Dr. Estelle gets a new patient…smiling, laughing

Mature female patient: “So you’re Dr. Goldstein! Wow , you’re dressed so elegant! I mean I feel really self-conscious! I just threw on a t-shirt and shorts…”

Dr. G: “Don’t worry, darling. You got it right — I’m the one who’s supposed to get dressed up. Now, you’re not going to think much of me.”

I turn to the lady at the front desk.

“Did she pay her co-pay?” The lady nods with a big smile. “In cash.”

“I love you already.” Dr.G smiles and winks. “Come with me. We’re going to have a lovely visit.”

The patient really looks confused now. “You mean you are going to make this fun?”

Now Dr. G. smiles and nods. “I’ll provide all the comedy you need. All you gotta do is impersonate an umbrella.”

She was more confused. “Huh?”

“You just open up!” She finally cracked a smile.

For my opening question, I gave her one of my best.

“What is your absolute worst problem that you want me to fix yesterday?”

She hesitated, downcast gaze.

“OK,” I said, “let’s try another question. What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

“I guess I’m depressed.”

To reassure her, I gave her an immediate prescription. On my list of recommendations for her, the first was “Watch three comic videos a day.” And they had to be “funny enough to make you laugh out loud.”

She finally started to talk openly and effectively.

Soon, the world and science (if not medicine– it is very slow to react these days) will realize that laughter is at least as important to health as diet and exercise.