Complex

“Complex” according to the dictionary, means, in its adjective form, “consisting of many different and connected parts.” That’s us. We’re complex.

Twenty-four-year-old Chaim was frustrating his parents. He was never a great student, and they knew he wouldn’t be a long-term learner. But he was having trouble completing the training course he was taking. These days he was spending a great deal of time lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Why would Chaim be lying in bed doing nothing when he had a course to complete? Dad knew it was because he was “a lazy bum who will never amount to anything.” Mom knew it was because he was feeling inadequate. “He’s not lazy, he’s discouraged,” she explained to her husband. “He didn’t expect the work to be so hard. He thought that he’d finally be successful at life when he stopped learning full time and now he sees that he can’t do this either. I’m sure he feels like a failure. I think we should take him to a therapist.”

Dad grunted, but agreed and Chaim had his first meeting with Daniel Starr. With Chaim’s permission, Daniel met with the parents after the initial assessment. “I believe that Chaim is depressed. It could be that a trial of antidepressant medication will help him significantly.”