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cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-01 |
| 53 replies | 1372 views |
i am 36y male suffering from
Cowardice: i will avoid confrontation at any cost, even when i am right. People takr advantage of this weakness, and i feel depressed and hate myself when that happens. Even in every day conversations, i avoid making valid arguments and prefer to remain quiet, fearing disagreement.
Anxiety: general and social order anxiety. Palpitations and cold palms.
Insomnia: cannot sleep because the mind races on what to do tomorrow, how will a particular meeting or transaction proceed tomorrow, how will I start, how will the other party respond, how will i counter respond ...... Goes on and on. I keep awake building up imaginary conversations.
Uncomfortable in groups, even of friends
Also i suffer from after thoughts, like no i should have responded differently, i should have been more assertive, i should have said this and not that. This triggers a feeling of worthlessness and low self esteem and makes me depressed.
I am taking staph 1M every 15 days for right sided headaches just behind the eye lid and has helped. I feel the headaches are also triggered by small confrontations. But staph has not helped cowardice, anxiety, self esteem or insomnia.
Will greatly appeciate help |
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| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-01 |
Firstly you need to stop taking the Staph. It is obviously not the right medicine for you.
Secondly, try to fill in my intake form and I will look at prescribing something that is a better fit for your problem.
GUIDELINES FOR GIVING HOMOEOPATHIC CASE INFORMATION
It is important to describe all your problems in as much detail as you are able. One word answers and short sentences are not particularly helpful. Discuss each problem one at a time, providing (as a minimum level of detail) the following information.
1. What exactly happens?
2. Describe all sensations and pains. Each pain or sensation should be described in such a way that allows us to imagine having the same pain.
3. What causes the problem to get worse after it has started occurring?
4. What creates some relief for the problem?
5. What triggers the problem into occuring?
6. What time of the day or night does the problem occur?
7. When did the problem start? What was happening in your life at that time? Did some specific event or treatment take place just before the problem started?
Move from one problem to the next, doing the same thing. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF YOUR HEALTH BY PROVIDING ALL PROBLEMS YOU HAVE, EVEN IF NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ONE, AND EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER IT OF LESS IMPORTANCE.
You should address each problem separately using the above 7 questions as a guide. Do not put all your complaints into each of the 7 questions. Discuss one problem at a time. If you have, for example, a headache with nausea, do each component separately too (what makes the head pain worse or better, what makes the nausea worse or better).
As well as this, please describe any traumatic incidents that have taken place in your life. Discuss anything that has had a lasting impact on you mentally, emotionally or physically.
Discuss the way that you manage or deal with your problems, or any problems that occur in your life.
Discuss any patterns you have noticed in your behavior especially concerning your disease.
Discuss any part of your life where you feel stuck or unable to change and grow, especially where this occurred around the beginning of your disease, or as the disease evolved.
Describe your childhood and the kind of environment you grew up in, with reference to your relationships with your family, your school experiences, and any serious childhood diseases.
If your earlier discussions have not mentioned these already, please describe:
1. The specific foods that you crave (not just like) or hate
2. The specific drinks that you crave or hate
3. What your sleep is like
4. How the weather and the temperature affects you
5. What kinds of things in the environment you are particularly sensitive to
6. What your general level of energy is like
7. What your level of sexual energy or desire is like
8. Describe your menstrual cycle
9. Also give these details
a) Body type and build
b) Skin colour and texture
c) Areas of the body tends to perspire on
d) Odour of sweat, body, stool, flatus, urine
e) Colour of stool, urine, sweat
10. Give any reactions to vaccines or medical drugs.
David Kempson
Professional/Classical Homoeopath | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-01 |
For learning only from David's treatment. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From DrGnandan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-01 |
Dear Sir, I have similar patient aged about 40 years. The only differance is he does not have complaint of INSOMNIA. I have used KALI PHOS 6X with some effect. I had advised him to do pranayam but he has not yet started. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-03 |
Dear Dr. Kempson:
I was typing a reply when it vanished from the screen suddenly, so I am starting all over again.
Thank you for your offer to help. I will try to describe one problem at a time, though they overlap.
