Since June of this year, there has been a growing concern among mental health professionals as their business has seen a dramatic decrease. "At first, we couldn't figure out what was going on," said local psychologist Sigismund Freed, smoothing his unruly white hair. "All my colleagues were seeing the same thing – this summer people stopped coming to talk to us. We thought it was just vacations, but now they should be back, and they're not." Dr. Freed's gnarled hands shook as he covered his face in despair.
A committee of concerned scientists and counselors lead by Annabelle Phyllgoode began investigating the phenomenon after Independence Day, and came to a startling conclusion. Their research revealed that an on-line community of real estate professionals known as Active Rain has given over 5,500 people a comfortable and supportive environment in which to talk. While many discuss issues of their work, others find that writing about even some personal topics is helpful. "Our patients have taken their mental health into their own hands!" exclaimed Ms. Phyllgoode. "They vent, rant, share, perhaps even go so far as to lie down while they type. It's intolerable!"
The discovery of this community of self-helping people has caused great dismay among those who depend on providing therapy for a living. Sales of medicines, massages, alcohol, and even chocolate are down from the same quarter last year, and concerns about a "retail therapy bubble" are being whispered on Fifth Avenue.
At the recent annual conference of the Society for Human Reasoning and Inspired Natural Knowledge (SHRINK), the well-known therapist Joy Sisters, Ph.D. declared, "This is really just too much! People should not be solving their own problems like this; that's our job!"
Asked what they intend to do about this threat to their livelihood, Ms. Phyllgoode and Dr. Sisters could only shake their heads. "I don't see how we can fight it," said Annabelle dejectedly. "I guess we'll just have to work with more accountants. At least we can count on them to need our help."
Repeated requests for comment from members of the Active Rain community received only one response from a Realtor in Maryland. "Sorry," said Margaret Rome, "I'm too busy earning points and gold stars – and sharing – with Active Rain."
Baltimore,Md.
Is it a good thing to switch one addiction for another? I have all but forgotten about eBay with A in my life, which has been good for the checking account, but is consuming in other ways.
"The Lovely Queen Margaret"
This is hysterical! Excellent...Excellent...Blog! I Like it.
Out of the Blog of a Queen comes the kind of humor we all need once in awhile...Thank you for that big grin on my face.
I am tipping my new cowgirl hat to you...and of course I am always Humbled by your wisdom.
by "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
What a GREAT post.......thanks for the laughs!!
I bet by networking we are all doing self-help to some degree.....I know some of the blogs I've read are doing just that, venting helps!! ;-)
Ann, www.AnnCummings.com
It's nice to see blogs like this. We need some more humor in this here AR place...
and BTW, I think I'm going to need a shrink soon, or a recovery program maybe... for my addiction!!!
Thanks for a great post!
How's this for an idea? Let's invite the "brain crowd" to join us! They could get yet another license, sign up with Active Rain and join us in our frolic.
If nothing else, they would be sure to find all the neurotics the might need! Is AR point obsession a documented illness yet?
Thanks for the chuckle Margaret.
Now that was funny! And appropriate...
A world record for blog commenting!
http://www.ThompsonsRealty.com
http://www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com
To the Harper Team,
Thanks for stopping by. This was a fun post back in September. And it still holds true.
www.homerome.cpm
Baltimore,Md
Carole, I just sent you an email! Would you like to call into the radio show tomorrow? That's only if you are not forced to list or sell a house at 12 noon.
www.wcbm.com 410-922-6680 All About Real Estate.
It was funny back in September, and even funnier now :)
Think you are right, funnier now, Jessica.
Great Post Margaret, I'm including your very funny article in my "therapy" section of my 2007 Snapshots of the Year 2007 article. Best wishes for 2007
Lola Audu, CRS GRI
Thanks,Lola, for finding this post Lola! I am going over to your new blog on "therapy" right now!
www.HomeRome.com
Baltimore,Md
Phillip, Sure, let's blame anything on TLW!
When this post was written back in September, there were 5500 members! and as you said:
''.....28,583 Members! Wow! I guess the real estate industry found new therapy."
Adam, So which group would I fit into....??
Hi Pat, Thank for finding this post. This was a fun one to write!
When I wrote this post there were 5500 members. Today there are over 46,000!!
Margaret...
Ahhh. One of AR's classics. Good to see it again. I loved it then and I love it now :)
TLW...ROAR!
Speaking of classics...that's you, TLW!
I loved you then and I love you now. You set such a good example.
Thanks for all you do for so many others.
Please excuse the momentary interruption...
I am bumping this up in the AR Comedy Club.
Some folks could use a good laugh right now.
This post accomplishes that.
You can have your post back now Margaret :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW,
You can interrupt my posts anytime!
I still went and got a massage last weekend...needed it from all the commenting and blogging I did on Active Rain....threw my shoulder out of wack from typing... the group Adam was talking about was Active Rain Addicts. Click here to check it out: Share everything. http://activerain.com/groups/activerainaddicts Great Post!