A series of urgent phone rings echoed through every department, each receiver crackling with the same frantic voice: "All department heads, please report to the pediatric ward for a consultation!"
Lying in the pediatric bed was an 11-year-old emaciated girl. Her mother held her in one arm while wiping away tears with the other. The little girl's eyes were tightly shut as she gasped for breath. Beside her bed lay fresh vomit, streaked with bright red blood... The sight was heart-wrenching.
Supporting tests—including an upright abdominal X-ray, cranial CT scan, two lumbar punctures for cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and gastroscopy—revealed no abnormalities. Was it encephalitis? Or a pulmonary infection? Neither clinical symptoms nor test results provided clear answers. Despite symptomatic treatments like hemostasis and IV fluids, the girl's condition showed no significant improvement. Instead, her vomiting grew increasingly severe, leaving the doctors perplexed...
After the attending physician explained the case, specialists from various departments conducted necessary examinations. The child continued vomiting and gasping for breath, her condition suddenly worsening. This subtle change caught the attention of the consulting chief psychologist. He approached the girl, whispered a few words in her ear, then inserted a tiny silver needle into an abdominal acupuncture point.As the needle was gently twisted, the girl stopped vomiting and her breathing steadied. Her mother ceased sobbing, her eyes brimming with gratitude. When the consultation concluded, the referral form bore only a few simple words: "Recommend transfer to psychiatric department for treatment."
The More Attention, the Worse the Symptoms
Could these symptoms truly stem from psychological issues? Many found it hard to believe.
It turned out the girl was an adopted orphan. Her adoptive parents, who had been unable to conceive, showered her with care after adoption, making her the center of the family's attention. Though her parents doted on her, neighbors and classmates often referred to her as "the foundling." This led her to develop low self-esteem and introversion from a young age, with few friends.Several years ago, her adoptive parents had a biological daughter. With the birth of her younger sister, the girl felt her parents' attention diminished. She misunderstood this as favoritism toward her sister and a loss of parental love. Gradually, she became emotionally distressed, suffered from poor sleep, saw her grades decline, and grew increasingly reluctant to study. Over the past two years, before every exam, she experienced symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, which improved after taking stomach medicine or resting.A month ago, after arguing with her sister and being scolded by her father, she experienced dizziness, headaches, and difficulty breathing. Refusing to eat, she grew noticeably thinner each day. Her parents, deeply worried, carried her to the hospital for treatment. During her stay in the pediatric ward, whenever the girl became emotionally distressed or lost control, her parents urgently sought the doctor's help.However, after various interventions, her condition not only failed to improve but worsened—her breathing became more rapid and vomiting more pronounced.
Creating Distress to Trigger Mother's Anxiety
Considering the symptoms might stem from a strong desire to attract attention, particularly from her parents, the psychologist gently whispered to her:When you feel a distended pain in your abdomen during acupuncture, the vomiting will stop, and other symptoms will immediately lessen." Her symptoms promptly subsided. The psychology department continued suggestive therapy alongside antidepressant and anti-anxiety treatments, leading to gradual improvement in her condition and significant emotional stabilization. A week later, fearing it would interfere with her studies, the parents requested discharge.
Unexpectedly, a few days after discharge, following an argument with classmates, the patient experienced recurrence of headaches, vomiting, and traces of blood in her saliva at school. However, each time her mother comforted her with gentle touch, the symptoms subsided.Later, the mother accidentally discovered that when the child felt distressed, she would scratch her throat and nasal passages. She promptly brought her back to the psychiatric department. After clarifying the situation, the psychiatrist first reassured the mother, explaining that the child had no serious issues and advising her to remain calm and temporarily distance herself from the child. The doctor then provided patient psychological counseling and behavioral therapy until the girl recovered and returned to school.
Using illness as a voice, symptoms may recur
In truth, everyone faces adversity at some point in life. When individuals cannot articulate their struggles or have their needs unmet through reasonable means, illness—despite its inconveniences and suffering—can become a form of expression to achieve their goals.
For instance, when a child voices dissatisfaction but receives blame or ridicule instead of understanding and support, or when a child struggles to articulate emotional needs, they may resort to illness as a means of communication. This allows them to seek attention and prove they are not abandoned. Such perceived "benefits" often lead to prolonged or recurring symptoms.
Creating a Supportive Family Environment
Family members of sick children should strive to understand this "finding illness where none exists" phenomenon and help the child articulate through words what they are expressing physically.
For instance, the young girl mentioned earlier felt inferior and feared being ignored or abandoned, hoping for more attention. Parents should meet her reasonable needs as much as possible, offering emotional support. For requests that cannot be fulfilled immediately, patient explanations and communication should reassure her that her parents still care and love her, fostering a sense of security and creating a positive family environment.
Parents should also encourage the girl to actively participate in school activities or take her outdoors for exercises like fitness training or hiking to develop her social skills with peers. Simultaneously, avoid excessive focus on her symptoms to prevent reinforcing a habit of "using illness as a substitute for communication."
News Link: Girl Seriously Injured After Father Beats Her for Nail-Picking
Recent newspaper reports indicate:Xiao Juan suffered multiple bruises and acute kidney failure after her father violently beat her for persistently picking her nails despite warnings, leaving her in critical condition.
"Xiao Juan liked to pick her nails. She used her thumbnail to scrape the skin around her middle fingernail, causing both fingers to bleed," her mother told reporters.
According to Xiao Juan's father, his intention was to "discipline his daughter." He had repeatedly tried to stop this habit, even resorting to physical punishment before—though previously it had only involved spanking. Seeing Xiao Juan had now pulled out entire nails, he lashed out in anger, never anticipating such dire consequences.
Commentary: Before attempting to "teach his daughter a lesson," did Xiao Juan's father ever consider the underlying reasons behind her repeated self-harm? If parents paid more attention to their children's emotional worlds, perhaps such tragedies could be prevented.