MY REACTION PAGE 1

My Reaction to A Glimmering GloomEmily AnzekNeosho County Community College

It is known that Florence Nightingale was the founder of modern medicine, but she might have been afflicted with a mental illness that many people suffer from today. A Glimmering Gloom looks into many factors retrospectively and determines that Florence suffered from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood, going from depression to mania. Some symptoms of a depressive episode include fatigue, problems with concentrating, restlessness, irritability, and suicide ideations. On the other hand, a person who is in a manic episode may speak very fast with disorganized thoughts, be easily distracted, need little to no sleep, be impulsive, and engage in risk-taking behaviors. Florence Nightingale is a key-factor in how medicine works today. At one time, her and her nursing team were caring for around 4,000 soldiers. There were many problems other than battle wounds that they needed treatment. After a month of Florences arrival, she witnessed the deaths of more than 3,000 troops. As a child, she had frequent respiratory infections and wore braces on her ankles. Right before her 17th birthday, Florence claimed that God spoke to her and told her to help. After that, she decided to became a nurse. While caring for the troops, Florence contracted her own illness that lasted for months. She complained of intense fever, fatigue, an inability to concentrate, weakness, dysentery, earache, laryngitis, insomnia, anorexia, nausea, irritability, nervousness, and depression. At 33, she had measles. When Florence was 37, she collapsed from palpitations. At 41, she had three episodes similar to her original illness except for the addition of tremors. Miss Nightingale typically complained of headaches, insomnia, depression, worthlessness, and spinal pain. Once Florence was 68, her symptoms improved remarkably. Her symptoms look very much like bipolar disorder as she had episodes of depression and mania until her 60s. Florence also contracted brucellosis which can have neuropsychiatric symptoms. Headache, depression and fatigue are the most frequently reported neuropsychiatric symptoms. In patients with advanced disease who have meningoencephalitis, these complaints may include changes in mental status, coma, neurologic deficit, nuchal rigidity, or seizures (Al-Nassir, 2014). So I find it difficult to place Nightingales symptoms solely on bipolar disorder. If she had lasting pain from the disease, I can imagine that she would be depressed. Im unsure of where I stand with this article. I feel like it is acceptable to use Florence Nightingales diary, but unless there is other physical proof I find it difficult to believe hearsay. Also, what is known about mental illness and healthcare now, was not known in the 1800s. Therefore, I find it difficult to diagnosis a persons psychosis after they have passed away. Now, we assess each and every patient for their own psychosis by closely observing them. I do find many things interesting when it comes to Miss Nightingales life but I find it difficult to gain much insight on a definite diagnosis.

ReferencesAl-Nassir, W. (2014, March 10). Brucellosis Clinical Presentation. Retrieved February 3, 2015, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213430-clinicalWisner, K., Bostridge, M., & Mackowiak, P. (2005). A case of glimmering gloom. The Pharos.