Case
1. The sum total of the mental, physical and spiritual difficulties that plague a single person.
We’ve all had a multitude of experiences. Most of them are good or neutral. When we talk about Case, we are talking about experiences that create negative effects. For each of us, many experiences have left behind trauma and emotions that hold us down or trap us in some way. Some experiences are physically difficult, like physical assault or accidents. Some are mentally difficult, such as verbal abuse, losing a loved one, or being betrayed by someone we trusted. Some situations act as triggers for earlier, definitely traumatic incidents, but aren’t traumatic in and of themselves. All of these things put together, and unique to each person, make up that person’s Case.
Example:
Phil’s life has been shaped by his abusive alcoholic father and by the violent events he experienced in The Middle East. Phil’s had loads of other instances in life that caused him unhappiness, physical pain, and other non-optimum things. He’s had childhood injuries, losses of pets, being dumped by his high school sweetheart, etc, etc. All of those things make up Phil’s own unique Case.
Cassandra’s life has been affected greatly by losing her mother to cancer when she was 8, living in foster care, and being made fun of for stuttering. She has many other incidents of minor and major pain and difficulty. Like the time she got scarlet fever, and the time she got lost at the mall, and times she was yelled at by her lover for being too clumsy, etc, etc. All of these things add up to Cassandra’s own unique Case.
2. Slang. Behaving in a way that isn’t fit for the circumstances. Acting in an aberrated way. Often used in the phrase no case on post which means “don’t let your own mental stuff get in the way of doing your job.”
Example:
Phoebe is a customer service representative. She listens to people’s difficulties and tries to help them solve them as they apply to her company’s policies. But today, Phoebe yelled at a customer and hung up on them. Something prompted Phoebe to behave this way. Phoebe behaving in this inappropriate-for-work manner can be referred to as case on post.
Horace got in trouble at work and didn’t get the raise he was hoping for. When he comes home, his son wants to play a game and spend time with his dad. But Horace is wrapped up in his own troubles and yells at his son, and tells his son to go to his room. Horace has case on post as a Dad.
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