Category: Childhood Trauma

WHAT DOES A PSYCHIATRIST THINK OF THE REDUCTION IN NCAA SANCTIONS AGAINST PENN STATE? by Art Smukler, author, psychiatrist, and Penn Stater

by artsmuklermd, posted in Childhood Trauma, Penn State, Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view

On September 24th, 2013, NCAA president, Mark Emmert increased the number of football scholarships that Penn State can offer student athletes. The fact that the university’s governing body has complied with everything asked of it is the alleged reason for the reduction in sanctions.

It’s a compelling reason and one that makes Penn Staters proud to be part of the Penn State culture. No one doubts, except Sandusky the perpetrator, that a horrible thing was allowed to happen — that people in powerful positions, including Joe Paterno, didn’t deal with the horror in a way that would have made all of us proud. He did what was required by law, but didn’t do what we all would have expected from him and ourselves. Joe often said, “We need players to step up and make the big plays”. Sadly, in this important instance, Joe didn’t step up and do what a man of his prestige and caliber would most likely do if he had the chance to do it again.

NCAA president, Mark Emmert, is also a person, who like the rest of us, has feelings and was most likely horrified by the monster that was allowed to roam freely through the Lasch Complex football locker room with young boys. When he read the Freeh Report, the knee jerk reflex was probably, SOMETHING STRONG AND DRAMATIC NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE.

With the passage of time, and the respect that the new PSU governing body has shown for the enormity of the crime, Mr. Emmert’s feelings have most likely mellowed. Why punish a university when they are complying with every aspect of the changes being demanded? Is punishment still necessary when a real transformation has occurred?

It takes a Mensch, a person of character, to make changes, and not stubbornly attempt to defend one’s actions or lack of action. Both Mark Emmert and the university are showing great character. If Joe Paterno were still alive, I believe he would also do everything in his power to do the right thing and make amends. Often, it’s the big plays that we make off the field that are really the important ones.

If you enjoy being Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist, you might also enjoy, Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.

IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO GET REVENGE? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Childhood Trauma, Psychiatry, Self Examination, Writing

Sally, an attractive, 50-year-old woman, entered treatment with the symptoms of depression, feeling trapped, a racing heart, tingling in her lips and hands, hyperventilation and a sense of impending doom. The symptoms started 15 years previously after her car turned upside down and skidded. There were no physical injuries. Divorced for over 30 years, she was still making no real effort to meet anyone new.

During her 3rd psychotherapy session, she shared that she had been molested by Sedgwick, a 40-year-old neighbor, when she was 7 or 8 years old. He touched her genitals on a number of occasions, but there was never any intercourse. Petrified and ashamed, she kept it a secret.

Sally said, “I heard that Sedgwick, that’s his name, lives out in the high desert. He’s been there for many years.”

“Have you considered calling him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Confronting him.”

“It’s been over 40 years.”

“I think you’re still suffering from what he did. He’s a pedophile. What he did was terrible and the wound he caused is still raw.”

Sally’s eyes welled with tears. She started breathing heavily and couldn’t catch her breath.

“Are these the same symptoms you described during your first visit?

She nodded and grabbed a handful of Kleenex to wipe her face and blow her nose. “Just thinking about him makes me freeze up inside. I hate that man. I just hate him!”

The next week, as she sat on the sofa facing me, she stared down at the carpet. Minutes later, she took a few deep breaths, looked up and said, “I did it.”

“What?”

“I called him.”

“What happened?”

“I said, ‘Sedgwick, this is Sally’.”

“‘I didn’t do anything’, he said. Can you believe that after 40 years, that was the 1st and only thing out of the creep’s mouth? I didn’t do anything.” Sally leaned forward in her seat and said quietly, “Then he hung up on me.”

I leaned forward in my chair. “What happened then?”

“I called back and his wife answered. I told her everything. Everything… She started to cry and said she was sorry.Very, very sorry. I got off the phone and it took an hour for me to stop shaking. Today I’m feeling pretty good.”

“You look good — stronger, not as anxious or troubled.”

The result was that within a month, Sally was symptom-free. She was on no medication, felt better both at work and in her personal life, and was even considering joining a dating service. I saw her again one year later. Except for the normal stresses of life, she continued symptom free.

Dealing with old wounds has no length-of-time rule. Just having the courage to try is often its own reward.

Art Smukler MD is the author of Skin Dance, a mystery, Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, The Man with a Microphone in his Ear, and the blog, Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist.