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OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Health eMagazine June 2023 Written by Svanjita Berry, RUSM, MS4 Global Health Elective alumni (February 2023) Following are two short stories inspired by my global health experience in India. I was fascinated by the role that religion played in both instances. It made me reflect on how each one of us formulate our own realities based on where we are born, what we see, what we learn, and what we feel throughout the course of our lives. Our personalities and behaviors are simply a manifestation of those individual realities interplaying with our neurobiology. “Lakshmi”- The Hindu goddess of abundance Perspective Global Health Academy Highlights Reflections Welcome Global Local Hispanic and Latinx Communities Voices of Ugandan Students Global Health Mental Health Art to Rwmind Us of Who We Can Be Our Beautiful Planet Innovation and Technology Nursing Division Women’s Health Education Among the Letters Announcements Article of the Month Video of the Month Congratulations Phoro News Calendar of Events Resources Golden threads weaved into her bright red saree. The saree is draping over her torso and wrapping over her head covering most of her face, though one could still see the bright red ‘bindi’ (dot on the forehead) underneath. Her hands adorned with glass bangles embellished with tiny rhinestones. Her palms and feet were painted with ‘alta’ (red dye). As she walked into the room, her anklets made the most beautiful clinking sounds. Heads turned in awe as she made her way through, till she saw an empty bed and very gracefully sat down with one leg crossed and the other leg hanging down. Her hands quickly transitioned into ‘mudras’ (hand gestures) while she moved her gaze across the room. “I am Lakshmi” she said. “Tell me more,” replied the psychiatry intern, while the other patients continued to stare. The mortal who married a god “Lakshmi and Saraswathi (Hindu Goddess of Wisdom) are trying to ruin my life” said the patient pointing at her sister and her nurse. “They are jealous of my marriage with Shiva (Hindu god of destruction and transformation). “In 1996, I heard Shiva singing Tu Hi Re.. (a popular love song in the 90s). Since then, we have been lovers. He would come to me in different ways, sometimes through my brother’s friend Yogesh (another name for Shiva). I have never seen him, but I can hear his voice and feel him. I have attained supreme pleasure during intercourse with him. I can feel his ling (penis) penetrating and rubbing against my yoni (vagina). We have 2 kids together - Ganesh and Mayur (actual names of Shiva and Gauri’s sons in Hindu mythology). He guides me on how to live my life. He protects me from my neighbors and my sister who are trying to poison me. All the other gods have tried to kill me before. Vishnu (Hindu god of preservation) shot poisoned arrows at me and sent his snakes to fill me with their venom. I could feel the snakes crawl on my skin and the arrows hurt so bad that I couldn’t move for days. They also tried to slit my throat and I lost my voice for months. But my Shiva saved me and gave me back my voice. I am Gauri, his wife, and through him I have the power to destroy the world if I want to.” How many delusions are too many delusions? I asked myself after this 2-hour-long detailed patient interview in central rural India. My back had started to hurt from sitting on a tiny metal stool placed next to the patient bed, but the behavioral health enthusiast in me had refused to leave. My single sheet of paper was overflowing with my notes and observations. Her medical 22
OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION Global Health eMagazine June 2023 1 2 charts revealed that in the last 27 years, her positive symptoms had never responded to any psychiatric medications, despite adequate trials with Clozapine and ECT. How could a case be this complex? How could the patient’s developmental and social history shape her psychiatric illness to this extent? Were the delusions the basis of her hallucinations or did the hallucinations fuel the delusions? Had her longstanding delusions become fixed memories? I had an endless list of questions that needed to be addressed. I knew this case was going to be the highlight of my clinical experience in India. Perspective Global Health Academy Highlights Reflections Welcome Global Local Hispanic and Latinx Communities Voices of Ugandan Students Global Health Mental Health Art to Rwmind Us of Who We Can Be Our Beautiful Planet Innovation and Technology Nursing Division Women’s Health Education Among the Letters Announcements Article of the Month Video of the Month Congratulations 3 Phoro News Calendar of Events Photos from the psychiatry wards 1.Entrance. First door on the left is for the outpatient clinic (see photo 3). Further down the hallway on the left are the inpatient wards (see photo 2). Resources 23
Page 1 and 2: June 2023 Volume 54 NUVANCE HEALTH
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