A 35-year-old male came to my clinic for counselling, entering in a hurried and impulsive manner. He paced anxiously in the waiting room until his appointment was confirmed. When he finally sat down for the consultation, he appeared upset but gradually calmed down. He explained that he had been struggling with anger issues and impulsive behaviour, recently having an outburst at home, which led him to seek help at the clinic.
My first thought was to rule out disruptive behaviour disorder(DBD). Where a person cannot control his emotions and ends up in a violent outburst. But his behaviour was not always like this, but had developed recently.
began asking him about his current concerns, and he shared that he is a highly ambitious individual who has achieved a strong position in his IT company at a relatively young age. He described himself as energetic and passionate about activities like adventure sports and travelling. He met his wife during his travels, fell in love, and after dating for a few years, they eventually got married and settled in Bangalore.
They have now been married for five years and have a two-year-old child, which was unplanned. Over time, he began losing focus at work and in his personal life. He mentioned that he started getting into arguments with friends and colleagues, engaging in reckless driving, and even had an accident. He feels frustrated because his wife often blames him for minor things and spends a lot of money, which bothers him since she is not currently working. During arguments, he sometimes breaks things in anger and leaves the house to calm down, fearing that he might hurt his wife or child in a moment of rage.
I recognized that his anger might be a symptom of deeper dissatisfaction, so I decided to explore his upbringing. He grew up in Bombay as an only child to parents who were both working, leaving them with little time for him. He spent much of his childhood alone, with few friends, often returning from school to an empty house and managing things on his own while waiting for his parents to come home. His parents had a strained relationship and fought almost daily. His only source of comfort was his grandmother, with whom he cherished spending time during vacations. Additionally, his father made a poor financial investment, which put the family under financial strain during his early childhood.
He excelled academically and, after completing school, pursued engineering in college. It was there that he discovered his talent in the field, gaining confidence and believing he could make a significant impact through his work. After graduating, he secured a position at a prestigious IT company with a good salary. His weekdays were dedicated to work, while weekends were spent trekking or travelling. During one of his trips, he met his wife, a passionate woman from Bombay who ran her own clothing brand. Sharing similar interests and passions, they quickly connected, formed a strong bond, and eventually got married.
He always envisioned helping his wife take her clothing brand to the next level. His plan was to retire after a few years and then focus on expanding her business, turning it into something significant—this was his retirement plan. However, after marriage, he noticed her gradually losing interest in the company. She struggled to manage both home and career, especially after their move to Bangalore, and the birth of their child shifted her attention entirely away from the business. This has been a major disappointment for him. He resents seeing her become a dependent, stay-at-home wife and feels frustrated that his vision for their future, centered around the company, is falling apart.
The root of his anger seems to be his disappointment with his current life circumstances, particularly with his wife’s lack of focus on her career. His upbringing has led him to prioritise money and status as central to his identity. He has minimal emotional connection with his parents, friends, and even his wife and child. His admiration for his wife was largely tied to her entrepreneurial drive, so he has become disenchanted with her since she shifted her focus away from her business. It appears that he sees their child as an obstacle to the shared dreams they once had.
My first step in the counseling process was helping him recognize the root causes of his issues. Fortunately, he was aware that he had a problem and was open to seeking help, which made my job easier. We had a very productive first session where I provided insights into his situation and offered solutions. I also recommended physical workouts to help balance his energetic temperament. In addition, I prescribed the homeopathic remedy Mercurius Solubilis (MERC SOL) in high potency to manage his impulsive behavior. For further emotional support, I gave him a Bach flower combination: Cherry Plum to help him gain control over his emotions, Holly for intense feelings, and Walnut to assist in adapting to new situations.
After two weeks of medication, he returned much more relaxed, smiling, and patiently waiting for his turn. His anger episodes had significantly reduced, and he had begun communicating openly with his wife about his feelings and needs. He mentioned helping her with kitchen and household chores so she could get some much-needed rest. He also started spending more time with his kids and began reconnecting with his parents. I prescribed a single high-potency dose of Nux Vomica (NUX VOM) and continued with the Bach flower combination for ongoing emotional support.
The third consultation was a month later, and he came with his wife and child. He appeared to have found a balance between his home life and work. He realized that, just like his career, it’s essential to work on himself and his relationships to fully succeed in life. I continued the Bach flower remedies for one more month and then concluded the treatment. He now visits occasionally for acute issues like fever or colds for himself or his family. Each time I see him, he seems to have achieved lasting emotional stability and happiness even without medicine.
Note: This case highlights the potential of homeopathy and Bach flower remedies in helping individuals achieve mental and emotional stability without side effects, lifetime dependency, or addiction to medication. In every case, the choice of treatment is based on the totality of symptoms and how they present in the individual. It is not advisable to self-prescribe these remedies without professional guidance. Please consult a qualified homeopath or contact us for assistance in your journey to wellness.
Dr Sreechithra H, BHMS, MSc psychology