Gabby Petito

[fortwildernessishome]

My only angle I suppose was looking at it from a viewpoint of the stress of their trip. It can be a very stressful time for anyone in which case background stuff could interact with that. I think past conversations spoke to vanlife and social media influencer presence. But I've been under the mindset of discussing with both of them in mind not just Gabby.

Even if you remove any aspects of ocd or anxiety a trip like that could still have stressors, as I believe most of us could honestly admit. As it was sorta discussed in the past she was just starting out on this instagram life and I believe it was mentioned he wasn't really all that into it.


They likely would however be brought up if they disclosed they had a mental illness.

That said mental health isn't just mental illness. I don't know about you but I often read about situations in which they bring up relationship stress or general stress someone is undergoing. Financial woes are commonly brought up, trust issues are as well, fertility issues (or sometimes the desire to not have children in the picture), etc. All of that goes into talking about someone's state of mind over time and at the time the incident occurred as well as goes into the events leading up to it. Assumptions can still be made but it's fairly common to talk about it and from the perspective of the parties involved.

Oh I totally get "stress". But stress isnt mental illness. Everyone has stress at different times throughout their lives. But mental illness is mental illness and I have read a lot of people on here proclaiming Gabby's mental illness.

 

[mjkacmom]

You are right, no one should assume either from that one video in Moab.

I think for me, as soon as I heard her say something like, "I guess I am mean" or, "I am mean", that to me screamed abuse victim. Rarely do people announce to anyone that they are "mean" even if they really are! I totally think that Brian killed her and rarely do people kill a partner with absolutely no hint of abuse leading up to it. So basically that is where I am on the abuse part of it. But again, I don't know where the whole mental illness on Gabby's part comes from.

As far as friends not collaborating on the abuse. There have been three instances in my life where I had absolutely no clue that there was any abuse going on behind closed doors. In fact, if someone had asked me about any of those three couples, I would have said, no way was there any abuse and that the couples were madly in love and so happy. What a shock it was when I found out the truth. Aside from that, have alot of their friends of Gabby's come out and said that no abuse ever went on?

Well, if you asked my friends if my husband is abusive they‘d say no too. If we get into an argument, it’s usually my fault, that I got mad, because I get mad quicker than my husband (who really never gets mad). I admit it, and he would agree. I’d hate for folks to think I’m in an abusive situation because I admit to overreacting.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh I totally get "stress". But stress isnt mental illness. Everyone has stress at different times throughout their lives. But mental illness is mental illness and I have read a lot of people on here proclaiming Gabby's mental illness.

Stress is part of mental health and stress can increase risks for mental illnesses and if you have a mental illness can make things worse. Everyone has stress at different times absolutely but how we deal with that stress interacts with our mental health and with mental illness possibilities. They go hand and hand.

As far as people proclaiming her mental illness I'm guessing they are taking her word for it, kinda hard not to right? I mean unless you think she wasn't really meaning she had ocd and anxiety. It could be her self-diagnosis too rather than being diagnosed by professionals.

This is her wording: “Some days, I have really bad OCD, and I was just cleaning and straightening up and I was apologizing to him saying that I’m so mean because sometimes I have OCD and get frustrated." Another quote of her is saying "I have a lot of anxiety."

The abuse part well that's been covered already but I think your comment I picked out was just talking about the mental illness part.

To what degree any mental health issues impacted her and the trip well IDK. I was just thinking these pre-existing things could have made the situation more precarious and their chosen trip probably not the best. Maybe she's misrepresenting her situation (spoken in a neutral way), that I suppose is entirely possible.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think for me, as soon as I heard her say something like, "I guess I am mean" or, "I am mean", that to me screamed abuse victim.

Abuse is a possibility. Although people with mental health issues (taking her words for what they are) can be self-aware of their behavior and yet unable to control it in the moment. She also may not mean mean in the sense you're thinking of. You may be thinking someone is just a unkind person just because they can be and thus less likely to openly admit that. She may mean that when something triggers her it causes her to express herself in a certain way.

