Anger and Fear in Post-Traumatic Experiences - Essay Example

 Care for traumatized patients is a highly complex process as treatment requires not only understanding of the physical body but also of the cognitive perception of the individual. In this paper, a case study is presented involving a person named Peter who had injured his spinal cord resulting to paralysis from the neck down though it was reported that he was able to feel a tingling sensation in his fingertips. In spite of his condition, Peter appears to be calm, composed and confident that his condition will improve with the help and support of his parents. While Peter seems to be devoid of our usual notion of fear and anger, the ensuing analysis would indicate that he is actually suffering from these two emotions, albeit, in a different manner. Fear is defined as an emotional feeling generated when a person feels a threat or some form of harm manifested through bravado or anxiety and usually prompting a decision whether to fight or escape from it. Anger, on the other hand, is defined as a strong feeling of grievance and displeasure (Encarta, 2003). How does fear and anger manifests in the seemingly jovial and confident Peter? From our definition of fear, we can see that Peter responds to the threat of permanent paralysis by using self-reassuring (bravado) techniques such as the ‘my parents will take care of it’ and rejection of the most probable outcome by constantly thinking that he will get better and be back to normal. Anger is not readily apparent as it is not outwardly expressed but one can surmise that Peter is angry at himself for his unfortunate accident and the ensuing helplessness the paralysis has brought upon him. He grieves for himself and his reliance on his parents signifies his resignation. This suppressed anger at his situation is often referred to as ‘hidden’ anger. Traumatic events are multidimensional in nature and are perceived as extremely unpleasant subjective experience. Not only is the biological aspect of the body harmed but also the psychological well-being of the person. Psychological response to life-changing traumatic experiences differs for every individual and depends on his personality and cognitive appraisal. Herrero (2008) observes that certain personality types are more adaptive than others. Those with a healthy personality have been observed to be more optimistic and confident with their situation and treatment than those with personality disorders such as being schizoid, antisocial, dependent and avoidant. Schreiber, Renneberg and Maercker (2009) adds that people with personality disorders can and often display coping mechanisms such as false sense of optimism to hide their shame about the disorder or to avoid stigmatization. Peter’s observable dependency on his parents suits the ‘dependent’ personality disorder category. Following Herrero(2008), Peter cannot be expected to be optimistic about his situation. His current attitude then can be considered as not reflecting his true feelings and indicate hidden and suppressed hopelessness. He is actually in the rejection phase of his situation and his outward attitude is the result of trying to hide his fear of the possibility of permanent paralysis. Herrero (2008) adds that people who are in the denial use more passive emotion-based coping strategies that have been found to lead to further aggrandizement and poorer adjustment. From this, we can see that fear can give people false hopes. This, in turn, complicates the treatment process. Paralysis has made Peter unable to control his body function and he now relies on care providers to take care of himself. This brings us to the concept of the interrelationship of power, depression and anger. Exploring on this subject, Carmony and DiGuisseppe (2003) made use of the term ‘power’ to refer to the sense of control and feelings that one’s action can lead to the desired results. When external factors such as another person makes an individual, anger naturally ensues. When a person feels that he is powerless, he becomes sad and depressed as he feels that he has become a victim of circumstances. That is to say, people in lower-power conditions have higher levels of anger than those in high-power conditions. Levels of anger are also higher for people who have previously experienced high levels of dominance. Hence, it is highly likely that Peter is suffering from deep depression and anger within especially now that he has no more control of his body that is athletic enough to enable him to dive. That power has been robbed of him and reduced to a slight tingling of the fingertips. Imagine how frustrating it must be to lose control of your body, to wake up without being able to get up, to want to feel something and ended up feeling nothing and to pass the time with only the thoughts in your head. Peter is truly in a powerless state and it is undeniable, though not mentioned, that he is experiencing anger and depression. Another very important indicator that he is harboring anger within himself is his resignation of his situation to his parents and the unrealistic expectations he has of them. People are known to have the so-called reliable attachments or people they can trust to take care of them no matter what. According to the study conducted by Doron et al (2009), ‘attachments’ begins in early childhood when babies form expectancies on people providing them care. However, as people grow up, they begin to appreciate and take pride in their independence and only resort to these attachments in the gravest of situations. It is possible for people to call upon their attachments for some kind of support but when ‘complete’ support is expected, the person is undergoing acute depression and anger. This is further amplified and catalyzed into physical expressions of anger, such as violent and aggressive behavior, when the attachments to fulfill the expectations. From the foregoing discussion, one can see that Peter is experiencing anger and fear for his situation even though he is calm and confident on the outside. His attitude is only an ‘act’ and deep within, he is affected by fear, anger and depression. Hidden anger and fear is one of the most destructive forms as it impairs a person’s cognitive processes. References: Carmony, T. And Raymond DiGiuseppe (2003). ‘Cognitive Induction of Anger andDepression: The Role of Power and Attribution’. Journal of Rational - Emotive & Cognitive - Behavior Therapy; Summer 2003; 21, 2; ProQuest Health and Medical Complete pg. 105 Herrero, A.M. ,Carmen Ramírez-Maestre, Vanessa González (2008).’Personality, Cognitive Appraisal and Adjustment in Chronic Pain Patients’. The Spanish Journal of Psychology. Madrid: 2008. Vol. 11, Iss. 2; pg. 531. Schreiber, V., Babette Renneberg and Maercker, A. (2009). ‘Seeking Psychosocial Care After Interpersonal Violence: An Integrative Model’. Violence and Victims. New York: 2009. Vol. 24, Iss. 3; pg. 322, 15 pgs Read More