Depression with psychotic episodes

[Dale Moss]

Had a scary emergency case a few days ago. A middle-aged man, out of work for some months, had become severely depressed and was taken to the ER after an apparent attempt to overdose with meds. Unclear how serious the suicide attempt was, or even whether he actually swallowed anything.

I was called in by some mutual friends, one of whom I'd treated just last year for severe depression. What follows is a mixture of my observations and theirs -- thank God for the latter, because he was so lacking in affect, partly from meds, when he came that it would have been hard to get any sort of case.

-- obsessed about financial worries and the cost of everything; a real feeling of impending doom for his family
-- arms scabby with sores; he picks constantly at them and at a place on his scalp
-- feels he has to pull himself together and find work, but he can't concentrate
-- out of nowhere, he'll suddenly repeat phrases; speech generally slow, not exactly halting but not fluid either
-- evenings
-- a slight spasm goes through him and he'll suddenly emit a noise like a bark; admits to weeping and screaming
-- he's been left alone a lot of late while his wife works
-- his wife appears to be in denial about the seriousness of his state; she thought he was simply being a jerk, until friends persuaded her that it wasn't normal to wake up and find your husband making a fist in front of your face or, worse, with his hands around your throat

I saw him on short notice and could not take a full case, but at this stage didn't think one necessary (there is more than posted above). As a precaution, I had the wife bring a friend with her when they came, in case the remedy unleashed some anger. Also sent a message through our friends that we would NOT discuss payment, because I was afraid that might set him off.

Gave Hyoscyamus 10M, the highest potency I had on hand. When the wife wanted to know what the remedy was, I gave her the name -- in a foreign language I was sure she would not recognize. No need to have one or both of them looking up that remedy!

A few days later, the verdict is that he's still sad, but no longer crazy. This comes indirectly from his spouse; I still have not been able to speak to her privately. My impression is that she has no clue as to the seriousness of this, nor does she understand how homeopathy works. They cancelled their follow-up last night, which didn't surprise me. At least I had a chance to talk on the phone to the Px, whose speech was much more normal. Made it clear that I needed to see him again.

I'm wondering now if he'll change remedy states, yet rather doubt it, because I think he's needed this one for a long time. Hope they'll continue with homeopathy, because I'm afraid he'll end up catatonic otherwise. Don't even want to think about what might happen to the wife.

Peace,
Cinnabar

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