ipl-logo

Holden Caulfield Illness

2877 Words12 Pages

Numerous young adults currently struggle with mental health and the psychological disorders that come along with it. Holden Caulfield, the main character in the novel The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger. I am a salinger. Holden consistently portrays traits of mental illness that affect him daily. He grows up in a home where his parents do not properly care for him, and his brother sadly passes at a young age. As he moves from school to school, and wanders around the streets of New York, it is obvious that he struggles with his own identity through the duration of the novel. A mental disorder is clinically described as a disturbance in an individual's emotional regulation, cognition, or behavior. Throughout the novel, it is evident …show more content…

As a result of these causes, symptoms are generally simple to depict. Some symptoms that people with this mental disorder may experience are avoidance, denial, projection of their own feelings onto others, abandonment, and interjection of the world into themselves (Bayer 49). Making note of these traits is a common sign that an individual is battling Borderline Personality Disorder. This disorder may also incorporate unstable patterns in daily life, morphed self-image, mood swings, suicidal ideation, and more (Mayo Clinic Staff, “Borderline”). In general, it is not unusual for a patient to be isolated from the outside world, while also clinging on to any form of connection with another person. Surprisingly, there are various ways to treat this psychological disorder. Similar to many other disorders, mental analysis is regularly used to calm a patient's symptoms. Bayer discusses this by contending, “Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder typically includes some form of psychotherapy, which aims to help the patient come to terms with his or her subconscious processes, and recognize repetitive behavior patterns” (Bayer

Show More
Related
2122 Words | 9 Pages

J.D Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye, follows the main character, Holden Caulfield, and his experiences that lead him to be talking to a mental therapist. Told through Holden’s eyes, his profane and blunt explanations of major moments in his life allow readers to see that Holden is not crazy but is actually struggling with transitioning from child to adult. Throughout the story, he fondly remembers his early childhood and is trying the best he can to run from adulthood. He fears that he, like so many around him, may become phony when he becomes an adult. This fear drives his actions and gives him a feeling of hatred toward phony adults and a feeling of obligation to shield children from the harsh adult world.

Read More
705 Words | 3 Pages

JD Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye is about a boy named Holden Caulfield and his struggle with life. As a teenager, he has one goal and that is to simply find his place in the world. Unlike an ordinary teenager he has a severe case of depression, and displays many signs to exhibit this mental illness. As we escalate through the novel, we notice that his depression seems to be getting worse and that he is feeling despondent more often.

Read More
793 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
740 Words | 3 Pages

Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, is regarded throughout the book with many emotional and social issues. Holden is affected mentally from multiple past events and becomes very depressed, which leads to suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a mental health condition that is triggered from past events that terrify the victim. Holden Caulfield suffers from PTSD because he experiences a horrifying past event that creates many symptoms similar to the PTSD symptoms. Allie dying from cancer, started affecting Holden’s emotions and actions throughout the book.

Read More
576 Words | 3 Pages

“Holden Caulfield holds a place in the American psyche akin to Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer: an exquisitely rendered character with whom nearly anyone can identify” (Perle). In the year 1946, the book “Catcher in the Rye” was published. The story is about a boy named Holden Caulfield, who shows many signs indicative of mental disorder throughout the book. A few of these problems are Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and depression. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or more commonly known as PTSD is a condition which only occurs after a person has gone through stress or trauma in their life.

