Barium nitricum Case
A man aged 65 comes complaining of anxiety. He has had this for the past 5 years. During the first two years he still continued to work, but eventually he could not carry on any longer and he retired. He has always been rather nervous, especially if he had to talk about himself, or about his feelings. He gets even more nervous when people around him are suspicious. Since he started to live in the eastern part of the country, where people are rather suspicious by nature, his complaints got worse. When he is shopping in a big department store he sometimes has a panic attack.
In the beginning he also had problems with his eyesight, everything seemed to be floating.
He has a sensation of pressure in his ears, with a buzzing sound, or a sound as of children's voices, sometimes a high whistling. His ears feel stopped up when he is in a room full of people with a lot of noise, < swallowing. He often feels as if he is floating. He is easily frightened by sudden noises, especially sharp or hollow sounds.
His tearducts have been inflamed for 3 years, blocked l> r, lachrymation in windy weather.
Burning in oesophagus and stomach, lying down.
He has had a bladder infection twice, once painless, the second time with fever and burning pains on urination. He also had the feeling that his penis was blocked and too small. At that time he felt depressed and very anxious, afraid that he would have to go to hospital.
General characteristics:
Temperature: outside, in a wide open space with plenty of fresh air, like the seaside (3).
< in the mountains.
Perspiration: little, but more when he is afraid, > brandy with sugar.
Desires: everything, sweet (2), chocolate, bacon, fatty meat, butter, eggs, alcohol, grilled chicken; little thirst.
Aversion: meat, fat, tomato puree. < tea, butter.
Sleep: on right side.
Physical: great desire for movement.
Mind: He is easily frightened and is extremely claustrophobic. Once, when he had climbed a high tower, he did not dare to climb down the narrow staircase anymore. He is afraid in large shops, planes, lifts. Also of disease, operations, heights and the dark, so when he is in his caravan he always has to have the light on. He can't stand films with violence, excitement, or horror, such as films about concentration camps. He gets depressed quickly, doesn’t see a way out anymore, is listless and cries easily.
He hates parties, feeling he doesn’t belong there, which makes him feel ridiculous.
In my consulting room he gave the impression of being very gentle, even timid. He cried a lot during the consultation. He looked very nervous and had difficulty finding the right words, the more so because he burst out crying all the time. But at the same time he was very open about his problems. He doesn’t understand why he is so nervous. His face twitches around his eyes.
He needs the company of his family and the children. He also likes visiting former colleagues. He is very caring towards his wife and children. He has always been a gentle type of person, never a fighter. He likes to have gentle people around him too. He dislikes people who are hard and he can’t stand suspicious people.
He is not very stable and he feels better when he is busy. Because of his restlessness his hands are constantly busy, his feet too. He used to be a very shy and quiet child. Some people thought that he was a bit retarded, because he was so withdrawn. He was frightened of many things: harsh voices, horror stories (3), going to confession, being indoctrinated. That he was so withdrawn was partly due to the fact that his parents moved house so many times. He had been to 6 different primary schools.
When he used to have a fever, he was always very afraid. It felt as if the walls were coming towards him and receding again, as if the room became bigger and smaller. This same feeling used to come back in his nightmares.
When he got a bit older he joined the boy scouts and this is where he flourished.
His marriage is good.
Work: he used to be a technical director in a tool-making factory.
Analysis
If we analyse this case in the usual way we end up with Arg-n and Pulsatilla. There are many symptoms to indicate Puls: crying during consultation, gentle character, warm, fat and bacon, very nervous, afraid of people.
In favour of Arg-n we have: fear of narrow spaces, nervousness and -> sweet. We also have the characteristic symptom of Arg-n:the feeling that the walls are coming towards him. However, Arg-n did nothing. Later on I came to know that this last symptom and the accompanying claustrophobia belong to all Nitricums, as well as the desire for fat and bacon.
The Nitricums make us think of enjoyment and parties. How does this person react to that? He hates them because he feels ridiculous at a party. And this is a well known Baryta trait. Other symptoms of Baryta are: the childishness, the shyness, the fact that other people thought he was retarded, and his own feeling that his penis was too small.
Reaction
Initially he did very well on Pulsatilla. He seemed to be more at ease. But two years later his anxiety came back and puls did not have any effect anymore. Neither did a dose of Arg-n 1M.
After Bar-n 1M his mental state had improved 80% within three months.