He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 48

48. Encounter with My Brother (1)

After hearing the story from the Earl and Countess, Tae-oh had a good understanding of what was causing Crispin’s unusual symptoms.

‘It seems his heart has closed off due to unresolved emotional wounds from childhood. He’s suffering greatly from that unhealed wound, but he doesn’t understand the cause and doesn’t know how to address it. We need to examine the origins of those feelings and resolve the underlying issues to heal him.’

People sometimes suppress memories they don’t want to recall, especially those that left deep scars.

However, the emotions associated with those memories linger, like faint traces.

Wounded emotions can only be resolved through a specific process that leads to understanding and acceptance.

If these emotions are left unattended, they become trapped in the unconscious, hindering further emotional growth.

Like a child abandoned by their parents, unresolved emotions can manifest unexpectedly in adulthood, sometimes as sudden episodes.

Although the body matures, these hidden, wounded emotions can surface and disrupt life, as seen in Crispin Maxwell’s case.

At the American hospital, Tae-oh often used hypnosis to uncover and treat patients’ inner wounds.

Many patients experienced rapid improvement with Tae-oh’s methods, enhancing his reputation.

However, some psychiatrists and psychologists criticized Tae-oh’s treatment outcomes.

In particular, the head of the psychiatry department at the same hospital frequently challenged Tae-oh, skeptical of his remarkable results.

While using hypnosis to identify and treat emotional wounds is a recognized approach among psychiatrists and psychologists, the problem was the exceptional success rate.

From a conventional medical perspective, Tae-oh’s results were so extraordinary that they seemed implausible.

Some doctors suspected the use of undisclosed drugs, coincidences, or even staged scenarios with fake patients.

The skepticism stemmed from the inherent challenges associated with hypnotherapy.

A major issue is the lack of objective indicators to confirm whether a patient has genuinely entered an unconscious state during hypnosis. It’s difficult to distinguish between accessing the true unconscious for treatment and the patient’s imagined unconsciousness.

Even the renowned psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, recognizing the potential of hypnosis, ultimately abandoned it for psychoanalysis using free association techniques due to the difficulties in objectively verifying the hypnotic state.

However, Tae-oh, with his innate ability to perceive emotions, could easily discern whether a patient had accessed the necessary unconscious level for treatment.

This allowed him to identify wounded emotions faster than others, achieving remarkable results by completely curing patients in days, a process that typically took one to two years, astonishing his colleagues.

*

*Thump-*

Tae-oh, accompanied by the Earl and Countess, entered Crispin’s room and quietly sat beside him.

However, Crispin remained unresponsive, staring blankly out the window.

While Crispin didn’t have schizophrenia, his emotional state appeared similar.

Family members often notice mental abnormalities in a physically healthy relative before anyone else, which can be distressing.

Their emotional reactions can further confuse the patient.

Therefore, it’s crucial to avoid treating the person as someone with a problem.

Instead, one must convey warmth, listen respectfully, and maintain eye contact.

Above all, providing a sense of comfort is essential to elicit a response.

However, for a family that knows every nuance of a person’s expressions, a sudden change in behavior is alarming and frightening.

In such situations, creating a comfortable environment for examination is nearly impossible.

Fear and surprise are easily transmitted to the patient.

To initiate a conversation, one must approach with a simple, clear topic, free from anxiety.

Patients in a confused state are prone to misinterpreting abstract or complex subjects.

They are also highly sensitive to the speaker’s friendliness, so approaching with warmth and empathy is crucial.

The family members who spoke to Crispin likely revealed their surprise and fear, while visiting doctors and pharmacists may have treated him like a madman, exacerbating his emotional state.

Crispin, overwhelmed by unhealed emotions, likely withdrew and reacted with uncontrollable violence and hostility.

Approaching Crispin with genuine respect is essential.

Even if he displays unusual behaviors, one must remain calm and natural, initiating conversation without surprise or judgment.

Treating emotional and mental problems requires respect and a comfortable approach to elicit a response.

*Thud-*

Tae-oh knelt beside the bed.

Holding the medicine packet from the table, he gently made eye contact with Crispin.

“Here. There’s a medicine packet. Here?”

Tae-oh spoke slowly, pausing between words.

Tae-oh’s voice was filled with warmth and reassurance, creating an atmosphere of peace.

Tae-oh, skilled at managing his emotions from treating countless patients, conveyed this feeling to Crispin.

Crispin’s eyebrows and subtle facial expressions, previously unresponsive, reacted to Tae-oh’s voice.

“I am. Very relieved. That Lord Maxwell. Is not taking. The medicine.”

When speaking to such a patient, using first-person statements is important for clarity.

Speaking slowly and clearly helps the patient understand, especially when they are confused.

It’s crucial to confirm understanding before proceeding.

Tae-oh read Crispin’s emotions through his eyes.

‘He understands. He’s becoming more receptive.’

Tae-oh placed the medicine packet on the table, smiled, and continued.

“I also. Get headaches. And even stomachaches. When I take. Those kinds of medicines. So. I’m very glad. That Lord Maxwell. Is not taking them.”

Finally, Crispin actively responded to Tae-oh’s words, his pupils moving.

‘Okay! This is it!’

Tae-oh, sensing Crispin’s emotional shift, spoke quickly.

“You keep. Thinking about. Your brother Daniel, right?”