Timidity / Cowardice:
An argument in business, on the street or at home, makes me very nervous. I try to give in and end the argument as soon as it starts, and try to please and agree with every one during ordinary conversations. If the argument proceeds, the nervousness increases, especially if voices are raised and indecent words are used. My voice gets shaky, heartbeat increases, legs seem weak, hands tremble, throat gets dry and there is a sensation of a ball in the throat. It does not end here. I usually get a headache the next day which I will describe later. During the next 3-4 days, the episode keeps coming back to my mind. And I hate myself for my timidity. I keep on imagining myself responding in a braver way and the other party eating dust with my tactful and brave handling of the situation. This gets intense and more pictorial at sleep time, hence the insomnia, which I will describe later. I avoid quarrels even when I am right and suffer losses and then feel terrible about it.
Headache:
The headaches started some 15 years back when I was a student and life was easy. I cannot remember anything extra ordinary during that time, except for the usual school pressures. The pain is right sided, just behind the center of the upper eyelid and extends towards the back of the head. Feels like a nail is drilled in the head. I can feel a swollen blood vessel or a nerve if I press and lightly sqeeze the spot of pain between my thumb and finger. Started at about noon, and lasted for 1 or 2 hours. The intensity, frequency and duration progressed with time, until 6-7 years back I had a headache twice every week, so severe that I felt like banging my head against a wall, and lasted until I fell asleep, I woke up fresh. Worse from light, noise and tobacco smoke, even second hand smoke. Better from sleep, dark cold room, and from inhaling and exposing the face to steam. The headache leaves me unable to think or focus, I find it difficult to answer the easiest of questions, there is difficulty both in understanding and talking. I used to smoke 15 years back. There was an extraordinary urge to smoke early morning on the day of the headache. But smoking always made it worse. Even now, when I have quit smoking for the last 8-9 years, I have this urge to smoke a cigarette on the day I am about to get a headache. I took Sanguinaria Q when the headache started and it helped a little. A lot of my symptoms agreed with Staph (including a history of masturbation) so I started taking 30C 3 times a day. It really made a big difference. From twice a week, the headaches came down to once in 15 days. Also the intensity of pain decreased. Thinking this is my remedy, I increased potency to 1M every 15 days, just two months back. My headaches are much better now. Also the connection between quarrels and headaches is weaker now.
Insomnia:
Usually, the smallest quarrel or argument will bring along sleeplessness. I keep imagining, in a very pictorial way, of what better responses I could have given, and how I could have made the other party eat dust. Also I keep planning for the next day, but rarely remember or put to action what I planned. I also have itching (but no rashes or spots) on the upper forearms, near ankles and upper and lower back which seems to prevent sleep. Sleep is best on headache days, when I am so worn out that I quickly fall into deep slumber. I have a severe problem getting up on time and am usually late to work. I took Passiflora Q 30 drops 3 times a day which helped sleep. I have stopped Passiflora for a month and insomnia has returned.
Anxiety, Fear and Depression:
This is a more recent problem, started 4-5 years back. I have general order anxiety and panic attacks. I cannot be specific about timing as I am taking allopathic medicines for anxiety and depression, but I think its worse from evening to night. Palpitations, cold palms and cold sweat. Worse after arguments. I have social order anxiety, feel very uncomfortable and inferior in a group, even among friends and acquaintances. I cannot think of anything to talk about, am not quick witted and spontaneous. I cannot stand crowded places like supermarkets and shopping malls, it triggers panic.
I live in a city, where crime, murder and terrorism are rampant. I feel fearfull. It is natural to some extent, but I am terrorized more than anyone else upon hearing any bad news, with sinking heart, cold sweat and severe fear about my personal safety and that of my loved ones.
I am also suffering from mental depression: low spirits, extreme pessimism, and general sadness. Cannot find any pleasure in life.
Concentration:
I have always considered myself intelligent, I did pretty well academically with little effort, and had the capacity to concentrate for long periods of time. Recently, I am finding myself unable to concentrate for more that 10-20 minutes. The head becomes heavy and thoughts mingle, vision blurs and I completely lose focus. Even this small writeup about my own symptoms has drained my mind. I cannot read more than 10 pages of a book at a time. A slight argument with anyone will make me lose focus completely, as the mind will go back to the argument again and again. I am taking Kali Phos 3X, Gingko Bioloba, Hekla Lava, Ashwandagandha that come in the form of a combination in the hope of better mental ability in terms of concentration and rapid judgements / analyses / answers. But I do not see any improvement.
