Current location:	at home.. on the laptop
Current mood:	scared
Current music:	sound of the ceiling fan

I am worried
Ok, I know it's been a while. I have spent the last two years of my life studying almost breathing clinical psych. It has not been an easy ride. If anything, I am more aware than ever of how much I don't know.

I got another slap in the head today when a friend called with difficult news. She finished the program with honors but because of a dispute with a professor, she has yet to officially graduate. The lawyers have been called, the dean and ethics committee rallied but with no relief in site. After talking to her on the way home from work I find myself truly worried. Here is a person who has endured a great deal of pain in her life.

Most of her self worth has been entwined with her academic career. Until now that has never been questioned. I guess what really frightened me was the hopelessness in her voice. She described herself as feeling nothing but in all honesty all I heard was naked pain.

There is a reason they tell doctors and shrinks not work with friends and family members. I know this now better than ever before. I am scared... I haveno control over what she will do. All I can offer is a shoulder of support from a distance of hundreds of miles. It seems like such a pathetic thing to say.

I don't know why I am posting this right now.. only that I had to get this out somehow. I am going to call her and again suggest that she seek professional assistance. I will try to reassure her that her worth is not contingent on a piece of paper and try to remember that for myself as well.

...Sorry to dump this into cyber space... I just can 't keep this one locked inside.