Bipolar Disorder in Virginia Wolf

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Psychological health of a human has shown to largely depend on the environment. In the majority of the cases, however, a number of psychological disorders “result from a combination of environmental and biological influences, including genetics” (Kalat, 2007, p. 451). Not all the psychological disorders can be treated, though modern clinical psychology succeeds in dealing with a number of illnesses which were impossible to cure earlier.

One of such illnesses is bipolar disorder which belongs to the group of major depressive disorders (this group includes bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder). Such disorders are characterized by certain common features: “The person has feelings of failure, worthlessness, and total despair. Suffering is intense, and the person may become extremely subdued, withdrawn, or intensely suicidal” (Coon & Mitterer, 2008, p. 477).

Analyzing the case of Virginia Wolf (who suffered from bipolar disorder) using the psychodynamic approach shows that a wide range of biological, psychological and social factors contributed into the development of her disease; this case study perfectly explains the need for adaptation in the field of clinical psychology because it shows how modern methods of treating bipolar disorders could have saved human lives several centuries ago.

First of all, it is worth considering Virginia Wolf’s case in more detail. The subject exhibited the signs of bipolar disorder already in the childhood. Her family members described her behavior as “lapses into insanity” (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009, p. 124). The first serious breakdown occurred when the girl was around 13. The breakdown was followed by deep depression that was treated only by outdoor exercises. Shortly after this depression, the subject started suffering from repeated headaches, nervousness and irritation. This was accompanied by the escalation into a manic state with the feeling of guilt about one of her family members.

Rest was the only treatment even after these symptoms. In the subsequent years, the subject occasionally experienced lapses into insanity: “During one episode she talked rapidly for several days without stopping, after which she fell into stupor” (Meyer et al., 2009, p. 126). At this, Virginia memorized most of what was happening with her during such episodes. Soon the episodes became more frequent; they were characterized by panic attacks, constant feeling of fear and auditory hallucinations. Eventually, Virginia Wolf committed a suicide, at this, being conscious of what she was doing.

Further analysis of this case study using psychodynamic approach to clinical psychology seems the most appropriate. Discussing biological factors of this particular case is especially beneficial from this approach because it presupposes that “early experiences and relationships, such as relationship between children and their parents, play a critical and enduring role in psychological development and adult behavior” (Plante, 2005, p. 117).

Important relationships in Virginia’s case were not only with her parents, but with other family members as well. The subject did not have predisposition to bipolar disorder (her father’s wife had repeated mental problems, but she and the girl were not related). This is why predisposing experience was the most contributing into the development of her disease. First of all, it was stressful experience and losses which were numerous in case with Virginia. The girl lost her mother, older sister, father, and another sister in quite short periods of times. Besides, it was namely after the death of her first sister that her first breakdown occurred. Secondly, the girl was sexually abused by her half-brothers since the age of five. Lastly, Virginia was subjected to other traumas and stressful experiences throughout her adolescence.

These included unhappy love experience above all (first the girl fell in love with her female cousin and then an older woman friend; moreover, later, her fiancée broke down the engagement because of his homosexuality). These also served as additional psychological stressors that deteriorated the girl’s psychological health and only aggravated what seemed to be a mere nervous breakdown that occurred after the death of her first sister. Nevertheless, biological factors were the most contributing because unhappy love experiences were the only psychological factors that affected the development of Virginia’s bipolar disorder.

Furthermore, social factors also seem interesting to consider. Virginia as a girl rarely lacked social support and, even as the disease progressed, she was surrounded by loving friends one of which married her. However, there was still one significant social factor which Virginia was exposed to from the childhood. First, this was a social restriction imposed on her by the society: females in those times were not allowed to get education and, though Virginia had a desire to learn, she never attended school. Second, and the most important, seeing her desire to study, Virginia’s father stopped controlling the books that the girl read when she was in her teens (the age in which children are open to negative influences most of all).

Though the case study does not specify which literature the girl read, it may be suggested that her father’s “large library” (Meyer et al., 2009, p. 125) could contain literature that could damage the girl’s back then unstable psychological health. Therefore, all these biological, psychological, and social factors had a significant influence on Virginia’s developing bipolar disorder.

Finally, the last important thing to discuss with regards to this case study is the need for adaptation in the field of clinical psychology. The matter is that Virginia Wolf lived some time prior to the emergence of treatment from her disorder. At present, lithium is quite effective in treating major depressive disorders and, in those times, if applied correctly and timely, it could have helped Virginia. This shows that time is one of the most important factors for the need for adaptation.

The approaches to treating psychological disorders change as the society develops and, perhaps, one day even more effective treatment for bipolar disorders will be found (lithium has many side effects avoiding which is impossible). Thus, this case study perfectly explains the need for adaptation in clinical psychology.

In conclusion, the analysis of Virginia Wolf’s bipolar disorder using psychodynamic approach allowed sorting out biological, psychological and social factors that influenced the development of her disorder. It was discovered that Virginia did not have predisposition to this mental illness; it was a range of such biological factors as stressful experience, losses, sexual abuse, as well as additional psychological stressors, social limitations, and lack of restraint in terms of literature the girl read, that resulted in her disease that developed throughout her life. The fact that Virginia was “treated” with outdoor exercises and rest allows evaluating the need for adaptation in the field of clinical psychology that now easily copes with such illnesses as bipolar disorder.

Reference List

Coon, D. & Mitterer, J.O. (2008). Introduction to psychology: Gateways to mind and behavior. Mason: Cengage Learning.

Kalat, J.W. (2007). Biological psychology. Mason: Cengage Learning.

Meyer, R.G., Chapman, L.K., & Weaver, C.M. (2009). Case studies in abnormal behavior. London: Allyn and Bacon.

Plante, T.G. (2005). Contemporary clinical psychology. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

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Bipolar Disorder in Virginia Wolf

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