The Joy in Whipping - Psychology Express

The patient discussed in this case is a 24-year-old single woman. She had spent seven years in a state psychiatric hospital where she was diagnosed with reactive schizophrenia. This young woman had a peculiar fetish - she would pay some men to whip her with black belts that had silver buckles, hoping to alleviate her sense of guilt through this method. Long before this treatment, many therapists had already diagnosed her and even subjected her to shock therapy, but she felt none of these methods were particularly helpful. During this time, she also injured herself with razor blades, swallowed razor blades, and ingested nail polish remover as ways to punish herself, hoping these actions would make her feel better. After numerous treatments, many believed this young woman was beyond redemption. However, after undergoing Rational Emotive Therapy, the young woman miraculously improved. Perhaps this is not an ideal case, and some of the conversations during the treatment process may have contained errors. Additionally, the approach taken in handling this case goes against the existing experience of most professionals. Yet, it was precisely these unconventional methods that many professionals were unwilling to adopt that helped the patient on her path to mental health.