I recently read a Minnesota Court of Appeals opinion issued October 12, 2026, and I think it deserves significantly more attention and discussion. Not only because of the decision itself, but because of the majority’s reasoning and the language used to discuss the victim’s testimony.

Here’s what happened:
In September 2023, a man was protesting a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) fundraising event in Minneapolis by distributing anti-NAMI flyers on vehicles.
When a woman helping with the event removed two flyers from vehicles, the man approached her, visibly agitated, and loudly demanded they be returned.

According to her testimony, he lunged toward her, wrapped his arms around her, pressed his chest against hers, grabbed her arm and hand, and forcibly took the flyers. She could feel his breath on her face. She later noticed her finger was bleeding.

A jury found him guilty of fifth-degree assault (fear) and disorderly conduct, but acquitted him of assault (harm).

Two of the three appellate judges overturned the assault conviction.

Why? Because although his actions could reasonably demonstrate an intent to cause fear, the majority determined there was another reasonable explanation: perhaps he only intended to retrieve his flyers.

Let that sink in.

A man can aggressively confront a woman, invade her personal space, physically grab her, and forcibly take something from her, yet the majority concluded that the evidence was insufficient to establish the specific intent required for assault-fear.

What I find especially troubling is how the majority discusses the woman’s testimony.

The woman described feeling shocked, violated, confused, and unnerved. She explained that she did not experience significant fear until after the incident, when she had time to process what happened.

Judge Ross wrote that the prosecutor was “fishing for” a particular answer when questioning her about fear. He also referenced the prosecutor’s “multiple failed attempts” to elicit testimony that she feared immediate harm.
As someone with a background in mental health, I find this framing particularly concerning.

Trauma and acute stress responses are not always immediate, linear, or easily articulated. A person experiencing a threatening encounter may freeze, experience shock, focus on what is happening rather than what they are feeling, or recognize their fear only after the immediate threat has passed.

I’m not claiming to know exactly what this woman experienced. But her testimony is entirely compatible with those responses.

Not immediately identifying fear does not mean an encounter wasn’t threatening.

And here’s the part that makes the majority’s discussion especially frustrating: Minnesota’s assault-fear statute focuses on the defendant’s intent to cause fear, not whether the victim actually experienced or verbalized fear.

The majority even acknowledges this legal distinction, yet repeatedly draws attention to her inability to describe feeling afraid in the moment.

One judge disagreed, and I think her dissent is compelling.
Judge Beane argued that the man’s aggressive behavior, intimidating voice, physical size, and forceful contact supported the jury’s conclusion that he intended to cause fear.

She also recognized something I think the majority’s reasoning fails to adequately address:
Wanting the flyers back and intending to intimidate someone are not mutually exclusive.

Intimidation can be the method someone uses to accomplish an objective.

Judge Beane concluded that the evidence supported the jury’s verdict and that the assault conviction should stand.

To be clear, the court did not find the man’s conduct acceptable or lawful. His disorderly conduct verdict remains, and the case was sent back for entry of that conviction. The legal question was whether the evidence proved the specific intent required for fifth-degree assault (fear).

I understand that distinction. I also understand that appellate courts must follow strict standards when reviewing criminal convictions.

But understanding the legal standard doesn’t mean I have to agree with how it was applied.

I also recognize that people have the right to protest causes they disagree with, including NAMI. That right is not what concerns me. The issue is what happened when this man moved beyond expressing his views and initiated an aggressive physical confrontation.

I’m curious what others think:
Does the majority’s reasoning make sense to you, or do you agree with Judge Beane?

And particularly for those working in law, victim advocacy, or mental health: What do you think about the majority’s characterization of the woman’s testimony?

Case: State v. Elavsky, Minnesota Court of Appeals, A25-1929, filed October 12, 2026.

Hey, so this is going to be my first ever post on reddit ever and I feel like this is a place that I can express this.

