1. Hypnotryst - Part 1


    Date: 11/13/2015, Categories: Bisexual, Author: blin18, Rating: 11, Source: LushStories

    solving new problems, and there’s always new science to learn. So it’s stimulating and it never gets old. (EDIT: There is a short pause in the recording at this point while I allow Susan time to reflect on her answer. TW) SR: What is it? TW: What’s what? SR: Why are you smiling? TW: I was trying to reconcile your description of your job with what you said earlier about it being the cause of your anxiety. SR: Oh! I guess I didn’t make it sound all that horrible. But it can be stressful. TW: Oh, I don’t doubt that. Not every procedure goes to plan and not every patient can be cured, but stress needn’t be debilitating. If we have the right coping mechanisms then it can be affirming. Stress challenges us. It drives improvement and makes us better doctors. SR: And you think I have the right coping mechanisms? TW: I think if you didn’t then you’d probably describe your job differently. SR: So what do you think is causing it? TW: Your symptoms? Well I haven’t observed them yet. You told me you’re suffering from anxiety; tell me more about that. Can you describe it? SR: The anxiety? I just don’t feel happy, I suppose. TW: Do you mean depression? SR: Oh, I see. No, it’s not depression; I don’t feel down. I just feel … worried? TW: Worried about what? SR: That’s the thing, nothing! Nothing I can put my finger on, anyway. Sometimes I just feel like everything’s not okay … like I should be doing something about it. TW: But nothing specific? SR: No. Nothing specific. Just … worried. TW: ...
    So, a decreased sense of well-being, would you say? SR: Yes! Oh, you’re good! That’s exactly how it feels. TW: Or a decreased sense of self-worth? SR: No! The first one! A decreased sense of well-being. I don’t feel worthless; I feel like I could do something about it if only I knew what it was. ~~~ Just listening to that exchange again reinforces to me that there is no causal relationship between Susan’s work and her anxiety. At this point, I was considering two possibilities: either a generalised neurosis such as Anxiety Disorder, or a proximal cause that I was yet to discover. Like I said earlier, it was Freud who tried to connect all forms of neurosis to sex. I wasn’t trying to make that connection in the exchange that follows; I just got lucky when Susan misunderstood my question. ~~~ (TW plays a recording from the consultation with Susan Richards) DR TAMARA WATKINS: Susan, can you describe the impacts of these feelings on your life or your work? SUSAN RICHARDS: Hmmm. I don’t know that they do have any real impacts. I can still function, if that’s what you mean. TW: What about work? Can you still do your job properly? Do you make any mistakes? Or have difficulty relating to patients? SR: No, not at all. It’s almost the opposite; if I’m feeling worried then work is like a calming influence. I think maybe it distracts me from whatever I’m worrying about. TW: Really? SR: Mmmm. You know, the idea that work was causing it is starting to sound silly now. I don’t even know why I ...