Unrelated to mental health and perhaps a poor example but when I get hangry (which I do) I'm aware of how short tempered I am, I'm aware of how I can come off but my body is needing substance (hangry often being caused by low blood sugar). In the moment it's hard to control and tamp down that until I can get food.

There are a lot of ways we can spin what she says to match our own viewpoints. From her just being the abuse victim programmed to say that from her partner's manipulation to her being honest about her situation.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Stress is part of mental health and stress can increase risks for mental illnesses and if you have a mental illness can make things worse. Everyone has stress at different times absolutely but how we deal with that stress interacts with our mental health and with mental illness possibilities. They go hand and hand.

Of course stress is a part of mental health. But as far as I know there is no diagnosed "mental illness" because you have stress.

I spent 6 years working in our state run psychiatric hospital as a job coach. While, I didnt diagnosis or treat my clients for their mental illness, I did have to know what their illness was, how it presented in daily life and how it was treated. So forgive me, but when I hear people throw around claims of "she has a mental illness " etc. like I have read multiple times in this thread, stress although an issue for all of us at times, isnt in itself a diagnosed mental illness. Otherwise, everyone would be mentally ill.
[QUOTE="Mackenzie Click-Mickelson, post: 63435260, member: 565076"

As far as people proclaiming her mental illness I'm guessing they are taking her word for it, kinda hard not to right? I mean unless you think she wasn't really meaning she had ocd and anxiety. It could be her self-diagnosis too rather than being diagnosed by professionals.

This is her wording: “Some days, I have really bad OCD, and I was just cleaning and straightening up and I was apologizing to him saying that I’m so mean because sometimes I have OCD and get frustrated." Another quote of her is saying "I have a lot of anxiety."

[/QUOTE]

Okay, if people in this thread are saying she has mental illness because she said she had ocd and anxiety, I guess that answers my question. I guess on the Dis those two things mean mental illness, but to other folks I am thinking someone wouldnt be so quick to label someone mentally ill because of ocd and anxiety.

Maybe because of my background, when I hear the words "mental illness" like I have on this thread, the last thing I am thinking about is stress, anxiety and ocd, without a definite diagnosis behind it.

Again, I am still curious if anyone has any links where Gabby friends and family stated that she had a "mental illness".

 

[JimMIA]

In all honesty, we are all just guessing about all of this stuff.

• We don't have enough information (and most of us don't have the training) to know whether either Gabby or Brian were mentally ill.
• We don't have enough info or training to know they weren't mentally ill.
• We don't have enough information to know whether either Gabby or Brian (or both) were emotionally abused by their partner.
• We don't have enough information to know they weren't abused.
• We don't have enough information to know whether either Gabby or Brian were physically abused by their partner.
• We don't have enough information to know they weren't.

We are all welcome to our opinions on these questions, but the truth is we don't know. And there is a good possibility (IMHO) that we never will know.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

In all honesty, we are all just guessing about all of this stuff.

• We don't have enough information (and most of us don't have the training) to know whether either Gabby or Brian were mentally ill.
• We don't have enough info or training to know they weren't mentally ill.
• We don't have enough information to know whether either Gabby or Brian (or both) were emotionally abused by their partner.
• We don't have enough information to know they weren't abused.
• We don't have enough information to know whether either Gabby or Brian were physically abused by their partner.
• We don't have enough information to know they weren't.

We are all welcome to our opinions on these questions, but the truth is we don't know. And there is a good possibility (IMHO) that we never will know.

Yes, I get that!! Ha, ha! But, people have straight out stated that Gabby had mental illness. People on here have stated in black and white that , "Gabby has a mental illness". That doesnt stike me as an "opinion", that is written like a fact. Hence, why I asked if there were any links where her friends/family had stated such. Thats why I posted the question below! Hopefully it was okay for me to also join in the discussion and ask some questions.