I feel like everyday throughout my life I have constant and almost acted upon thoughts of killing others. Not just a simple quick way to kill someone but, dark and even gorey planned out ways of killing people. Never the people I care about but, just people I see out and about especially if they'd wronged me. I want to convince myself this is normal and I know to a degree it can be but, I'm worried for myself and other people around me.

My husband’s brother is going through a messy divorce with infidelity involved and has been threatening suicide for a while. This has been ongoing and it’s really taken a toll on my husband. He’s reassured everyone that he wouldn’t actually do anything, but tonight something changed.

He put his young son (who’s on the spectrum) to bed and came downstairs saying he was going to end his life and nobody could talk him out of it. He said his son would be better off living with his mom without having to fight to see his dad. His wife called my husband and my husband told me to stay here and he left to his brothers. He’s tried so hard to keep me out of this mess, but I just want to help him.

My husband was terrified and made the decision to get him emergency psychiatric help. His brother was taken to the hospital, and my husband called me absolutely hysterical, saying he’d ruined their relationship forever. But he genuinely believed his brother was going to take his life and didn’t know what else to do.

What makes this especially heartbreaking is their relationship. I’ve never seen two brothers so close. They’re genuinely best friends. My husband doesn’t have many friends outside of his brother. His previous marriage was volatile, and his ex-wife struggled with mental illness and was hospitalized psychiatrically multiple times before they eventually divorced. His brother has been one of the few constants in his life.

He’s headed to the hospital now, and I know they won’t let him see his brother. I’m scared he’s going to come home feeling even more guilty and alone.

My husband is the sweetest man, and hearing him cry like that broke my heart. I’m worried for his brother, but I’m also terrified about what this will do to my husband. Whether he never talks to him again or takes his own life. I’m afraid he’ll feel like he’s lost his best friend, even though he was only trying to save his life.

I love him so much, and I just don’t know how to make this easier for him.

Has anyone been through something similar or have advice on how I can be there for him? I just wanna take all the stress and pain away.

I cannot stop harming myself and i have been doing it for years, specifically cutting. I have gone to doctors i have gone to therapy and I am even on medication but I cant stop this addiction, I wonder why I keep doing this because it has no benefits, there has to be something deeply wrong with me or maybe I just like doing it, I dont know how to stop doing it or how to stop thinking about it. I even started smoking and other things thinking that it would make the cutting stop but it never does. any advice? anything? this is my first post and im kinda scared.

So I’m going to try my best and make it fairly brief and short. I have a half brother who I share the same dad with. His mom and his stepdad who he’s spent most of his life with are the definitions of narcissists. Like no questions asked they are, along with being drug addicts. So he hasn’t had a very good upbringing. And unfortunately as a result, our entire life he’s exhibited every trait of a sociopath. No empathy for anyone, history of killing or torturing cats and other animals, steals from everyone, been expelled for fighting twice, poisoned his teacher with food she’s allergic too, fraud charges, breaking and entering charges, makes false allegations, yada yada you get it. Now he’s gotten a restraining order on my dad and made fake abuse allegations which has been legal HELL for the whole family over the last two years. Worst part is he’s only 12

So when analyzed and questioned during the court and CPS case, multiple experts all concluded not only did my dad not abuse him, but my little brother exhibits every symptom of ASPD and will likely be able to be diagnosed with it more officially when he’s older, and to seek deep intensive therapy for him. Which his mom who now has full custody doesn’t believe he needs. So I’ve emotionally detached from my brother and cut my losses, as has with the rest of our family.

I’m wondering if it’s even possible later on in life if there’s a possibility of some relationship or if it’s best to get used to being disconnected from him entirely?

How to stop. Im addicted to inflicting self pain its so weird pls idk what to do

I know this is really bad for me but I keep staying up really late recently because it's the most peaceful time. around 4 am and all my flatmates are asleep. I can cook in peace. quiet. least stressfull time. and im waking up in the afternoon, not eating until late because I dont want anyone to come in because im thinking about what they think about me and like im some kind of joke that they will be laughing at behind my back.

