Frau Anna, on the contrary, indicated where she hurt precisely and calmly: her left breast and left ovary; and flinched and drew back from my examination.
She herself was convinced that her symptoms were organic, and was very disappointed that I could not find the cause and put it right. My own increasing conviction that I was, despite appearances to the contrary, dealing with an hysteria was confirmed when she confessed that she also suffered from visual hallucinations of a disordered and frightening nature. She had feared to confess to these “storms in her head,” because it seemed to her an admission that she was mad and should belocked away. I was able to assure her that her hallucinations, like her pains and her breathing difficulties, were no sign of dementia; that indeed, given the intractable nature of reality, the healthiest mind may become a prey to hysterical symptoms. Her manner thereafter became a little more relaxed, and she was able to tell me something of the history of her illness and of her life in general.
She was the second child and only daughter of moderately wealthy parents. Her father came from a Russian Jewish family of the merchant class, and her mother from a cultivated Polish Catholic family which had settled in the Ukraine. In marrying across racial and religious barriers, Frau Anna’s parents proved their own liberated ideals but suffered the consequence of being cut off from their families. The only close relative who did not turn against the couple was the patient’s aunt (with whom she was now living), her mother’s twin sister. This woman had married a Viennese teacher of languages, of her own faith, whom she had met when he was attending a conference in Kiev, the sisters’ native city. Hence the two sisters were forced to live far apart, but their close bond remained undiminished.
As a result of her loyalty to her twin, Frau Anna’s aunt also became increasingly estranged from her family, with the exception of her father, who came to live with her in his old age. The patient felt that her own life had been impoverished by these family estrangements. Nor were there many relatives of her own generation to compensate. Her mother had given birth to a son early in her marriage, followed five years later by Anna. The aunt, to her sorrow, had remained childless.
The patient had the fondest memories of her mother. She possessed a warmly maternal nature, handsome looks, a creative spirit (she was a water-colourist of some talent) and an impulsivegaiety. If she had grey moods, usually in response to miserable autumn or winter weather, she indulged her children all the more when they were over. She and Anna’s father made a handsome couple. The father also had great energy and charm, and the child adored him though she wished he were not so busy. He had worked immensely hard, without parental support, to establish himself in business. Shortly after Anna’s birth, he had moved his family to Odessa, where he became the owner of a grain-exporting firm. Almost his only relaxation was sailing: he was the proud owner of a splendid yacht.
In the pleasant seaport, each summer, they were joined by the patient’s uncle and aunt. The little girl looked forward to these visits, which, thanks to the Viennese custom of long summer vacations, lasted for several weeks. With the family guests, and with pleasant yachting weather, her father took more days away from his business, becoming more genial and approachable; and her mother positively spread her leaves with the arrival of her beloved sister and the sun, together. Naturally her sister, childless herself, was devoted to her little niece. The aunt was of a quiet and devout disposition. A gifted pianist, she preferred the tranquillity of the music room to the possible turbulence of the yacht. Anna’s uncle was more outgoing: a hearty, jovial man, as uncles are supposed to be. The patient recalled his fondness for jokes, such as donning a white
She herself was convinced that her symptoms were organic, and was very disappointed that I could not find the cause and put it right. My own increasing conviction that I was, despite appearances to the contrary, dealing with an hysteria was confirmed when she confessed that she also suffered from visual hallucinations of a disordered and frightening nature. She had feared to confess to these “storms in her head,” because it seemed to her an admission that she was mad and should belocked away. I was able to assure her that her hallucinations, like her pains and her breathing difficulties, were no sign of dementia; that indeed, given the intractable nature of reality, the healthiest mind may become a prey to hysterical symptoms. Her manner thereafter became a little more relaxed, and she was able to tell me something of the history of her illness and of her life in general.
She was the second child and only daughter of moderately wealthy parents. Her father came from a Russian Jewish family of the merchant class, and her mother from a cultivated Polish Catholic family which had settled in the Ukraine. In marrying across racial and religious barriers, Frau Anna’s parents proved their own liberated ideals but suffered the consequence of being cut off from their families. The only close relative who did not turn against the couple was the patient’s aunt (with whom she was now living), her mother’s twin sister. This woman had married a Viennese teacher of languages, of her own faith, whom she had met when he was attending a conference in Kiev, the sisters’ native city. Hence the two sisters were forced to live far apart, but their close bond remained undiminished.
As a result of her loyalty to her twin, Frau Anna’s aunt also became increasingly estranged from her family, with the exception of her father, who came to live with her in his old age. The patient felt that her own life had been impoverished by these family estrangements. Nor were there many relatives of her own generation to compensate. Her mother had given birth to a son early in her marriage, followed five years later by Anna. The aunt, to her sorrow, had remained childless.
The patient had the fondest memories of her mother. She possessed a warmly maternal nature, handsome looks, a creative spirit (she was a water-colourist of some talent) and an impulsivegaiety. If she had grey moods, usually in response to miserable autumn or winter weather, she indulged her children all the more when they were over. She and Anna’s father made a handsome couple. The father also had great energy and charm, and the child adored him though she wished he were not so busy. He had worked immensely hard, without parental support, to establish himself in business. Shortly after Anna’s birth, he had moved his family to Odessa, where he became the owner of a grain-exporting firm. Almost his only relaxation was sailing: he was the proud owner of a splendid yacht.
In the pleasant seaport, each summer, they were joined by the patient’s uncle and aunt. The little girl looked forward to these visits, which, thanks to the Viennese custom of long summer vacations, lasted for several weeks. With the family guests, and with pleasant yachting weather, her father took more days away from his business, becoming more genial and approachable; and her mother positively spread her leaves with the arrival of her beloved sister and the sun, together. Naturally her sister, childless herself, was devoted to her little niece. The aunt was of a quiet and devout disposition. A gifted pianist, she preferred the tranquillity of the music room to the possible turbulence of the yacht. Anna’s uncle was more outgoing: a hearty, jovial man, as uncles are supposed to be. The patient recalled his fondness for jokes, such as donning a white
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