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Humans Are Social Creatures
Nina was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. She was experiencing a lot of self-pity and guilt, so she felt like a burden. No matter how much she was reassured by her support system, Nina continued to struggle with creating healthy interpersonal relationships since she felt so alone in her illness.
Nina is in Erikson's sixth stage, intimacy versus isolation. This is the age of building relationships, and Nina is struggling to do so. -
Choice of University
Nina was about to graduate high school. She's deciding between becoming a chemical engineering or becoming a professional dancer. It's always been her dream to make her mom proud with an engineering career, but Nina has always found so much more happiness in dancing.
Nina's dilemma can be related to Erikson's fifth stage of identity vs. role confusion. Chemistry and dance are two different paths and they have different motives. She cannot decide which she can identify with more. -
Helping My Own
Nina had two children, and one showed symptoms of Bipolar at the age of 18. Because she has been dealing with the disorder for years, Nina knew exactly what sort of help her son would need.
Nina is in Erikson's seventh stage, generativity versus stagnation. She is passing on her knowledge to her son, trying to create a nurturing and healing environment for her child. If Nina were to go into a depression herself, this may lead to stagnation. It could possibly inhibit her helping her son.