In psychiatry, stupor is a motor disorder in which the patient falls into complete immobility, accompanied by mutism and the almost complete absence or extreme weakness of the reaction to external stimuli. This phenomenon is one of the few that can cause a lot of anxiety among those who first encountered it. But in order to deal with the phenomenon, it is necessary to arm yourself with some knowledge.
In order to answer the question “Stupor - what is it?”, It is necessary to list the main types of this condition that modern psychiatry distinguishes.
Catatonic stupor
The most common type of pathology, characterized by the patient's numbness in a pose with uncomfortably bent limbs. That is, the position of the body is not entirely characteristic of man. The patient ceases to contact with others, does not pay attention to what is happening around, as if being under hypnosis, even if the situation poses a clear threat to life. The most striking examples that characterize a catatonic stupor and what it is are, for example, cases where the patient remained lying in an unnatural position in a room covered by a fire, without showing any signs of anxiety and without responding to pain. Everyone can fall into a stupor under the influence of stress.
Such a manifestation of the catatonic syndrome begins, as a rule, with the chewing muscles, later descending into the cervical region, and ends with the numbness of the limbs. Such nerve palsy can be caused by any stressful situation, for example, fear, shock, fear.
Stub with wax flexibility
A kind of disorder when the patient freezes, for example, with an uncomfortably raised leg, arm or both hands. The person also does not react to what is happening around, stops responding to questions posed in a regular measured voice. However, the patient can communicate in a whisper, and at night get up, move around the room, provide self-care, eat and even answer questions. That is, in an unconscious state, he can get out of a state of stupor.
Negative stupor
Quite often, the medical history of psychiatry includes the term “Negative stupor”. This kind of stupor is characterized in that the patient has an active resistance to all attempts to change his position. Making him leave the bed is very difficult, but if it succeeds, then it is even more difficult to put the patient back. Often, a negative stupor is accompanied by an exacerbation of the spirit of contradiction in the patient and even aggressive behavior.
Muscle stupor
As a rule, when answering the question “Stupor - what is it?”, Professional psychiatrists invariably note stiff muscles of patients. The most pronounced condition qualifies as a stupor with muscle numbness. With him, the patient most often takes an intrauterine position, all his muscles are tense, and his eyes are closed. The position of the embryo in this case was not chosen by chance, thereby numb creates a kind of protection. This pose is closely related to a sense of security and peace. It is inherent in humans at the genetic level. Most of these patients refuse to eat.
Depressive stupor
Depressive stupor - what is it? Another condition that the medical history of psychiatry knows very well. Depressive stupor is a consequence of severe endogenous depressive disorders. In addition to numbness, it is characterized by a suffering or melancholy expression on the patient's face .
However, he continues to monitor himself, to carry out all
vital functions, and even sometimes makes contact. Often numbness and detachment are replaced by unexpected attacks of activity and bursts of energy. It is enough to recall how depict grief or depression in the movies: the hero, sitting by the window, looks at one point. At the same time, he can drink tea or smoke, seeking salvation and tranquility in this.
Apathetic stupor - what is it?
According to its symptoms, it is somewhat similar to depressive. Nevertheless, such a stupor can be called one of the mildest forms of the disorder. As a rule, the patient lies in a static pose, although he answers questions, but in a monotonous, monosyllabic manner, with a large time delay. The quality of appetite and sleep are significantly impaired.
When visiting relatives or friends, the patient shows quite adequate emotions, is able to answer questions and independently compose phrases quickly and meaningfully.
Stupor can be attributed to borderline conditions that are caused by a strong nervous shock that arose as a protective reaction of the body to the stimulus.
Treatment of the disease can be carried out both at home and in the hospital. However, the main condition is a mandatory consultation and observation by a psychiatrist or psychoanalyst.