Interesting read, Ben. I loved the movie "What About Bob," and have written about it myself (as a guest blogger). I totally related to that movie, as I suffered from major depression, panic disorder, and agoraphobia during the 1970s (and I had two kids at the time). I understood why Bob was so panicked when his therapist was going on vacation, and I understood what it meant when Dr. Marvin's book was titled "Baby Steps." I had to overcome many phobias, and baby steps were the only way I could do it. But...it wasn't the therapy itself that helped me. That included a LOT of navel-gazing (going back to my childhood ad nauseam). I only got worse. I got significantly better when I became pregnant with my third child. Today, that child is 45, and we "meet" weekly on the phone for our private book club on everything Tolkien. Last year, we read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We are now reading The Silmarillion. My other two "children" are two more of my best friends in the world. I came from an extremely small family, but now have 16 grands and 8 great-grands. I couldn't be happier because of them. I did eventually become a therapist myself, but never one to promote navel-gazing.
Ben, I loved that movie. It's one of the few films I've watched more than once. You are so right when you say that today Bob would have been told that is ok to have agoraphobia (and whatever other phobias he had) and no progress would have been made. I too write because I enjoy it and I find it helps me organize my thoughts and feelings. Keep it up!
Interesting read, Ben. I loved the movie "What About Bob," and have written about it myself (as a guest blogger). I totally related to that movie, as I suffered from major depression, panic disorder, and agoraphobia during the 1970s (and I had two kids at the time). I understood why Bob was so panicked when his therapist was going on vacation, and I understood what it meant when Dr. Marvin's book was titled "Baby Steps." I had to overcome many phobias, and baby steps were the only way I could do it. But...it wasn't the therapy itself that helped me. That included a LOT of navel-gazing (going back to my childhood ad nauseam). I only got worse. I got significantly better when I became pregnant with my third child. Today, that child is 45, and we "meet" weekly on the phone for our private book club on everything Tolkien. Last year, we read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. We are now reading The Silmarillion. My other two "children" are two more of my best friends in the world. I came from an extremely small family, but now have 16 grands and 8 great-grands. I couldn't be happier because of them. I did eventually become a therapist myself, but never one to promote navel-gazing.
Ben, I loved that movie. It's one of the few films I've watched more than once. You are so right when you say that today Bob would have been told that is ok to have agoraphobia (and whatever other phobias he had) and no progress would have been made. I too write because I enjoy it and I find it helps me organize my thoughts and feelings. Keep it up!
Thank you!
Community is really where we find life. Great essay!