Reference no: EM132815110
Carol Yang is a 21-year-old Hmong American female. She had been blind since birth and attended California State University, Long Beach through the California Department of Rehabilitation. Carol returned home from college after failing all her classes. Carol exhibited inappropriate giggling and laughing, frequent crying bouts, withdrawn behavior, intrusive thoughts, and talking to herself. Carol presented increased appetite, depressed mood, difficulty falling asleep, impaired concentration, suicidal ideation, and difficulty in establishing social relationships with new friends. Carol reported that her depression started during adolescence and intensified during periods of interpersonal conflict, particularly with her parents or with friends.
Carol appeared anxious, guarded, and spoke only in response to inquiries from other people. Carol disclosed that she was complying with her mother's admonishments regarding the dangers involved in revealing her feelings to others. She expressed her anger and frustration concerning her mother's controlling behavior toward her. Carol reported that her mother controlled how much money she gave her, what she wore when she could go out, and who she could affiliate with. Carol felt helpless, depressed, angry, and resentful although she could not verbalize these feelings to her mother.
Carol was caught in a dilemma. She found it difficult to express her feelings and thoughts openly to her mother but at the same time had problems in separating herself from her mother within the context of cultural values. Carol also experienced significant stressors resulting from multiple losses in the family due to illnesses. Carol did not want to talk about these losses but appeared to internalize them. Although blind since birth, Carol reported seeing a ghost twice when she was falling asleep at the time a family member was hospitalized and again when this individual died. She remained very depressed at this time.
How do the social stigmas around blindness play out in the above scenario? How could Carol be approached in dealing with some personal issues that have their origins in social stigma?