I've been a long time fan of criminal minds but I am upset by tonights episode.
Maybe I'm too sensitive but the fact that they were looking for their delusional conspiracy theory nutso killer in fibromyalgia, chronic lyme, chronic fatigue and morgellons groups along with their depiction of members of a morgellon group really angered me.
Wouldn't it be nice if a person with morgellons could be cured with a 5 minute conversation with an fbi agent?? Totally insulting.
That said, I just looked at Wikipedia and this is what is said in the first paragraph about morgellons "a condition whose sufferers have the delusional belief that they are infested with disease-causing agents described as things like insects, parasites, hairs or fibers; but in reality no such things are present.[1]"
I don't have morgellons but I am very angered by how the illness is dismissed as if it is all in the head.
Sounds terrible but I wish ppl who believe this could have a little taste of what it's like to be sick with one of these illnesses for a day.
Terry
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I don't have access to network TV anymore but did used to watch this program when that was affordable. I learned some things from them, at least to open my mind to a range of possible reasons for so much.
Sad to hear of their not even doing their research for this, though.
I've seen Wiki's site and recall having read that the medical world has shut the door and thrown away the key on this one. They are so very wrong in their conclusions.
Posted the day before the show aired, they had not seen it yet:
CBS’ Criminal Minds takes aim at skin disease with Morgellons in the Mix
Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation Concerned, “Will Truth Prevail?”
Excerpts:
. . . “I had hoped that the creators of this episode, including producer, Breen Frazier, and writer, Larry Teng would be able to gain enough insight into the issues to produce an Emmy winning episode not just for ratings, but for the international community of Morgellons sufferers,” said Simmons.
However, with the show’s production staff having had no contact with the foundation to get the facts, and with misinformation dominating the internet, Simmons is only guardedly optimistic. . . .
- full article at link above.
I do feel for those with Morgellons who have to face indignities every way they turn. I wonder if they will have some kind of statement after having seen the program?
Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I tried to find out who the "medical advisor for CBS Criminal Minds" is but got nowhere. And, I've already just rolled over past midnight but it's finally almost quiet enough around here to get some sleep so that's it for any searching.
If it's the same one as was for "House, MD" (a program I found terribly demeaning to nearly all patients) . . . Lisa Sanders, she was / is with the NYT and is very anti-lyme. Same network, I think. But a cross search still goes no where.
They may not even have a "medical" advisor but only a psychiatric one -- and we all know what they'd say.
I do hope they get proper feedback and, someone, offer some correction -- but the CDC, and all government / medical groups discount it, so . . . . I hope the foundation and other morgellons groups get somewhere with this.
like you, Terry, I don't have morgellons but have had terrible skin / scalp / mouth issues that cause so much pain and no regular doctor could help at all for years. On my own with all that.
But it gives me a better empathy for those who deal with someone much more severe. I hate to see anyone treated this way. The show didn't even do their homework. -
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Well said Keebler! I find it very frustrating. I may try to figure out where to write to the network but my hands are full dealing with illness and mold right now.
So many of us can barely keep our head above water which makes it hard to get the energy and time to fight all this misinformation. Bless your heart Keebler. I know you have your hands full too but you tried anyway.
Terry
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- The network will say they follow their medical advisors. And they follow (&/or sometimes create) what the CDC and IDSA dictate.
Just like all the network news programs where you'd never see the truth about lyme or morgellons. Their medical advisors won't open the windows, or their minds.
The script was likely finished month ago (maybe even last year).
The writers . . . it starts with the writers (maybe with who ever comes up for the storylines given to the writers?). Then the fact checkers (who would follow the erroneous CDC stance) & medical advisors who are not exactly on staff but also IDSA / CDC minded.
Could also come from outside, someone with close ties to the shows writers / creators with special interest in the topic deciding just such a story line (from their perspective) would serve their needs in the public eye
& serve to shame those with morgellons in the viewing audience and among family / friends of viewers. Very sad to hear of this.
there is no way I have hands (barely can type a post a few times a day) or endurance to help correct this with the degree of professionalism it requires to stand a chance.
The writers should do "part 2" and say "oh, while the murderer may have been that, we got all the other stuff ALL wrong." -
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Just want to note that the murderer had delusional parasitosis. He thought he was infested with cockroaches by a vaccine given to him by the CDC while he was an employee there.
The BAU team figured the only ppl who would listen to him were others with similar afflictions - they looked for chronic lyme, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and morgellons support groups.
In the end, they showed that he got relief from his delusion by looking at himself in a mirror where he could see there were no cockroaches crawling under his skin.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)