Jim has been seeing “Dr. Doug” the psychiatrist off and on for years. My brother is very emotional and rides the waves of his life in giant dips and upswings. As Dr. Doug tells Jim, “Our goal is not to eliminate your personality, but to make the waves and dips more gentle.”
Jim and I are sitting in Dr. Doug’s office early in the evening. Jim can’t sleep because of his sudden divorce and a near bankrupt business. He needs a Magic Pill.
I am very supportive of my brother. Since he has asked me to be here with him tonight, I am.
Dr. Doug is very professional as he shuffles important papers, reads previous notes he’s written in binders and all while writing down everything that Jim says. The doctor talks about this drug and that drug and says that every drug he has tried on Jim doesn’t work. He tells me that Jim is sensitive to chemicals and that they have odd side effects with him.
“So,” he says, ” I have one we’re going to try on Jim that is very benign. Very benign.”
He leans forward in his tasteful brown chair. The chair has little shiny wheels that squeak like tiny mice.
The doctor is a handsome man. He is also very bright and likable. He wears no wedding ring. (more…)
