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Carolyn had been manic as an adolescent, but her episode had
been controlled by a combination of lithium and therapy with a
psychiatrist. She later completed her college education, married,
and embarked on a successful professional career. However, she
encountered unexpected problems. Marital difficulties led to an
impending divorce. Her behavior became increasingly excitable and
caused trouble at work. She once again entered therapy, but her
relationship with her psychiatrist was rocky, and she stopped taking
the medication that he had prescribed before it had a chance to
work.
Her mania soon returned with a vengeance. It wasn't clear
whether she quit her job or was fired. She had grandiose flights of
fancy about the great things that she could accomplish, talked
nonstop, and slept little. She also took literal flights, flying
everywhere from Florida, where she lived, to California, using her
credit cards to pay for her travel and buy whatever her new-found
boy friend desired. He was more than happy to encourage her
excesses, and she soon had tens of thousands of dollars of charges
on her credit cards.
Perhaps fortunately, the police were less relaxed about one
of her excesses. When she ran shouting into the middle of the street
and stopped traffic, ranting about her greatness, what she intended
to do with it, and how the frustrated drivers would fit into her
plans, she was arrested. Her worried parents were contacted, and
they came to retrieve her, although she was thousands of miles from
home. Fortunately for Carolyn, they were professionals who were able
to make the trip, and later to help her pay off her credit card
debt. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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