As a child, and even now, I have had a very loving, caring family, wonderful parents. They were financially troubled when I went to school and college, and my father sufferered from tremendous stress and depression. Despite that, they put me in a private school that was meant for the rich, who came to school in big cars, excellent clothing, expensive stationery etc. I felt an inferiority complex then and it still lingers. I still find me comparing myself with more succcessfull classmates and friends and feeling inferior. More with envy, rather complex, than jeolousy. Another childhood event is a repititive dream that I remember only vaguely but really frightened me for months. As a child and young adult I was afraid of darkness and often imagined someone following me.
No particular cravings or dislikes for any type of food or drink. I feel better in the winters than in summers which are hot and humid here. I like open air and ventilated rooms better than closed rooms. General energy level is low, but I guess its the sedentry lifestyle, as I was quite active as a child and young adult. Sexual desire and energy were OK, before I was put on prozac which has horrible effects on desire and pleasure.
I am 6 feet tall, average built, tropical Asian brown skin, had been underweight in the early adulthood, but have now gained a lot of weight esp. in the past 2-3 years. I weigh 185 pounds now. Under-arms prespire most but not excessive nor is the odor excessive. Urine is transparent and does not smell. Stool is usually normal and regular, no excessive odor. I have pimples on upper thighs and sometimes upper back. Have an eczema on both feet, dry and itch only rarely. Ankles are week and painful. | This thread continues beneath the following ad.
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| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-11 |
dr Kempson, Dr Nawaz
Wont you help?
Anxiety and depression have made me life miserable. I feel lonely, useless, worthless, inadequate, indecisive. I must act to solve problems in my life, mainly financial, but my inadequacy puts me undee more peessure. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-11 |
Hi, Ofcourse, we will inshallah help. Why not?
David, please read the answers to your Q's as of Sep. 3, 2011. Please help this guy asap. I know you are very busy, but, please take some time out from your precious time.
Regards
Nawaz | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-12 |
I am very sorry, I lost track of this case. Please feel free to bump your case up to top to keep my attention on it. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-12 |
The simillimum will work on the deepest level of disturbance first ie. the mental state. The fact that Staph has helped the headaches but not the cause, suggests that the remedy is only palliating your symptoms. Palliation can make a symptom much harder to cure in the long run, which is why you need to stop right away.
Ok just a few more questions to clarify.
1. What do you feel will happen when there is an argument? What is the worst that can happen?
2. This reaction you get when there is a confrontation, what does it feel like is happening? By asking this, I mean what situation do you imagine yourself to be in? Your reaction is quite strong, what situation would this reaction be normal for people?
3. Describe 'Brave'.
4. What losses do you suffer?
5. What issue do you have with your personal safety? What do you feel will happen? What do you do out of this fear?
6. Discuss more about feeling Inferior - describe this quality in a person,what it means?
7. What is it about people that creates such fear in you? Describe how you see people generally, society, groups of people etc. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-12 |
A bundle of thanks David! | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-12 |
Thank you Dr. Kempson, Dr. Khan
I have stopped Staph right away. I will try to answer as best as I can, but I feel these questions go farther than what I consciously feel or know.
1. What do you feel will happen when there is an argument? What is the worst that can happen?
The argument itself triggers anxiety. It numbs the mind. “What’s the worse that can happen?” will probably come to someone’s mind who is in control and thinking straight. I think the argument itself, the harsh or indecent words, the heat of the situation - all this is enough to make me fearful and anxious. I fear being in such a situation. I fear the escalation of the confrontation to a level that my nerves will not be able to handle.
2. This reaction you get when there is a confrontation, what does it feel like is happening? By asking this, I mean what situation do you imagine yourself to be in? Your reaction is quite strong, what situation would this reaction be normal for people?
It is a situation where my interest and that of the other party conflict. One has to gain at the expense of the other. I find myself incapable of presenting my case in an effective, logical, step by step manner, and quickly thinking of appropriate responses to others’ arguments. Though later many valid responses that would dismiss the other’s case come to mind. There is numbness of the mind, especially when the other party shows aggression and heat. I (probably) imagine myself in a situation where I will be the loser and will have to give in sooner or later.
