Tremors is what the psychiatrist called them. He said I get them before the switch happens. He said the switch is when 1 personality takes over from another. He says I have 3….that he knows of. I think he’s crazy. But I will do what he asks….to appease him.
He asked me just sit back and relax.
He looked me right in the eye and said,
“Who wants to come out of hiding to talk with me?” The shrink asked confidently.
Whatever.
___________
t-R-e-M-O-r
“What up, Doc?” The voice confidently stated from the patient on the couch.
Doc-“And whom am I speaking with?”
“And whom are you…so rigid and professional. You can call me Mr. Gains. I’m the only one who’s got the balls to come out right now. The others are afraid of you. I told them to be afraid….when I talk they listen. You wanna talk to them you gotta go through me. So what gives head shrinker?”
The Doctor was taken aback by this confident, no holds barred personality, but he knew there was always 1 overbearing personality. He needed to get to the others to get a full picture in what he was dealing with.
Doc-“I won’t challenge your authority over the others, Mr. Gains. I would just like to visit with them. Would you allow me to?”
Mr. Gains- “I like you….so proper. There are 2 others. Sure you can try to talk to them…but I control for how long. Being the dominant has its advantages.”
t-R-e-M-O-r
His head slightly twitched and his eyes rolled slightly back. When they opened his demeanor had completely changed.
The confident smirk and crossed arms defiant pose was replaced by a scared, standoffish being.
Doc-“And who might you be?”
The patient looks around, grabs a pillow off the couch clutches it in his arms and sits with his knees pulled up to his chest and speaks,
“I’m Davey….Davey Gains. I never get out when mr. gains is awake. He’s mean.”
Doc-“I’m sorry son. How old are you and what do you do when you do get to come out!”
“I’m 7.” He says and holds up 7 fingers.
“I get to play and color and stuff but I make messes so I get in trouble a lot.”
Doc-“What happens when you get in trouble?”
“They put me in the….”
t-R-e-M-O-r
The shy boy was gone. His posture straightened out and the arms crossed again.
“Now now Dr. Feelgood, lets not get TOO personal. After all, we just met.”
t-R-e-M-O-r
The eyes rolled slightly again.
The patient sat up straight and crossed his legs. One hand went to the side of his face. It seemed as though he was pulling back his hair behind his ears.
“That Mr. Gains….always so pushy. He is really a softy…but as I am sure you know someone has to be in charge or chaos takes over. I apologize for not properly introducing myself. I am Amanda Gains. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
The patient reaches out her hand to shake the hand of the Doctor.
The Doctor complies then asks a question.
Doc- “Ms. Gains….what is your function within the group?”
“No need to be so formal, please call me…..Maybe.” The patient let out a hearty laugh then regained composure.
“Just a little humor to break the ice. It is so tense in here… I could cut it with a knife. Call me Amanda. I take care of the rational decisions. Mr. Gains take care of the tough decisions. Davey is our innocence. The patient who came in through your door, David, does the rest. There is one more you should talk to…but he really is quite a beast…his name is….”
t-R-e-M-O-r
The girlish personality was gone. Mr. Gains quickly took over.
“Time’s up, Doc. Your shrink fest will have to continue some other time.”
Doc- “Why can’t you tell me about the one I haven’t met?”
“Haven’t and won’t. He’s a bad mamma jamma. We keep him locked away…..far away. It’s better for ALL OF US that way. You….are boring me now. Hasta la vista, shrinky.”
The patient head slightly twitches and the eyes roll once again.
And just like that David is back.
“Can we get this session over with please. I’m fine. Just a few headaches.”
Doc- “David you act like you just got here. When in fact you arrived an hour an a half ago. Do you have any recollection of anyone named Davey, Amanda, or a Mr. Gains?”
“I used to be called Davey when I was a kid…and I get messages on my phone for an Amanda sometimes. Some people call me Mr. Gains…..why do you ask?”
Doc- “We will take that up in our next session. Will Thursday at 4 work for you.”
