Psychologists

Psychologists
__Task 1, Books I-IV__As a troubled teenager growing up without his father, Telemachos has been coming to you for counseling. For months, you have been observing his actions and listening to him talk about his family and home life. Most recently, along his journey, Telemachos has been sending you letters, sharing the details of his experiences with you. As a result of all of these sessions with your patient, what can you conclude about Telemachos’ character? Can you diagnose Telemachos? In your psychological report, list Telemachos’ behaviors, beliefs, or statements and your conclusions about him.

Aritro Nandi, Michael Hrehocik, Matthew Higgs, Jag Gummadi, and Laura Lapham Ms. Guarnaccio Honors English 10, Mods 1/2 30 November 2015

__PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION__ Client: Telemachos Date of Birth: 29 February 1250 BCE Date of Evaluation: 3 November 1230 BCE Referred By: Penelope Examiner(s): Matthew Robert Higgs M.D. PhD., Jagadeesh Reddy Gummadi M.D., Michael Hrehocik M.D. PhD., Aritro Nandi M.D., Laura Lapham M.D. PhD. The patient's mother, Penelope, noticed a significant and sudden behavior change in her son. She notified her general practitioner who referred Telemachos to our practice. His mother noted that before the so-called change in her son’s personality, her son was timid and not very outspoken. Telemachos’ mother noticed that after speaking with an old family friend, Mentes, Telemachos suddenly became outspoken. Telemachos’s mother became concerned that this behavior would lead to trouble with aggressive suitors that often were found soliciting on Odysseus’ property. After working with Telemachos, we have diagnosed him with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is a mental illness that is marked by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. Most people who suffer from BPD show problems with regulating emotions or thoughts, impulsive or reckless behavior, and unstable relationships with other people. A possible cause for BPD is being part of a community where unstable family relationships are common. Some symptoms of BPD are: During an evaluation, Telemachos explained that he was unable to contain his feelings and often expressed them by breaking down and crying, which would be considered an extreme reaction. Telemachos went on to explain that he felt overwhelmed by his predicament, and simply explaining it crushed him. Another example of his inability to contain emotion was evident in a letter that Telemachos sent from his travels to Sparta. Telemachos could not contain his longing to find his father and again began crying. These two examples of extreme emotion and an inability to contain that emotion represents the first symptom of BPD.
 * Summary of Reason for Referral **
 * Abstract of Findings **
 * Extreme reactions, including panic, depression, rage, frantic actions, and real or perceived abandonment
 * Distorted and unstable self-image or sense of self, which can result in sudden changes in feelings, opinions, values, or plans and goals for the future.
 * Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors
 * Having stress-related paranoid thoughts or severe dissociative symptoms, such as feeling cut off from oneself, observing oneself from outside the body, or losing touch with reality.
 * Evidence For Diagnosis **

 In an interview with the patient’s mother, she revealed a recent change in behavior of the patient. Until recently, Telemachos had been respectfully humble towards his mother and rarely objected to her commands and statements. Recently, however, when his mother made a simple command for the bard to sing a more cheerful song, Telemachos objected and argued with his mother that it was important for her to listen to the song and that she needed to come to terms with the highly plausible event of his father’s death. A sudden change of personality such as Telemachos’ shift from an introverted personality to a outspoken one is indicative of BPD.

 Telemachos has told us through his letters that he has gone on a voyage to find out to where his father has disappeared. He told us that he was visited by Mentes, who inspired him to go on a voyage to find his father. This decision was very different from his usual reaction to the suitors, which formerly was doing nothing. Telemachos’ decision to go find his father was quick, which leads us to conclude that Telemachos has a tendency to make rash and quick decisions. Either way, it was a major and impulsive decision. Telemachos’ sudden rash decision making, considering his previous lack of action, helps us to diagnose him with Borderline Personality Disorder.

When Telemachos is in his own house, surrounded by the guests that want to marry his mother, he only sits around the people, distressed, and ponders about his father and the people that are plaguing his home. He thinks of his father coming into the house and ridding his mother of the suitors, a comment that could signify his distress. He also was able to describe to one of his guests, Mentes, the situation of the house, and multiple different situations involving his father’s death or disappearance. Telemachos’s description is a sign that he has been dwelling on these stressful thoughts, and he has personally thought of the multiple situations he would have preferred to his father’ disappearance. Telemachos seems to have dwelled on the disappearance of his father and the crowding of his house beyond normal thought, to the point of speculation, leading to outbursts. This persistent thought that induces stress and anxiety is another symptom of BPD.

The correspondence of many of the symptoms of BPD with Telemachos’s current state mean that there is a high probability of Telemachos having this disorder. Further psychiatric support, in the form of rigorous therapy for Telemachos, is recommended, or he may fall victim to drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, or other harmful tendencies that are commonly linked with BPD.

__Task 2, Books V, VI, and IX__

You have the opportunity to meet with Odysseus in the land of Phaicia between his visit with the king and his recreation with the residents. He has been away from his home for two decades, and you are certain that his time in battle and violent travel afterwards has had some effect on his overall psyche. Does he show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder? Write a transcript of your brief session with Odysseus, including questions and answers, with a brief explanation of your findings. Remember, you want Odysseus to talk about his past experiences and his reaction to them, and you hope that his answers will reveal his personality and character. [Hint: You may need to investigate post-traumatic stress disorder and provide some information/links for your cl assmates.]

[[file:OdysseusTranscript (1).pdf]]media type="file" key="New Recording.m4a" width="308" height="57"
__Task 3, Books X-XII__ Since you are a renowned psychologist, you are in the process of writing a self-help book. You are currently creating/drafting a chapter entitled, “Fate vs. Free will: Does man control his own destiny?” Using the adventures that Odysseus and his crew experience as evidence, create/draft this chapter. You may use evidence from the second reading as well. Remember that as a counselor, you want to provide examples that explain the advice you are giving your readers. Consider creative ways to present your findings/advice (i.e. chart, outline, etc.).