Question

Part I – Frustration

Ellie dropped her backpack beside the chair in Dr. Kern’s office and sat down with a sigh. Her hands trembled as she glanced again at the graded exm in her hand.

“It’s no better than the last one,” she mumbled. “I really, really tried this time, Dr. Kern. I did all the reading assignments before and again after class. I completed all of the study guide questions and rewrote my notes and made flash cards and studied with straight-A Cassie every week. But it didn’t make any difference. I still failed it.” She sniffled loudly and reached for the box of tissues on Dr. Kern’s desk.

Dr. Kern sat back and thought for a moment while Ellie made use of several tissues. Ellie was a junior in Dr. Kern’s physiology course and had struggled from the start of the semester. One-on-one help sessions and different study strategies hadn’t seemed to help. “I know how discouraged you must be, Ellie. Tell me again what you do when you sit down to study.”

“I read and review my class notes and reread the assigned sections in the book. But for some reason I can’t concentrate on much of anything for very long and, even when I can, I don’t remember what I’ve studied

by the next day. It’s so frustrating to spend so much time studying and not retain anything. If I fail this class, my GPA might drop enough that I’ll lose my scholarships. I’m so stressed that I can’t sleep, even when I try.”

Ellie broke off, and Dr. Kern gently tried to encourage her. “Let’s not give up hope yet. Sometimes you have to use new study methods for a while until you start to see some benefits. Let’s also take a look at your exam and see if there’s a pattern in the questions you missed.”

Ellie sniffled again. “OK, but I’m not very hopeful. I’ve been thinking about changing my major. All these upper-level courses seem so hard … there’s so much to learn in such a short time and I just don’t seem to get it even though everyone else does. I can’t stand the stress anymore.”

“Perhaps talking this over with your parents or a trusted friend would help,” Dr. Kern suggested. She noted Ellie’s strikingly large blue eyes that gave her a permanent look of surprise. Ellie was also quite thin, almost to the point of being too thin. Dr. Kern paused and chose her words with care. “I also know there are terrific folks over at the health center who are experts in how to deal with stress.”

Ellie gave a small, noncommittal smile and pushed a shaking hand through her hair. “Thanks, I’ll think about it. See you in class on Monday.”

However, Ellie didn’t come to class on Monday or Wednesday. She emailed Dr. Kern that she most likely had a sinus infection and would miss class on Friday to see a doctor. Dr. Kern shook her head at Ellie’s misfortune; missing a week of class was not going to make it any easier for Ellie to pull up her grade.

1. Note anything unusual about Ellie’s behavior or appearance.
2. What do you think might be going on with Ellie that could cause her difficulties? identify possible causes. Consider both physical and psychological cause.

Answer 1

Ellie is not normal, she is suffering from thyroid disorder.

Ellie must be suffering from hyperthyroidism. It is a condition caused due to excess secretion of thyrid hormone. Thyroid hormone is responsible for body metabolism. So it controls all the cells and tissues of the body. Maintaining metabolism is very important for the body cells and especially to the nerve tissue. Brain is the most busy organ and requires lot of glucose for its functioning. If the metabolism is not maintained, it affects the brain functioning. That is why Ellie is suffering form lack concentration and memory loss. She is also suffering from sleeplessness due to the same reason. Shivering in hands is one important symptom for hyperthyroidism. The anxiety and nervousness that the Ellie is suffering is another important symtom. LArge and gazing eyes is also the symptom to be noticed in Ellie which observed in patients with hyperthyroidism. It is called Ex-ophthalmic goiter.

So, the physical symptoms that she is passing through are due to excess of thyroid hormone. Because of the loss of memory, inability to concentrate, her morale is down and is having impications on her psychological behaviour.

She is frustrated because she studied a lot but not got good grades. The depression that she is going through will have more effect on the concentation and memory and sleep patterns. She is loosing confidence on her self because of the lack of confidence and unable to retain what she studied.

Counselling by parents / friends/ teacher will not have any effect since the condition is based on body physiological state.

Balancing her thyroid gland secretions will calm her nerves and symptoms can be reduced considerbly.