418973

When the Abnormal Coexists with the Normal, The Comorbidity of Psychosis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Next to Normal (2010) by Brian Yorkey

Article

Last updated: 27 Apr 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

اللغة الإنجليزية وآدابها

Abstract

The paper proves that the heroine of Next to Normal (2010) by Brian Yorkey suffers from hidden psychosis, associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within Cathy Caruth model framework. According to Caruth, the reaction to the crisis is usually delayed, however severe it is in the mind. Its common feature can be seen in flashbacks. This is typical of Diana Goodman, the play's heroine, who is dissociated from reality and who develops hallucination of hearing her dead son's voice every now and then. The trauma of the play's heroine is laid deeply in the unconscious, so her identity appears to be shaken and is on the verge of collapse. She feels guilty to the extent of attempting suicide. As such, the family members – her husband and her daughter- suffer gravely. Though the image is quite gloomy, there is still a glimpse of hope at the end of the play. The paper unfolds the various factors leading to such illness, as well as its stages. It ends with the assertion that Diana's intricate crisis can be reflected in the comorbid features of psychosis and PTSD. It opens possibilities of further research, which is based on interdisciplinary approaches between psychology and literature. It also raises questions regarding the various effects of psychotic disorders on the surrounding society exemplified by care-givers and the whole community surrounding the heroine of the play.

DOI

10.21608/sjam.2025.369501.2600

Keywords

Psychosis, Next to Normal, PTSD, Caruth, dissociation

Authors

First Name

غادة السيد زغلول

Last Name

على

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

قسم اللغة الانجليزية - كلية الألسن - جامعة المنيا -مصر

Email

ghada.ali@mu.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

36

Article Issue

142.1

Related Issue

54996

Issue Date

2025-07-01

Receive Date

2025-03-21

Publish Date

2025-07-01

Print ISSN

2090-2956

Online ISSN

2735-329X

Link

https://sjam.journals.ekb.eg/article_418973.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=418973

Order

418,973

Type

المقالة الأصلية

Type Code

1,337

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

مجلة بحوث کلية الآداب . جامعة المنوفية

Publication Link

https://sjam.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

When the Abnormal Coexists with the Normal, The Comorbidity of Psychosis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Next to Normal (2010) by Brian Yorkey

Details

Type

Article

Created At

27 Apr 2025