Question

Case Study 2–4: Suffering from Mental Illness, “Mariah”

Mariah Porter is a 20-year-old sophomore student attending a large urban university in the northeast. Her college is about 400 miles from home. She recently had a psychotic episode and was admitted to a private psychiatric facility near her parents’ home in a small suburban town. She has two older brothers and one younger sister. Growing up, Mariah was known for her intelligence and having her “head in a book.” She never had many friends and tended to spend time with her siblings rather than others. She was considered “shy” and “reserved.”

Her parents regret that they did not take Mariah for counseling at the school’s urging when she was a senior in high school. During the spring of her senior year, Mariah exhibited bizarre behaviors and was convinced that other students were against her. Her primary care provider recommended a psychiatric evaluation. Her parents did not want Mariah “labeled” as mentally ill so did not take her for an evaluation. They struggled with Mariah’s strange behaviors for about 1 month and helped her keep up with schoolwork by hiring a tutor. Mariah had been admitted early to college because of her high test scores and consistently high grades throughout school. This “episode” resolved somewhat, and she was able to graduate. However, she never quite fit back in with her peers after being tutored at home.

Adjusting to city life was very difficult for Mariah. Two of her three roommates were from foreign countries and spoke to one another in their native tongue whenever they were in the college dorm suite. Her third roommate was away from the dorm often with her boyfriend and succeeded in college despite not studying much. Although studying had come easily to Mariah in high school, now she was struggling to maintain her grades and scholarship and lost much sleep trying to do so. She felt isolated and wondered if “others” were trying to make her fail by placing her with these three roommates.

Mariah’s parents feel they have “failed” her. They are unsure what the future will hold for Mariah and if she will be able to make it on her own. Mariah has made comments to her parents, such as “You’d be better off if I were dead.” She used to be meticulous about her appearance but since her psychotic episode has not paid attention to her hygiene and appearance. The hospital is planning to discharge Mariah within a few weeks. Mariah does not want to go back to college, and her parents do not know how she is going to function anywhere independently.

Questions on the Case Study

• 1. What kind of “suffering” do you think Mariah may be experiencing?
• 2. What suffering might her parents be encountering?
• 3. Are any of them “screaming in pain”?
• 4. How does Mariah’s “suffering” make you feel?

Answer 1

Answer: Mariah is suffering from the mental disorder where people are unable to get attached with the surroundings or unable to socialize themselves. Mariah's parents were unable to handle the situation and they have regret that they haven't consulted to the health care professionals for Mariah's health condition. It is difficult for them to cope up with the situation now.