Ra's al Ghul - Dr. Jimmy Season 2 Episode 12

Now Playing: Ki'shon Furlow - Crazy

Hey peeps, it's Jimmy back with another episode of Dr. Jimmy. Today's patient is Ra's al Ghul, father of Talia al Ghul and grandfather of Damian Wayne. He's also the leader of the League of Assassins, a secret organization set on protecting the demon's head. But is Ra's al Ghul actually crazy, or is there something more supernatural happening? Let's find out. As always I'm not a professional psychologist and all of this is my opinion based on my research.

Origin (New Earth)

Ra's origin is actually unknown, he's rumored to have lived for centuries thanks to a pit of chemicals that he calls the Lazarus Pit. Most of his interactions with Bruce are trying to convince him to take his place in the league. Though the pit has been keeping Ra's alive, the constant use has been taking a toll on his body. He also tries to manipulate things to benefit him. He has many ties to world leaders and is constantly pulling strings to change the world how he sees fit.

The Lazarus Pit

The Lazarus Pit is the real big question here, and I think it can be linked to many things. It grants the regenerative properties and can bring anyone back to life, though at the cost of the losing their sanity slightly. When someone exits the pit after dying or having a near death experience, that person goes crazy, almost like a rabid animal. We saw this in Batman: Under the Red Hood, when Jason exits the pit.

It wasn't just Jason, Ra's also has a similar experience in BTAS until Talia literally slapped him out of it. In all honesty, I believe the Lazarus pit could be a cause for Schizophrenia.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, and behavior. It's a long term condition that has no cure yet. The symptoms include:

Delusions - beliefs that contradict reality

Hallucinations - seeing or hearing things that aren't really there

Disorganized Speech

Disorganized Behavior

Flattened Affect - appears emotionless

Anhedonia - lack of joy in things that used to bring them pleasure

Reduced Speech

Lack of Initiative

& many more

In order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a patient must have at least six of these symptoms. Luckily, Ra's and Jason both showed 6 symptoms. Those being delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, reduced speech, and anhedonia. They both didn't show any signs of flattened affect however. When they exit the pit they're sent into a fight or flight response, I mean Jason literally popped out the eyes of a nearby guard when he jumped out of the pit. The only thing is, those effects are temporary, or else Jason would still look like a mummy while running around Gotham, and to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia you have to show symptoms for at least six months straight.

Though the effects are temporary, whose to say that one too many dips in the pool wouldn't cause the effects to be permanent. The Lazarus pit could also be linked to a different disorder and I'm just not connecting the dots, but I really think Schizophrenia is at least a possibility (the pit can also be linked to his violent tendencies).

My Diagnosis

I believe Ra's may have schizophrenic like symptoms do to his continued use of his Lazarus pit. The pit can also be linked to his violent tendencies and can be seen as a substance abuse disorder. But that's just my diagnosis and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

The End

That's going to do it for this episode of Dr. Jimmy, I hope you did enjoy it. The next episode is part one of the season finale, so that should be a lot of fun, especially since my next patient is quite batty. As always have a great rest of your day/night and if you want to keep up with me and the rest of the blogging team, then use #LOBUNITED. - Jimmy

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