Catalepsy
The state of catalepsy, or the so-called waxy flexibility, is characterized by a reduced sensitivity to external and internal stimuli and a person's ability to maintain for a long time any pose that was given to him, without making absolutely any effort for this.
Catalepsy can occur in certain mental illnesses (schizophrenia, hysteria, etc.), as well as during hypnotic sleep.
Features and symptoms of catalepsy
The main symptoms of catalepsy are:
- Muscle hardness;
- Decreased sensitivity to pain and heat;
- Inability to move limbs or move.
It is interesting that in this state a person sees and hears everything, but the indicators of his pulse, respiration and some other functions are greatly reduced. The duration of catalepsy ranges from one minute to several days, sometimes it may even seem that the patient is dead. In some cases, the disorder persists for a very long time - weeks, and sometimes months.
The development of cataleptic stupor most often occurs gradually: numbness spreads from the upper limbs and neck muscles to the lower trunk and legs. The exit from the state of catalepsy has the opposite direction.
During stupor, which is accompanied by the phenomena of negativism, as well as when the patient resists attempts to change his existing position, pathological numbness is not detected. Also, the symptoms of catalepsy are absent in stupor with muscle numbness.
Causes of catalepsy
Today, there are two theories, significantly different from each other, which shed light on the origin of this condition. They are called - neurological and psychological reasons.
According to the first point of view, the onset and development of catalepsy is associated with the formations of the brain. According to the second theory, this phenomenon has a purely psychological explanation. So, there is an opinion that the appearance of symptoms of catalepsy is due to increased suggestibility.
The onset of a pathological condition may be preceded by excitement and hysterical seizures. The disappearance of the attack is accompanied by violent emotional manifestations.
A sudden hysterical stupor fixes the patient's posture, in whatever position he is at the moment. For example, there are cases when a patient freezes while talking with a doctor. An attack of the disease overtakes a person who has just talked and accompanied his speech with active gestures. At the same time, the emerging wax flexibility allows you to give the patient any other posture. Sometimes the muscle tension is so great that two people can easily lift the patient, holding him only by the back of the head and heels.
Catalepsy treatment
When treating catalepsy, the nature of the disease and the characteristics of its course are taken into account. It should be noted that the state of hysterical stupor is similar to movement disorders that are observed in some organic brain lesions. For example, this situation is observed if a person suffers from parkinsonism caused by epidemic encephalitis. In this case, the symptoms of the disease are accompanied by disorders that are typical for Parkinson's disease.
Interactive imagogics are used to treat catalepsy. This is work with the internal forces of the body, called in psychotherapy the imago image. Thanks to this technique, the patient can see his own diseased organ. After that, on the basis of the resulting picture, a positive image is created, which has a healing effect.
In most cases, catalepsy is a process that inhibits volitional movements and refers to a specific stimulus. Disease may be indicative of hypnosis, whether induced by formal induction or spontaneously.
Hypnosis is often suggested because it has therapeutic goals that are directly related to treatment. In the form of a targeted reaction, catalepsy is used when it is required to limit the patient's ability to move as much as possible, for example, to restore his health more quickly. In addition, it underlies the attraction of the patient's attention, thus representing an inductor.
Treatment of catalepsy must be carried out in specialized psychological centers and exclusively with the participation of experienced specialists.
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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
