“SWEAR in the witness!” The judge has spoken. As an expert witness I approached the judge’s bench to be at the witness stand. Before I could take my sit, I raised my right hand to pledge to tell the truth while my left hand rested on the Bible. A clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist are sought out as expert witnesses to discuss on the cases’ psychological incapacity.
Liza continued to struggle over the trauma she experienced in her marriage. The physical signs of her bodily shaking when she recalled, her repeated victimization in the marriage bed continued to overwhelm her. She was diagnosed with depression (dysthemia type). A chronic type of condition since the following symptoms persisted beyond six months. She complained of loss of interest in daily activities. She persistently felt sad, empty and down. She felt hopeless among many others. Added to her struggles were the kind of bodily reactions she would have whenever her past memories with her husband would come back. She suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
Troy, the ex-husband could not feel the depth of pain that Liza continued to bear. His extra marital affairs were like salt added to her wounds. Troy at 40 acted like a teenager. Inappropriate in his behavior around women, he had grandiosity about his looks. When confronted, his rage unleashed that he became physically violent. He lied about his age and his marital status. He was suspicious of people. Paranoia made it difficult for him to deepen relationship with anyone.
The state prosecutor cross-examined my presentation on Liza and Troy.
Prosecutor (Lady): If Liza takes some medicine for her Dysthemia, is she not going to get well? And if Liza is going to undergo counseling and psychotherapy, does she not get healed from her PTSD? Answer me, ‘Yes’ or, ‘No.’
Dr. Billones: Yes, Maam. Studies prove that depression improves and can be cured by taking medicine. It even has better prognosis when it is coupled with counseling. In the case of PTSD, it is also curable by intensive psychotherapy.
Prosecutor: Is this not the same for Mr. Troy? State his disorder again? Can he not go through counseling and treat his condition?
Dr. Billones: Ma'am, Mr. Troy’s disorder is called Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The symptoms of his condition can be modified in psychotherapy. It will be like putting him in a controlled environment. For as long as the triggering factors are under control, then his behavioral symptoms will be managed. However, once the threshold is reached, or he is removed from a managed situations, all hell will break lose again. Mr. Troy’s symptoms are managed, but the cause of his illness is not cured.
Prosecutor: What is the cause of his personality disorder that it is difficult, if not impossible to cure?
Dr. Billones: The early formative years of his life formed his sense of understanding about who he is. As a young boy, it was the years of securing his experience of being loved, trusted and respected. He was supposed to receive these fundamental legitimate needs from his mother and father. In the case of Mr. Troy, he did not remember memories of secure attachment with his parents. Instead, he grew up being put down a lot. Shame was the currency of his relationships growing up. At adult life, he had to cover his ingrained, deep seated experience of shame.
Given that the disorder of Mr. Troy is serious, incurable and antecedent, I therefore recommend that the petition for the nullity of Liza’s marriage to Troy be granted!