I'm curious because I have seen SO MANY people post on this thread about Gabby either having or probably having a mental illness. Why is that? Have her parents ever said that she suffered from a mental illness? Why do so many assume that she had a mental illness.

Is it because she said she had OCD to the police officer? Millions of people have a form of OCD and lead perfectly normal lives.

Is it because she was crying and didnt want to be seperated from Brian? I would be crying too, if my boyfriend took my phone and tried to drive off without me! As far as not wanting to be seperated from Brian, thats pretty classic of abuse victims, but not necessarily a mental illness.

If I missed a link that explained that she actualy had a mental illness, maybe someone can post a link of it for me.

Sadly, hundreds of people like Gabby are murdered by their partners every year. However, in those cases, I don't see people continuously bringing up the victims mental health.

 

[DLgal]

Oh I totally get "stress". But stress isnt mental illness. Everyone has stress at different times throughout their lives. But mental illness is mental illness and I have read a lot of people on here proclaiming Gabby's mental illness.

Gabby and Brian both told the Moab police that she suffers from "really bad anxiety" and "isn't taking any medication for it right now."

Anxiety is a legitimate mental disorder, with a very specific criteria for diagnosis. I have it. My husband has it. My son has it. 2/3of us are on medication to control it, which is prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist diagnosed each of us.

OCD is also a mental illness. Gabby said she also has OCD. OCD can be absolutely debilitating, but to get a diagnosis, it has to impact your ability to function normally in day to day life.

This might be helpful:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ocd/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Of course stress is a part of mental health. But as far as I know there is no diagnosed "mental illness" because you have stress.

I spent 6 years working in our state run psychiatric hospital as a job coach. While, I didnt diagnosis or treat my clients for their mental illness, I did have to know what their illness was, how it presented in daily life and how it was treated. So forgive me, but when I hear people throw around claims of "she has a mental illness " etc. like I have read multiple times in this thread, stress although an issue for all of us at times, isnt in itself a diagnosed mental illness. Otherwise, everyone would be mentally ill.

Okay, if people in this thread are saying she has mental illness because she said she had ocd and anxiety, I guess that answers my question. I guess on the Dis those two things mean mental illness, but to other folks I am thinking someone wouldnt be so quick to label someone mentally ill because of ocd and anxiety.

Maybe because of my background, when I hear the words "mental illness" like I have on this thread, the last thing I am thinking about is stress, anxiety and ocd, without a definite diagnosis behind it.

Again, I am still curious if anyone has any links where Gabby friends and family stated that she had a "mental illness".

I didn't say stress was a mental illness I'm not even sure where you're getting that. Please re-read my comment

Normally when someone says they have something we take their word for it. OCD and anxiety are mental illnesses so I'm unsure what you're getting at when it comes to labeling that as a mental illness. The DIS doesn't even come to play here so really confused on that comment. Maybe if you're looking at OCD and anxiety as a stigma you may see something wrong with discussing it but can't help you there.

If your whole issue is semantics on a clinical diagnosis versus a self-diagnosis that's a way different conversation than not calling ocd or anxiety a mental illness. Honestly your issue seems to be this point. I don't think it's fair to talk about your opinion on what you consider mental illness whilst calling out others on their opinions at the same time.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes, I get that!! Ha, ha! But, people have straight out stated that Gabby had mental illness. People on here have stated in black and white that , "Gabby has a mental illness". That doesnt stike me as an "opinion", that is written like a fact. Hence, why I asked if there were any links where her friends/family had stated such. Thats why I posted the question below! Hopefully it was okay for me to also join in the discussion and ask some questions.

First of all, everything here is opinion unless there is a link to some authentic source -- and most of those authentic sources are also just giving their opinions.

Secondly, I've seen people react more emotionally than Gabby acted with the Moab Police from just a simple traffic stop or minor traffic accident with no injuries. People get freaked out by police encounters sometimes -- it comes with the territory. We take the badges, guns, and authority for granted, but not everyone does -- and especially if she thought she'd caused the stop.

