The Psychiatrist and the Patient’s Mirror

The world renowned psychiatrist was baffled. The patient named Norm was deteriorating, or so it seemed. During each session, he prodded and poked Norm, trying to find what made him so unusual.

The psychiatrist became obsessed. He tried therapies that bordered on torture in hopes of treating the "problems" Norm was increasingly exhibiting. And each time he tried, the baffled psychiatrist seemingly couldn’t find the magic words or procedures to normalize Norm.

Exasperated, the psychiatrist set up a final meeting. He hoped to finally get to the bottom of Norms' insanity.

Norm was running late for the meeting. He expected that. Afterall, Norm was growing wary and agitated with each session.

Eventually Norm arrived, but he was not empty handed. He carried a framed mirror.

"Why a mirror?" the psychiatrist asked.

Norm, who was beaming and appeared to be unusually content, took a seat adjacent to the psychiatrist and rested the mirror on his lap and faced it toward the psychiatrist.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately," Norm said. "You want to know what my problem is?"

"Yes," the psychiatrist replied. "I want to know, so I can cure you of your maladies."

"Well," Norm answered with a widening smile, "I know what my problem is. And I can show you."

The psychiatrist raised a brow in wonderment. His patient has diagnosed himself? This he had to see.

"Please show me," he said in his most cordial and professional tone possible.

Norm’s grin widened and seemingly took on a devilish trait. He gestured toward the mirror.

"Look at it," Norm said. "There is where you will find the source of my affliction."

The psychiatrist leaned toward it and glared at his own reflection. He finally saw what was ailing Norm, and it was staring back at him.