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.