 

[JimMIA]

Anxiety is a legitimate mental disorder, with a very specific criteria for diagnosis.

OCD is also a mental illness.

Of course -- but having a legitimate diagnosis by someone qualified to make that diagnosis is not the same thing as telling a police officer you/they have it when stopped by the police.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I didn't say stress was a mental illness I'm not even sure where you're getting that. Please re-read my comment

Normally when someone says they have something we take their word for it. OCD and anxiety are mental illnesses so I'm unsure what you're getting at when it comes to labeling that as a mental illness. The DIS doesn't even come to play here so really confused on that comment. Maybe if you're looking at OCD and anxiety as a stigma you may see something wrong with discussing it but can't help you there.

If your whole issue is semantics on a clinical diagnosis versus a self-diagnosis that's a way different conversation than not calling ocd or anxiety a mental illness. Honestly your issue seems to be this point. I don't think it's fair to talk about your opinion on what you consider mental illness whilst calling out others on their opinions at the same time.

Okay!

 

[DLgal]

Of course -- but having a legitimate diagnosis by someone qualified to make that diagnosis is not the same thing as telling a police officer you/they have it when stopped by the police.

Yes, but there was that part where they muted the conversation right when Gabby and Brian were giving the full answer. It stands to reason they disclosed something deemed medically private. Plus, the whole "I'm/she's not taking any medication for *it* right now", mentioned immediately after the mention of anxiety implies that medication had been prescribed and taken in the past.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Of course -- but having a legitimate diagnosis by someone qualified to make that diagnosis is not the same thing as telling a police officer you/they have it when stopped by the police.

I agree!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Gabby and Brian both told the Moab police that she suffers from "really bad anxiety" and "isn't taking any medication for it right now."

Anxiety is a legitimate mental disorder, with a very specific criteria for diagnosis. I have it. My husband has it. My son has it. 2/3of us are on medication to control it, which is prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist diagnosed each of us.

OCD is also a mental illness. Gabby said she also has OCD. OCD can be absolutely debilitating, but to get a diagnosis, it has to impact your ability to function normally in day to day life.

This might be helpful:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ocd/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Thanks for sharing.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes, but there was that part where they muted the conversation right when Gabby and Brian were giving the full answer. It stands to reason they disclosed something deemed medically private.

I don't know what was muted.

Plus, the whole "I'm/she's not taking any medication for *it* right now", mentioned immediately after the mention of anxiety implies that medication had been prescribed and taken in the past.

I don't know what that implies.

My primary impression of the Moab Police encounter is that it happened two weeks before Gabby was last seen, and may or may not have had any relevance to her eventual tragic death.

 

[Marrila]

Interesting update.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1446647234477633538

 

[TLSnell1981]

Gabby and Brian both told the Moab police that she suffers from "really bad anxiety" and "isn't taking any medication for it right now."

Anxiety is a legitimate mental disorder, with a very specific criteria for diagnosis. I have it. My husband has it. My son has it. 2/3of us are on medication to control it, which is prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist diagnosed each of us.

OCD is also a mental illness. Gabby said she also has OCD. OCD can be absolutely debilitating, but to get a diagnosis, it has to impact your ability to function normally in day to day life.

This might be helpful:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ocd/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder

I can only speak for myself but don't think anyone who commented on Gabby's mental health and/or disorders were being cruel. The saddest thing...many issues can be successfully treated but stigmas surrounding mental health prevents too many from seeking the help they need.

 

[DLgal]

I can only speak for myself but don't think anyone who commented on Gabby's mental health and/or disorders were being cruel. The saddest thing...many issues can be successfully treated but stigmas surrounding mental health prevents too many from seeking the help they need.

I agree. No one should be ashamed of having mental illness. It's not like it's your fault if you develop one. It's no different than any other illness.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

What happened to Dog the Bounty Hunter? Wasn’t he an hour away from capturing BL a week ago? Do we need to send someone down to Florida to find him, too?