When the Body Says No, Ch. 9-12

Who was Jill?

A 50-year old Chicago based filmmaker who was described as a perfectionist and married to a man named Chris

What condition did Jill have?

Diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer

What hidden stressors did Jill have? (3)

• Took care of her mother from childhood

• Dysfunctional relationship with parents

• Noted that the “contrast in caretaking between husband and wife was dramatic

What was Dr. Mate’s assessment of Jill & what does it tell us? (6)

• Had a type C personality (suppression & repression)

• Inability to say “no” and lack of awareness of her anger

• Struggled to maintain a strong & happy façade

• Personality type was her coping style, rather than a personality trait

• Was uncomfortable with even brief silences

• Childhood upbringing can shape relationships with one’s own body & psyche

Who was Martha?

39-year old women who had symptoms for 15 years prior to diagnosis and 3 kids with her husband

What condition did Martha have?

Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and was recommended to have her large intestine removed

What hidden stressors did Martha have? (5)

• Took care of 3 kids virtually alone

• Lack of income initially

• Husband was emotionally abusive, cheated and was an alcoholic but later turned to gambling

• 2 daughters left for university, leaving her isolated in Phoenix

• Described as “silent sufferer”

What was Dr. Mate’s assessment of Martha? (3)

• Had no emotional support

• Released before leaving hospital forced her to go back to her reality

• Emotionally underdeveloped & dependent

Who was Magda?

A physician born in an Eastern European refugee camp and was the daughter of Holocaust survivors

What condition(s) did Magda have?

Diagnosed with IBS and had debilitating bowel pain (symptom)

What hidden stressors did Magda have? (3)

• Immediate stress related to job security

• Disappointed mother by being a researcher

• Guilt from childhood

What was Dr. Mate’s assessment of Magda + what does it tell us? (2)

• Psychotherapy revealed childhood repression

• High incidence of abuse in the histories of patients with intestinal diseases

  • “Gut feeling'“

Who was Ronald Reagan?

40th president of the U.S. and former radio announcer who was divorced and then remarried

What condition did Ronald Reagan have?

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 83

What hidden stressors did Ronald Reagan have? (3)

• Father was an alcoholic

• Mother was unavailable to children

• Wife, Nancy, was diagnosed with breast cancer

What was Dr. Mate’s assessment of Ronald Reagan + what does it tell us? (4)

• Children emotionally absorb negative vibrations of a stressed family, which can lead to emotional shutdowns

• Emotional repression

• Diminished capacity to recognize reality later in life

• Unaware of own internal states, making him less able to protect himself from consequences of stress