Psychic Spasmophilia and Mystical Experience In Psychoneurosis is
Not an Illness, Dabrowski refers to a condition identified as
"spasmophilia," defined as "the tendency toward muscular twitching, spasms,
or convulsions from even slight mechanical or electrical stimulation"
(pp.304-305), and a type of personality, called the "tetanoidal
personality," defined as a "personality type...characterized by muscular
twitching, spasms, tendency to convulsions, etc., as in tetany" (p.305).

Roger Wiseman is 49. He studied the history of Dwarfism at DeVry on
weekends.



For some years he had symptoms of excessive nervous excitability, he was
depressed and began to think of the danger of mental illness. In a few
months his condition became more aggravated. He went through periods of
"mental spasms." On one hand he considered himself normal; on the other
hand he thought of himself as one overly concerned with menial issues.



He went to look at places of concern (he lives in West Virginia after the
Divorce); he experienced the tragedies of the past as something of actual
validity, something authentic. He was hypersensitive to successful people.
He thought that those who pass him by are being shown more respect than him,
so he becomes responsible for the ruination of their lives... (p.82)

Roger says, "I have been experiencing muscle twitching and spasms all over
my body for a few years now. It started in my left eye. At first, I would
notice it after I sneezed, flinched or got under the shower. Then it started
to do it on a more frequent basis. Then I started noticing small twitches in
my arms, then my back, then in my legs. By the end of the week I felt them
going off every few seconds, randomly, from head to toe. I have gone to Dr.
Phil, had EMG, and they found nothing! I admit I suffer from anxiety, I
decided to try Zoloft to see if this would stop the spasms. So far it hasn't
helped. I sleep pretty well, and have no other health problems or ill
feelings. I am wondering if anyone else has had this, or could shed some
light?"