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Margaret B. was married to a tender and loving second husband who catered to both Margaret and her son from her previous marriage. However, she became increasingly unhappy and felt unworthy of both her husband and her son. She thought they deserved a better wife and mother. Her misery led her husband to persuade her to seek psychiatric help. Unfortunately for her, the psychiatrist she consulted was inflexible in his therapy style and was unable to change Margaret's view of herself as ugly and inadequate, although her friends saw her as unusually attractive and bright. One of Margaret's friends, Vi, met Margaret because the same psychiatrist was treating both of them. Vi was fond of Margaret because they had similar problems, and they visited each other often. On one visit to Margaret's house, Vi found Margaret extremely active and quite chipper, in contrast to her usual depressive and fatigued demeanor. Most people might have regarded that as a great sign of progress, but the change was too radical, and Vi was suspicious. Immediately after leaving Margaret's house, Vi went to the nearest pay telephone and called Margaret's husband Burl to tell him that there was something strange about Margaret's behavior. Burl rushed home from his office and found Margaret lying in the bathtub with her wrists slashed, bleeding profusely. He applied tourniquets and called an ambulance. Because Vi was astute and Burl was concerned and quick, Margaret survived. Had he been 30 minutes later, she almost certainly wouldn't have. After this incident, Margaret went to a different psychiatrist who prescribed medication that significantly improved her mood. She still was not an unusually happy person, but her mood was normal, and she did not repeat her suicide attempt. Margaret's case occurred a long time ago. Nevertheless, it illustrates some facts about depression better than a modern case could. First, it shows that the wrong psychotherapy can be worthless, or worse. Second, it demonstrates the danger of suicide if effective medications and therapy are not administered. Third, Margaret's sudden surprising improvement in mood before her suicide attempt is typical, a sign that the depressed person has made a decision and is relieved about it. That is one of several possible danger signs that should not be ignored (see the discussion of suicide for other signs that should arouse concern). Last updated 12/19/03 |
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