Trauma Consultant Alan Pike testifies as to Kate's mental health after release of Amaral book.

[icabodcrane]

Some information on PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist incident, sudden death of a loved one, war, violent personal assault such as rape, or other life-threatening events.

Most people who experience such events recover from them, but people with PTSD continue to be severely depressed and anxious for months or even years following the event.


 The fact that Maddie may have met a violent death would sadly have triggered this.

Kate McCann's mental anguish at the loss of her child  was not relevant to the case being tried  ...  and it was not what Alan Pike was being asked to offer an opinion on

The McCann's lawyer,  Isobel Duarte,  made that very clear  when she told Mr Pike,  before her questioning began,  that the issue was the effect of the Amaral book and the documentary on the McCann family

Therefore,  when Alan Pike said that Kate talked of killing herself as an option he was referring to her reaction to Amaral's book,  and not to her  reaction to losing her child   ...   indeed,  Mr Pike was of the opinion that the McCanns were in  'recuperation mode'  prior to Amaral's book

Kate's suicidal thoughts, then,   (  according to Mr Pike  )  were a direct result of Amaral's book  (  which he described as a  'bombshell'  ) 

He certainly made no mention of Kate's suicidal thoughts being associated with post traumatic stress disorder  ....   indeed,  if he  had  suggested that Kate was suffering from a pre-existing mental illness  prior  to the publication of Amaral's book,    then it would not have been helpful at all  with regard to the claims  the McCanns are currently making in court 

[Cariad]

True Depression.
Me too, I have been there.   I am also a qualified Counsellor
and I lost my child.  So I have personal experience of all three things you mention.

True depression, and I am not talking about "the blues",  is normally caused by NOT one problem, but by a multitude of problems.   It is injustice and ongoing unjustified criticism  that is often  the final straw that brings true depression about.



When my son died, I temporarily lost parts of my memory and generally functioned very badly.   Strangely I did not cry, strangely I changed my sleeping position drastically .... and felt dreadful, but I wasn't depressed in the true sense.   I have been trully depressed since, due to completely different multiple problems

Despite some mistakes on my behalf, when my boy died everyone supported me and my hubby.    I never felt suicidal, I never felt as tho the whole world was against me; I never felt as tho there was no light at the end of the tunnel.  I knew that my son,  a wonderful part of me had gone ... and would never return ... and I was sad for me and mine, but most especially for my son, who would never grow up and enjoy the wonders of the World.

I would add that I was glad that my son was out of all his pain, which was horrendous.  He died like some child you see on "Save the Children" advertisements.    Emaciated with that look in his eyes and the little hand stretched out ... but Thank God, no flies and at home in his own bed with loved ones around him.


Now Kate
-  Kate had the shock of finding Madeleine missing ....gone

-  The realisation that Madeleine was taken, quite probably for unsavoury and painful abuse

-  The slowly dawning realisation that the Police Force that she had trusted were NOT looking for Madeleine  Frightening and soul destroying

-   The shock of being made an Arguido - a suspect  Awww

-   The shock of being given a kind of Ultimatum: confess to a crime she hadn't done and spend 2 years in jail ... or spend a long period in jail.  For something she knew that she had NOT done !  A terrible Injustice ... and not only jail, but the fact that she would be seperated from the family she loves .... and the twins / people in general, would always wonder if she had killed their sister.  What a HUGE INJUSTICE had she been jailed.

-  The shock of finding out that a, whipped up, vocal group of people were creating myths about her and Gerry.  Terrible myths, that amounted to lies, designed to destruct them and their remaining family, untrue tho they were, ...  but believed by some.    Terrible myths, spread virally, and destroying their very characters   Character decimation, undermining them ... so painful .... such injustice

-  These myths were magnified with videos etc and put out as video propaganda.   There for eternity.   Another huge injustice

-  The shock of finding that an Investigation group they employed were led by a criminal, who had taken money with little in return.  Also valuable early search time gone  Hope destroyed.

