Ricardo: achieving self-actualization

Patient: Ricardo
Date of Birth: 12/17/1969
Marital State: Single
Institution: CARITAS
Therapists: Liliana and Inés

Why Ricardo asked for help

He felt highly stressed, mentally tired, emotionally unbalanced, and he wanted to feel more satisfied with himself.

Ricardo's background

Ricardo has a complicated family. His father had an accident when he was two years old and lost both legs. Because of this unfortunate episode, he couldn´t have a regular job and he could only be in charge of buying and selling different objects, which he complemented with illegal gambling. He was in prison in different occasions and died of cancer at 66 years old, in 1992.

His mother was overprotective of him as she tried to prevent him from becoming a juvenile delinquent as his two older brothers had been. Both brothers had been in detention centers and prison several times. Despite her better intentions, she would frequently criticize him, repeating statements like “you will not be able to do anything in life.”

Additionally, he had a sister who died of carbon monoxide poisoning when she was 18 years old, just before he was born.

Regarding his adolescence, he never finished high school and was temporarily involved with drugs. Later on, he was in charge of his mother who finally died in 2007 because of heart problems. He worked for 10 years doing diverse kinds of jobs but is out of work now.

In 2002, he got HIV because of unprotected sex. He didn't have any medication for 10 years but he is currently taking retroviral medicines since 2012. His health is good now except when he is stressed because his defenses go down. He receives a health subsidy from the government.

He lives with his older brother who continues being delinquent (he is armed, violent and is on drugs) and periodically threatens him with a weapon.

He currently does Reiki, Massage, and follows a spiritual orientation by being a member of an institution: “Universalismo Espiritual.” The apartment where they live is the three brothers’ property. However, he alone is in charge of paying the mortgage and living expenditures.

Evolution of the treatment

The flower essences prescribed the first session were:

Rescue Remedy, Sweet Chestnut, White Chestnut, Hornbeam, Olive

During the following sessions, additional essences were included in order to work on his insomnia, self-esteem, depression and dignity. There were situations in which he felt threatened by his brother with the weapon and scared of being killed during the night. He was unable to confront his brother. He acknowledged his life was in danger but he couldn´t afford to move to another place. His daily prescription included:

Boronia, Grey Spider Flower

Saint Germain
Echinacea

At night, before going to bed, and every 15 minutes: White Chestnut and Vervain

Rosa Blanca and Vinca

Before Christmas of 2016, he met María, several years younger than him. They first met at school but now she is already a teacher. She asked him to go very slowly in the relationship because she is virgin. He couldn't tell her about his HIV condition. For this new situation, Larch and Mullein were included.

Larch and Mullein

From the beginning of 2017, the therapists started to emphasize the importance of finishing high school in order to get a job. He felt he would fail; however, he started general courses related to printing. The flower essences at this time were:

Mountain Devil, Waratah, Philoteca

Hyssop, Rue
Panicum Formula
Larch

The relationship with María was going ahead but the problems with his brother became more serious and frequent. He was so scared that “his brother” was the only topic at the sessions. In May 2017, the therapists asked him to stop with this topic and start talking about himself, his feelings and those things he wanted to change in his life. He said he felt blocked. The therapists asked him to do a drawing test in order to use it as a diagnostic tool. The prescription at that time was:

Elm, Rock Rose, Impatiens, Cherry Plum, Walnut

Waratah, Red Grevillea, Confid, Crowea

Mullein

He was sleeping better. However, once he said, “I have been fretful for 47 years” and added that his older brother badly mistreated him when being a child (he denied to have been sexually abused).

Later on, because of the evidence of his lack of direction, paralyzation and inability to talk about his health condition with María, his formula was :

Mullein, Deerbrush, Yellow Star Tulip, Goldenrod, Oregon Grape

Boab

Mimulus

By mid-2017, he could have a long and clarifying chat with María and felt a big relief. Both together went to talk to Ricardo’s Doctor, which allowed María to ask him all the questions important for her.

In August of 2017, he started to go to High School for Adults, very scared of failing. However, he found teachers very collaborative and helpful and his self-confidence started to grow. His relationship with María goes ahead but they don´t have sexual intercourse yet. They meet frequently at María’s family house. Her family, very conservative, preserves Maria’s virginity and doesn´t know yet his HIV condition. Her sister will soon accompany María to see a gynecologist for the first time.

Ricardo started Psychotherapy in the same institution (Caritas). The flower therapists have insisted about its importance since long ago and helped him to find the right psychotherapist – a man – with whom Ricardo has currently a good relationship. In October 2017 his blood test showed that the virus was undetectable.

The first semester at the school was excellent! He passed all the exams with very good marks. He looks more relaxed and freer. He understands his current limitations and can relate them to his childhood. He recognizes that floral therapy has helped him very much and is very committed to his treatment.

His relationship with María is going better and better and this last summer has gone with her and her family to the beach even when her family has a very closed structure and Ricardo continues to be a danger for them.

María got a loan for him to be able to write the apartment deed. Additionally, Ricardo could finally talk with his brother (the one who lives with him) and explain his intentions of selling the apartment. His brother – calmer now – accepted and promised to help him with the operation.

Ricardo felt liberated!

At the same time, Ricardo got a job at the spiritual institution where he has gone for several years. It is a permanent job, 3 days per week and because one of those days he uses it to go to see the floral therapists, he has agreed to change floral teams that work in the same institution other days. He feels insecure with the change but he is committed to continue with the treatment understanding the importance of confronting new challenges.

His current formula is:

Penstemon, Angélica, Yarrow

Mimulus, Walnut, Crab Apple, Gentian

Sao Miguel
Dog Rose of the Wild Forces

As a result of the treatment, Ricardo is re-signifying himself as a man.