“Sure, whatever”
David got up to leave. As he walked toward the door….
t-R-e-M-O-r
Head twitch….eyes roll
He looked back at the Doctor, inhaled deeply, flared his nostrils, clenched his right fist and punched a hole into the office door. Then stared at the Doctor with an evil grin.
t-R-e-M-O-r
Head twitch…eyes roll…
“Hey, Dr. Williams….what happened to your door? You should really get that fixed. See you Thursday.”
Dr. Williams gulped. And watched as David and his inner brood waltzed out the busted door.
___________
Dr. Williams was up late, for a Wednesday night. He had to finish writing his theory on how to integrate the 4 extra personalities that David Gains was dealing with. Their next session was set for tomorrow afternoon.
_________
1 Davey- a 7 year old child who represents all that is (or was) innocent in the body and mind of Gains.
2 Amanda- a flirty female persona that represents his rational and fun side.
3 Mr. Gains- straightforward business side. No nonsense. He exudes obvious confidence and as of now remains the dominant persona.
4 no name (as of yet) but obviously his violent side. This personality even scares even the confident Mr. Gains, who claims that he had him locked away somewhere in the labyrinth of the mind.
No conversation with this personality, just a message sent by a fist through the door at the end of the last session. I guess he doesn’t like being locked up.
Step 1 in the process of personality integration is identification. All known internal personalities need to be known and communicated with.
Step 2 is to isolate each personality in order to access which strengths can bond with the weaknesses of the other personalities. Therefore combining the multiples into 1 functioning unit.
This will be a very difficult process, in this case, for there may be 2 dominants….1 currently running the show, and 1 biding his time to take over.
The persona that houses all the others, David Gains, is reluctant to admit anything strange is going on. I fear his “headaches” may be a sign of disassociation. One of the dominants may be attempting to become the only persona.
He stared at his notes. It was only a rough draft assessment but he needed to be thorough.
He removed his glasses with his right hand, and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his left hand. He closed the folder and got up to go to bed.
________
He was shaken from his slumber by a phone call at 7 am.
RING RING
He looked at his cellphone and considered ignoring it but decided to answer it instead.
“Hello.”
“Dr. Williams?”
“Yes”
“This is Officer Delaney of the Midtown PD. We have an incident on our hands and you are apparently the only one who can diffuse it…..”
“What can I do to help?”
“We are currently outside the home of a David Gains. The neighbors were concerned about all of the noise and commotion going on over here all night and gave us a call. The resident is locked in the house and refuses to let us enter to check things out. We looked through the windows and the place is in shambles. We can’t see him but it sounds like a child is crying inside. He keeps saying everything will be alright if I get you down here. So will you please come down here and help us out?”
“Yes. He is one of my current patients. We were scheduled to meet later today. I guess later is here. I will be there shortly.”
He gathered his notes and placed them into his briefcase and left for the Gains’ residence.
The officer met him at the curb and asked if he would like him to go up with him.
“Thank you but no. This is a delicate situation and I am well acquainted with David and his mental condition…..but if you happen to hear me scream…then feel free to intervene.” The Dr. dryly
replied.
He walked up to the door and spoke,
“Davey? It’s Dr. Williams I came to talk to you….will you let me in?”
He heard shuffling from behind the door and 2 locks disengage.
The door squeaked open and David peeked out from behind it.
He opened it wider so the Dr. could step in.
The door was shut behind him and the locks were re-engaged.
“I think I’m the only one left.” David said in Davey’s voice as he cowered into the corner.
The Dr. looked around and thought to himself,
“I think I need to reevaluate my integration plans.”
___________
Dr. Williams looked at David and asked the only obvious question there was to be asked,
“What happened here.”
David’s mouth began to quiver and was about to cry but he held back to tell him what happened.
“Mr. Gains went to sleep and and and I got to come out and play…..but I started feeling my head hurt and and that’s when I heard the yelling.”
“What yelling Davey…tell me…you know I am hear to help you.” The doctor carefully stated as he knelt to be at eye level with the boy inside the man.
“The yelling…in here…” Davey said as he pointed at his head and continued.
“Mr. Gains went to check on the bad man….but he was not really locked up…..they started fighting….and then Amanda told me to as long as I stay away I would be safe….then I heard her scream…..then nothing. Just nothing….so i just started coloring…everything……. and looking for something to eat…but but I couldn’t find anything…so I started breaking stuff and screaming….I’m only 7!!!”he loudly stated and the tears started.
