There are “crazy” people out there. Celebs should always be careful.

damn…is it me or is it stalker season???

I have known Livia for over 15 years and in spite of what the story sounds like, Livia comes from a very reputable Romanian family, who for many years was unaware that their daughter had developed a mental illness. Her dad is one of the most known former Romanian sporting champions and her mum died many years back, before they moved to the US to work. Livia had actually WON sponsorship to work in the US thanks to her university achievements. I could not speak higher of the family. Livia is a Mathematics graduate who was a sports addict and a very beautiful lady. She used to do Karate and was an accomplished Volleyball player. No one could have anticipated what happened. Livia was diagnosed with Schizophrenia many years back. This disease is the result of chemical imbalances in the brain and IS CURABLE. She will hopefully be put on medication and she will feel better. Mr Di Caprio’s family should know that she is suffering and she has no idea what she is doing, never in a million years would I have thought I’d read this in the paper about her. I would be happy to add any comments about this family who is deeply sad about what has been said in the papers. Both her brother and her dad have had their photos in the local papers and sometimes media loses the plot when it comes to celebrities. This lady is very unfortunate to be one of those hit by this brain disease, but with treatment she WILL cure and she will realise what she has been doing for many years. No point condemning her. If you know anything about this disease, it can pick ANYBODY, anytime and anyplace and the victim can eventually resort to violence. I am happy to comment more if media wants to hear. Clearly Mr Di Caprio is terribly upset and so he should, however, Livia has NEVER been anything but a darling and I hope with all my heart that this episode will soon be finished and peace will be restored in both households. aemuresan@netscape.net

i’m sorry but if you know an individual who has this disease…then the person shouldn’t be left alone period. who is to say that the medication will help anyway?

Miss Zee, of course no one with such a condition should be left alone, you are perfectly right and I could not agree with you more, but at the same time, since you are not familiar with Schizophrenia, I suggest you watch the HOLLYWOOD production of “a Beautiful Mind” with RUSSELL CROWE – it is not a bad reproduction of such a condition – you will see that “outside” what the patients hear in their heads and what they do, they can have (I know it is unfair to say this) “perfectly” normal lives. Livia, like the character in the movie, was an accomplished mathematician before this condition hit many years back and it is unfortunate that she decided to stop taking the medication, but at the same time, in the 21st century, unless something such as this episode happens, one cannot FORCE a 40 year old to take medication or go to hospital and stay there, we can only try and the family argues that the HAVE tried to talk to her…. the family HAS tried and so have the doctors, but none could FORCE anything upon her. People WILL get out of the house without you knowing if they really want to, I hope you will agree with me on this … and this has happened with Livia. Most people with this condition stay at home and not in hospitals, and they take their medication at home. Having had experience with such cases, many of the patients I have seen are well capable of looking after themselves and do not end up hurting themselves or others… but they do need attention, love and care from an early stage. Please do see the movie!!!!!

As for your statement of : “who is to say that the medication will help anyway?” YOUR ANSWER IS: DOCTORS as well as THOSE WHO ARE SPECIALISTS. There is NO guarantee that any treatment in the world will lead to 100% cure but the medication is known to restore the chemical balance in the brain, CALM patients down and help long-term. Personally, I have known one 30 year old mathematician (honest it is not a trend heheheheh) colleague of mine who has suffered from this condition for over 6 years and after taking medication she is now back on her job with her PhD finished and she has been better ever since …. but in the past she used to cause herself harm and she used to think that she was followed by the FBI, she used to dismantle all the equipment in the house and look for bugs… I think it is not right to slate medical treatment, this condition is as OLD as this planet and treatment these days produces MIRACLES… but of course, the patient has to AGREE to it….

It is terribly unfortunate what has happened, and I hope with all my heart that after the police intervention Livia will accept to take her medication or go into care voluntarily…. but honest it is no point in making something else out of this lady than what it is, just because we are talking about Di Caprio – this could have happened to anyone else less famous. Chemical imbalances in the brain are not deliberately caused by birth (although some would suggest that it could be in someone’s family, somewhere in its past) or by something the patient has done, but like with any brain condition, any environmental trigger can lead to it, including a nervous breakdown (which Livia has had many years back as a result of a relationship breakup).
Di Caprio did the right thing to protect himself and his loved ones and I hope that now Livia will do the same, for the sake of those around her who love her. It is easy to fall pray to the celebrity tag and think that everybody wants to harm them deliberately because of their looks…. I am not defending ALL the stalkers as I am not familiar with their cases, but Livia’s I will, because I know the details and the family and I know she does not see the reality we see. She is not doing this deliberately, this lady is ill and she follows the reality that is portrayed in front of her eyes, as a result of this chemical imbalance in the brain (which, as I said, can be restored with medication.
It is always good to know BOTH sides before we incriminate someone. I hope I managed to help.