The things that people say or the way people react can give you little clues about what their lives are like. Sure, it’s possible that our conclusions are totally untrue and come from baseless extrapolation, but I prefer to think of it as secret peepholes into other people’s issues. Here, have some vignettes:
1. In our pharmacology lecture one day, Professor P started talking about the mechanism of action of Viagra. This was probably our 2nd or 3rd time learning the mechanism of action of Viagra, since starting med school. For some “unknown” [sacasti-quotes] reason, the professors in med school really love talking about how Viagra works and why it’s awesome. But Professor P’s quote during lecture really was the best of the bunch. Paraphrased, he basically said something like [you have to think of this being said in a Tennesseean, Al Gore-esque accent]: “Now, as men get older, the reproductive equipment doesn’t work as well as it used to. And it’s not anybody’s fault, it just happens, and it’s perfectly natural and Viagra really gives those people that function back.” Of course, those of us sitting in the audience (well, those of us who are awake) are a bit taken aback, and kind of looking down at our notebooks thinking, Um, awk-ward…
2. Last week in a lecture on psychotherapy, Dr. D started telling us about what couples therapy is. He says, “You would not believe the number of couples who do not have sex.” We’re nodding our heads in understanding and writing notes. He continues, “You would. not. believe. They are in committed relationships and they are partners, but when the lights go out at night, [sound effect that basically means, "nothing"].” We’re still nodding our heads, and he says one last time, “So many people. So many.” Gotcha, Dr. D. A lot of people, even the people we would least suspect. Ahem.
3. This week, one of my patients slapped another patient in annoyance and anger. My patient is a 30-year-old, autistic and mildly mentally retarded man who doesn’t actually have a mental illness, just difficulty coping with his emotions and expressing his feelings. In a sequence of events that feels like gentle irony, I ended up being assigned to this patient to work with him on verbally expressing himself, and helping him deal with feeling emotions in a healthy manner. I KNOW, you guys are totally laughing at the idea of me doing that, right? It’s like the blind leading the blind, you guys. Anyway, we were doing just fine, until I started talking to him about the difference between an “acceptable touch” and an “unacceptable touch,” meaning that hitting people in unacceptable, but shaking hands or high fiving is acceptable. And my patient says that hugging is also an acceptable touch. My response was, “Sometimes we have to ask permission to hug, before we just give a hug.” He didn’t understand and kept asking, “But WHY?” Without really thinking (but definitely in mild tones, because this guy is so sensitive I have to be really careful), I said, “Well, not everybody likes being hugged.” And he gave me this sideline look and said, “Sue, I am gonna hug you one day.” I’m a dead woman walking, you guys.
