Discussion

[pabzi]

Here's a discussion topic to keep this comm awake :)

What kind of breakdown do you think that Gideon had after Boston?

I don't really know for sure...which is another reason that I am asking.

Comments

[took_skye]

Well Reid said he had (or was in the middle of) a major depressive episode in Extreme Aggressor (1x1) which is basically when a person suffers depression for a period of time that is outside the normal personality/mood of the person. Since it's strongly implied that the Boston incident was the trigger for the major depressive episode that's probably the breakdown everyone refers too.

(There's an article on major depressive episode from Wikipedia...it's fairly accurate.)

[pabzi]

Yeah, makes sense. I feel like I want to see the inside of his head at that time to see what was going on in there, lol

[hopskotch_hotch]

took_skye is canonically (is that even a word??) spot on!

I don't know if an event like that would trigger a major depressive episode directly. I think he could have had PTSD, or just plain old feelings of overwhelming guilt and uselessness. An event like that would definitely make him question his ability to do his job effectively.

I'm reading a great book at the mo - Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, and I agree with the authors' opinion that there's an overwehlming need in psych to slap labels on people - y'know, he's suffering from this particular ailment, she's suffering from that, etc.

Gideon was clearly a complex and tormented guy. I think he had a tendency to never allow himself to feel completely content, accepting, or comfortable in a situation.

I'm just rambling now :P

[pabzi]

Do you think that the time that he took off from the BAU was his doing? To evaluate if he could do the job anymore? Or did people see that he wasn't functioning properly and force him to take time off? It was called medical leave in Extreme Agressor...

I am almost sure that he was having nightmares and terrible guilt...I can also see him not sleeping properly, maybe not eating properly...Maybe he took antidepressants?

[hopskotch_hotch]

Hm, I think he probably had to have some mandatory trauma leave, and extended it himself. I think he knew enough about human nature (probably too much) to know he couldn't trust himself to get on with his job so soon after Boston. Then there's the possibility of him having been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident. Would they suspend someone so senior outright, or simply accept that there's always a risk that a horrible mistake like that can happen, even with the most experienced Agents handling the situation

[pabzi]

I agree with a lot of that. As for external/internal, I don't think that it would be outright external, like crying in public, etc, because that is not him, but I could see him being edgy and snapping at people.

I very much agree about the teaching. He would think that at least he is doing something.

I am not sure about suspending him...he made a mistake...could they have suspected that it was on purpose that he let the agents go in?