As the end of 2008 is approaching, there have been reviews of amazing psychological breakthroughs and research. Specifically, the study of anti-depressants and its possible deadly side-effects.
On a regular day in February on Northern Illinois University's serene campus, tragedy struck. Stephen Phillip Kazmierczak, a 27 year old student, killed 5 classmates and injured 20 others. Then, with ammunition still left over, he turned the gun and shot himself. Campus shootings just like this seem to be on the rise. With seemingly normal students walking the streets one day then, crazed gunmen running rampant around the school the next day. Police investigators belive that in Kazmierczak's case that an imbalance in his psychiatric mediactions led to his sudden erratic behavior.
But psychologists think otherwise. There have been many cases where patients go on and off their anti-depressant medications and they did not show any signs of murderous thought or activity. However, Kazmierczak's behavior may have been attributed to more than just his medications. Life was tough on him--he joined the army, but was discharged for unspecified reasons, his live-in girlfriend had walked out on him, and was clearly depressed (since he was taking anti-depressants). But with all that factored in, is it enough to make someone crave blood and death?
The media jumped to conclusions assuming that Kazmierczak had a mental disorder, but there are no clear links between mental illnesses and violent behavior. The reason behind his killing--no one knows for sure. It is too late, now to ask and provide help to this obviously distressed student. But, there can be some possible inquiries about his actions. The situations that Kazmierczak faced in the past year must have played a larger role in his life than anyone could have anticipated. The disconnection with an intimate friend can do a lot of damage to one's self-esteem, which in turn could cause one to make rash decisions, like murder. Every individual's defense mechanism is to turn all of one's problems onto someone else--anyone else, to make them feel the pain and hurt that you experienced. Unfortunately, going off his medications must have also fueled the flame, causing Kazmierczak to put his angst and anger into action.
Though it was too late for Kazmierczak and the 5 other students that passed away. Such violence can be stopped, if people would just be more aware of their surrounds--of other people's feelings and needs. This troubling tragedy at Northern Illinois University is more than just a psychological expo or a research op. It's real life and real people.
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8 comments:
I agree with what you are saying. People need to be aware of other people. Those people might need help, and they could've prevent the future actions.
Wow. This reminds me of the Virginia Tech incident. If others were more aware, it could of been prevented. Nice blog though.
good blog. i agree with your opinions on this catastrophe. you explained the incidents very well!
Great article and insight! :)
I think that some people are just already affected with their emotions and anger, and it is quite impossible to change them. Things like this, and worse, happens a lot and we just don't understand it fully because we do not know how they think.
I think you are right that we should take more into account what everyone around us are feeling. It's just sad hearing stuff like that shooting. Good Job!.
Very Nice blog. I do agree with you that people should take into account the feelings of others around them. Sometimes the one who is suffering just needs a shoulder to lean on. People should try their best and prevent incidents like this one in the future.
man. this is so detailed and thorough. typical melissa. good information. we defintely need to be more sensitive to those around us.
Wow, that was really sad. Sometimes you never know what going on with other people.
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