Distress causes nad treatment

The distress caused by a condition, physical or emotional, is not always a sound indication of how long and complicated may be the method needed to relieve it. As we have noted, soldiers with severe emotional disturbances have recovered after only a few sessions of superficial psychotherapy. As another example of how little treatment may be needed, an intelligent young college girl was visited at one point by her parents who became alarmed at what they termed a "nervous breakdown" in the girl. As it turned out, the girl had fallen in love, wanted to marry, yet that desire was in conflict with her wish to complete her education, which she knew meant a good deal to her parents.

Her hesitation led to a quarrel with her sweetheart, who said things that hurt her. Angry with him, she unconsciously blamed him for the predicament she was in, yet loved him. She began to experience anxiety feelings. Fortunately, she discussed her problem with a fine clergyman at college. Because she was basically a well-adjusted person, the process of talking it out was enough in itself to help her recover quickly from her temporary neurotic state, and she was able to face the real problems confronting her and her young man. The soldiers and the girl were both in acute distress yet found relief quickly. On the other hand, another case might be compared with that of the person with a hip dislocation. An intelligent and successful businessman in his forties had had an early marriage which had ended in divorce. One of us had known him personally and had had no idea there was anything bothering him. But at one meeting at the home of mutual friends, the subject of psychiatry and analysis had come up. And, as we were to learn later, he had shortly afterward consulted a psychiatrist who had recommended analysis for him.

 To put it briefly, he had become an extremely lonely man, unable to form any close relationships with others, especially of the kind that might lead to marriage, though he considered marriage desirable. His fears and suspicions of other people had reached the point where he would refuse invitations he wanted to accept, would walk or take taxis rather than ride in public conveyances close to other people, and found it increasingly difficult to have friendly dealings with his business associates. "My analysis has taken five years, but it's worth it," he could report later. "I can't tell you how different, how much better, my life has been since I no longer feel the way I used to . . . as though I was living in enemy territory and had to be constantly on guard." As these cases help to indicate, the type of therapy needed depends upon many things-on the individual and how deep-rooted his problems are and also on the goal. In some cases, a cure will be rapid, since the aim is to eliminate just one or a few symptoms, as when, for example, an otherwise well-adjusted person has developed a recent tendency to insomnia. In other cases, a basic change in attitudes is essential.