Myrrha, the precious gift for the softening of suffering; four cases
by Enna Stallinga
Mrs. C. is a friendly woman, who works as a team leader, in a children’s day centre. She comes from a wealthy Middle Eastern family. She is physically exhausted, tense, and feels irritated by everything. She has stopped working half a year ago. Her complaints started with high fevers and muscular aches, and recently she had the flu again. She has suffered much trauma from the war and has fled her country. Her brother died of cancer when she was eight and her father died during the war, when she was 13 years old. She used to be cheerful and open but now she feels as she has lost herself. It is not going the way she would like to be with her children, and she feels very sad about that. She would rather not see anyone at all. She is troubled by vertigo and palpitations. She describes herself as flexible, easy to be around, and never angry. Until recently, she was afraid of arguments. She is always ready to help others and she gives easily (her spontaneous words): “Always the other one first!” She is a perfectionist. She regularly dreams about her dead brother and also about her mother, who died a couple of years ago, and who she misses very much.
Her greatest fear is losing her children and her husband. She has a great fear of drowning and a fear of heights.
Physicals: Pneumonia at 6 years, bronchitis, asthma, repetitive colds, allergy of house mites, sinusitis, frequent headaches, bruises easily, digestive problems (pain, cramps, and constipation), uterine polyps, painful joints in her hands, cramps in calves, muscular pains in her upper arms.
Desires: vegetables++; sweets premenstrually. Coffee aggravates+.
After Myrrha, she quickly felt stronger and lighter. She now talks more easily, is less emotional, and generally quieter. She has gradually gone back to work, as she feels so much better physically. She deals with her children differently. She is able to accept the things that have happened, and is clearer in what she want and does not want. She feels less alone, places fewer demands on herself, and has more self-respect. In work meetings she is no longer afraid of making a misplaced comment.