Page 112 - Men’s Health - USA (December 2019)
P. 112
7 I have CBD for that. + 8 I have VODKA for that.
HMM . . . BOTH CBD and alcohol may help causes, and the best chance at sustainable medical professionals, can recom-
temporarily alleviate symptoms of depres- recovery is to get at those.” Now, of the two, mend it,” says Dr. Brown. “The thing
sion and anxiety, according to Gregory Scott the jury is still out on the long-term effects we know about alcohol for sure is that
Brown, M.D., an integrative psychiatrist based of CBD use. “There’s simply not enough someone who abuses it increases
in Austin, “but neither helps address the root evidence about CBD and anxiety that we, as their risk for depression and suicide.”
10 11
I don’t want to complain.
Sitting in a room 12
9 like it just gets you “YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMPLAIN,”
to delve into your
I WENT, BUT THE
I don’t want to talk
own MUCK seems
shit about anyone.
THERAPIST JUST SAT
THERE AND DIDN’T
SAY ANYTHING.
covered in MUCK.
about other people.” You get to talk how
you want to talk.
SUBSTITUTE “physical therapist” for says Morin. “You don’t have to talk shit
WE ASKED DAVID WEXLER,
PH.D., FOR HIS THOUGHTS. “psychotherapist” and see if this makes
Q: Why is it that you just sit there sense: Physical therapy can be painful,
and make vaguely sympathetic sure, but it helps you get better. Same 13 ONCE YOU START
noises but don’t speak? thing with your mind. “Sometimes,” THERAPY,
A: [Silence.] says Morin, “when you have a cut, you YOU’RE NEVER DONE.
Q: No, but seriously. just get a Band-Aid and it’s okay. Some- NOT ALL THERAPY has to be long-
A: [Silence.] times it’s a deeper wound and you have to term. As few as eight weekly sessions
Q: Oh, I get it. I guess it’s because go to the doctor. And if you don’t address can be effective, and for certain fears
in some types of therapy, your the problem, it’s not going to heal. So you (like flying, elevators, and the like) and
job isn’t so much to direct me as might experience pain in the short term, issues (OCD), three hours of intense
it is to allow me to unpeel the but it makes life much better.” therapy might be all you need.
layers of my mind. It’s as if all
these words I’m saying are clear-
ing out the tubes of my mind like
an emotional bilge pump until, I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO
exhausted, we start getting down 14 START. M.D., PSY.D., PH.D., L.C.S.W.?
to some real issues, issues I’ve
long kept hidden either because “THERE’S MASSIVE confusion medical doctors, they tend to explore
they seem so trifling—like when around what the different mental- the link between neurochemistry
I was eight and fell off my bike health disciplines do,” says and mental health—e.g., consider-
and started crying and instead Dutton. In some ways, the degrees ing a thyroid problem as a cause for
of empathizing with me, my dad are just a bunch of letters at the end depression—whereas psychologists
sarcastically said, “How many of the person’s name. What matters consider behavioral patterns as
wah-wahs?”—or because they’re more is your connection with the you work together. It’s basically the
shameful, like the fact that I therapist. (See No. 16.) But generally, difference between hardware and
think I’m fundamentally unlov- psychologists (Ph.D.’s, Psy.D.’s) and software. Don’t worry too much
able and that if I ever let anyone social workers (L.C.S.W.’s) are not about which type of therapist you
know me, like really know me, medical doctors and cannot prescribe should try first. “We all talk to each
with all my defenses down, they’d medication, although there are some other,” says Kate Lowe, L.C.S.W., a
see that. Is that it? exceptions. Psychiatrists (M.D.’s), on licensed psychotherapist in New
A: [Silence.] the other hand, can and do prescribe York City. “Often I’ll refer a patient
Q: [Weeping.] medication when needed. Being out to a psychiatrist or vice versa.”
A: [Hands a box of tissues.]
114 December 2019 / MEN’S HEALTH
