Mental

Chapter 2

Ella's next appointment was three days later. She came in still quiet and eyes to the floor but didn't seem as nervous.

"How are you doing today Ella?" Dr Irwin asked.

"I'm ok." Ella said. She kept her eyes to the floor.

Dr Irwin nodded. "What have you been doing lately? Anything fun?"

Ella shrugged. "No just school."

"Anything happen at school that's exciting?" Dr Irwin asked.

"I passed a math test."

"That's amazing. Do you like math?" Dr Irwin asked.

"No, I normally do bad." Ella said.

Dr Irwin nodded. "I was never good with math as a kid. But congrats on your math test."

Ella played with her fingers nodding, Still looking at the floor.

"Do you wanna play Jenga?" Dr Irwin asked.

Ella nodded. They moved over to the table in the corner of the office. Dr Irwin grabbed the Jenga box down and started to set up on the table. Ella watched him the whole time.

"Ready?" He asked. Ella nodded.

Ella went first. She removed a block and placed it on top, waiting for Dr Irwin to take his turn.

"When was the first time you thought negatively about yourself?" Dr Irwin asked, taking a piece from the tower.

"12, I felt like an outcast. I didn't have many friends and felt alone."

Ella took her turn and Dr Irwin talked again.

"Why didn't you have many friends?" He asked.

"People thought of me as the weird quiet kid. Nobody really wanted to be friends." Ella responded.

Dr Irwin nodded. "I was shy as a kid. Always felt like an outcast. Didn't have too many friends but I started going to therapy and talking about my feelings. It helped and I was able to open my self up so that I could become friends with more people. I got to enjoy life." Dr Irwin said.

"But I've had therapy before. It never worked." Ella said.

"Maybe you just haven't found the right coping mechanisms yet. What do you do to cope?" Dr Irwin asked.

Ella stayed quiet and then spoke. "Nothing."

Dr Irwin stayed patient but asked calmly "Have you ever hurt yourself before?"

Ella nodded looking to the floor.

Dr Irwin nodded. "In what ways?"

"I cut." Ella said.

"Do you do it with the intention of ending your life?" Dr Irwin asked.

"No, just to escape the mental pain."

Ella could feel the tears well up in her eyes and Dr Irwin noticed.

"Hey, hey it's ok. Let's talk about something else. Do you have any pets?"

Ella nodded. Sniffling a little. "Yeah, I have a dog named Chloe." Dr Irwin handed her a tissue and she silently thanked him.

"That's cool, I have a dog too. Her name's penny. Do you wanna see a picture?" Dr Irwin asked.

Ella nodded. He pulled his phone out of his coat pocket and went to his pictures finding one of penny and showing her to Ella.

"She cute." Ella said smiling.

"Yeah, she really is." Dr Irwin said, smiling.

"I wish I was a dog sometimes." Ella said.

"Why?"

"Because they don't have to worry about being pretty."