| ::06:05:08::
::: APA amusement :::
a feminine dramatic dialogue [dedicated to APA]
By: Rachel Eagle Reiter ND, Bach Flower Therapist
WOMAN1:
I'm concerned for you: you're not trying so hard at life--the way you used to.
WOMAN2:
Do not be concerned; rather, be relieved. It's a sign of wellness that I have found my place of rest.
WOMAN1:
But your goals are so big and you can not accomplish them without AMBITION.
WOMAN2:
Accomplishing my goals would be in vain and even destructive to my own soul if I have to use the spear of EXCESSIVE AMBITION to do so.
WOMAN1:
When you word it like that ambition sounds rather masculine.
WOMAN2:
Ambition is a symptom--if it is in excess.
WOMAN1:
Symptom of what disease?
WOMAN2:
Manic Depression: it's a bipolar tendency.
WOMAN1:
And you--make it sound like a Masculine Tendency.
WOMAN2:
I don't draw my knowledge JUST from the Great Psychiatric Experts of today, I also draw from the Well of Yesterday. 19th Centaury...
WOMAN1:
Freud?
WOMAN2:
Ah! Yes! FREUD!
WOMAN1:
So there is some sort of Phallic Association you have made?
WOMAN2:
Ambition is DRIVE! FORCE! THRUST! I don't think it requires any more description to make the connection. In fact--what a coincidence...
WOMAN1:
What is?
WOMAN2:
High Sex Drive is also a symptom of Mania; it goes hand in hand with Excessive Ambition.
WOMAN1:
So...
WOMAN2:
So...this sort of behavior could possibly be justified [for men only] if you have the Enlightened Freudian Perspective.
WOMAN1:
Then where does that leave us? Women?
WOMAN2:
Well, fortunately we are healthy women--free from all phallic tendencies: such as phallic envy, phallic lust, or any other unfeminine phallic drive; but it is not so--for many women in our generation: nymphos--full of phallic lust/envy and manics full of excessive ambition.
WOMAN1:
Put them together, we have NYMPHOMANIA, you genius!
WOMAN2:
Genius? No, no, no. It's simply Common Sense--which is a rather American Virtue--to make Cross-Textual-Connections, such as...putting Skinner and Freud side by side.
WOMAN1:
You can not!
WOMAN2:
Why not? Will it be breaking some sort of law if I do?
WOMAN1:
It's simply not what's usually done in the Psychiatric Field--except to show their incompatibility.
WOMAN2:
Well, I don't see how there can be healing for NYMPHOMANIACS without Freud who is the Genius at exposing it and Skinner who would be the expert at curing it.
WOMAN1:
During the Time NYMPHOMANIA was treated, then--the diseased women were punished and the Good Women were rewarded with social perks: Higher Dignity, Higher Status, Respect from Good Men, Admiration, and most importantly-unlike their diseased sisters--they were marriagable.
WOMAN2:
All true--but also remember--NYMPHOMANIACS were not treated humanely and some were misdiagnosed.
WOMAN1:
The solution?
WOMAN2:
Skinner is known for his method of Reward & Punishment: what if we changed the word PUNISHMENT to TREATMENT? Rather than having NYMPHOMANIACS dragged out of their homes and locked up: they should be provided with PSYCHOTHERAPY & [a new line of] PRESCRIPTION DRUGS in order to control and help them cope with their disease symptoms. It would be a GROUND BREAKING Humane, Compassionate, Ethical approach. And it is impossible to see any sort of objection to such treatment--except perhaps from NYMPHOMANIACS themselves. In which case it would be an opportunity for PSYCHIATRISTS to offer them the chance to participate in a Paid Study, the financial incentive would appeal to their need for reward.
WOMAN1:
And what about MEN with the same tendencies: what should be done for them?
WOMAN2:
I don't feel it would be just to punish men simply for being the Phallic Creatures that they are. To do so would be to presume to know more than both Nature & God; and such treatment would spark me to come out with yet another Freudian term--yet to make it into the books.
WOMAN1:
That is?
WOMAN2:
Phallic Suppression: including [but not limited to] symptoms of LACK OF AMBITION & LOW SEX DRIVE.
WOMAN1:
Freud would have liked you.
WOMAN2:
Thank you.
Written by: ~ Rachel Eagle Reiter |
