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Examples Of Bipolar Disorder In Catcher In The Rye

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Many people in their life go through devastating events in which mentally destroy a person's look of the world and how they act in a negative way. People like Holden Caulfield from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger at a young age went through traumatic events in their life like a sibling dying and then being ignored by your parents when they needed them. Which could lead to mental illness such as bipolar disorder which is true for Holden because he has shown symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. Holden Caulfield From the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger went through events that led to him gaining a mental disorder called bipolar disorder, which is mood swings just like what Holden experiences when he either gets very sad or very angry at times. …show more content…

Holden shows signs of depressive episodes leading to the chance he has bipolar disorder (“Bipolar Disorder”). During the book he was tired of being at school and mad at his friend so he started to pack up when he said “one thing about packing depressed me”(Salinger 51). Which was him in the middle of doing something and then becoming depressed for little to no reason which is one of the symptoms of depressive episodes for bipolar disorder. Another example is when Holden was in new york late at night and said “ It was still pretty early. I’m not sure what time it was, but it wasn't too late. The one thing i hate to do is go to bed when i’m not even tired”(66). That shows that he doesn't even feel tired when it's actually late which is a symptom of Insomnia a part of a depressive episode that means a problem falling asleep or staying asleep. Holden is suffering from a mental disorder there are signs of it like his depressive mood for almost everything he does throughout the

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Throughout the book holden gives off a vibe of being depressed, which might have started when his brother passed away. It’s seems like after that happened he lost all enthusiasm and energy to really try and also to really plan out his future. Most

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These problems he is having are not normal and should be addressed immediately. I think that this advanced stage of depressions may have been worsened by his parents. Holden undoubtedly believes that he was abandoned by his parents by them sending him to boarding schools instead of bringing him home to confront his actually problems. Also the separation of him form the rest of his family for the most part has made him miss his brother more which has worsened his

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Holden Caufield exhibits symptoms of both teen grief and antisocial personality disorder. However, Holden definitely suffers from prolonged grief disorder, rather than being antisocial, because Holden expresses aversion to solitude and a need to be around others. In both the desolate hallways of Pencey as he is leaving, and the empty streets of New York as he is wandering them, Holden feels "lonesome and depressed". The patient is clearly not antisocial. Holden demonstrates a prominent symptom of prolonged grief disorder: he avoids reminders of deceased loved ones.

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Based on the National Institution of Mental Health and examples from the novel The Catcher in the Rye, the main protagonist Holden Caufield displays multiple signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Throughout the novel, Holden shows many of the symptoms such as avoidance, and hyperarousal. Those who experience symptoms such as the ones mentioned, they most likely have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD much like Holden did. J.D Salinger portrayed PTSD through Holden and how he, and like so many others suffer from this mental disorder.

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When he found out, this led to Holden breaking all the glass windows in his garage out of despair. Holden also recently got expelled from his prep school in New York even though he is very intelligent and had the potential to graduate. These huge losses may have left Holden feeling hopeless and unable to cope with the demands in the real world. Holdens behavior is also with that of someone suffering from depression. He constantly engages in risky and self destructive behavior such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and running away from his home.

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In many cases throughout the novel, Holden tells the reader of his feeling of deep sadness, and even admitting his depression. However, in most of these cases, his sadness is triggered by little events or situations. For example, when he explains his feelings about the phony Elkton Hills headmaster talking with his well-dressed parents, he says, “It makes me so depressed I go crazy” (Salinger 14). His feelings about the headmaster are interesting, because it shows that he overreacts and has depressive thoughts for little, unreasonable things which most teenagers at his age typically don’t experience. Also, Holden even considers committing suicide multiple times throughout the novel.

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Holden exhibits many of the physical symptoms of depression, such as changes in appetite, unexplained physical problems, and increased consumption of alcohol (Mayo Clinic). By the end of the novel, Holden experienced a complete nervous breakdown and displays many of the symptoms of depression. Once in the novel Holden mentions his thin physique while at a diner. He says, “I’m a very light eater… That’s why I’m so damn skinny,” (Salinger 120).

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