Read More
904 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”, the protagonist Holden Caulfield demonstrates his unusual behaviour. The narrator introduces the story of an emotionally damaged teenager whose suspicions and personal issues prevent him from being “normal” in a society full of phonies that he does not seem to get along with. It becomes clear that Holden has clouded judgement as he rides an emotional rollercoaster of mood swings with the people he likes, and dislikes. Therefore, it becomes obvious that some of his personal flaws include his distrust, depression, and unreasonable attitudes and thoughts are based on his underlying emotional problems. Holden Caulfield has a variety psychological problems, such as his skepticism, depressive behaviour, and

Read More
407 Words | 2 Pages

Holden Caulfield, captures the American reality of teens through anxiety and mental health in the book The Catcher In The Rye. Caufield is afraid of adulthood and the responsibilities that come with growing up. He suffers from depression and anxiety. These mental health issues were likely a cause from the death of his little brother, his witnessing the death of his classmate, and the violence and unhealthy environment in the all boys boarding school. Holden Caufield’s mental health challenges reflect a reality in America that most teens are dealing with some level of stress and anxiety and how those shape their behavior as they become young adults.

Read More
512 Words | 3 Pages

Holden's Diagnosis Holden Caulfield would more than likely be diagnosed with at least three mental illnesses. In J. D. Salinger's book The Catcher in the Rye, Holden shows signs of multiple illnesses that affect his life. Holden would more than likely be diagnosed with depression, anxiety and loneliness.

Read More
1093 Words | 5 Pages

Did you know, 3.3 million Americans suffer from clinical depression? This makes it no surprise that Holden Caulfield, protagonist in The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, is suffering from this mental illness. The Catcher in the Rye follows a high school boy, Holden Caulfield, as he struggles through school, loneliness, friendships, and coping with the loss of his kid brother, Allie. Throughout the novel, Holden is perceived to be in a mental institution, but the cause of why is unknown. I believe Holden is suffering from clinical depression as evidenced by abnormalities in his cognitive behavior, issues with shifting moods, and his disruptive sleep patterns.

Read More
208 Words | 1 Pages

The ninety five theses were written by Martin Luther. He became a monk because lightening struck a tree and knocked him face down and he said that God had spared him. He wrote the ninety five theses because he thought there were a lot of things wrong with the Catholic Church. He thought that the pope had to much power. The ninety five theses was a list of things that he thought were wrong with the church.

Read More
934 Words | 4 Pages

Holden Caulfield Is Mental Roughly three percent of the United States population, approximately 314,341,830 people, suffers from bipolar disorder. Holden Caulfield, from Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, has bipolar II disorder. This particular disorder is when an individual displays two extreme demeanors, yet not at persistent levels as shown in bipolar I disorders. This novel was written during an era that did not acknowledge mental illness very often; therefore Holden did not have the tools at his disposal to learn healthy coping mechanisms.

Read More
783 Words | 4 Pages

It 's feeling everything at once than feeling paralysingly numb,” writes Maria Henriksson. Mental illness refers to many conditions that individuals could go through. For example depression, addictive behaviors, and eating disorder have effects that could indicate whether or not an individual has a mental illness. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, Holden faces many hardships after his brother 's death. Holden 's mental illness is inferred through his lack of control, isolating himself from others, and relieving the past which caused him to not move

Read More
311 Words | 2 Pages

Mental illnesses are prevalent in many lives throughout the world. From small undiagnosed conditions to sever mental states. It is impossible for some to escape the hardships of suffering caused by their mind. This is the case in J.D Salinger 's Catcher in the Rye. The boy, Holden Caulfield, is confronted with unseen medical conditions in which he suffers from on a daily basis.

Read More
366 Words | 2 Pages

Sickness comes in many forms, but perhaps the most misunderstood form happens mentally. All of the events that happen to the main character in The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, are caused in some way or another by his mental illness. Holden Caulfield is a boy who drops out of school and travels to New York City. Holden makes irresponsible decisions like when he travels to New York City by himself without permission which affects him mentally. Holden’s mental illnesses affects his decision making,specifically his decision to stay in school and his inability to connect with people.

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has abnormal tendencies. Although he could just be a typical teenager, dealing with difficult situations, after analyzing his behavior it is believed that he is suffering from a mental ailment of some sort. Events from Holden’s past are still currently haunting him and it is evident that he is struggling. He needs the guidance of those around him in order to help himself through these tough time.

Read More

More about Holden Caulfield Illness

Open Document