Essay on 'The Glass Castle': Psychological Case Study

For those unfortunate to have dealt with a near-death experience, combat exposure, childhood physical abuse, sexual violence, and physical assault have faced what is known as a traumatizing event. Many people are lucky enough to recover sooner than others; however, the rest often face at-risk exposure to ASD (Acute Stress Disorder), Adjustment Disorder, and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). According to Victoria Lemle Beckner and John B. Arden, Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, “Traumas have a much deeper impact on one’s well-being than a typical stressor and can take a long time to recover from” (Lemle 22). Generally speaking exposure to many of these disorders becomes the very reason why many people have difficulty living a stable or functional life. PTSD is the most common disorder that has been known as, “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it” (Mayoclinic.org). In the memoir, The Glass Castle, the author Jeannette Walls describes the damaging and moody behavior of her father Rex Walls, in which he exhibits the very symptoms of PTSD. Unfortunately, carrying his depression, destructive behavior, difficulty maintaining close relationships, and issues with alcohol use throughout his life not only as a husband but as a father; therefore, it is clear that Rex Walls suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Depression is one of the factors known to be troubling to those affected by PTSD; ironically, a symptom that Rex suffers throughout his life. Depression is demonstrated as, “a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration…” (Merriam-Webster.com). In particular, for Rex’s family, it was hard to bare witness to the emotional discomfort he expressed; unfortunately, throughout their lives what was given wasn't much of a blessing. Jeannette’s willingness to speak the truth, “‘Do you think you could maybe stop drinking?’” (Walls 116). Devastating enough, Rex felt betrayed but questioned the life he had given his family. The discomposure and unsettling feeling placed Rex into a continuous black hole. Being alone and with nothing but silence brought Rex pleasure as if what Jeannette had said tore what was left of his dignity. Feeling worthless and guilty were just a few of the very symptoms of depression that Rex exhibited, “As soon as she dropped us off, [Rex] disappeared...but he didn’t come home” (Walls 121). His behavior reflected the emotions he had felt listening to the women, “‘Why, I can’t leave those poor people out there’” (Walls 121) considering the circumstances, Rex’s actions alone were spoken for after all most of the issues were due to Rex’s misjudgment. In addition, depression has been classified as a long-term treatment that isn’t easy to snap out of; instead, it’s a noticeable problem that affects those on a day-to-day basis. Rex’s affection toward his family became unstable as soon as his family broke apart; ideally, Jeannette’s opportunity to leave was the day Rex dreaded his whole life, “‘As soon as I finish classes, I’m getting on the next bus out of here’” (Walls 238). Many individuals have a difficult way of coping with their depression and some have it easier, but Rex’s so-called coping method was leaving for the night and not returning until the next day. Usually, drunk and unconscious, he’d involuntarily become very anti-social which is a very difficult period at which those who suffer from depression have to face. The anti-social factor of depression is an issue that becomes the reason why these individuals have a hard time keeping their close relationships with friends and family. Depression and its significance on these individuals who live with PTSD can be harmful to their mental and physical health; unfortunately, the server mood swings and changes in the mental state created an imbalance of anger and destructive behavior throughout the life of Rex Walls.

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With this in mind, having destructive behavior has been known to be involved in the list of symptoms correlating to the diagnosis of PTSD, surely enough it is another symptom that Rex Walls suffers from. The destructive behavior of one who suffers from PTSD can simply be harmful to not only themselves but others as well. Most behavioral mood swings or changes in emotions can become more active when exposed to drugs and alcohol; therefore, the way to decrease the risk of this behavioral roller coaster is to suppress the outside variable which is drugs and alcohol. Rex’s inability to control his urges of keeping away from alcohol became the exact reason that Rex, “[thrust] the lighter into the Douglas fir. The dried-out needles caught fire immediately” (Walls 115). Because of his action and his bizarre reason the tree became the symbol that marked the end of a great evening. Substance abuse changes the view of one's perspective that allows for the aggressive nature to reveal itself. Destructive behaviors can vary in several ways such as being uncooperative, refusing to follow rules, behaving angry, resentful, spiteful, and vindictive. Rex Walls has had constant cards at play that features the destruction he has caused which not only becomes the restfulness that each individual will express towards him but the constant lines and boundaries that are broken due to his actions. The symptoms itself is said to be, “It is seen as a symptom of other underlying dysfunction or psychological disorder that a person may be experiencing” as said in the article, Self-Destructive Behavior: The Causes, Traits, And Types, by Jack Nollan who continues to further explain that, “ It can be either an action, series of actions or a way of life that causes psychological or physical harm to the person engaging in the behavior”. Destructive behavior isn’t at all what it perceives to be as it is an effect of the mind and the psychological part which creates the frequent behavior outbursts. The destructive behavior is a roadblock for those who suffer from PTSD as it is what develops the fence that deprived them of their own happiness due to the traumatic event that might have caused the server temperamental outbursts; nonetheless, leads to difficulty in maintaining a close relationship with friends and family.

Furthermore, maintaining a close relationship can be very difficult for those with PTSD; surprisingly, it’s a symptom that Rex Wall definitely has a hard time managing. Jeannette and her coming of age were no sight for sore eyes as Rex, her father, took it upon himself to bring Jeannette to his workplace. His actions and poor ability to recognize the danger and the foolish thing he had done to obtain money, “‘Holler if you need me’, he said and winked at me as if…this was just a part of my job” (Walls 212). Rex purposely pimped out his daughter to repay the cash he had taken from her, which isn’t the exact way money should be earned. His intentions might not have been what he thought to be wrong or dangerous, but it isn’t the right kind of mindset that should be making decisions involving family or close relationships. For any individual, intentions that involve the endangerment of one’s well-being can be a matter of resentment that one might develop. Rex constantly made it difficult for many to keep a close relationship, “there were six stinging blows on the backs of my thighs” (Walls 220). The pain Jeannette endured wasn’t the fault of the six strings, but the fault of her father's misjudgment. Resentment is a great fact that those who have PTSD must avoid. Maintaining a close relationship is a vastly important part that can easily be stripped because of his or her actions. Rex's fatherly actions to improve the sculptor that her eldest daughter, Lori, had created wasn’t much help as, “[Rex] studied the sculpture, then suddenly reached over and smeared off Shakespeare’s mouth…” (Walls 227). His selfishness and complete disregard for Lori's sculpture were the last straw that kept Lori from leaving. Rex had given his family nothing but trouble throughout their years growing up as if what he was doing was for their own good. The fatherly effect on his kids had worn off and couldn’t keep them from leaving any longer. Living with an individual suffering from PTSD, “Trauma memories, trauma reminders or flashbacks, and the attempt to avoid such memories or reminders, can make living with a survivor feel like living in a war zone or living in constant threat of vague but terrible danger” (Bressert).