Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Can Mental problems be caused from a broken neck or severe illness?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Can Mental problems be caused from a broken neck or severe illness?
by Norma7, Sep 04, 2001 12:00AM
My son broke his neck six years ago and was suffering from depression and was on zoloft for four years. Nine months ago he was hospitalized with a rare form of meningitis and encephelitis. He also had pneumonia and ws on life support twice. During his eight weeks in the hospital, all of his organs shut down, he had congestive heart failure and his body quit producing red cells so he was given about 8 units of blood. He lost 60 pounds and most of his muscle tone and was put into rehab to learn how to walk again. Since this happened, he has run away twice, lived on the beach for 3 weeks and was arrested for trespassing and put into a mental facility, where he still is.We don't know how to deal with him when he comes home on visits. He becomes aggressive and blames me for all of his problems. He is now 19 years old and considered an adult,so the state says that I have no say in his recovery. What can I do to help him get better and to make him understand that I am not the root of his problems?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Sep 05, 2001 12:00AM
, Sep 05, 2001 12:00AM
This is a tough situation...yes, the physical injuries can cause both brain tissue strain but probably you are dealing with the psychological stress of having been so helpless for so long, and now being wild and "free" in a reckless way, is his way of denying his injuries and illnesses. I don't know why he blames you, but it is part of the syndrome of not wanting to take responsibility, and wanted all the troubles to just go away somehow, and not wanting any responsibity.
It's possible that he's suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from the original neck break that revived after his recent health crisis. You can run an internet search for PTSD and find tons of information for family/friends in terms of coping.
It could also be depression, a personality disorder, thyroid problems or a host of other things: pretty hard to tell when he's had so many things happen to his body over the past few years.
Is it possible to encourage him to seek a therapist?
best of luck,
Helen