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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Did I have conversion disorder?
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
Did I have conversion disorder?
by pharmstudent, Feb 02, 2004 12:00AM
I'm a 24 year-old white female in my third year of pharmacy school. I'm 5'6 tall and weigh about 115 lbs. I have chronic mild asthma, allergies, and occasional migraine headaches. I am also being treated for depression and anxiety.
I had a strange "condition" as a child that I am still trying to come to terms with and give a name to, and I would like your opinion.
I had a turbulent childhood. My mother was a raging alcoholic, and it consumed my life from as early as I can remember. I was the peacemaker between her and my father and sister. My sister and I had to hide her keys so she would not drive drunk. We had to drag her inside when she passed out in our front yard. Though she would never hurt us when she was sober, she verbally and physically abused us when she drank. Sometimes my father would leave and we would be left alone with her. She would curse and yell at us for hours on end. Sometimes the police would get involved if she drove drunk or made too much noise. To compound matters, my father bounced from job to job
and we were falling deeper and deeper in debt. Belongings were repossessed, our piggy banks were cracked to buy groceries, and school supplies were done without. On top of this, my older brother, who is severely autistic, was living at home at the time. Every night was hell, and every day was spent in dread of it.
When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I began to experience severe headaches. I had my eyesight evaluated and began wearing glasses, but the headaches continued. I had a neurological exam with no relevant findings. Several months later I began experiencing chronic nausea that was triggered or exacerbated by consumption of food and drink. I was taken to many doctors, none of whom could explain the symptoms and one who told me that he would be very angry with me if didn't go back to school.
I was very afraid of getting sick at school and missed a lot of class and often came home early. I had an endoscopy to try to find a reason for the constant nausea and anorexia to no avail. I felt hunger pangs, but I was certain that eating and drinking would cause me to feel worse. With no diagnosis, I finally ended up skipping breakfast and lunch every day so that I could go to school without getting sick. I would eat a bland dinner and go to bed sick from nausea. I had no phobia about gaining weight (I knew I was emaciated and hated it) and previously enjoyed eating as much as anyone else. Particularly distressing to me was the lack of support. My family members were frustrated with me and sometimes accused me of faking the symptoms for attention or to stay home from school. I would have given anything to be a normal person again. I felt depressed and helpless. One day, I was in the school cafeteria and I was so hungry that I just decided that I would eat something and then call my mom when I got sick. I did eat, and to my surprise, I didn't get sick. I was okay. And that's it. Do you think this was conversion disorder?
I had a strange "condition" as a child that I am still trying to come to terms with and give a name to, and I would like your opinion.
I had a turbulent childhood. My mother was a raging alcoholic, and it consumed my life from as early as I can remember. I was the peacemaker between her and my father and sister. My sister and I had to hide her keys so she would not drive drunk. We had to drag her inside when she passed out in our front yard. Though she would never hurt us when she was sober, she verbally and physically abused us when she drank. Sometimes my father would leave and we would be left alone with her. She would curse and yell at us for hours on end. Sometimes the police would get involved if she drove drunk or made too much noise. To compound matters, my father bounced from job to job
and we were falling deeper and deeper in debt. Belongings were repossessed, our piggy banks were cracked to buy groceries, and school supplies were done without. On top of this, my older brother, who is severely autistic, was living at home at the time. Every night was hell, and every day was spent in dread of it.
When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I began to experience severe headaches. I had my eyesight evaluated and began wearing glasses, but the headaches continued. I had a neurological exam with no relevant findings. Several months later I began experiencing chronic nausea that was triggered or exacerbated by consumption of food and drink. I was taken to many doctors, none of whom could explain the symptoms and one who told me that he would be very angry with me if didn't go back to school.
I was very afraid of getting sick at school and missed a lot of class and often came home early. I had an endoscopy to try to find a reason for the constant nausea and anorexia to no avail. I felt hunger pangs, but I was certain that eating and drinking would cause me to feel worse. With no diagnosis, I finally ended up skipping breakfast and lunch every day so that I could go to school without getting sick. I would eat a bland dinner and go to bed sick from nausea. I had no phobia about gaining weight (I knew I was emaciated and hated it) and previously enjoyed eating as much as anyone else. Particularly distressing to me was the lack of support. My family members were frustrated with me and sometimes accused me of faking the symptoms for attention or to stay home from school. I would have given anything to be a normal person again. I felt depressed and helpless. One day, I was in the school cafeteria and I was so hungry that I just decided that I would eat something and then call my mom when I got sick. I did eat, and to my surprise, I didn't get sick. I was okay. And that's it. Do you think this was conversion disorder?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Feb 03, 2004 12:00AM
, Feb 03, 2004 12:00AM
While you were living with constant stress and fear, I am reluctant to conclude that your symptoms were indicative of conversion disorder. Your symptoms did not implicate the motor or sensory systems as is the csae with conversion disorders, and it is very possible that your nausea was attributable to a viral or bacterial condition which was not diagnosed and which resolved over time. It is very likely that you were experiencing exogenous depressive disorder and other psychological/emotional symptoms associated with your traumatic family situation. Does this seem reasonable to you?