-  The shock and upset of having their home targetted.  Gerrys job targetted.   Being watched all the time with constant criticism of their every move.   Even their charity work undermined and criticized !!   Constant negative criticism, so soul destroying

-  The shock of having their efforts to find Madeleine destroyed by ignorant ridicule, by Red Herrings, by nasty evil people tearing down posters ... and destroying their carefully planned search efforts and wasting the funds money.  Everything they did destroyed. . Hope reduced to nothing by thoughtless and sometimes downright cruel ignoramouses 


-  The FINAL STRAW ... The shock of having a book written about her and Gerry implicating them in Madeleines disappearance.  A book that would stand in black and white for eternity ... for their children to read .... to perhaps destroy their trust in Mum and Dad .... to maybe cause mental illnesses later.      ...................  And written by the lead Detective, Goncalo Amaral, so it had the ring of authenticity ... to make money.   Another vast on-going Injustice.  So worrying


Loads more.   All this negativity on top of bereavement, character assassination, undermining, propaganda,  injustices, people putting the boot in, hope diminishing, etc etc.   Quite probably, like me, Kate would have recovered from her depression, without suicidal thoughts, had it not been for all the negative things mentioned above.... but Amarals book would have been the major upset.
No matter that he had no forensic or other evidence, it had the ring of authority being written by the lead detective ... and it was there for perpetuity




That  permanent smear, Amarals book, should have been called THE FINAL STRAW imo

This is a very difficult post to address. I initially decided to ignore it, however, after reading a couple more of your posts, I've decided it should be tackled.

Firstly, I am truly sorry for you loss. I have two children. They are my world and just the thought of being without them is soul destroying. I genuinely feel for your pain.


But...

The rest of your post is not based in any kind of fact. It is your opinion, yet you have presented it as true. You have a habit of doing this.

I object to you posting opinion as fact.

[Mr Gray]

Kate McCann's mental anguish at the loss of her child  was not relevant to the case being tried  ...  and it was not what Alan Pike was being asked to offer an opinion on

The McCann's lawyer,  Isobel Duarte,  made that very clear  when she told Mr Pike,  before her questioning began,  that the issue was the effect of the Amaral book and the documentary on the McCann family

Therefore,  when Alan Pike said that Kate talked of killing herself as an option he was referring to her reaction to Amaral's book,  and not to her  reaction to losing her child   ...   indeed,  Mr Pike was of the opinion that the McCanns were in  'recuperation mode'  prior to Amaral's book

Kate's suicidal thoughts, then,   (  according to Mr Pike  )  were a direct result of Amaral's book  (  which he described as a  'bombshell'  ) 

He certainly made no mention of Kate's suicidal thoughts being associated with post traumatic stress disorder  ....   indeed,  if he  had  suggested that Kate was suffering from a pre-existing mental illness  prior  to the publication of Amaral's book,    then it would not have been helpful at all  with regard to the claims  the McCanns are currently making in court

you are quite entitled to believe what you want.

[Mr Gray]

This is a very difficult post to address. I initially decided to ignore it, however, after reading a couple more of your posts, I've decided it should be tackled.

Firstly, I am truly sorry for you loss. I have two children. They are my world and just the thought of being without them is soul destroying. I genuinely feel for your pain.


But...

The rest of your post is not based in any kind of fact. It is your opinion, yet you have presented it as true. You have a habit of doing this.

I object to you posting opinion as fact.

I am astonished at your response

 I think it would have better if you had "ignored" it...a rather strange word to use for such a sad post. I find your criticism extremely harsh and again it typifies to me the mentality of those who unfairly criticise the McCanns.
 I would advise posters not to post personal details of their lives because they will not get the sympathy those feelings would warrant in the real world..just nastiness...all my opinion of course

[Wonderfulspam]

I am astonished at your response

 I think it would have better if you had "ignored" it...a rather strange word to use for such a sad post. I find your criticism extremely harsh and again it typifies to me the mentality of those who unfairly criticise the McCanns.
 I would advise posters not to post personal details of their lives because they will not get the sympathy those feelings would warrant in the real world..just nastiness...all my opinion of course

Cariads point was objecting to sadie stating her opinion as fact & how she has a habit of doing so.
Not a criticism of her personal life experiences.



