Abuse Quote by Alice Jamieson
““The odd sensation I had while cooking would often last through the meal, then dissolve as I climbed the stairs. I would enter my room and discover the homework books I had left on the bed had disappeared into my backpack. I’d look inside my books and be shocked to find that the homework had been done. Sometimes it had been done well, at others it was slapdash, the writing careless, my own handwriting but scrawled across the page. As I read the work through, I would get the creepy feeling that someone was watching me. I would turn quickly, trying to catch them out, but the door would be closed. There was never anyone there. Just me. My throat would turn dry. My shoulders would feel numb. The tic in my neck would start dancing as if an insect was burrowing beneath the surface of the skin. The symptoms would intensify into migraines that lasted for days and did not respond to treatment or drugs. The attack would come like a sudden storm, blow itself out of its own accord or unexpectedly vanish. Objects repeatedly went missing: a favourite pen, a cassette, money. They usually turned up, although once the money had gone it had gone for ever and I would find in the chest of drawers a T-shirt I didn’t remember buying, a Depeche Mode cassette I didn’t like, a box of sketching pencils, some Lego.””
About This Quote
A vivid description of chronic, stress‑induced psychosomatic episodes that manifest as physical symptoms and unexplained events.
In simple terms: Stress can cause physical and mental disturbances that feel supernatural.
Recognize stress triggers and seek professional help.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school pressure
- creative work
- daily routines
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What stressors could be underlying these episodes?
- How can you differentiate between stress‑related symptoms and other conditions?
Symptoms may be misattributed, delaying proper diagnosis and treatment.