Introduction
Sometimes doctors face situations where it is impossible to determine a particular disease’s cause accurately. There are no physiological prerequisites for the development of the disease, but the disease progresses. If a medical examination cannot detect a physical cause of the disease, or if the condition results from emotional states such as anger, anxiety, depression, or guilt, then the disease is classified as psychosomatic. Carol’s story demonstrates how emotional and mental states can affect physical well-being.
Discussion
At the beginning of the video, it seems like Carol has every reason to feel happy. But in the first episodes, it is clear that this is not so because it seems that Carol does not feel involved in her own life, as if her thoughts and body exist separately. This can be seen in those scenes where she and her husband do not feel pleasure, her eyes are open as if she is thinking about something distracted (Haynes, 1995, 03:00). Also indicative is an episode in the gym where her friends are surprised that Carol does not sweat, indicating that she does not actively participate in the processes (Haynes, 1995, 06:42). In these opening episodes, there are hints that there are problems in Carol’s life.
Carol later began experiencing physical problems such as shortness of breath and panic attacks while driving in a parking lot (Haynes, 1995, 15:54) and a nosebleed at a beauty salon (Haynes, 1995, 28:40). These situations are evidence for point A in the DSM-5 criteria since these symptoms significantly affected Carol’s daily life. In point B, all three criteria fit Carol because she thought, talked, and worried about her symptoms and took time to see doctors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The third criterion is difficult to evaluate because the video does not specify a time frame, but it can be assumed that this is true for Carol. This means that Carol’s condition can be assessed as severe.
Both classical treatment and the holistic method did not help Carol feel better. It can be seen that she did not have friendly relations with the guru, unlike their family doctor. In the video clip, Peter Dunning makes her nervous, there are scenes when Carol leaves without answering his questions during group therapy (Haynes, 1995, 1:43:15). In one of the scenes, Carol says that she does not believe what Peter explains and feels that he is also deceiving (Haynes, 1995, 1:53:15). Holistic therapy suggests looking for the cause exclusively in oneself. The therapist discards other situations and focuses on personal reactions, saying that people must work only with their present thoughts without understanding the past.
Often the condition of people sick with mental health problems only worsens under the influence of other people. Maunder & White (2019) mention that “The mental health stigma refers to social disapproval or when people with mental illnesses or those who seek help for emotional distress are shamed by society” (p. 2). Carol was stigmatized, for example, in the episode when she came home from the doctor, and her husband replied without interest that maybe she was just tired or had stress, and all problems would go away when Carol rested (Haynes, 1995, 23:55). Another example was the doctor, when Carol repeatedly turned to him for help, she received an answer that she was completely healthy and there was nothing more to come for (Haynes, 1995, 29:40).
Conclusion
In conclusion, mental health problems are hazardous because their causes are difficult to understand and diagnose, and people around them can only worsen the condition. It is essential that people turn to a specialist in time or try to find the cause on their own when the first symptoms appear. If this is not done, there is a risk of Somatic Symptom Disorder, as with Carol.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Anxiety disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Haynes, T. (Director). (1995). Safe [Film]. American Playhouse.
Maunder, R., & White, F. A. (2019). Intergroup contact and mental health stigma: A comparative effectiveness meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 72, 101749.