Family Dynamics
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2005 Mar / Apr VOL VIII NO 2.
Dr Navin Pawaskar
Dr RAJESH NALAWADE
Late Dr Milind Agarwal
'Nat-s

Introduction
This is a case with a friend who was an example of love, cheerfulness and selflessness. During the initial period of our MD course, we were nor very well conversant with the role of homoeopath as a family physician in case taking and problem resolution. My friend Milind was absolutely new to these concepts but was full of enthusiasm to learn. When we saw this case, we were able to see the role of family dynamics in the genesis and maintenance of problems of a young student.

On the same day, we had her mother's case. Later we also had her father's case for his OSAD. We were able to see how disposition plays an important role as a snow ball effect in the genesis of pathology not only in inter-personal relations but also in person giving rise to varied pathologies. And here the roles of homoeopath as a family physician come into picture. One can see how a strict, disciplinarian mother, principled and perfectionist father, and irritable, independent daughter are responsible to maintain the problems of each other.

Physician had to play various roles in handling the family dynamics and psychosomatic illnesses. Over a period of time, we were able to see the drasmatic change in their inter-personal relations as well as their sufferings during treatment.

On a fateful day of 12th December 2004, we lost our friend Milind to an unfortunate road accident. It has taken us sometime to recover from the loss we incurred in our personal lives and this presentation is a tribute to his enthusiasm and energy to learn.

Preliminaries: Name: Miss S.N.S.
Age : 17 yrs.
Sex: F
Education: 12th
Occupation: Student.

Chief Complaints

Patient As A Person
Lean, thin, tall, fair, well dressed and good looking girl.v Ht: 5’8". Wt: 45.
Perspiration: forehead²
Appetite - average.
Cravings: sweets³, chicken³.
Aversion: sour³.
STOOL:1-2/day,urine: normal.
M/H: FMP at 14 yrs of age. Regular, 4-5 /28, moderate, red colour.
Thermals: C2H2-C2H3.
Sleep: lying on back.
Dreams: clairvoyant dreams.

Life Situation and Mental State
Born on 23/02/1987, at Mumbai, elder to a 8 yrs old sister, belonging to a good educated family. Fa is working in clerical department in BARC, Tarapur and mo is primary school teacher. PGM is living with them. Father is mild and sensitive while mother is strict and discipliner who keeps on shouting for studies and discipline.

During childhood she was mild and used to listen to mother. At school she was good in studies and was competitor and always desired to be a ranker. She would be aggressive to prove herself and never compromise though she would be wrong. As parents laid certain rules and restrictions, over period of time it was difficult for her to follow them and she started showing dissatisfaction through her irritability. Though never expressed it in front of parents, it was seen in her rudeness and reserved ness.

In 10th std, she wanted to choose technical subject rather than Marathi but mo compelled her to opt for Marathi. In final results her poor performance in that subject affected her total aggregate. She felt bad about her performance. When parents reproached her for it and whenever talks about her performance she gets angry but never express.

In college, met with outgoing friends and started to bunk lectures, go for movies. She was doing it not out of interest but to experience that freedom which her friends were experiencing. While sitting in class, she would prefer to sit in central row to get more attention. She had developed a strong hatred towards a lady biology teacher, because of her egotism, general attitude and rude behavior with students. Since then she also developed hatred towards biology. Also she was anxious about the exhaustive study of medicine which parents were desired her to opt for. She is a not a very hard working, she would prepare last min before exam, never helped her mother in household work.

She is image conscious and would try to maintain it. She was able to create an image of sincere, mild and loving cute girl in relatives and friends. She would never share her dissatisfactions with parents or friends because thinks that they will misunderstand her. "I don't want to change my identity for others but I'll adjust my behavior if misunderstanding arises, I will die to clear misunderstanding." She was proud of her height, says that she feel confident because of her height.

Though people taunts her and she want to hit the person, but controls her. She feels inferior when looks at a taller person.

She has few close friends, likes friend having good personality, sense of talking. She hates the people who has superiority complex, "I just hate those creatures." When she is not allowed to attain parties or outings, she is jealous of those friends and hatred towards their parents for allowing their children to go for parties.

At parties, whenever receives a call from anxious parents for getting late, she gets irritated and feel embarrassed when friends asks about the call. She dislikes such overcaring and restrictions and is now waiting to finish 12th exam, after which she will be free as will live away from home. Contrarily she also feels homesick when stays out of home and says my mother is best and has affection towards Father too. She doesn't want to waste Fa’s money for further studies and is working hard to get admission in Govt quota. She wants to become aeronautical engineer. "I want to fly".

She exeprinces anticipatory anxiety before exams, has fears of lizards and cockroaches, but she hides these things which data we got from parents. They told about her arrogance, intolerance of contradiction, fights with young sister and her attention towards her dressing. During interview she was reluctant initially but later cooperated well. She was confident and cautious throughout interview.

On Examination
Nose: Septum deviated (DNS)
Left side nose block.
RS: trachea - central, air entry - bilaterally equal, bilateral wheezing.
RR: 28/MIN.

Family History
FA: OSAD (orthopnoeic sleep apnea disorder)
MO: mitral stenosis.
PGFA: Essential HT.

Rubrics

1. AF: getting wet.
2. < Contradiction.
3. < anticipation.
4. < rainy season.
5. < cold things.
6. Aversion to domination.
7. Anger, vexation.
8. Independent.
9. Egotism.
10. CR: sweets.
11. CR: chicken.
12. Aversion: sour.

Final Selection:

Follow Up
Patient was given Natrum -sulph 30 single dose followed by 30 infrequent repetitions and then 200 single dose.
Following changes were observed

1. Episodes of acute breathlessness & wheeze stopped.
2. Need for inhalers reduced significantly.
3. There was no "aggravation before exams" as she would usually have.
4. Coryza continued for some time & then reduced.
5. Her vexation & irritability lessened. Her interpersonal relations within family improved.