A woman patient developed hypotonia in one or several muscle groups when having angry feelings toward a mother figure. She would then identify with a father figure and shift from hypotonia to tension and shooting pains in the previously hypotonic muscles. Finally there would be a burst of physical activity followed by pain, stiffness, swelling, and arthritis in one of the joints activated by the previously hypotonic muscles. An important unconscious meaning of the hypotonia was of being asleep, which was a central defense against anger.