MY NEXT THERAPY SESSION
Two weeks later, I awkwardly stepped into the room for my next therapy session. I wondered if we would talk about the story my therapist had told during the last session.
> Hello, Meghan, how have you been?
> I've been ok.
> How are things between you and Eli?
> The same.
> Ok. And is that good? bad? indifferent?
> Ok, can I change my answer?
> If you wish.
> I've been masturbating uncontrollably for 14 days.
> At night, on bed with Eli?
> Night, morning, afternoon. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. At work, at home, in the car. At intersections, when the traffic light is red, green, or yellow. At the dinner table, in the shower, on the toilet. I haven't stopped masturbating for 14 days.
> You're not masturbating right now.
> I want to be.
> Thst would cost me my license.
> That's the only reason I'm not doing it.
> I think you're exaggerating a little bit, but ....
> ....(I'm not).....
> ....but ... I take your point. And, what may I ask, is causing this .... behavior?
> Your story last session.
> But .... what about the story?...
> Fighting a rival .... well, NOT fighting her .... THEN fighting her .....
> And, this made you think of ...
> ....Jenna
> But ..... you didn't fight her....
>.... I know .... so what's causing this?..... what's THIS called?
> ......Meghan ..... trust me, there's no name for this .... and, in any case .... in psychiatry, we discourage 'silver bullet' explanations .... perhaps I shouldn't have told you that story ...
> Did you masturbate constantly after you fought that girl in the parking lot??
> Meghan, you're making me .... very uncomfortable .... yhis isn't supposed to be about me....
> Fine... do women in .... THAT situation .... masturbate after the fight happens?? ....
> Meghan, every case is different .... but.....
> .....well?
? .......
> ..... Meghan, no, I never masturbated .... again..... AFTER the fight with THAT girl .... ABOUT that girl ....
> .But???..... you're being very .... specific .... with your words ....
> But .... well ... Meghan ..... I told you that story for a reason .... I'm very concerned about your relationship with Eli ..... the lack of verbal communication between you and him .... Meghan, by your not fighting Jenna .... even though you and her CLEARLY wanted to fight .... and have been apart from each other for ... coming up two years now ....
> Yes?? Yes?? ... I can't take it, spit it out .... Doctor.
> Meghan, your body .... your hormones ... are telling you that there's another woman .... tryibg to start a fight with you .... but you're .... blinded, I guess is the word .... by your unresolved fight with Jenna ...
> Huh?
> Meghan, who did you say introduced you to Eli?? And how did they know him??
> My roomates knew him. Hd had just broken up with a friend of theirs.
> And this friend's name was ....
?
> Cara. Her name was Cara.
> And does Eli still ..... communicate with Cara??
> Cara drinks a lot. She 'communicates with' [air quotes] anyone who will drink with her.
> Have you ever .... 'partied with' [imitating my air quotes] her ... and your roomates? ... and Eli.
> A couple times.
> And?
...... did she have a date??
> Yes. No worries there.
> Not do fast, Meghan. ..... How did she treat him??? .....
> Well .... she was drunk .... but she cut him a new one ... for 'not knowing how to satisfy a man' [extremely protracted air quotes] ...
> Meghan .... she was drunk?? .... or she had Marriage Envy??
> Which is .... what??
> When a woman is jealous that a man eouldn't marry her, but marries ... YOU.
> Eli and Cara broke up before I was in the picture.
> They broke up ... because
?
> I don't know.
> Ah, yes .... I forgot ..... Eli and you don't talk.
> Are you shading me?? Where the hell is this going??
> I think Cara has Marriage Envy and wants to fight you.
> I think you're trying to get me to kick my fixation on Jenna and Cara is some sort of decoy. And I have no idea how this is connected to your story from last week.
> I think you were obtuse with Jenna and are being obtuse with Cara.
> Because?
.... Explanation?
> Because after I fought my rival at camp that summer .... I started seeing who was .... provoking ... me, and that I was being .. obtuse about .... because of my obsessing about my LAST rival....
> Fine ... but why are you sure it's Cara ..... I've never brought her up ...
> That's why I'm sure.
To be continued......