Black swan why is she hallucinating

She exhibits paranoid delusions fixed, false beliefs that Lily is malevolently trying to replace her. Additionally, while it is clear that in the nightclub scene Nina uses the drug ecstasy, it is unclear whether the drug or her underlying mental illness causes her to hear her name being called.

Although less commonly experienced than auditory hallucinations, visual and tactile sensory hallucinations are shown through the use of captivating cinematography.

For example, Nina scratches at the skin on her shoulders throughout the course of the film and ultimately breaks her skin, revealing black feathers. These events demonstrate her misperceptions that the feathers were present visual hallucinations and were itching her skin tactile hallucinations.

Social Skill training would also be beneficial to Sayers, because as previously stated, she has no close friends or any type of social support outside of her mother. Social Skill training would also help Sayers interact more efficiently with the other people who work at the dance company, lessening interpersonal disturbances caused by her disorder.

Skip to main content. Case Studies of Fictional Characters. Search for:. Schizophrenia Name : Nina Sayers Source : Black Swan movie, Background Information Nina Sayers is a Caucasian female who is presumed to be in her early to middle twenties, although her actual age is unknown.

Description of the Problem Sayers currently displays a whole host of symptoms that could be indication of several disorders. To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, two or more of the following characteristics must be present: 1. Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms that meet Criterion A and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms.

Schizoaffective Disorder and Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features have been ruled out because either 1 no Major Depressive, Manic, or Mixed Episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms; or 2 if mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, their total duration has been brief relative to the duration of the active and residual periods.

The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition. If there is a history of Autistic Disorder or another Pervasive Developmental Disorder, the additional diagnosis of Schizophrenia is made only if prominent delusions or hallucinations are also present for at least a month. None of the following are prominent: disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, or flat or inappropriate affect.

Sayers displays none of the above listed behaviors. Accuracy of Portrayal The average person watching this movie would see a reasonably accurate portrayal of the onset of Paranoid Schizophrenia, especially since Nina Sayers is in the perfect age range for onset, but not necessarily the daily experience after onset. While the movie does an excellent job of portraying the terror related to psychosis, there is a large amount of artistic license taken.

There are simply too many psychological issues going on with Nina. She shows elements of an anxiety disorder with obsessive compulsive behaviors. She also manifests self-injurious behavior and some signs of an eating disorder.

She dabbles with substance abuse. She has psychotic breaks if not outright psychosis. A case could also be made for a personality disorder. It is highly unlikely all of these elements could coexist in one person, especially someone performing as a ballerina at such a high level.

Despite this particular criticism, the movie does a fantastic job of portraying the struggle with severe psychological illness. It is unknown whether this drug use is linked to her psychotic symptoms, but this incident leads to further visual hallucinations involving Lily and defiant behavior against her mother.

As the film progresses, Nina completes her transformation into the Swan Queen. She continuously scratches a specific spot on her back, which viewers are told she has done in the past. This behavior develops into the visual and tactile hallucination of Nina sprouting wings.

Furthermore, at her final performance, her feet become webbed and her neck elongated. Nina also exhibits symptoms of other mental illnesses. In one scene, she is repulsed by the sugary cake her mother brought home as a celebratory treat. The movie also alludes to her purging habits. The film does an excellent job of depicting the symptoms of psychosis, giving the viewer a feel for the fear and uncertainty experienced by the individual. However, the film dramatized a few elements of mental illness in order to deliver a more impactful viewing experience.