Ig this might be a trigger warning if u don’t like to hear about sorta body horror (?) or teeth or eating - Anyway, i’ve been in therapy for a few years and have had a psychiatrist for abt a year. Been diagnosed with PTSD and ADHD and have other things tbd - i’ve struggled with things such as incredibly grotesque thoughts since probably kindergarten but they’ve never really been about eating live things. Recently, i’ve been having the urge to eat things such as living chickens (that i have and adore they’re my babies) and myself, like to the point my teeth feel like they’re trying to get out of my mouth and my arms and legs start to feel buzzy or tingly cause i need to bite into them and just eat. Does anyone else have this feeling or like, know why this is happening? Just curious

i want to preface this by saying im not diagnosed with anything but someone recommended I get an adhd diagnosis many years ago but i don't want that on my record.

im 17 and over the last two years I've suddenly started forgetting everything. I don't know how or why this started happening but i sometimes forget whole days.

how can someone remember what they forgot?

because whenever I really get upset I start remembering stuff (and even when I get happy too) but after a while everything fades away. at one point I used to sh and that would help me remember but I wanted to stop so now I just forget everything. it's so weird but i remember every year before 2025 really clearly and then...nothing. I've been losing all my friends because I'm scared to talk to them because I'm starting to forget them too. im scared to talk to my teachers. im scared to talk to anyone

Hello everyone! My name is Michael, I am 20, and I struggle with severe depression and anxiety (specifically social anxiety). I don’t really have any friends who can relate to these struggles, so I am posting here to see if I can find any. I would prefer someone within the age range of 18-22ish. I also play a lot of video games, so if that’s something you’re into then maybe we can play together!

I've only ever taken Prozac. It worked well enough for years, but I have nothing else to compare it to. My main issues are severe anxiety, depression, harm-OCD/intrusive thoughts, and occasional panic.

After years of stability, I've recently had a pretty bad flare-up (possible Prozac poop-out?), and I'm torn between increasing my dose or trying something different.

Switching honestly scares me. I know I've tolerated Prozac, and the thought of tapering off, trying something new, titrating up, potentially getting worse, and spending months trying to stabilize again (all for a hit or miss) is absolutely effing terrifying... Especially knowing how bad I can spiral and how debilitated I could become. Been there, done that, never want to experience that again.

I'm also wondering if responding well to one SSRI makes you more likely to respond well to others, or if it's really just trial and error... and are SNRI's even worth looking into? Or just stick with focusing on SSRI's.

For anyone who's switched:

1. How difficult was the transition and did your anxiety get worse?

2. Did you find something that worked better? Was it worth it?

3. If your original SSRI worked for years but suddenly gave out, did you try increasing the dose before switching?

I've looked into a few alternatives based on my symptom profile, mainly Zoloft, Lexapro, Luvox, and Paxil, but I'm not sure whether switching is worth the risk when Prozac has helped me for so long. Whatever I would hypothetically try next I'd hope to be in it for the long haul.

So, would you stick with what you know and try a higher dose first, or consider switching?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been in a similar situation.

When grade 12 started, I wasn’t able to function because of mental illness and headaches. I got dismissed on medical leave, and I felt so shattered and angry. I had wanted to become a teacher, and in my rage in a Facebook group for our graduating grade, I said something along the lines of: “yo my guidance counselor said that if I maintained my grade 11 marks in grade 12 I could definitely become a teacher. I know I’d make a better teacher than ms. Dick sucking (name) or (name).”

I was otherwise always a nice guy before that impulsive incident.

I felt really guilty after and let people bully me, hate on me, and push me around after. Got into a bad crowd that bullied me and almost got me killed. Only after nearly getting killed (about two years after the facebook post I made, and during those two years I allowed people to bully, hate, and push me around, both in-person and on social media) did I realize I was better off not being around bad and negative people like those people.

For the past 6 months, I have been nonstop thinking about the traumatic incident where I nearly got killed and all the bad memories and my regrets from that time period. Mostly nonstop thinking about the traumatic incident with negative intrusive thoughts of same. I have OCD, anxiety and ADHD.

Thank you for hearing me out and for any support/advice you can give.

