ABSTRACTION OF MIND

SYMPTOMS: Apathy or indifference; indifferent to his friends and surroundings. Indifferent to his children. Answers no questions, almost unwilling to talk, takes no notice of his family and things about him, answers slowly, thinks sluggishly, seems dazed or in a stupor. As the darkness of night began to in-close the earth, his peace disturbs by the most frightful visions and thoughts; constant fear of death, with an almost uncontrollable desire to commit suicide. Wild thoughts. He sprang from bed and tried to collect his thoughts; had numbness all over with sensation of myriads of needles slightly pricking him. Thinks he is several pieces, and cannot adjust the fragments. Maniacal attacks come on during sleep with fury and extreme violence, so that no one dares approach him, and this progresses to imbecility, silliness, weak brain, idiocy. He becomes delirious, screams, so loud that it aroused all in the house, without answering, always complains of pains, but does not designate the locality. Aversion to thought or mental activity. Loss of senses, as if he could not grasp any thought, with headache. Inability to think. All of these mental symptoms are worse in the dark; worse when alone; sometimes worse from music; worse from excitement; worse from playing the piano.

When to prescribe Phos:
1. Indifferent to his friends and surroundings. Indifferent to his children.
2.  Answers no questions or answers slowly, almost unwilling to talk.
3. Wild thoughts, thinks he is several pieces, and cannot adjust the fragments.
4. Inability to think, aversion to thought or mental activity.
5. All of these mental symptoms are worse in the dark; worse when alone; sometimes worse from music; worse from excitement; worse from playing the piano.

Clinical Essence of Phos:

Clinically, Phos is generally suitable for dementia pattern of under abstraction type. The symptoms are not similar to severe impairments of abstraction. Though can be prescribed in cases of schizophrenia and autism, where there are similar thought disorders.