Emails, Dr. Garrett, June 2023, HIV Scare

Dr. Garrett's Email:

Sat, Jun 24, 5:17 PM

Andrew

Sadly (tragically, really) this email endorses beliefs that Kelly is a monster when in fact your relationship with her was one of the best things that has happened to you in years.  Your mind is destroying the possibility of you remembering the good in your life.  

I am willing to resume sessions, but we will have to come to an understanding before we resume.  First, it is not clear to me that you mother is in a position to pay for your psychotherapy, in which case you will need to work with local clinicians.  Second, I have done my best to interest you in and get you worried about how your mind swings from one extreme of belief to another, sometimes in a matter of minutes.  You seem uninterested in the fact that your mind does this.  You believe what you believe in the moment you believe it seemingly unaware that you believed the opposite a few minutes before.  Even if you mother can pay for your treatment, I don't think my listening to a recitation of your charges against Kelly and your family week after week will lead anywhere unless you really believe there is something problematic about how your mind works.  You seem to believe that your mind is sharp, accurate, discerning of truth and that everyone else is a deceiver.  You mind has created a nightmare in which you live imprisoned by your fears.

A point of history - it was you who insisted on taking PrEP because of your exaggerated fear of HIV.  No one forced you to take it, and no one stopped you from taking it.  As an adult, you made your own decision.

If Kelly hurt you in any way, it certainly wasn't an HIV conspiracy.  Rather, her ending your romantic relationship hurt you, although it was not her intent to torture you.  It is not a crime to end a romantic relationship, but it feels to you as though Kelly has committed a crime against you.

First step - speak to your mother about payments.  If there is a green light there, we can meet once (next Thursday at 12:45) to discuss whether there is good reason to continue psychotherapy when you are so convinced of the righteousness of your cause. 

Dr G