A Girl with Severe Attacks of Rage

IN BRIEF

Violence and attacks of rage in children are not only distressing but the child can also become a danger to herself and others. Fortunately homeopathy has something to offer as this case report illustrates.

By Anke Zimmermann, BSc, FCAH

Superhuman Strength

Rachel, a lovely, 10-year-old girl with long blonde hair, quietly sat in my office with both parents. Her mother had already briefed me on the phone the day before:

"The psychiatrists want to institutionalize Rachel for life - under heavy sedation! She is becoming stronger every day and is considered to be a danger to herself and others. The other day she tied a rope around her neck and threatened to jump off the deck to kill herself. Last week she pulled a knife on her brother. When she has an attack of rage it takes two or three people to restrain her. We actually have to sit on her. At those times she has superhuman strength."
 
These parents were at their wit's end. Rachel's attacks had started when she was about three years old and progressively increased over time. She would suddenly and without provocation have episodes of rage during which she was violent towards objects and people, including herself. Afterwards she had no memory of the event.

Driving the Child Crazy?

The family had literally seen dozens of therapists, psychiatrists and social workers for help: "At one time we had a team of social workers living in our house for two weeks to try and find out what we were doing to 'drive our child crazy' as they put it," Rachel's mother reported. 
 
There was no history of trauma in her case.  I had seen somewhat similar cases over the years where the child had been severely traumatized by an injury or a violent incident, but nothing came up in Rachel's case. The only clue was that her grandfather had been a violent alcoholic.

​Her attacks seemed to be neurological, almost like a seizure. Rachel also had a number of fears, including a fear of the dark and of ghosts.

Stramonium

I gave Stramonium, a homeopathic remedy that can be indicated if a person is violent, has a fear of violence, a fear of the dark, of ghosts and has supernatural strength while suffering an attack of rage.

Stramonium is a fascinating remedy made from a plant known as Angel's or, alternatively and tellingly, Devil's trumpet, based on its beautiful, trumpet shaped flowers. In crude form the plant is toxic and especially affects the nervous system, causing various disorders of thought and motor control with fear, violence, fits, hallucinations and delirium.
 
As a homeopathic preparation is may help with conditions like Rachel's based on the principle of 'Like cures like', although there are several other homeopathic remedies available with similar features, so it is important to seek professional help for the care of these cases. 
 
Rachel had several doses of Stramonium 200CH and 1MK over the next six months which entirely cleared up her attacks. She also received a couple of mineral and vitamin supplements. She was never institutionalized. The total cost of the homeopathic remedies she had was about $12.00.

This was one of the first very extreme cases I saw only a couple of years into my practice about 20 years ago. It made a lasting impression on me and firmly put me on my path of special interest in homeopathy.

If you have a child with rage and anger issues please consider homeopathy!

​Anke Zimmermann, BSc, FCAH, Classical Homeopath
  

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