Psychological Portrait of Abraham Lincoln - Essay Example

PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN Identifying Information Abraham Lincoln. Birth: February 12, 1809 Age: Died at 56 years old. Male: Male Sexual Orientation: Homosexual Race: White Occupation: 16th president of the United States Location of Residence: 413 S. 8th St.,Springfield, IL 62703. Chief Complaint/Presenting Problem Abraham Lincoln was contemporaneously said to be suffering from ‘melancholy’ a state that is professionals of the modern mental health characterize as “clinical depression”. It was during this time that he was the legislator for Illinois when Joshua Speed said that Abraham Lincoln anonymously wrote a poem that was suicidal in the Sangamo Journal; though he did not know the exact date, on August 25th 1838, the suicide poem was published, which marked Lincoln 29 years of existence. Either he suffered from depression due to predilection that were genetic, as a reaction to many traumas in his life that were emotional, or a combination thereof is the topic of a lot of current conjecture. He suffered depression mood following significant traumatic events, for example the death of Ann Rutledge that occurred in August 1835, the end of his engagement to Mary Todd Lincoln (January 1841- many of his close associates were afraid he could commit suicide), and following the Second Battle of Bull Run (Hirsch, et al. 2010). But it is not evident if any of the scenarios meets the criteria for depression in modern medical. Mary Lincoln had a feeling that her partner was too trusting, and his melancholy often strike whenever he was betrayed or whenever he was not given support with the ones he put faith. Lincoln frequently dealt with his melancholic moods by searching in the works of humor, probably a health coping mechanism for his depression. Some people have suggested that he was using ‘blue mass’ pills so as to improve his mood. Personal History He was was born at Sinking Spring farm in a one room log cabin, which at the south of Hodgenville, in Hardin County, Kentucky. The family was later forced to leave following a land title disagreement, they settled at Knob Creek farm that is eight miles northwards. By 1814, his father, Thomas Lincoln, through legal disagreements over land titles, lost most of his land. Two years later, Thomas and his wife, together with their daughter Sarah and Abraham who was now seven years old, moved to Indiana, and Settled at Hurricane Township, Perry County, Indiana. Throughout his youth lifetime, Abraham Lincoln experienced the American Culture because he spent his entire youth in his country. The time he was a boy, where he lived books were few and no any school house within the neighborhood for some time. The built school house did not have any floor, no windows, no desks, and the benches were rough as they were made of logs that were split in halves. The school terms were short as the settlers were not in a position to afford much for the teacher. Pupils were few as the house in the new settlement were far apart and few. The school started early in the morning and until sun was down. Such was Abraham first school and he kept on studying and reading at home. His stepmother revealed that he read everything he came across. His father was too poor to afford furnishing lamps, or even candles. However, they had a fireplace that was big in the log house. Wood was in plenty, and Lincoln availed piles of dry logs to the fire. The blaze lit the room sufficiently, and the boy, while lying flat on the floor with books in front of him, spent long evening studying and reading. This is how he read the Bible. One day, he travelled a long distance on foot to a farmer to borrow book, the book was a life of Washington. He read it as much as possible while walking back home. When darkness reached, he sat down by the chimney and used the firelight to read until it was bed time. His grades at school were pleasing. He was basically self educated with intermitted formal education. He never attended college though he retained a lifelong interest in learning. His social intelligence was astonishing. He was very sensitive of how other people felt and their moods, and was good at reading people. He had uncanny knack for understanding others motivations. He was good in getting people to cooperate in pursuing crucial dreams and goals. Until he died in 1842, Lincoln was married to Mary Todd. They had four children together. He however had a relationship that was problematic and distant with women, unlike the relationship he had the men around him (Ketcham, H. 2010). Family History Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln were his parents, and they were 31 and 25 years old respectively at the time of his birth. Thomas later remarried Sarah Bush who became his stepmother. He was so close to Sarah that he could call her ‘mother’ however he was distant to his father. She was here main caretaker. The family moved while Abraham was young due to land tittles dispute that occurred in their initial home. He had a cordial relationship with his siblings. The families come from the American culture. Therapy History The recollections of Abraham Lincoln’s legal colleagues, all were in agreement that that he uses blue mass pills since of constipation i.e. a symptom that is troubling in Multiple Endocrine Type 2B. The ingredient that is active of blue mass is elementary mercury, a substance that is neurotoxin in vaporic state. Only assessments that is known of the medication are that it causes him ‘cross’ and he preferred it to anything else. Mrs. Lincoln revealed an instant when the medicine made him terribly ill for several days prior to his second inauguration. This happened when he appeared to require them. His face became white as the pillow case. The pills had never affected him that way before and it was so strange they were affecting him that way. Medical Condition He suffered from malaria at least twice. The first was in 1830 and the second one in 1835.in the second episode, he was so ill that he was sent to the house of a neighbor to receive medication and be cared for (Rivera, S. 2006). He suffered from syphilis in 1835 as recent physician’s analysis accepts the diagnosis. He contracted small pox in 1863. Recent research reveals that that it was an illness that was serious. Substance Use Abraham Lincoln is not in record in ever drinking excessively or using drugs. The only medication that he used frequently was the blue mass pills. Collateral The community in general thought that Abraham Lincoln was crazy. The collateral resources that are available all indicate that he was suffering from ‘melancholy’ a condition that is described by the modern mental health professions that is characterized as a clinical depression. There are no police records that are available regarding his health problem. There are no personality testing or intelligence testing reports that are available (Shenk, J. W. 2006). Results of Evaluation From the analysis from the previous sections, Lincoln was suffering from what in currently known as depression using diagnostic criteria that is standard. In its three stages; fear, transcendence, and engagement – his melancholy upends these views. His depression spurred him, harmfully, to study the his soul’s core; his hard work to be alive assisted him develop important skills and capacities, even as his dejection lingered hauntingly and his character which was inimitable took great power from the depression’s piercing insight, the response that was creative, and a humble determination spirit forged over for a long time deep suffering and longing that was earnest. Lincoln could have been diagnosed with depression, more so as a young man. This is advised by his friend’s ‘suicide watch’ over him; two important breakdowns, having a lot of official depression’s symptoms; his dark quotes, like “I am now the most miserable man living” and other individuals’ observations which included his law partner, William Herndon, who stated that gloom and sadness were his dominant state. According to diagnosis criteria in the DSM-5, depression is not a pathological condition; it’s not an illness to be cured or treated but it is a response that is health to a reality that is painful that someone’s world is permanently changed. Accepting this loss, and embracing the changes it brings, has a course that is unique for everyone, and it cannot be stopped or stilled by fast fixes or simple solutions. Recommendations I would recommend for combined therapy and mental health teams. It is important that antidepressants are taken along with therapy, since his depression was quite severe. This combination works better unlike just having one of the treatments (Beck, et al. 2009). Because the depression was severe, he should also be referred to a mental health team which consists of psychologist, specialist nurses, occupational therapist and psychiatrists. This team will offer intensive specialist talking treatments and prescribed medication. References Beck, A. T., & Alford, B. A. (2009). Depression: Causes and treatment. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Hirsch, D., & Van, H. D. (2010). Abraham Lincoln and the structure of reason. El Dorado Hills, Calif: Savas Beatie. Ketcham, H. (2010). The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Auckland: Floating Press. Rivera, S. (2006). Abraham Lincoln: A life of respect. Minneapolis: Lerner. Shenk, J. W. (2006). Lincolns melancholy: How depression challenged a president and fueled his greatness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.   Read More