“······.”

“But whenever you think about your brother. Your emotions fluctuate like crazy. And you feel endlessly depressed.”

“······.”

“But you have no idea. Why these strange feelings. Are happening, right?”

At that moment,

Crispin, who had been unresponsive, slowly turned his head towards Tae-oh.

This was familiar to Tae-oh, but surprising to the Earl and Countess.

“Oh… Could this be, our Crispin… Crispin’s eyes are becoming clearer. Oh…”

After the 2nd memorial service, Crispin had become frighteningly violent, and for the past week, he hadn’t responded to the family’s questions.

He hadn’t even acknowledged the doctor who came from afar.

But Tae-oh’s simple words elicited a human-like reaction, surprising the Earl and Countess.

Tae-oh’s voice, though ordinary to most, had a powerful effect on wounded hearts.

By demonstrating his innate ability to read emotions and approaching Crispin with empathy, Tae-oh’s energy, honed through psychotherapy, was being transmitted.

“How lonely and difficult. Must it have been for you all this time? How about it? Now, don’t worry alone. And share the pain with me? If we do that. I think we can find. The reason why Crispin. Is having such a hard time?”

“······.”

Different emotions began to surface in Crispin’s expression and gestures in response to Tae-oh’s gentle voice.

Tae-oh felt confident that his modern treatment methods could work, given Crispin’s positive response.

Now was the time to delve into the root of the wound.

*

“Would you like to lie down comfortably on the bed?”

Just as one examines an injured body, one must examine a wounded heart.

To do this, it’s necessary to bypass the patient’s conscious mind and enter the unconscious to read their emotions.

Hypnosis is a useful method for this.

Tae-oh often used hypnosis to examine emotions directly for psychotherapy.

Moreover, Crispin was highly susceptible to hypnosis, making it easier to induce.

The Earl and Countess watched their son, now behaving like a gentle lamb, with curiosity.

“Earl, Countess. From now on, I will examine your son’s mental illness. If possible, I would like you to observe quietly.”

“Yes, yes. Of course, of course.”

In the 21st century, some patients or guardians resisted hypnotherapy, viewing it as sorcery or superstition.

However, in the 18th century, where people believed in gods, spirits, and demons, they seemed to trust Tae-oh’s hypnotherapy more readily.

Tae-oh even felt that applying hypnotherapy was easier in the 18th century than in the 21st.

“Now, Crispin. With your eyes closed, take a deep breath and exhale as slowly as possible. Relax all the muscles in your body and imagine your body becoming as light as a feather. Experience the most comfortable and pleasant state in the world. Right now, in front of your eyes…”

Since unaddressed emotions often stem from childhood, Tae-oh guided Crispin back to his early years.

“Now, let’s go back to your childhood. One, two, three.”

*Snap-*

With the snap of Tae-oh’s fingers, Crispin’s expression changed instantly.

A faint smile appeared on his previously hardened face.

“What do you see in front of you?”

Crispin was now laughing like a child.

“My brother is looking for me. Haha, he passed the place where I was hiding.”

“It looks like you’re playing hide-and-seek?”

“Yes. My brother is calling my name.”

“How old do you feel?”

“I think I’m five years old.”

Happy emotions emanated from his expression and body.

The Earl and Countess covered their mouths, amazed by their son’s bright smile.

It was a cheerful sight they hadn’t seen in nearly two months.

Crispin continued to share stories about happy times with his brother, parents, and sisters, and his unconscious was filled with happiness.

It seemed his strong unconscious was suppressing unhappy memories, focusing only on the positive ones.

However, the wound couldn’t be found this way.

It was necessary to examine sad and heartbreaking memories.

Tae-oh gently tapped Crispin’s forehead and said.

“Now, when I count to three, you will access the memories of your sad, unfair, and unhappy childhood rather than happy memories. One, two, three.”

*Snap-*

Crispin’s smiling face instantly turned tearful.

He began to sob, holding his breath.

“Sniffle.”

“Why are you crying?”

“Sniffle…”

“What’s happening right now?”

Deep and sad emotions were written on his face, moving Tae-oh’s emotions as well.

“It’s okay to cry. Tell me slowly what happened.”

Crispin, who had been holding back his tears, slowly opened his mouth.

“My brother… took the blame for my mistake. I’m cowardly pretending not to know behind my brother’s back. I shouldn’t have done that… My parents are scolding my brother now. I’m scared…”

“How old do you feel?”

“I think I’m five years old. Ah… Like a fool, I’m running away further and just watching my brother being scolded.”

Crispin clenched his fists and crouched down, looking anxious as if he was really hiding and watching.

“What do you see in front of you as you run away and watch?”

“My brother was scolded for a long time and turned around. His expression isn’t good.”

“Try going to your brother and saying you’re sorry.”

Crispin shook his head wildly from side to side.

“No, no, I can’t! My brother’s expression is too scary. So I’m still hiding like a fool.”

“Don’t hide and try going to your brother.”

“I’m so sorry. And I’m afraid he’ll get angry.”

“Now, trust me and try going once. And tell him. Thank you, I’m sorry.”

Crispin, looking as if he had gained courage from Tae-oh’s words, slowly approached his brother in his unconscious.

His heart rate was rapidly increasing.

‘He’s approaching his brother Daniel…’