Understanding the Savior Complex
My dad was someone to whom I turned whenever something went sideways in my life. Regardless of the challenge—a flat tire, a fight with a boyfriend, challenges paying for college—he would patiently listen, offer his perspective, and then leave me…
Why Most Doctors Don’t Order Addiction Meds
Physicians are the only professionalso who can tell a stranger, “Go in that room, put on a gown, and take off all your clothes,” and the patient will unquestioningly comply. However, many doctors do not identify, refer, or treat drug…
When Romantic Attention Feels Like a Drug
When she was a child, Natalie’s father would beam with pride when she brought home an “A,” but he barely acknowledged her when she didn’t. “I knew I had to be impressive to matter to him,” she told me. Now…