Dr. Williams put his arms around Davey and told him it would be alright. He needed to get him out of there. The only option was his office. He had no staff or clients until noon. His decision was made.
“I am going to take you to my office. Let me get you into the car and I will talk to the police, ok son.”
________________________
The Doctor walked up to the officer and spoke,
“I am taking my patient. He needs mental attention.”
“That’s fine but what am I supposed to put in my report?”
“How about this….the resident of the house has been taken by his Doctor for treatment for his multiple personalities. He is much safer with me than in a cell.”
“….ok. But I will be in contact with you.” The officer stated concernedly.
____________
They reached the office without incident. Dr. Williams led David in and directed him onto the couch.
“I will get you something to eat. In the meantime try to rest.”
David did as requested but instead of sitting and waiting for food, he laid down and fell fast asleep.
_________
As David slept, the Doctor returned to his note taking to journal the new events and the steps he planned to follow from here.
If, in fact, the other personalities have destroyed each other, then I have a new problem. The only personality left is that of a child….in a grown mans body. I cannot turn him over to the authorities….they will rightfully believe he is crazy. It will be best to keep him under guarded watch for the time being.
He put his pen down and went to get food from the deli, so DaveyDavid would have something to eat when he returned.
_________
He purchased the standard turkey sandwich and chips. He didn’t know what else a 7 year old man child would eat. As he walked back into the office he was startled to see the couch….with no sleeping man child on it.
He turned around to shut the door and look for him and was greeted by the same evil eyes and smirk that smashed a hold in the door at the previous session.
Introducing Chaos
“Hey there, Doc. I’m Chaos.”He smartly said as he punched him square in the nose and rendered him unconscious.
________
When Dr. Williams awoke, a short time later , he was gagged and bound to the couch that his patients usually found comfort on.
He was not comfortable.
David sat in the Doctor’s chair with his legs crossed and palm on his chin.
He was quite comfortable.
“I am here to tell you that the sessions are over. I WIN…..I read your assessment of me. You gave me what I wanted. You not only wrote in your notes that I was mentally unstable, but you told the police as well. You shrinks are all alike. Multiple personalities…Ha!”
The Doctor looked at him wide eyed but of course couldn’t speak with the gag in his mouth. So he continued to listen.
“How’s this, Doc?” He crossed his armed, sat up straight and morphed into the confident Mr. Gains.
“I’m I charge here. I do things because I know how to get things done”
“Or how about this?” He uncrossed his arms and pretended to wipe hair out of his face and took on a feminine pose.
“Oh, Mr. Williams…please don’t be so formal call me Amanda…”
“I got 1 more….” He defiantly stated as he pulled his legs up to his chest and cried out with a childlike whimper.
“I only 7 and I like to color…”
He stopped. Leaned back in the chair and spoke dryly.
“There has ALWAYS only been Chaos. Well…at least since the year 2000. You remember what you did in 2000, DOC?”
The Doctor couldn’t reply. He just shook his head back and forth in a “No” manner with wide eyes and a racing heartbeat.
“You had a client of yours committed. That client was my Mother. The drugs you had her on made her crazy. You knew that….but you also knew she had a will and a lot of money. You conned her into changing the will. You got it all. I got nothing….NOTHING!…nice office and extra certificates on the wall it got you. So I have been plotting since then to get revenge. Crazy wasn’t enough…I thought….what drives shrinks like you? I answered myself with….fancy diagnosis to get in the medical review books is what drives you. Here I am, a well documented multiple personality with violent tendencies….that will be taken out on you. At the same time your notes will eventually set me free.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe.
“This is filled with a drug that will speed up your heartrate until it explodes. I am going to inject you with it and watch you die. Then I will untie you and call that cop…in my Davey voice…and let the legal system do its thing.”
He got up and cracked his neck. As he leaned in with the syringe Officer Delaney busted in through the still open door and tazed David/Mr. Gains/Amanda/Davey/Chaos.
He fell to the floor, syringe in hand in a convulsing heap.
As he untied and ungagged the Doctor he said,
“It’s not your fault, Doc. Some people are just plain crazy.”
Good2begone 