Girl, Interrupted
Girl interrupted is about of girl named Suzanna who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in the 1960s. She is committed to a mental hospital where she becomes friends with a sociopath and is roommates with a pathological liar. The main focus of this paper will be the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment that Suzanna goes through in the movie.
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by intense shifts in mood lasting only a few hours at a time. This is often accompanied by periods of intense aggression, substance abuse, and self-injurious behaviors such as cutting, casual sex or binge eating. People with borderline personality disorder will sometimes attempt suicide impulsively in periods of extreme depression or anger. Often times people with borderline personality disorder feel extremely bored, empty, mistreated and/or alone. Intense feelings of loneliness usually are followed by frantic efforts to avoid being alone (NIMH, 2008).
Suzanna is initially institutionalized for taking a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. She claims that she was not trying to kill herself, but only get rid of a headache. While in the hospital she had severe bruises on her hands and stated that she had no bones in her hand. People with borderline personality disorder often have suicide attempts and substance abuse in their history along with self-mutilation. Susannah claimed that she had no bones in her hand. This could be considered self-mutilation, but the "no bones in her hand" might suggest a delusional disorder and does not necessarily fall in line with borderline personality disorder.
Suzanna often exhibits spontaneous damaging behavior that is mainly sexual. Dangerous sexual activity includes sex with a married man, sex with two people the same day, and with another individual. Other spontaneous behaviors include breaking out of the hospital, stealing her medical files, and not taking medication. She also aids in drugging a nurse and steals
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by intense shifts in mood lasting only a few hours at a time. This is often accompanied by periods of intense aggression, substance abuse, and self-injurious behaviors such as cutting, casual sex or binge eating. People with borderline personality disorder will sometimes attempt suicide impulsively in periods of extreme depression or anger. Often times people with borderline personality disorder feel extremely bored, empty, mistreated and/or alone. Intense feelings of loneliness usually are followed by frantic efforts to avoid being alone (NIMH, 2008).
Suzanna is initially institutionalized for taking a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka. She claims that she was not trying to kill herself, but only get rid of a headache. While in the hospital she had severe bruises on her hands and stated that she had no bones in her hand. People with borderline personality disorder often have suicide attempts and substance abuse in their history along with self-mutilation. Susannah claimed that she had no bones in her hand. This could be considered self-mutilation, but the "no bones in her hand" might suggest a delusional disorder and does not necessarily fall in line with borderline personality disorder.
Suzanna often exhibits spontaneous damaging behavior that is mainly sexual. Dangerous sexual activity includes sex with a married man, sex with two people the same day, and with another individual. Other spontaneous behaviors include breaking out of the hospital, stealing her medical files, and not taking medication. She also aids in drugging a nurse and steals