.

[Redblossom]

I feel real sympathy for Sadie's loss.

I chose to address the opinions she shared as fact in that post. I could have 'ignored' it all, offered my sympathies and ignored the body of text associated with it, or be true to myself and offer condolences while also objecting to the misrepresentation of opinion as fact.

Sadie is an adult who I believe to be capable of discerning the difference between a criticism of  a forum post and a criticism of herself.

Well said and


Dont give in to the rampant guilt tripping!

Since when did discussion of a cold case and voicing opinions turn into abhorent personal attacks on the people who discuss it? And rabidly denouncing anyone who asks questions or has doubts....its desperate and laughable at best


Eta IMO the libel trial is based firmly and majorly on the very same stuff...guilt tripping...

[jassi]

Well said and


Dont give in to the rampant guilt tripping!

Since when did discussion of a cold case and voicing opinions turn into abhorent personal attacks on the people who discuss it? And rabidly denouncing anyone who asks questions or has doubts....its desperate and laughable at best

Just one of the features of this case - arouse passions and furies like no other.

[Redblossom]

Just one of the features of this case - arouse passions and furies like no other.

oh yes.....but who is the architect/s?


 >@@(*&)

Eta
Or what..

[jassi]

oh yes.....but who is the architect/s?


 >@@(*&)

If we knew that, the case might be close to solving.

Despite what people might say to the contrary, there is an orchestrated effort to silence anti-McCann opinion.

[Wonderfulspam]

If we knew that, the case might be close to solving.

Despite what people might say to the contrary, there is an orchestrated effort to silence anti-McCann opinion.

And disinform.

[Redblossom]

If we knew that, the case might be close to solving.

Despite what people might say to the contrary, there is an orchestrated effort to silence anti-McCann opinion.

Yes, an extraordinary amount of effort

None of its worked much either

[jassi]

And disinform.

Under the guise of FACT

[stephen25000]

Davel might be.

I am not, but have studied psychology twice at a limited level ... and have a sensitivity to the human race that I fail to find in you and your posts.  If I am wrong on that score, I apologise.


Stephen, you are picking flies for the sake of it.


FGS.  What is wrong with ..?

'Now Kate
-  Kate had the shock of finding Madeleine missing ....gone

-  The realisation that Madeleine was taken, quite probably for unsavoury and painful abuse'

It is the accepted thought of all the authorities, bar Amaral and Co.  Let me remind you, Amaral made mega bucks out of his book. 
I know that you claim to think otherwise, but what I have said echoes what SY and knowledgeable people are saying.  People who know far more than you, or me

Just be a sweetie and give it a rest, will you.  The stuck needle is becoming a bore

The mccann supporter mantra.

Attack the poster personally.

Your lack of logic in defense of these two  parents never ceases to amaze me and other posters.

Yes sadie, it isn't just me who can't comprehend your and your fellow supporters behaviour.

[jassi]

Davel might be.

I am not, but have studied psychology twice at a limited level ... and have a sensitivity to the human race that I fail to find in you and your posts.  If I am wrong on that score, I apologise.


Stephen, you are picking flies for the sake of it.


FGS.  What is wrong with ..?

'Now Kate
-  Kate had the shock of finding Madeleine missing ....gone

-  The realisation that Madeleine was taken, quite probably for unsavoury and painful abuse'

It is the accepted thought of all the authorities, bar Amaral and Co. Let me remind you, Amaral made mega bucks out of his book. 
I know that you claim to think otherwise, but what I have said echoes what SY and knowledgeable people are saying.  People who know far more than you, or me

Just be a sweetie and give it a rest, will you.  The stuck needle is becoming a bore

Why should that matter to you?

[stephen25000]

Sadie.

You talk about 'compassion', but what you really mean is to ignore what the mccanns did, and give them unconditional support.

Yet you and your ilk mercilessly  criticize Amaral, who merely tried to do his job.

Also, of course km, was prepared to 'forgive' an abductor, for whom no proof exists, but her hatred of Amaral clearly knows no bounds.

Then of course she and her 'husband' ,claim to be devout Catholics.

You couldn't make this up.