The pace of interrogation

Again it‟s time for analysis. As you must have noticed, whenever I asked a question and her answer wasn‟t characteristic I went on without any delay to my next question. The pace of interrogation at this case was very quick. From what I remember I happened to have an extra urgent appointment and I was late and I had to be very quick.

I always examine on appointment and try not to squeeze a lot of appointments so as to have the comfort to examine my patient thoroughly. I also never answer telephone calls while examining patients.

Every day between 4.30 and 5.30 in the afternoon I answer to phone calls of my patients that have to do with the progress of their treatment.

Nevertheless, at times emergency appointments do happen and you have to do your job quickly and at the same time properly.

I must say from my experience that a quick pace of interrogation is better than a normal or slow one because you are forced to have all your antennas open and working hard in order to reach a quick and correct diagnosis. So, what‟s worth noting down from our patient‟s answers?

-That she is cold.

-Right. She is cold 2. In the past she must have been cold 3. Apart from that she used to like cold water 3 but now it‟s either desire for cold water 2 or even 3 but she avoids it because of her throat problems. We are not sure if it‟s desire for cold 2 or 3 at the moment but we shouldn‟t stick to such details because it‟s the totality of symptoms that matters.

Nevertheless, I note down Phosphor as possible idiosyncrasy on the event of desire cold 3. You must have noticed that I stressed to her that I wasn‟t interested so much on what she does but on what she desires. Let‟s move on.

5.8 General psychological questions

-How about irritability? Do you easily get angry?

-No.

-Not if you burst your anger but if you get angry inside easily.

-Well, some things do make me angry.

-What makes you angry? What situations? What behaviors?

-Untidiness! Very much!

-Other behaviors?

-Slow people; and stupidity also.

-Whenever you get angry do you express your anger or do you keep it inside?

-I do. I take it out.

-No matter what?

-Yes, but with tact.

-When somebody offends you will you take him down a peg?

-If he is a complete stranger I may let it go; I even go away. If he is someone I know then I will answer.

-If somebody strongly offends you do you bear grudges? Not to forget it no matter how much time will pass?

-No, not much.

-Are you temperamental? To have ups and downs regarding your mood or anger during daytime even if nothing happened or nothing crossed your mind?

-No.

-Do you have a constant nervousness without reason?

-My mind always operates at high speed because I have a lot in my mind that must be done.

-Do you want to throw something or break something when angry?

-Yes.

-Often?

-Not often, rarely.

-Even things that can be broken?

-No. Not such things… I never damage things.

-So, I see you are very careful even when bursting your anger…

(laughing)

-Yes, that‟s it! Ok, I may hit my head on the table or slam the door… but that‟s it.

-Do you like tidiness? All things to be in place, everything in order?

-All of it! All of it!

-You mean even on the point of becoming fastidious? To have this thing here, the other there, everything in perfect order?

-Yes, yes!

-When visitors move ashtrays, chairs, bibelot, does this annoy you?

-I want them to have a good time and after that I will put it back into place.

-When visitors leave the house and it‟s late at night and you are tired, will you put all things back into order or you may do it next day?

-If I leave it just like that I will not feel well. Anyway, if I leave it as it is, then I won‟t let anyone come to my house next day. (laughing) I will arrange not to work the day after the gathering so as to stay home and take care of it. All of it must be done! No way!

-Do you want to be punctual to your appointments, right on time?

-Yes.

-Do you manage to do so?

-Yes I do.

-If the person to meet delays to come to your appointment does this annoy you or make you angry?

-Yes, very much!

-Will you make a comment, will you make a remark?

-Yes, I‟ll find a way.

-If he is very late will you go away?

-I‟ve also done that!

-You are in the line in a bank and someone tries to go ahead of you. Will you say something?

-Yes! Yes! You see I never go ahead of anyone. I always wait patiently my turn.

-While walking on the street someone throws garbage… will you make a remark?

-Not much.

-Do you want to have a program in your life and not only at work? To say: “I will do these things today, those things tomorrow, etc”?

-Yes, very much!

-If somebody changes your program does that annoy you or make you angry?

-Yes. I don‟t want others to spoil my program.

-If bills are left unpaid or anything unsettled do you get very annoyed?

Do you want to settle everything the soonest possible?

-Right away! I put them in my program right away.

-Does it often happen to wake up at 4 to 6 a.m. and not be able to sleep again because you keep thinking of all the things you have to do in the day to come?

-Yes, that often happens to me. I have so much in my mind. I just can‟t relax. At night if I don‟t do all housework and if I don‟t put my children to bed I just can‟t sleep; it‟s impossible to sleep.

-Does noise annoy you a lot?

-Yes, it does.

-Even the tic-tac of a clock in your bedroom?

-No, not so much.