A man in his thirties leaned back in a chair in a quiet Chicago therapy office on a soggy afternoon and said something that shocked even him. He muttered, gazing at the carpet, “I thought I was supposed to feel better by now.” It wasn’t that he was having peculiar trouble. The odd thing was that he was actually getting better by most obvious standards. His sleep had stabilized. He had resumed his workouts. The panic attacks that used to disrupt his commute had largely subsided. However, something else had taken their place—a strong emotional wave that appeared out of…
Author: Jack Ward
Usually, the conversation begins silently. One of the two friends is talking about a relationship that obviously isn’t working anymore as they sit in a café with late afternoon light streaming across the table. The arguments, the weariness, the increasing sense that something basic has broken are all expressed slowly. Eventually, though, the same sentence shows up. “I’m not sure if I can let go.” It’s an interesting moment. Everyone seated at the table is aware of how painful the situation is. The proof is clear. Nevertheless, the thought of letting go of the pain seems oddly more terrifying than…
The energy is evident when you enter some offices early in the morning, such as trading floors, startup hubs, and law firms. Coffee cups are arranged next to laptops. Slack messages are flashing. People move, think, and speak quickly. There is a sense of urgency in the air that makes productivity seem almost athletic. There is a subliminal belief among high achievers in that setting: anxiety is fuel. It’s the anxiety that precedes a deadline, the uneasy fear that something might go wrong, or the slight unease that prompts someone to check an email again at midnight. This internal pressure…
A therapist’s office waiting room is rarely dramatic. Usually, it’s a calm space with soft chairs, neutral walls, and perhaps a shelf of magazines that no one reads anymore. However, a subtle thing takes place in those rooms. People often carry a question they don’t ask aloud while sitting there looking at the ground or scrolling through their phones. What happens if I undergo too much therapy? It’s a peculiarly particular fear, but it manifests more frequently than many therapists acknowledge. Many believe that entering therapy will somehow destroy the personality they have spent decades developing. A sharper edge may…
Every therapy office has a specific moment that occurs. With their hands folded, a person reclines in the chair and talks about something that once destroyed their life with unexpected clarity. They are aware of the source of their anxiety. They are fully aware of the reasons why some relationships cause withdrawal or panic. They have an almost academic explanation for it. They still feel trapped, though. It’s an odd paradox that keeps coming up in discussions about trauma. People are aware of their narrative. The patterns have been traced. They have read the books, and occasionally they quote psychological…
Usually, it starts quietly. A waiting area with a subtle coffee and disinfectant smell. comfortable chairs. A receptionist with a purposefully calm voice. Considering the emotional burden they may be carrying, many people find that their first visit to a private mental health facility feels strangely routine, almost anticlimactic. Despite its intimidating name, a private psychiatric assessment is really just a lengthy discussion. However, the discussion is highly structured and led by a psychiatrist who is skilled at picking up on details that most people would miss. Usually lasting 50 to 90 minutes, these sessions can occasionally go longer if…
A familiar scene can be seen late at night in sleep clinics all over the world. While doctors describe how a CPAP machine will force air into their airways while they sleep, patients sit on the edge of small examination beds with plastic masks resting on their laps. The device functions. The majority of experts concur. However, anyone who has visited those clinics is aware of another fact: a lot of patients secretly detest the gadget. For many years, the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea has been continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. By providing a constant flow…
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is easily remembered as the tall man who soared across a basketball court, hoisting his renowned skyhook far above opponents who had little chance of stopping it. The image is iconic: the ball floating toward the rim, fans rising in anticipation, and goggles reflecting arena lights. The man who made that iconic shot has spent a significant portion of his later years dealing with several health issues that would shake even the toughest athlete, but many people are unaware of this. Abdul-Jabbar is currently in his late seventies, and the list of ailments he has experienced resembles a…