[Don Ro]

One of my Kaiser stories.
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Began my own business in '79, soon had 8 employees, I was doing everything - ran myself ragged.
Managed to navigate through a burn-out in '85.
In 1988, another burn-out came down the line, only this time I could see it being worse - full-blown depression on the horizon. My psyche was biting its own teeth - I was a mess!
Decided to call my Kaiser's Psych Dept. for an appt.
A woman at the front desk answered. She did her best to dissuade me from making an appt. - that was clear.
Finally, she played her trump card - the earliest appt. would be in 3 weeks or so.
I said, "I may be dead by then."
Got an appt. for the next day.
In my bedroom, preparing for the short trip to that appt., I heard a message being left on my answering machine.
"This is (whatever her name was), I'm stuck in traffic (*) and can't make our appt.
Please call the office and make another one." Click.
I did so immediately.
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That first appt. with her, I sat down in the chair. She had a file folder in her lap.
She said, "Tell me about your marriage, Mr. Harrison."
I said, "I'm not Mr. Harrison and I've never been married."
She said, "Oh, I thought in our last meeting you told me you were married."
I said, "I have never met you before just now."
She then said, "OK then, what seems to be the problem, what brought you here?"
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10 minutes later, I interrupted myself, saying, "I have to get out of here." - and walked out.
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Next day, I called the Dept. head - female psychiatrist - to report my experience.
Her immediate response was, "Would you like to make an appt. with someone else?"
No "I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience, I'll look into this immediately." ...etc.
Zero interest/compassion/empathy.
I said, "No, I'll pass. Thanks anyway."
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That same afternoon, I called So. Cal. Kaiser to find out how to terminate my membership...which I did.
Amazing to me that, being in such a state of psychological survival, I had the will/strength to even make a phone call to get myself out of the Kaiser circus.
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(*) I saved this message, recorded onto a cassette tape and listened to it with a headset...so did two friends.
Sure enough, the faint sound in the background was NOT traffic, it was the sound of a television.
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That's one of my Kaiser stories.
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ps This episode turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
I soon was able to bring info into my life that set my alarm clock for a genuine awakening.
Hail awareness!