Remedy code: 3-666.64.10
A 40-year-old man, he is father of two young children. His wife had been urging him for months to make an appointment, but he was resistant. He sits comfortably, his head slightly tilted back, appearing stable, open, and smiling in a relaxed manner. Over the past six months, he has experienced several complaints: his mind feels chaotic, jumping from one thing to another without finishing anything. He cannot concentrate and feels like he is unable to think. This started after he quit smoking two years ago for health reasons. Although he has resumed smoking, the complaints remain: he cannot find direction. Additionally, he struggles with a lack of boundaries—he sets them but frequently oversteps them, which has become common. He feels this issue has been present throughout his life, but now, with children, there is much more pressure, and his job is also demanding. He wants to help everyone. About his work, he still has one foot in his old job as a caregiver for people with mental disabilities. Now, he is a manager and coordinator of a large business park. “I thought I was above it,” he says, referring to wanting responsibility, which he considered a deliberate choice. However, he cannot let go of his old role. The position is vague and poorly defined, and he lacks structure. The responsibility is burdensome, and he feels he cannot abandon his colleagues. He initially quit smoking because he wanted "the kids to enjoy you longer." He managed for a year but compensated with overeating and drinking beer. Since resuming smoking, he feels calmer. At home: He is quickly overstimulated by the children’s screaming, which he cannot tolerate. Everything seems to affect him intensely, quickly becoming too much. He gets angry, and irritated, and often has to apologize. This over stimulation happens suddenly. He does not set boundaries for his children and believes he should be able to handle everything. He is always on high alert, frequently saying "be careful," and is constantly on edge, which others find annoying. He is very protective. He initially pursued a technical education but later wanted to work with people. His hobby is riding motorcycles and working on them, enjoying the sense of freedom and the wind on his face. He rarely gets sick and never visits the doctor. He sleeps well and does not have dreams. When his father passed away, he was 13, the eldest of several brothers. There was a lot of fighting and rivalry, but overall, his childhood was good, with plenty of enjoyable experiences. His father could not sit still and was always busy helping others. He feels a lot of responsibility, is meticulous, and does not like leaving things to chance. At work, he has indicated, "I want something else." He feels overwhelmed and spends too much time in his head. Previously, he would not express this, thinking he could manage it, but now he only wants to do things he enjoys. During the day, he feels the need to nap for an hour. He can no longer handle stress and responsibility. The more he has on his plate, the more overstimulated he becomes. He describes his mind as “exploding” with thoughts that need to be organized. He agrees to tasks at work but often does not want to do them. While he wants to withdraw, it is not always possible.
Campanula rotundifolia brought a short period of mental calm.
AnalysisThe most notable feature is the “solution” he envisions in withdrawal. He wants to step back from tasks that do not suit him. This indicates
Phase 6. Responsibility and autonomy align with
Series 6.
The hesitant, soft character of the
Campanulales fits his personality, but the
Gold series aspect shows he immerses himself in tasks, realizes it is too much, becomes restless, and wants to step out. This desire for withdrawal highlights the need for stability, certainty (
Phase 4), and the feeling of "this is what I can do, and this is what I want" (Stadium 10), which creates tension.
This tension reflects a conflict between
Phase 4 and
Phase 6, reinforced by Stadium 10 ("I can do this"). Withdrawal behavior is characteristic of Dipsacus, with the outward and inward posture of "I can handle this," fitting
Stage 10 and
Phase 4.
A significant life event was the death of his father. This could align with
Phase 6 or
Phase 7, but it is more about the absence than trauma. He has positive memories of his father, but was ‘stepping out’, indicating
Phase 6. His mother was supportive and present, fitting
Phase 4. As the eldest child, he took on the responsibility and is familiar with life’s challenges, fitting the
Lanthanides and
Series 6.
Prescription:
Dipsacus fullonum.
Follow-up after five weeksHe now feels good and has better control over his life. He is more motivated and positive, with no longer any focus on the past. Progress was gradual, but there was significant improvement over the past two weeks. His wife notes that he is in a better mood and more comfortable in his skin. Current issues: When things do not go as planned, he still becomes stressed, leading to irritation. He has a rigid mental plan (
Phase 4, Stadium 10 aspects: stability versus rigidity). He may get grumpy or short-tempered, but it quickly subsides. This mainly occurs in the mornings due to the children. The over stimulation started after having children. Before that, he would simply do as he pleased. Smoking seems to serve as a way to isolate himself from the world. Four-month follow-up, The improvement has continued; he feels increasingly relaxed. He no longer wants a management role, finding it too demanding. He now provides his solutions and no longer feels the need to escape, as he did previously. He has a clearer view of his position and capabilities. At home, he is no longer irritable. After four months he stops smoking.
Dipsacus casuistiek shows us symptoms including issues arising after quitting smoking, being overly driven, alcohol consumption, and being overwhelmed by work. Helping frequently others and feels overburdened (
Phase 6 in
Gold series: freedom versus responsibility).