3. Describe 'Brave'.
By brave I mean a more controlled state of mind and a more normal response. I want myself to keep control of myself, stop being fearful and excited, being able to think straight and quick, and give measured controlled responses. When my heart palpitates and there is a ball in the throat when someone raises their voice – this can hardly be called bravery.
4. What losses do you suffer?
In business, financial. At home, loss of my justified status and say. It keeps going on. People take me as a softie and take full advantage. At a personal level, loss of ego, self esteem and confidence.
5. What issue do you have with your personal safety? What do you feel will happen? What do you do out of this fear?
Karachi is my city, it is an unsafe place to live in. There is rioting, killing going on. Whenever I hear any such news, or even peoples’ apprehensions of what is going to happen, it triggers a panic attack. Again what’s going to happen is not consciously on my mind. The piece of news is enough to trigger anxiety and panic. This response is automatic. I do not do anything out of the fear. There is little or no fear of an injury or death, just general anxiety. I feel anxious for my loved ones as well.
6. Discuss more about feeling Inferior - describe this quality in a person,what it means?
Almost all of my university friends are well settled, at good positions in their jobs, well paid and financially very well off. I lag far behind, in fact I have lost all I had and am deep in debt. I keep remembering the mistakes I made in business and am frustrated to find out that those were childish errors. Mistakes that someone with below average intelligence and average confidence would have definitely avoided. I have this habit of comparing myself with others, especially with the successful people. Also I avoid company of my friends, knowing that they would show up in expensive cars and clothing and will spend more in a get together in a fancy restaurant than I can dare to. I have had this since childhood. I felt inferior about possession of material things. I mentioned I went to a very expensive school, I also had this feeling of guilt that my parents were spending more than they ought to on me. More than they did on my siblings. I feel inferior about being incapable of handling situations, confrontations, business and life in general as well as others.
7. What is it about people that creates such fear in you? Describe how you see people generally, society, groups of people etc.
My first impression about most individuals I meet is, this is a straight, honest fellow, I rarely suspect people’s integrity. It is later I find out that they are not as honest as I assumed. Or is it that my definition of integrity is different from that of others? I am not afraid of people. I have a positive view of the society I live in. In social gatherings though, I feel timid, under-achiever, uncomfortable and unconfident, and find myself incapable of small talk, making new acquaintances and conversing with people. It is only when there is a confrontation that I fear, not the people, but the situation. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-12 |
"Please feel free to bump your case up to top to keep my attention on it."
How do I do that? | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-12 |
Please just write Bump in your post reply. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-13 |
a few more things about myself
1. I have 2 kids aged 9 and 12. Naturally they fight, scream sometimes. Even that triggers anxiety.
2. I cannot tolerate noise, even the tic-toc of the clock, or a sqeak in the car, a crying screaming tooddler. It makes me uneasy.
3. I have often seen my teeth getting loose and falling out in my dreams. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-14 |
Ok I am tossing up between two main remedies.
Can you tell me what you were like as a child? What was school like for you? What were you like around strangers, adults, other children? Anything else you can remember or were told about yourself? | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-15 |
As I child I craved for attention from (mainly) teachers and adult relatives. I tried to be funny (act smart) to get attention.
I was an intelligent and quick learning student, achieved good grades with minimal effort.
I was not very well known outside my class, meaning I was not very social.
Timidity against bullies. | This thread continues beneath the following ad.
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| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-15 |
Is there any situation you don't feel inferior in? | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-17 |
Normally its not a conscious and regular feeling. I mean this feeling of inferiority does not stay with me all the time.
It is only
1. after an incident: a confrontation, argument.
2. in social gatherings I feel uneasy and inferior.
3. whenever I think about my affairs of life, my mistakes, when things do not go as planned. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-17 |
You have stopped all homoeopathic medicines have you, including the ones for your focus (kali-phos, hekla lava etc)?
There are a number of remedy choices that come up here, some of them are unusual and might be difficult to get (Baryta-fluor for example, is not a common remedy). For that reason, I would like you to start with one of our polycrest remedies which should be easy enough to procure - Silicea.
This is the picture of Silicea which I think suits you. This is a LONG essay but it is worth reading, and I believe you will see a lot of yourself in it.
