Stockholm Syndrome Psychology

People are often amazed at their own psychological conditions. Sometimes we pretend that they are not there and others might not even know that a problem has occurred. Patients recovering from a suicidal attempt are often stunned when they remember they’ve thought of killing themselves. Patients with severe psychiatric disturbances often watch home videos and can’t even believe the things they did. They often ask is that really me? Did someone edit the video? They are in complete disbelief. In my clinical experience I’ve noticed that psychiatric disorders are the hardest to come to terms with and overcome especially in abusive or controlling relationships. The most common phrases are “I don’t know why, but I want him back”, or “he’s only …show more content…
Over time, a hostage victim may come to believe that the abuse he or she has endured was done out of kindness or love on the part of the captor. It is important to remember that SS develops subconsciously and on an involuntary basis. This “survival strategy” is a developed instinct as an attempt to survive in a threatening and/or controlling environment. There are five stages in the progression of SS developing. The first stage is the victim dissociates from his or her pain, he or she starts seeing the situation from the abuser’s point of view, the victim starts agreeing with the abuser’s opinions and thoughts as his or her own personality starts to fade into the background. By doing this, the victim is in the second stage. The victim learns how to please the abuser which may lead to them being hurt less. Similarly this tactic is used to manipulate the abuser into being less dangerous, at least for a little while. After a while the victim begins to realize that their abuser is like any other human being. At this point they will see the abuser less as a threat. Some abusers may even share personal information with their victims to promote pity rather than anger. This bonding, leads to conflicting feelings. The victim …show more content…
The same characteristics Stockholm syndrome patients have dealt with. PTSD and Stockholm syndrome are both treated the same. It is a complicated treatment, we can’t take back what happen to them and sometime the disorder masked how bad it was when it was actually happening. The most reoccurring symptom that patients from both groups was flashbacks especially at night. Antianxiety medications or sleeping medications seem to calm the flashbacks and the intense anxiety of thinking it is going to happen again. Some of the most common anti-anxiety medications used are Inderal and Arenolol which are beta-blockers, Buspirone which enhances the activity of serotonin or Atarax which is an antihistamine hydroxyzine; it has a sedative effect by blocking certain receptors in the brain. With every type of medication you take there is adverse effects some worse than others. Anti-anxiety drugs are safe to take but you have to be aware or adverse reactions such as overstimulation, blurry vision, hallucinations, delusional thinking, confusion, violence, depression, and suicidal thinking. To prevent any of these symptoms from occurring make sure you are only taking the prescribed dose that the doctor has ordered and make sure to take