MY REACTION

My Reaction to A Glimmering Gloom

Emily Anzek
Neosho County Community College

MY REACTION

It is known that Florence Nightingale was the founder of modern medicine, but she might
have been afflicted with a mental illness that many people suffer from today. A Glimmering
Gloom looks into many factors retrospectively and determines that Florence suffered from
bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood, going from depression to
mania. Some symptoms of a depressive episode include fatigue, problems with concentrating,
restlessness, irritability, and suicide ideations. On the other hand, a person who is in a manic
episode may speak very fast with disorganized thoughts, be easily distracted, need little to no
sleep, be impulsive, and engage in risk-taking behaviors.
Florence Nightingale is a key-factor in how medicine works today. At one time, her and
her nursing team were caring for around 4,000 soldiers. There were many problems other than
battle wounds that they needed treatment. After a month of Florences arrival, she witnessed
the deaths of more than 3,000 troops. As a child, she had frequent respiratory infections and
wore braces on her ankles. Right before her 17th birthday, Florence claimed that God spoke to
her and told her to help. After that, she decided to became a nurse. While caring for the troops,
Florence contracted her own illness that lasted for months. She complained of intense fever,
fatigue, an inability to concentrate, weakness, dysentery, earache, laryngitis, insomnia,

MY REACTION

anorexia, nausea, irritability, nervousness, and depression. At 33, she had measles. When
Florence was 37, she collapsed from palpitations. At 41, she had three episodes similar to her
original illness except for the addition of tremors. Miss Nightingale typically complained of
headaches, insomnia, depression, worthlessness, and spinal pain. Once Florence was 68, her
symptoms improved remarkably.
Her symptoms look very much like bipolar disorder as she had episodes of depression
and mania until her 60s. Florence also contracted brucellosis which can have neuropsychiatric
symptoms. Headache, depression and fatigue are the most frequently reported
neuropsychiatric symptoms. In patients with advanced disease who have meningoencephalitis,
these complaints may include changes in mental status, coma, neurologic deficit, nuchal rigidity,
or seizures (Al-Nassir, 2014). So I find it difficult to place Nightingales symptoms solely on
bipolar disorder. If she had lasting pain from the disease, I can imagine that she would be
depressed.
Im unsure of where I stand with this article. I feel like it is acceptable to use Florence
Nightingales diary, but unless there is other physical proof I find it difficult to believe hearsay.
Also, what is known about mental illness and healthcare now, was not known in the 1800s.
Therefore, I find it difficult to diagnosis a persons psychosis after they have passed away. Now,
we assess each and every patient for their own psychosis by closely observing them. I do find
many things interesting when it comes to Miss Nightingales life but I find it difficult to gain much
insight on a definite diagnosis.

MY REACTION

References
Al-Nassir, W. (2014, March 10). Brucellosis Clinical Presentation. Retrieved February 3, 2015,
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213430-clinical
Wisner, K., Bostridge, M., & Mackowiak, P. (2005). A case of glimmering gloom. The Pharos.