The story of the Silica patient
In this section I attempt to review and categorize the typical words, statements and concerns of the Silica patient. This material is taken from over 20 cases that have done well on the remedy. This can be regarded as a review of the essential themes that appear in Silica cases. The information is organised under separate headings, each heading consisting of a key word or phrase. Under each heading I have listed a number of related words and phrases which belong to this thematic grouping. All these words and phrases are verbatim statements taken from the cases of individuals who have done well on the remedy Silica.
Below this I give my own commentary which is an attempt to relate, give context to and amplify the original statements. There were twice as many female patients as male patients.
Lack of confidence
Lack of confidence; lack of courage; weakness of will; do not believe I will achieve anything.
This aspect of Silica is of course well known to us and does not need much further comment. A general lack of confidence and inability to take hold of life is a prominent feature of the remedy, but is by no means always obvious, as we shall see. There is fear of achievement, often with an inability to cope, and a weakness of will. They may feel weak and powerless.
Lack of self esteem
Self doubt; feel inadequate; not good enough; have not done well enough; lack of self worth; useless; no abilities.
These statements speak for themselves. These patients feel inadequate in different ways. They may feel empty, as though they are nothing, and have nothing to contribute. The feelings of inadequacy and inability may lead them to see others as much better than they are; one patient saw her partner as wonderful and herself as worthless. There may also be the feeling that they are undeserving, and do not have any rights. The patient may make statements such as 'I have no right to demand anything', 'I'm unsure what I'm entitled to'. They may even feel that they have no right to exist.
On the other hand a patient can feel that he is unrecognized for his abilities and worth. There is sometimes a desire to be special and to be recognized as such. I will discuss this aspect in greater depth later. It is worth noting that Silica appears in the rubrics 'egotism' and 'ailments from egotism'.
Fear of failure
Fear of failing or of not succeeding are well known characteristics of Silica. The patient may be afraid to try lest she fail. Equally there may be a fear of success. Success means responsibility, manifesting something in the here and now, giving form to something. Formlessness is the great problem for Silica individuals; they cannot give form to themselves, their ideas, their feelings and desires, and in the final analysis to their bodies. They need form and are yet afraid of it. This theme will be opened up much more fully further on.
Lack of identity
Fitting into others expectations; moulded by others; don't stand up for myself; not living true to myself; no identity, opinions, feelings; can't be myself.
Because of an internal lack of form the Silica patient finds it difficult to know his own mind. He may feel that he has no thoughts or wishes of his own and therefore looks for containment, for identity from outside. The person can feel easily swayed and influenced by others, that she is taken over by others and not allowed to be herself. This may be particularly true of the individual, child or adult, under the influence of a dominant parent.
Another possibility is that the individual becomes subservient, wishing to live life vicariously through another, perhaps a partner. They may become self negating and easily suppressed, compensating for this by living and doing for other people. The lack of identity can develop into fears that there is nothing inside them, that they have no substance, that they are losing their centre, and finally that they will not exist; this can cause states of extreme fear or panic.
Avoidance of confrontation
Avoid taking a stand; do not face situations; irresolution; lack of commitment.
Again these are well documented and well known qualities of Silica. They cannot cope with conflict either internally or externally, and because of sensitivity and vulnerability will avoid arguments and disagreements. They cannot take a stand and so try and avoid confronting things outwardly or inwardly.
Vulnerability
Over sensitivity; feel exposed, fear of exposure, fear of exposing myself; easily hurt; vulnerable; thin skinned; do not feel protected; absorb things easily.
Vulnerability is a key issue for many Silica patients. They can feel unprotected, easily hurt and unable to cope with the demands of the environment on the mental, emotional or physical levels. They can feel sensitive to being criticised or laughed at. In more extreme cases the person may feel powerless and helpless, even to the point of fearing annihilation or extinction.
Another ramification of this sensitive unprotected state is sensitivity to vibrations. This person can be psychic, feeling presences etc. or simply so oversensitive to other people that they feel overwhelmed by them. We note the presence of Silica in the rubrics 'clairvoyance', and 'desire to be magnetized'.
Worry about others
Fear of awful things happening to me or mine; worry about the world as a whole.
A concomitant of the vulnerability experienced by the Silica patient can be an excessive worry about the well-being or safety of other people, usually those close to them such as children and husbands. This symptom seems to be more prominent in women.