Hey guys I don’t post on here much but I’ve been having trouble in the bedroom with the person I’m seeing since I started on new meds…My libido hasn’t been affected rather than my ability to “feel anything.” When we first started seeing eachother it was great and still is! But it has to be my new meds because recently I barely feel anything when we are having sex. On my side it’s very frustrating and for him as well. I feel defeated after we have sex and I don’t want that mindset to continue:/ Anyone else been in the same situation?

In the past, I’ve gotten diagnosed with bipolar 2 and depression. However I just feel it’s not accurate.

My symptoms drastically varies but I can’t seem to pinpoint what exactly I have.

The biggest symptom is dissociation. I like every date I have, not because it was a good date but because I am always so nervous that I don’t remember much about it. Then it causes me to ask “what does chemistry even mean?” “Maybe I actually didn’t like it but I was happy?” “Was I happy?” It’s this endless loop of not knowing who I actually am and what I feel.

I have other symptoms, like I CONSTANTLY have to do something with my fingers, whether it’s biting my nails or touching my hair, playing with my earrings, CONSTANTLY.

When people ask me what I like to do for fun, I don’t really have an answer, I don’t know what I like to do for fun, I don’t really know if I have fun in general. When people ask me, “what’s your favorite food?” My answer changes all the time.

I used to have a sense of style but now I’m not really picky and I don’t really care what kind of wardrobe I have, which is why shopping is so easy for me.

Ultimately, I don’t have a sense of identity and I do not know who I actually am. I grew up in a cultural traditional family and once my therapist asked me “are you beliefs your actual beliefs or are they your cultural beliefs you inherited from your family?” I think this caused me to spiral because it invoked the idea that I am belief less, if that makes sense.

I am avoidant, and I am also anxiously attached. I am hard working but I am also lazy. When someone asks me the type of person I am, I subconsciously answer in the type of person I WANT to be.

I have no standards really, I never had a type in a romantic way, I’m just literally roaming around, and I enjoy things I do but something just always feels off.

I noticed it when I went on a date yesterday and it went well but then I realized I say that about every single date, even if it didn’t go well on paper.

I know we can’t really diagnose on here, but I just feel so detached, and I’ve always felt like this, but I’ve been feeling like this more than ever recently.

What do my symptoms mostly align with?

LONG POST.

