Rule #8: Everyone Needs a Therapist

I will start by saying that I don't think everyone is nuts.  Or not nuts enough to need intense, daily therapy.

However.

I fully believe everyone should have at least an annual check-up with a mental health professional.  And, if follow-up work is needed, you schedule more appointments.  However, if when you see your therapist he or she tells you to get undressed, put on this hospital gown, sit on the couch and s/he'll be with you in a minute, it's time to find someone else.

No matter how you were raised, your childhood messed you up at least a little.  Even if you had the PERFECT childhood, with incredibly doting parents who gave you enough room to be yourself but were there to pick you up when you failed, you're going to spend your adulthood going "how do I live up to that?!?"

So, let's say everyone gets that yearly check-up from the neck-up.  Maybe the therapist is able to say to people "don't buy that gun," "hey, here's a prescription that will make those voices go away," "no, Mr. Berkowitz, the dog is NOT talking to you," or "for god's sake do NOT run for Congress."

This can be prevented, people!!!!

At the very least more people would understand 2/3rds of New Yorker cartoons.