This quality can appear as worry for others, fear for their safety, as well as a desire to help others and an apparent sympathy for others. I say apparent because I do not believe it to be a true sympathy in the phosphoric sense but a sympathy arising from their own sense of vulnerability, more akin to the sympathy of Pulsatilla or the sensitivity to cruelty of Calcarea carbonica. It is interesting to note that all these remedies appear in the rubric 'selfishness' (SR), and that both Pulsatilla and Calcarea are complimentary to Silica.
Rigidity; barriers
Closed off; blocked off; self contained; need to be alone; rigid, withdrawn and afraid of letting go; fear of change; restriction.
The Silica individual can withdraw into or remain stuck in a world of their own, fearing touch and affection. They feel themselves unable to let go and indeed fear letting go, preferring to stay within the confines of the known rather than take the risk of entering into life and relationships. This eventually leads to feelings of separation and isolation, major themes in the Silica pathology which we will shortly explore. In the realms of emotional, professional and creative life they can remain inhibited rather than take the plunge into the unknown. This is a constant challenge to the Silica individual which they have to struggle to overcome.
They may also feel that in some way they do not want to give themselves away as though in so doing they will somehow lose something of themselves.
The hardness on the mental level can appear as an obsessive thinking and a tendency to dwell on things 'monomania' (Kent), 'thoughts, persistent' (SR).
It was notable how often the word paralysis was used to describe this type of fixed and rigid state. The patient describes himself as paralysed or seized up; one patient spoke of a totally paralyzing mental anguish.
Feelings, emotions and self expression blocked
Bottled up feelings; bottled up anger; cannot express feelings, wants or desires.
Here we see that in the same way that the physical system is blocked and unable to discharge(constipation and susceptibility to suppression of sweat are key features of Silica), so the psychic system has a similar disability.
The Silica individual frequently complains that she cannot express feelings, and may say such things as her feelings are too deep down, or that they cannot be accessed. Emotions are too much to cope with and tend to be suppressed. Emotions can be turbulent, unknown, and beyond rational control and therefore a source of fear to the Silica person who is anyway susceptible to being overwhelmed or swamped by psychic and external events. For this reason they may also mistrust their feelings and intuitions. Also they resist letting go for fear of what might come out; we will pick up this important theme again later on.
The expression of ambition, creativity, ideas and desire are other areas in which the individual can experience blocks.
Anger is often a major issue, something that they often talk about, and an emotion that frequently surfaces under treatment. They use phrases like bottled up anger, suppressed anger, denied rage, again fearing what might happen if they lose control. Anger and violent emotions are kept in 'contradiction, is intolerant of, has to restrain himself to keep from violence' (Kent); 'desire to kill' (SR).
The individual might also say that he is angry with himself, possibly out of a general feeling of frustration and inability. Grief is another emotion that is held in, but not nearly as commonly as anger.
Maintaining control
Controlling; fear of losing control.
In the light of the above it is not surprising that these patients can feel a need to keep control of themselves and their environment.
Instability and changeability
Fluidity; malleability; drifting; swaying.
The rigidity and control are compensatory to the internal changeability. The person feels changeable, fickle, indecisive, easily swayed and adapting to easily outside influences. She may feel herself to be a different person in each situation, one person to one and another to another. She can feel extremes of emotions and be unable to establish a point of balance or a reference point.
Divided; duality
Divided; duality; torn in two; feel like two people; living in two worlds; pulled two ways; battle in me; struggle between two elements; two sides to my life, inner life and life in the world.
Subjectively there is a sensation of a split which can be experienced in a number of different ways. The person often feels torn in two or that two parts of him are struggling or battling. The conflict can be between head and heart, or mind and body to the extent that they will say that their body does not belong to them or that they are not on the planet. The conflict can also be between inner life and outer life, again underlining the fact that the Silica type lacks the ability to enter fully into life; they are too refined and may feel themselves to be too special. This individual is too much in the head, not in touch with instinct and feeling, not rooted. Indecision is a big problem; the patient may say that she feels her mind doing one thing and her body doing another.
conflict between different walks of life or different interests could also be present. An example here would be a split between art and science, the scientific thinking temperament battling with the artistic feeling or intuitive temperament.
