Foster Household: Chapter 8, Part 6
Carson continues his appointment after which he and Kayleigh meet up with friends for dinner.
Low level content warning: discussions of anxiety disorder
Carson: I guess... the asthma has been harder than I thought
Dr H: How so
Carson: Well it seemed to just come out of nowhere. I’ve got this inhaler for asthma attacks but I don’t think I’ve had one yet. I still keep it on me, just in case. I get worried about what could set it off
Dr H: And how do you cope with that worry
Carson: Not well I guess. But I can look after myself. I have a whole cleaning routine for my room to keep it dust free
Dr H: Tell me about that
Carson begins to explain the process he does to clean his room, when he wakes up and after dinner, just to be safe.
Dr H: Can I ask, what would happen if you didn’t do this
Carson: Well there’d be dust and it would make me have an asthma attack which would probably hurt a lot if it didn’t kill me
Dr H: Okay. Now when you’re outside of your room, how do you feel about the asthma triggers then
Carson: Home isn’t too bad, mum makes sure it’s vacuumed for me. And most of the places at school are okay, at least first thing. Mrs Tinker, my teacher, told me that cleaners come every night at 6. They wipe everything down and vacuum. But by the end of the school day I get worried about the dead skin in the air though. Like how much will actually end up in my lungs
The conversation continues with Dr Hanks asking more about Carson’s routines and his worries. Kayleigh sits through as best she can, trying only to say things when she’s asked, or if Carson looks to her for support. She’s a bit shocked to learn how much he actually does to try avoid asthma attacks, not all of them logical choices. All her kids have tended to be academically gifted so when she hears Carson is doing things that would have no actual impact on an asthma attack she does wonder where the behaviour has come from.
Dr H: Thanks for sharing all of that Carson. I know it’s not easy to talk to a stranger about inner thoughts
Carson: It’s tough. I just… I guess I don’t want to be worried about asthma attacks all the time
Dr H: Based on today it does appear that you have developed an anxiety disorder. In particular I believe you may have OCD. Do you know what that is?
Carson: It’s like when you need everything to be neat?
Dr H: For some. Those with OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, often find themselves developing obsessions or compulsions which they use to manage their anxiety. While it may work in the short term, it’s not healthy in the long term
Carson: So I’m broken
Kayleigh: He didn’t say that honey
Dr H: I don’t think you’re broken. I think you just need some extra help, we all need extra help from time to time
Carson: Can you get rid of it
Dr H: Psychological conditions are complex. They’re not like a tumour which can be cut out. What we need to do instead is work on strategies which will help you cope with the anxiety in a safer way that does not interfere with your life as much, so that you can enjoy life. We have a few options to help. One, which I would highly recommend, is going to therapy
Dr H: Talking through the anxieties can often help minimise the danger they present, and lesson the compulsions. However if your mood is already off balance I would suggest also starting on some medication to get you in a better headspace before starting therapy. How does that sound
Carson: Yeah, I mean… if it’ll help
Dr H: Now these medications can have side effects, and will take time to build up. Your medical insurance should help with the cost of them though
Kayleigh: Cost doesn’t matter, whatever he needs
Dr H: *smiles* I shall refer you to a therapist then, and send a script to the pharmacy for you to collect. We should meet up again after you’ve done that for a while to see how it’s affecting you. Does that sound okay Carson?
Carson: Do I… do I need to tell people
Dr H: Entirely up to you, perhaps it’s one of the first things you could discuss with the therapist. Do you have any other questions for me
Carson: Mum?
Kayleigh: How long until he can see a therapist
Dr H: It will take some time to match Carson with someone who specialises in OCD, more and more sims are needing our services lately, but you should hear from someone with an appointment in the next few months
Carson: Why do I feel like I need a nap
Kayleigh: You’ve had a big day, exams and then Dr Hanks. Are you sure you still want to do dinner
Carson: Yeah but… I probably wont tell them much until I’ve seen the therapist
Kayleigh: We will need to tell your dad, but apart from him it’s your health. You choose who you do or don’t want to know
Carson: So Charlie and Keira and…. Reece don’t have to know
Kayleigh: Not if you don’t want them to honey
Carson: Thanks mum, seriously
For dinner Carson and Kayleigh head to the Sulani Restaurant built by EA ID: VeronicaDumm. Onyx is here with their mum Eliza, Bob has opted to stay home and watch Fergus since Harvey won’t be there. Darwin and William are also invited to celebrate surviving the exams.
