(You’re asking me how long I’ve been having this trouble? What trouble?)
You know, I’ve never needed a kitty shrink (even if feeling catatonic sometimes, haha), but I know some other kitties who have been to one and they were really helped by it. Some kitties really do not respond to medications, and it’s the same for people, in many cases.
A very good article by Brandon A. Gaudiano, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Brown University stresses the need for more information about the successful rates of change and recovery in patients who have chosen a psychiatric method for their problems instead of medication.
I am not a pill-taker at all! In fact, when mama had to give me something for a little problem I had when I was younger, it was all she could do to get that thing down my gullet—she tried to crush it in tuna or hide it in raw, delicious bits of meat and finally just had to open my little mouth and put it in with a dropper of water to help. No, I do NOT like pills!
What was so interesting about this article that mama read to me was that psychiatric treatment instead of medication often enables the patient to operate far more effectively in the workplace and social situations. Makes sense. So many of those medications have very strong side effects (that seasick pill, for example, that mama almost gave me and didn’t, thank heaven or that kitty tranquilizer that could have had made me into a zombie-kitty had she given it to me—I just stopped throwing up on the ferry and settled under the bed for a nice nap instead).
Mama has told me that she and papa had some therapy long ago and that if they hadn’t, they might not have been together happily for so long. After all, when you’re young, you’re petty dumb about some things and no matter how many times you try to make a go of it with someone, it’s YOU who have to change bad habits that don’t seem to work with others, time after time, so therapy can help a lot in that arena.
I, for one, am pretty aware of my shortcomings—nipping mama or papa in the morning (hey, it’s hunting time for kitties!) when I want them to wake up (instead, I gently pull hair now) or scratching my initials in the new couch cover—now I just rest my little sweet body gently on that couch arm after several sessions of behavior modification with mama!
So, in my humble kitty-view, it’s time to have some guidelines for psychotherapy and give the public clear information about the success of legitimate shrinks and their methods instead of simply prescribing heavy-duty drugs that, in many cases, can actually be harmful. Sometimes it is preferable to engage a skilled, warm, human professional instead of a cold glass of water and a pill.
I’m going to stretch out ON THE COUCH and ponder these thoughts…
Loulou! Have you ever seen the work of Henry, Feline Fibre Artist? Have a google dear, you will enjoy it.
Henry will give you many ideas for improving that sofa arm with some feline aesthetics. It will be true art, because it will illicit a big reaction, a shock to the apes viewing it for the first time. Like all gallery openings, canapés of tiny feesh on little crackers ought to be provided. Much hilarity (for you) will ensue as the apes respond to your works
This is more fun for all species than pills!
Luff Mungo
THANK YOU, my dear friend Mungo!!! You always have such good advice for so many things. What fun!
Mama is going out to the carpet store right now for remnants!!!!! I can’t wait to CREATE!