The split often occurs in the field of relationships with others. The person can be pulled between their own wants and needs on the one hand and the demands and expectations of relatives, friends and society in general on the other. This of course leads to indecision and not knowing their own mind.
I have often seen, when listening to the patients story, that as a child the patient was caught in the middle between two conflicting parents. This was not necessarily overt conflict or warfare, but could have been an underlying tension, unresolved conflict, or temperamental differences, which the Silica patient, being so sensitive to the psychic atmosphere, would pick up on and experience as an internal split.
Being divided or split, it is noteworthy how often the patient will use language which describes being stuck in the middle. They use words and phrases like, balance, pivot, balancing opposites, keeping balance, stuck in the middle, living in limbo. They become stuck in the middle, unable to go in either direction. They can feel in the middle of the opposing tendencies within them, or more likely they will feel stuck in the middle of opposing tendencies in their environment. This often happens in the family situation where the individual, frequently a child, acts as the balancer or peacemaker between the conflicting energies in the family at the expense of their own integrity. In trying to stand everywhere and seeing all points of view, they end up standing nowhere and having no point of view. It is as though this individual can not tolerate friction or conflict in himself or his environment. One patient complained of being stuck in the middle between mum and dad; another said she was responsible for both parties; another said he liked everything to be stable, average, in the middle and balanced. There seems to be a need to maintain the balance, to prevent extremes and avoid conflict.
It also seems that the natural responsibility of Silica means that they easily carry the unresolved conflicts of the family, struggling to be the good person who makes everything alright. If a member of the family internalizes things in the family which are unresolved, unsaid and therefore dark and shadowy, they become a victim of these things, an unconscious scapegoat bearing the family conflicts.
It is not uncommon for the patient to talk about this peacemaker role that has been adopted as part of the compensatory response to the problems of life. They want everyone to be happy, friendly and pleased. They appease people and cannot bear arguments, and for this reason can put others first, denying their own needs.
Isolation and separation
Separated from self, others, the world; cut off; don't feel part of things.
Isolation is a word constantly used by Silica patients. They feel isolated and separated from other people and the world in general. They also say that they feel cut off from themselves. Through their pathology they tend to withdraw into a shell which eventually leads to feelings of isolation and aloneness; the protective reaction has become a prison in which he feels distant and not part of things. For this reason it is not surprising that these people quite commonly complain of claustrophobic feelings; they may actually suffer from claustrophobia. This sense of separation can extend to the feeling of a lack of heart, or to being disconnected from God and nature.
Abandoned
Aloneness; loneliness; fear of rejection.
Another consequence of this is that the patient may feel that she has been abandoned. She feels alone and rejected, lost and unloved.
[message edited by brisbanehomoeopath on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:55:31 BST] | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
Thank you Dr. Kempson, especially for the essay on Silica. Yes I find a lot of myself in it. What trituration should I take and in what quantity and frequency?
I had a look at Silica in Clarke’s, “Flint supplies the ‘grit’ of the earth’s crust, of plant life, and to a large extent, of animal life also. Want of grit, moral or physical, is a leading indication for Sil.” Happy to read that.
But Schussler mentions “If a suppurative center is formed either in the connective tissue or in a portion of the skin, Sil may be used.” Do my eczema on both feet and pimples on shoulders, upper back and thights qualify as suppurative centers? The surface is not tender and painful and Clark describes. He also mentions unhealthy hair and nails. I don’t think my nails or hair are unhealthy. He also mentions fetid perspiration of the feet, which I do not have.
Clark mentions sensation of “splinter in the finger” and “pin in the throat.” I do not have that. Hands and feet are not sweaty. My head sweats, I don’t know if it is sweat or oily secretion that is because of our hot humid climate, but my hair is greasy most of the time with some itching of the scalp and dandruff.
Clark also mentions constipation in detail and assertion, and epileptic convulsions, that I do not have.
There is an interesting point about aggravation at full and new moon, I will observe this.
The most controversy is in my headaches. Clark says “They ascend from the nape of the neck to the vertex, as if coming from the spine, and locate in one eye, especially the right.” My headache starts from the right eye and remains there. It is not worse from draught, it is not better by covering or wrapping the head warmly. Clark also mentions “better from urination,” a long time back I used to take Sanguinaria Q as soon as the headache started, it resulted in profuse urination and consequent amelioration.