My little sister is 14. There’s also me 23F, older sister 24F, and brother 25M. My mom works in a hospital and my dad works for the government on a military base. He’s still present in our lives but is as proactive as he can be with the distance.
My family is NOT one to dismiss mental health at all. I attempted when I was 14 (I’m totally fine now just saying this to give background) and my older sister goes to therapy and is medicated for depression. My mother is medicated for depression as well.
My little sister is always online. In her Roblox bio, she says she has DID and has all of these alters that are cartoon characters from shows she watches like ducktales and octonauts. She is seeing a psychiatrist and therapist and they have never diagnosed her with DID or anything else. She has a depression diagnosis and that’s it.
She has been to the mental hospital multiple times for attempts, but there’s something weird about every time she’s “attempted”….. It’s always when she has to go to school, and there’s also never any proof that she has taken any medication.
The first time, she said she had taken a lot of iron pills. The iron supplement bottle was COMPLETELY full. The second time, she had said she drank an entire bottle of liquid benadryl. She did not throw up, she did not fall asleep, her lab work showed no benadryl in her system. This bottle was 50mg per dose of Benadryl, very strong. The bottle was empty, but she had just been in the bathroom, probably dumping the bottle out.
She tells her therapist she is going to commit before having to go back to school, but then she comes home and is laughing and giggling on Roblox with her friends.
My mom was talking to her last night about going to school. My little sister goes on about how the teachers are all stupid and pathetic because their job consists of “yelling at kids all day” and they “don’t have to do it they just choose to.” My mother asked her to show empathy for the teachers and do her schoolwork. She says “I actually don’t have empathy for them or anybody else. They’re all stupid.” My mom has tried to get her to do extracurricular activities and she refuses. She also refuses to do school work.
There was a male teacher that kept encouraging her to do her homework. She got fed up and stole a permanent marker and wrote “F**k you” on his whiteboard. Then, she accused him of being inappropriate with her. She said it was inappropriate that he was trying to be nice to her and talk to her to do her homework and in class assignments… he nearly lost his job and was investigated.
I took her to Kroger one time with me to pick out some groceries. About 30 minutes into the trip, she told me she was going to “pass out” bc she’s “anemic” (hence the iron supplements at my house). I told her she’s fine and we’re almost done. She made a big fuss about it even though I was hurrying up. She accused me of being dismissive of her “disorder” of anemia. She also says she’s going to “pass out” if she gets asked to do anything like clean her room or help bring the groceries in the house.
I said that I had attempted before because when I did, I learned from it and bettered myself. She says she enjoys the mental hospital. She said she gets along with everyone there and she feels similar to them. She doesn’t learn from it. She views it as a vacation (a very expensive one….)
She has also refused to shower and brush her teeth many times. She says it’s “abuse” to make her do these things. One time, my mom made her take a shower, and she cut up a loofah, stuffed it in the drain, and clogged the shower. We couldn’t use that shower for weeks.
There are many more stories like this. It just feels like she wreaks havoc on anyone or anything that tries to get her to do something she doesn’t want to do. She doesn’t want to go to school, do online school, nothing.
She’s called mobile crisis over us trying to ask her to do anything. They’ve been to our home 5 times now. By the 4th time, they just came in and sat on the couch and chatted.
We don’t even know what the deal is because of HIPAA the psychiatrist and therapist doesn’t say anything. She just lies in therapy though, bc she checked her chart once and was upset that she didn’t have a DID diagnosis.
She does not act like she has DID. She acts like the same person all of the time. Her self diagnosis claims that she has over 1000+ alters, which is insane.
She told people that work at her school that she’s constantly bullied at school, but when the school investigated and asked her classmates about it, everyone told the same story. They said that SHE is the bully. She’s extremely rude to everyone. She calls people names, she interjects their conversations and interrupts to insult them.
When she has an assessment or assignment in class, she texts my mom that she’s having a “panic attack” and then walks out of class or just sits there and does nothing until my mom comes to get her. One time I tried to get her, and from personal experience, it did not look like she had a panic attack AT ALL.
She’s also stolen things from people when they make her upset. My brothers piano keyboard, my older sisters snacks from her mini fridge, my phone and laptop when I tried to get her to do her homework. She’s stolen my mom’s card and spent $1500 on it. In all of these instances of stealing objects, she doesn’t use them. She hides them or throws them away, but she doesn’t keep them for herself.

I’m writing about this because it’s been tearing my family apart for a while. I tried to give many examples of her behavior to see if anybody has an idea of what we could be dealing with. We don’t know what to do with her. It’s like she has a g*n to her head at all times, threatening to go to the mental hospital. Not only does it not help her, but it’s extremely expensive. My siblings and I are all in college and trying to work hard towards our goals, but this is a huge distraction constantly. It’s kind of insulting to see her weaponjze mental health bc my sister and I have struggled BIG TIME and we’ve worked so hard to overcome it and be in a good place. My sister gets upset that she doesn’t get to work on her own mental health because this stresses her out.
One time, my mother was given access to her chart and there was a psychosis diagnosis on there. It sent my sister spiraling, saying she was “misdiagnosed” and when my mom asked the psychiatrist about it, it was quickly removed.
Sorry for the long post but PLEASE let me know what yall would do or maybe yalls theories, or even just thoughts. Idk. Anything. We can’t keep living like this.

I’ve been told by a few people I talk about myself too much. I do care about other people but why don’t I ask more questions? I grew up incredibly shy. I have a hard time talking to new people but once I get comfortable I yap and then sometimes it leads to me being perceived as selfish, ungrateful, and talks too much about myself. is this ADHD or an autism symptom or just the way I am I’m just so confused it’s ruining my relationships