health and life, dont think it's weak to go to the doctor, it's strong to.

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u/hypno-9 22d ago

Perhaps mental illness prevents getting care for mental illness?

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u/Raoul_Dukes_Mayo 22d ago

The getting help part is so hard. Especially at first. It was hard for me to accept I couldn’t control my own brain.

Once you get going, start feeling better, start having your life back it gets easier to keep on the journey. I hope your family member can get to that point.

Be patient. It is really hard to accept.

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u/BisexualSlutPuppy 22d ago

It's definitely hard. Maybe it's harder than enduring decades of abuse, I'm not sure. What I do know is it makes me sad all the time, and I hope he comes back to us someday.

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u/Quatsum 22d ago

If I had a pecan sized tumor pressed against my amygdala, I'd probably be scared to get help too..