'Diagnosis': 20-year-old man struggles with chronic fainting spells and mysterious flashbacks from childhood

During some of the deja-vu episodes, Matt Lee would get flashbacks from childhood cartoons like the 'Flinstones' which he was later able to link to childhood trauma and stress
UPDATED AUG 22, 2019

20-year-old Matt Lee suffers from chronic fainting spells and experiences fainting episodes very often. Lee gets light-headed and then goes through a series of hot flashes before passing out.

For a young adult who is just starting his life out, Lee's condition leaves him feeling helpless as he is not able to secure any work. 

The once athletic and full of vibe individual has reclined himself to staying at home over the fear of having an episode outside.

Every time he has an episode, he experiences deja vu and a series of hot flashes.

During some of the deja vu episodes, Lee would get flashbacks from childhood cartoons like the 'Flinstones' which he was later able to link to childhood trauma and stress. 

A new seven-part Netflix series titled 'Diagnosis' which is based on a 'New York Times' column by Yale School of Medicine physician and author Dr. Lisa Sanders attempts to help Lee in finding some answers to his frightening condition. With many trips to the clinic and the episodes becoming more frequent, it is imperative that Lee find a diagnosis. 



 

The clinic where he was examined questioned whether his condition is linked mainly to his head or heart. Given that his condition had resulted in him flatlining on more than one occasion, it was imperative that he find a solution.

According to Dr. Sanders, the conditions are likely to be either Vasovagal Syncope or Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Upon being tested for both, neither comes back with any outcome and results in him being back in square 1. 

During the episode, viewers will see that Lee's relationship with his mother are not great and he doesn't let her come to doctor's appointments with him.

The stress of his family's dysfunctional and broken background is reflected in the demeanor of Lee.

Lee who stays with his nana explained that his parents had separated before he was born and being caught up in their feud, gave him a lot of trauma. 

In the episode, Lee has two fainting spells, one of which was the worst one yet.

Meanwhile, crowdsourcing pointed to another theory as to why the fainting spells could be occurring.

The crowd pointed out that Lee's condition could in some way be linked to an anxiety disorder given the psychological trauma he had experienced as a child.

Lee then decides to see a counselor who specializes in anxiety disorders and realizes that perhaps working through some of his repressed memories would help him have a less stressful mind and in turn, hopefully, fewer episodes. 

The episode concludes with Lee working through his anxiety and trying to deal with all his past.

The therapy worked wonders for Lee and his mental and physical well-being slowly began to improve.

"I kind of realized that there was so much I was holding in that I needed to let go," Lee added.

As he worked on building his relationship with his mother and dealing with stress, Lee's condition greatly improved. 

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