I haven’t written about complexes in a while, so here an interesting one.

 

The “Cassandra Complex” isn’t seen very often, but it is intriguing when it occurs.

 

Cassandra was the daughter of Priam, king of Troy. She was priestess to the god Apollo. When she spurned the god’s advances, Apollo put a curse on her – she would always see and speak the truth – but nobody would ever believe her.

 

She ran around telling people things what were true but nobody believed her. She predicted the downfall of Troy and the gruesome fates of various Greeks to no one’s benefit. Apparently nobody stopped to consider her track record was 100% spot-on.  She kept on howling prophecies of doom to no avail and eventually she went off the deep end. She was murdered, just as she prophesied.

 

When I see someone in the grips of a Cassandra Complex, they are upset nobody is listening to what they are saying; nobody believes their story. Despite being ‘right’ they are looked upon as crazy or ‘wrong’ or even evil.

Interesting; most cases are women. Most had some sort of abuse they can’t convince others really happened.

 

As in every complex, there are positive and negative elements.

It is good to proclaim truth, even when nobody wants to hear it. I know many valiant people speaking out against lies and falsehood even though it causes ‘trouble’.

On the negative, pleading for people to believe you often drives one to distraction. People in the grip of the complex can tear themselves up in the need/demand that everyone concur they are right.

 

I try to work with patients not to lose themselves in the battle to be heard. Sometimes it is OK to let go of the need for people to admit you are right. You know the truth of the matter.