Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           ForJosh,it’sthepossibilityofnothavingtohidehisdisorderfromhisfriendsandfamilyallthetime,theprospectofhavinganormal,functioningsociallife.ForImogen,it’stheideaoftakingcontroloverherownthoughtsandfeelingsandbeinghappyagain.AndforJack,it’stheabilitytoleavehishouseforlongperiodsoftimewithoutsufferingtraumaticepisodes.

           Withthesenewvaluesheldfrontandcenterintheirminds,theteenagerssetoutonintensivedesensitizationexercisesthatforcethemtoliveouttheirnewvalues.Panicattacksensue;tearsareshed;Jackpunchesanarrayofinanimateobjectsandthenimmediatelywasheshishands.Butbytheendofthedocumentary,majorprogresshasbeenmade.Imogennolongerneedstotapeverysurfaceshecomesacross.Shesays,“Therearestillmonstersinthebackofmymind,andthereprobablyalwayswillbe,butthey’regettingquieternow.”Joshisabletogoperiodsoftwenty-fivetothirtyminuteswithout“equalizing”hisbehaviorsbetweenbothsidesofhisbody.AndJack,whomakesperhapsthemostimprovement,isactuallyabletogoouttorestaurantsanddrinkoutofbottlesandglasseswithoutwashingthemfirst.Jacksumsupwellwhathelearned:“Ididn’tchoosethislife;Ididn’tchoosethishorrible,horriblecondition.ButIgettochoosehowtolivewithit;Ihavetochoosehowtolivewithit.”

           Alotofpeopletreatbeingbornwithadisadvantage,whetherOCDorsmallstatureorsomethingverydifferent,asthoughtheywerescrewedoutofsomethinghighlyvaluable.