Showing posts with label mental health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mental health. Show all posts

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Head-Shrinks and I

I went to a Freudian. She didn't
say anything, just took reams of notes.
I wanted to read them: No. Once
I said the word "emblematic,"
and she rolled her eyes. I quit
after the second session. Freudian
time-waster. 

A psychologist had me 
write charts of when I catastrophize,
over-react. They made for a good
map of how nutty I was,
but didn't crack the nut. 
I liked her a lot. 

Then a psychiatrist, polymath,
know-it-all. I listened a lot,
which suited my diffidence. 
I want to be told how to fix
things, not blab and gab
and gas-bag. He prescribed
meds that work. Finally! 
I just don't have the time
or energy to stay crazy,
you know? Too much of
a commitment. 

I noticed that if a session
ran out of gas (because I
didn't talk), a couple of shrinks
would say, "Want to talk about
dreams?" Inside joke among
shrinks, I think. Doubly funny,

as after I sleep through 
a great night of dreaming,
wild surrealistic rides,
I feel as sane as hell. 

hans ostrom 2022

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Having a Word with It

I'm never quite sure of who you are,
depression. I ought to hate you. I don't.

It's like you're some kind of gray-garbed
circuit judge. You ride into town, glower
down at me, then summon me to a cold

brown room where we sit silently.
You like it fine. I start to stare

into a pit I've hallucinated.
Eventually you leave. Or seem to.
When they finally sort out all
the brain science, your current name,

depression, will seem as quaint
as a Model T. Anyway, . . .


hans ostrom 2016