【英语时差8,16】儿子故意伤害自己

Dear Annie:

My adult son, "Nick," has been hospitalized more than a dozen times and treated in emergency rooms nearly 100 times over the past 18 years. He has shot himself, stabbed himself in the liver (both "accidental") and has had innumerable bouts¹ of undiagnosed pain and illness.

Several years ago, Nick admitted that most of his accidents, surgeries and hospital visits had been unnecessary. He said he enjoyed being able to fool doctors. Several doctors suspected Nick was intentionally² injuring himself.

Nick is now in the hospital with esophageal ulcers³ due to vomiting⁴ and coughing. I have seen this before and am sure it is self-inflicted.

If Nick knew I was attempting to contact his doctor, he would never speak to me again. I am so worried he will one day accidentally kill himself. What can I do?

－A Brokenhearted Mother

Dear Mother:

It sounds as if Nick suffers from Munchausen syndrome⁵, a type of mental illness in which a person deliberately⁶ creates or exaggerates physical symptoms in order to get sympathy and attention. It is extremely difficult to treat, and you are right to be concerned. Yes, you should talk to his doctor. Nick needs to see a psychotherapist, and the entire family might benefit from counseling to learn how best to deal with this.

1 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

3 ulcers   

n.溃疡( ulcer的名词复数 )；腐烂物；道德败坏；腐败

参考例句：

• Detachment of the dead cells produces erosions and ulcers. 死亡细胞的脱落，产生糜烂和溃疡。 来自辞典例句
• 75% of postbulbar ulcers occur proximal to the duodenal papilla. 75％的球后溃疡发生在十二指肠乳头近侧。 来自辞典例句

4 vomiting   

吐

参考例句：

• Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
• Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”

5 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

6 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。