Kayleigh: Can we have a table for six please
Server: Mrs Foster? Of course! If you follow me we have a lovely table up here with the best view of the ocean… and the kitchen
Darwin: So bro how’d it go
Carson: Well they concluded I’m alive
Onyx: always nice to know
Carson: The dude we saw was pretty nice
Kayleigh: He was. Very good listener
Eliza: That’s good, our kids deserve proper care
Darwin: Did he like totally shrink your head
Carson: Does my head look smaller than normal
Darwin: It’s not a great light
Carson: *laughs* It was actually not stereotypical
Jimin: What can I get you to eat
Kayleigh: Oh I would love some Kalua pork, is that on the menu?
Jimin: It certainly is Mrs Foster
Eliza: I know we’re in Sulani but I don’t know about pork
Jimin: The chef does a fantastic Island Vegetable Feast if that would be more to your taste
Eliza: Yes thank you
Carson: And we’ll all have nectar
Kayleigh: We will not. Eliza and I can drink but the rest of you 14 year olds get rootbeer floats
There’s general grumbling from the kids but can’t be bending nectar rules when at the table nearby is top prosecutor Aaron dining with cop Amabel. They’re just tying up the case against Liam, Aaron would not be stepping out on his wife I promise.
Darwin: Go back to what you were saying Carson
Carson: Oh yeah so I was totally expecting some long as couch and an old white man telling me to close my eyes and imagine my childhood
Kayleigh: *laughs* luckily we didn’t get that
Eliza: No couch or no old white guy
Carson: Both. He was maybe 30’s and black. He did have three couches, but they were all short, I wouldn’t be able to stretch out on one
Onyx: But what if you really needed a nap
William: Nap before you go Onyx
Onyx: Don’t confuse me with your logic
William: Did it help
Carson: Yes, it did. He thinks it would be good to go see a therapist for a bit
Darwin: Makes sense. Oh yes! Food! Finally!
The various drinks and dishes arrive and everyone seated has a moment as they get excited about the food.
Eliza: Maybe I shouldn’t eat it all. I’m sure Bob would like to taste some
William: Thanks for getting us all dinner Mrs Foster
Kayleigh: You’re very welcome William
Eliza: Have you heard how your exams went yet
Carson: I did well
Darwin: Me too which is weird because I didn’t study
William: No, you just copied everyone else’s work
Darwin: Po-tay-toe po-tah-toe
Onyx: I did good mother so a horse-
Eliza: Yes but Onyx you did just get detention
Darwin: Don’t blame them Mrs Pancakes, Mr A was being Mr Arse that day
Carson: He gave me detention to
Onyx: See mother I told you
Eliza: *sighs*
Darwin: I better get home or my mums will wonder if I got killed
Everyone thanks Kayleigh and begins to head home.
William: I told you you’d be fine in the appointment
Carson: Yeah, it definitely helped. And who knows, therapy could be good
William: Well if you can’t talk to them you can always talk to me
Carson: Thanks Will. Hey is this an okay light for a selfie
William: You look great
Carson: Knew it
Kayleigh: Harv, we’re home! Are you-
Harvey: I’m here, I’m here
Kayleigh: Oh you do not look good. Did you rest properly today
Harvey: Of course I did. But then my muscles got stiff so I thought I should have a swim
Kayleigh: *sighs* That’s not going to get you better
Harvey: No but you’re going to get me better *kisses cheek*
Kayleigh: Did you get my text? I didn’t want to call in case you were napping
Harvey: I did, OCD huh
Kayleigh: Yep. But he doesn’t want to tell anyone about it just now so no blabbing
Harvey: I won’t, I won’t. Thanks for taking him, wish I could of but-
Kayleigh: But you’re sick and need to rest
Harvey: Yeah. I think I’m getting better though, it’s just rough
Kayleigh: I know we can hardly call 11 an early night but let’s go sleep huh
Harvey: Yeah sleep sounds great sugar
This concludes the Foster chapter. Keira and Marta are here for now but next rotation will have their own home. Harvey and Kayleigh sleep and dream of retirement while Carson dreams of a clean room.
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