We were talking on left over effects that events have on people.
My colleague would frequently inquire how long it took someone to accept a lost, release an anger, reveal in a victory, undo an emotional event, and the like. Included ih this questioning was also the element of how the person displayed these reactions — some would announce to the world over and over about their successes, losses, or injustices they believe befell them. This information gave much insight into how one handles, exploits, or presents these spill over’s. So initially we felt that should be called spill-over’s, but a student gave us a better label — he called them emotional hangovers. He said the nature of the hangover was a window into the person’s ego structure.
It makes sense. I have a patient who was attacked at gun point. The actual danger is long past, but the hangover remains. He found this label simple but precise enough to help him explain the impact of that assault took.. We call his combination of fears, nightmares, anxiety, etc., as his hangover. Child abuse or other traumas produce their own and often stubborn hangovers.
It’s a good clarifying metaphor.
Filed under: Mental Health, Psychotherapy Notes, child abuse | Tagged: emotions, Mental Health, parenting, post traumatic stress disorder, Psychiatry, psychological growth, psychotherapy
