Sybil Case

Dr. Wilbur then decided to go to the root of the problem, and asked Sybil's father why he let this continue. Willard answered he felt that a mother should raise her child and that their belief in God was enough. At that point Willard agreed it wasn't ok and that Sybil desperately needed help. He let her checkup monthly with Dr. Wilbur, but after three years of intense sessions with Dr. Willard Sybil is still reluctant to meet her other personalities. She believes that her other selves may have committed sins and is terrified to learn of what they did. After Peggy's flee to the countryside for a holiday, Dr. Wilbur finally convinces Sybil to hear the tapes she's made about what they did while vacationing. There pastimes were pleasant, even fulfilling and Sybil finally acknowledges their existence and their right to be there. The sixteen personalities were her protectors against her cruel mother and the voices that fought back against constant neglect and abuse. It is Dr. Wilbur's duty to try and merge these separate personalities into one new Sybil. It takes eleven years, but finally, after three sessions a week and a financially supportive father, a new Sybil emerges. Sybil realizes her dream to become a college professor and an artist and writes Dr. Wilbur in 1969. After a year without the "blackouts" she is able to live a full life. Dr. Wilbur goes on to diagnose and treat seven other cases of multiple personalities, though none are as complex as Sybil's. The author, Flora Rheta Schreiber, becomes a personal friend of Sybil's and with her permission writes a book about her traumatic childhood and dissociations. Since then 2 movies have been released about Sybil, the one we watched in class and another in 2007. It goes to show how an abusive childhood can wreak havoc on someone's life even after that person's childhood is well over.

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