What do you do when you confront a mentally disturbed person?

ugh that is scary!! i just do the same in ignoring and then trying to escape as soon as possible.. but i havent had to deal with this much thank gods..

Dpk,

It's not an easy situation to deal with mentally retarded or disturbed people and the first experience can be quite difficult. A few years ago i had a project site next to a home which took care of people like this. My exposure and introduction to them was a slow process through one of the caretakers. It needs understanding and compassion.They are after all human beings and long for comapany and to express themselves. Some of them do notshow inhibitions and express their emotions very easliy.
In the specific instance that you have mentioned, i would have sat there and tried to be as nice and understanding to the person. I would try to find out who her companion was. In the event she was alone, then i would atleast inform the authorities at the station to ensure that she was properly taken care off, in order that she did not hurt herself.

Hi deepak
not a good situation to be in
well in worst case i might be leaving the seat and feel better standing at some calm place with peace of mind

Wish u all the best

Hi dpk,

I have encountered these types of situations, at various times in my life. This used to happen when I worked in the city, and took public transit each day, although it didn't occur on a regular basis. Some of the people would speak to me, saying hi etc., or repeating themselves. 'Most' of them are just looking for acceptance, and want to be able to be treated with care and respect, as everyone should be. I'd say hi back, and make 'smalltalk' with them. For me, it's the right thing to do. They were all fine with me, except for one scary incident I had, but somebody came to my rescue that time. Usually though, there's nothing to worry about, as these people are okay to talk with. Take care.

Hi Deepak,
If I was at your place,the very first thing that I would have done is to leave the place and stand somewhere far from her, even if there was no other place to sit. This lady was mentally disturbed, but some people deliberately act funny and don't let you live in peace. For all such kind of people my solution is silence and ignorance. I behave as if I have not seen them, I cannot hear them and they don't exist for me. Ignoring such people is simple and best solution.

I talk to anyone dpk, so this would not have scared me dear friend.
Although danger is upon us from minute to minute, and even the sanest person can be more dangerous than the 'disturbed', people fail to realise this and are afraid of someone who is bizarre in gestures and appearance. I can understand you dear friend, for normally, one does not know what to do or how to behave with someone so different. I find just talking to anyone as best you can, and acknowledging a person in some way, makes them feel more at ease and they are usually then no threat to you. At least that is in my experience. Not everyone can relate however. Good Luck in your life, dpk.

Deepak, I would have run for dear life …believe me! If not for yourself, think of bhabi at least…what if she had attacked you with something or you know mentally disturbed people are more strong than normal people and its quite difficult to release yourself from their grasp.

I think I would have been very scared as well in similar situation. I try to avoid people with mental balance problem when they suddenly start communicating. i can understand how much scared you had been.Its really bad

It's a tough situation I would say. I remember the friend of my father who was a teacher for special students. She was punched and hit by one of her students in class because the student can't answer the question she was asking. That's horrible. In my case, I really have to guide them and not annoy them in any way.

Hi deepak! I imagine your fear and worry at the same time. I have experienced similar situation when I was in church. I always see this woman who is neat and properly dressed and sits in the same seat infront of the altar of the church. She goes to church everyday and I see her regularly attending the mass. One day, a new churchgoer came to attend the mass and sat on her seat. Then, here she comes and she stared at the old lady for a moment and looked around. I was praying so hard that she won't sit beside me because I really would not know how to react just in case she started doing some weird things. But then she sat beside me and I was silently praying that she will behave somehow. She kept staring at me and I was really finding it so hard to concentrate but then all the more I prayed for her and for me that we will both be able to finish the mass without she making any scene. Then she started talking and I just nod at her and I put my fingers on my lips motioning to her to be quiet and pointing to the priest. I felt so relieved when she nodded and then she knelt all throughout the remaining time. I was so thankful that there was no untoward scene that I might not be able to manage. I was so calm on the outside but I was so scared within. Another incident was when I was still in my high school. There was this student in our school who had a nervous breakdown but was being allowed to go to school, I guess it was upon the advice of their doctor. She goes to school but we were prepared by out teachers that we have to be patient and kind to her so that we will be able to help her in her treatment and well being. Once when we were in the canteen, she approached our group and she singled me out. She started talking to me and I can't understand what she was trying to tell me and then she was laughing at me. the next thing I knew, she was trying to put food in my mouth. She was trying to feed me and I told her that I am already full and I just finished my snacks. I was really getting scared but I can't get away from her because it might agitate her. Fortunately, one of the nuns saw us and she came to get her in a very nice way. I was glad and the nun thank me and my friends for not being rude and agitating her. But just the same, I was really freaking out in the inside and was relieved that she didn't hurt me because I was refusing to have another bite of the food she was feeding me.
In all those time, I was just praying not only for me but for them too because it is really sad to see them that way and I was wondering what kind of hurt and pain which made them that way.
Take care always..God Bless!