Question

Byron is a stressed adolescent from a dysfunctional family. His dad died when he was 13. They had been very close, so when his mom remarried about a year later, Byron had a hard time adjusting to the new home environment. His Mom who is considered to be loving suddenly changed upon the death of his Dad. She never shows care and sympathy to him for both of them are still grieving. Byron is so annoyed seeing his Mom cuddled by his stepdad. He was always sad and in argument with his Mom. Their communication became complicated until he found himself in a dark environment.

His stepdad talked about how much God loved him, but Byron didn't want to hear it... just like he didn't want to hear the teachers in the school assembly say “things get better; that suicide nor drugs is not the answer”. Byron had lived through the years of anger, pain, and emptiness looking for better. It didn't exist.

Byron separated himself from reality and from the people who loved him. "There were people in my life that cared about me," he said. "The way I wrote to them in my suicide letters was so deep. Why couldn't I go to them and say, 'I am about to kill myself. I need your help'? The world of drugs separated me from my relationship with them."

As he lay in bed that night, he felt tired. Tired of the pressure. Tired of the anger. Tired of the hurt. Tired of living. The death of his father was so traumatic to him.

He got out of bed and put on his best clothes. He wrote his will and good-bye letters to his family and friends. He was so angry at his father for dying early, he decided to kill himself over his father's grave. Byron sat in the cemetery with his friend's rifle under his chin. He tried to pull the trigger, but couldn't. He tried again and again. Completely frustrated with himself, he threw a bottle of liquor and say, “what am I doing?. Then he put the rifle under his chin and pulled the trigger again but didn’t work.

After sometime, he realized what his step-dad told him how much God loved him. He looked back at the graveyard with teary eyed and whisper, “Lord help me.”A day after, he came to you for counseling (as referred by his friend), related the whole story as written.

1. Make your own assessment discussing the possible disorder using DSM-4 or DSM-5.

    (25pts)

Answer 1

ANSWER

INTRODUCTION :- Byron is adolsecent who is stressed and belongs to dysfunctional family.He lost his father when he was 13,and one year later his mother got remarried.He had trouble accepting the new environment.The changes in the mother,had impacted him,and he does not like seeing his mother cuddling with his step dad,and all these anger resulted in argument with his mother.Byron induced himself in dark environment,escaping from people and reality,and indulged himself in substance abuse,and even had suicidal thoughts.He agrees that the world of drugs separated him from his loved ones,and his father's death was traumatic eincident for him.He even tried to attempt suicide once,but could not press the trigger.And at last visited counselor for help.

Based on the case study,the possible disorder according to DSM 4 or DSM 5,that Byron is suffering from is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).

The reason behind this is,one of the major symptom that makes any disorder PTSD is that,the disorder starts in an individual,only after he has encounter,something so tragic or disastrous in his life,which is unbearable for him,and leading to have traumatic impact in his life,as a result causing huge hindrance in the normal functioning in person's life.As such Byron,case completely relates with it,as he has suffered the death of his father,with whom he was very close,and it had creted a huge impact afterwards in his life.Moreover,the death of his father,even generated problematic relation with his mother,as she got married,and all these events basically impacted his life even more,because he was already dealing with the trauma in the first place.Thus,making this trauma of death of his father,and further changes in Byron behavior,marks the symptom of PTSD.

Moreover,the sometimes,situations are even prevailed where after coming across the trauamatic situation,which leads to PTSD,it can even make them to have the suicidal thoughts,as they are unable to deal with the sufferings they are facing,making it one such symptom of PTSD,and other than this,one more symptom it includes is being angered,and most of the irritated with the things.The symptopm of PTSD,even includes,substance abuse,as the person might get drawn in any of the substance,in order to seek relief.As such,considering all these symptoms,Byron do shows all of these in himself,as he was indulged in the substance abuse,which he himself made known,and even accepted it as the factor,which is separating him from his loved ones.Further,another symptom,he even had sucidal thoughts,and most importantly,he even tried to attempt once.And lastly,Byron do got irritated and had argument with his mother,which is also a symptom of PTSD.

Since,Byron showed the prominent symptom of PTSD,which are marked in DSM 4 and DSM5,as such start of problematic behavior,following the traumatic event that is death of his father,suicidal thougts,got engaged in substance abuse,and even showed the tendency of getting angry and irritated.Thus,we can say,he is possible dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.