"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."
Vincent Van Gogh is one of the world’s most famous painters from the nineteenth century. He was the oldest of five brothers, born on March 30, 1853 to Theodorus Van Gogh, a minister, and Anna Cornelia, a moody artist. Vincent’s work of art has been known for its emotion, beauty, and color. Two of the most renowned paintings of Van Gogh are Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers and The Starry Night. Despite of his success and fame in today’s world, Vincent Van Gogh was struggling throughout his whole life. Looking at all of the recorded documents of his behaviors in the past, I believe that it is justifiable to diagnose Vincent Van Gogh with bipolar II disorder.
Bipolar
disorder is a psychological illness marked by alternating periods of mania and
depression. Bipolar II disorder is one in which the disorder is driven by
depression instead of mania. Looking through a biopsychosocial approach, the
biological aspect that caused his disorder might have came from his mother who was a
moody artist. However, I believe that the most prominent cause to his illness
is through sociocultural factors, which included his family relationships
and socioeconomic status. Vincent Van Gogh was born exactly one year after his
parents’ first son was stillborn. His mother never recovered from the death of
her first child, and due to that reason, she had trouble forming bonds with her
sons. Even after Vincent’s fame, his mother considered his work of art to be
rubbish. Hence, Vincent Van Gogh felt rejected by his own mother. In addition
to that, Vincent was rejected by the three women he came to love throughout his
lifetime. It is safe to say that rejection is something he was familiar with.
Looking through the socioeconomic status, Vincent’s family fell into financial
difficulties when he was only fifteen years of age, which forced him to leave
school and get a job. He was a failed art dealer, and he depended on his
younger brother, Theo, to support him. He, then, pursued his passion
to be an artist, yet only one of his paintings got sold in the course of his
lifetime. I assume that because of these environmental factors did Van Gogh
develop his bipolar II disorder.
Focusing
on the symptoms, Vincent Van Gogh engaged in peculiar behaviors. For example,
he liked to punish himself if he did something wrong; he would skip meals, or
spend the night outside instead of in his room. When he was working, he would
isolate himself and go on for days without eating and spent all of his money to
get painting supplies. It became more deranged when he started to eat paint.
However, it was during these periods did he become highly creative and
productive. It was during these episodes did he feel balanced and sane. Other
than those times, he would engage in depressive manners that led to self-harm.
For example, there was an instance where he had a fight with his best friend,
and he threatened to leave Van Gogh and never see him again. Feeling rejected
once again, Van Gogh became stressed out and depressed, and gradually, cut off
his own ear. His depression got very extreme that he shot himself and died on
July 29, 1890 at the age of 37.
If
Vincent Van Gogh is still alive today, the treatment that would be suitable for
his bipolar II disorder is through biomedical approach. We can start off by giving
him SSRI drugs, which have the fewest side effects. If that does not work, we
can try prescribing him with different antidepressant drugs, but we have to
consider Van Gogh’s medical health to avoid any unwanted side effects. Another
possible option is through electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), where we shock the
brain. Per contra, the side effect can be the loss of memory. Nevertheless, it
is still something to consider, taking in mind all of the behaviors he engaged in
that had threatened his own life.
"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."
I am writing this letter 8,972 miles away from you, and I have been missing you every single day since the day we parted.
You are seven years old right now, and I have never been so proud of a seven year old before. Just like my oma, the woman I adore, you are beautiful both on the outside and the inside. I am so happy of the girl you turn out to be; a girl with a beautiful heart. You are filled with kindness and love, and I am so proud of you. I fell in love with you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You are a blessing to a 14 year old girl who dreamed of having a little sister. You are my soulmate and my best friend. I cherish every moment we spent together. I cannot seem to forget all those times where we went to see movies in the theater, played pretend, sang, danced, and laughed. I remember how you used to come to my room in the morning and jumped on me, only to wake me up while telling me that breakfast is ready. It is the little things that I seem to miss the most. It hurts me knowing how much you cried because you missed me, and how much you begged for me not to forget you. My love, you should know that there is not a single day goes by without me thinking of you. My nights of unbearable cries are countless. I miss you with all there is inside of me. You may not understand right now, but in time, you will understand that what I am doing right now is also for your sake. I need to study real hard and have a nice job so I can take care of you. I promise you that I will take care of you. When there is nobody else, you know that you will always have me. You are my baby. I will always watch over you, care for you, and love you.
Thank you for showing me how beautiful the innocence of a child's heart is.
You mean the world to me.
Yours,
Abigail C. Parera
Dear Oma,
I am sorry it took me this long to finally say what I have always been wanting to tell you.
There are too many things I am eager to say. Some even where words cannot convey, but let me start off by saying thank you. You have shown me what it was like to be a caring and loving person. You have given me great love; one that is unconditional. You were always there for me, loving me every step of the way. You have taught me something that I will cherish for as long as I shall live; you have taught me how to love. Because of your love, care, and patience, now, in turn, I have grown to be a girl who stands close to such things. I am saddened by the thoughts of not spending more time with you when I had the chance. I remember that every time I got scolded by my father, you were the person I wanted to go to. I would sleep with you at night, and you would keep me warm. I just wish that I have one last chance to say how much you mean to me. I remember you telling me and my cousin, Sara, about your childhood. How you used to live in a farm with your grandmother, and how you loved her dearly. Maybe such feeling is hereditary. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known. Not only on the outside, but what is inside you shine out of you like sunbeams. I fell in love with your gentle smile, and I have been missing it ever since the day you left. Yet, what I adore most of all is your kindness. You were filled with kindness, and I was ever so lucky to receive such a thing from you each day. There are too many memories for one's heart to hold. Being able to call you my grandmother is one of the most precious gifts God has given me. I hope that I can be the person whom you are proud of, and I believe that you are looking down on me from Jesus' arms.
I love you, Oma.
You have a place in my heart that no one could ever replace.
Yours,
Abigail C. Parera
In today’s world, a lot of people are unable to accept who they really are. They imprison themselves with self-dissatisfactions. Therefore, people try to change the way they look. They start to get their eyelids lifted, their hair changed, or their skin tanned in order to satisfy themselves. The book American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang, encourages its readers to accept their “true form.” Through three different stories of The Monkey King, Jin, and Danny, the book depicts the efforts of fitting into society. Each character in the book is shown with his own distinctive characteristics.
Sometimes, people’s idealization of a beautiful figure is what they create in their heads without realizing that their own figure is just as beautiful.