Clark mentions a curious symptom: “Fixed ideas: the patient thinks only of pins, fears them, searches for them and counts them carefully.” I have no such problem.
What is magnetism? Clark mentions this, so did you.
Other Clark’s sensations that I do not have:
As if head were teeming with live things whirling around in it.
As if everything would press out and burst skull.
As of water pipes bursting in it.
As if brain would collide with the skull. And there are other head sensations that I do not have.
Eyes as if too dry and full of sand.
As if both eyes were dragged to the back of the head.
Pin in the throat, splinter in the finger.
As if there is no power in the rectum to expel stool.
No pressure on chest or breastbone.
Binding tightly does not ameliorate headache. Open air does not worsen headache.
Not worse before or during thunderstorm or winter, not better in summer, fact is I like winters better than summers.
The above mostly mentions what I did not see fitting me in Clark's. But your essay amazed me. It fits me like the right sized shoe. Though I do not fully understand a few things:
Fear of achievement? Why would someone fear achievement?
What is meant by formlessness?
You mention apparent sympathy for others, which is not true sympathy. I am a sympathetic person, but I feel a genuine sympathy. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
Dr Nawaz Khan, you are following this case, would you please comment on Silicea?
Dr Kempson yes I have stopped everything Kali phos, Acid Phos, Hekla Lava etc. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From 75daud [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
What I have learnt here is homeopathy is not something one can practice on oneself or on others just because he possesses a materia medica and a repertory.
No more prescriptions for myself or for others. I will refer all cases to this forum from now on. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
A guest of two homes is always hungery. | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
"Dr Nawaz Khan, you are following this case, would you please comment on Silicea?"
In my opinion, Silicea is not the correct remedy here.
Many prayers for you.
Regards
Nawaz | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From nawazkhan [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
"What I have learnt here is homeopathy is not something one can practice on oneself or on others just because he possesses a materia medica and a repertory. "
I would like to agree with you 100%.
The true treatment, remedy selection and above all the potency selection comes with skill and experience.
The Homoeopathic remedies are very powerful with serious side effects. So, one must never self-prescribe and always make sure what their professional homoeopaths are giving them? | | |
| Re: cowardice, anxiety, insomnia | From brisbanehomoeopath [Log on to view profile] | on 2011-09-20 |
I would suggest starting with Silicea 200c. The method of administering the remedy is as follows.
INSTRUCTONS FOR SPLIT DOSING
Firstly, you need to create a separate dosing bottle. Get a bottle with a dropper, 15-30mls in size, and fill it with a mixture of water and alcohol (5 parts to 1 part). Dissolve 2-4 granules or 2-4 drops of the medicine you bought from the pharmacy into this mixture. Your doses will be made from this bottle.
Hit the bottle firmly against the palm of your hand, or another elastic surface like a book. It should be a firm hit not a tap. 2 hits is enough to begin with, and should not be increased unless it is clear that it is needed. The water in this bottle will 'remember' the number of times you have hit it, so that subsequent doses will be stronger (necessary to overcoming the resistance of your disease).
Place 1 drop into an amount of water - I may start with anything from 1/4-1 full cup (62ml-250ml) depending on the sensitivity of the patient. Stir thoroughly and take 1 teaspoon into the mouth. Throw the rest of the cup away.
This is one dose. Repeat doses would be started from the 2 hits on the bottle.
Each step of this process can be adjusted to reduced aggravation or to increase the effect of the medicine. In order to be able to do this, it is important to measure each step (count the hits, the drops, measure the water etc).
Start with 2 pillules or drops into the dosing bottle. Hit twice, 1 drop into 1/4 cup of water (62mls), stir and take one teaspoon into the mouth. Do this once only, as a test dose, and we will assess what has happened after about a week. |
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Important
Information given in this forum is given by way of exchange of views only, and those views are not necessarily those of ABC Homeopathy. It is not to be treated as a medical diagnosis or prescription, and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a qualified homeopath or physician. It is possible that advice given here may be dangerous, and you should make your own checks that it is safe. If symptoms persist, seek professional medical attention. Bear in mind that even minor symptoms can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, and a timely diagnosis by your doctor could save your life.