Sarah and her Ativan

Has this happened to you?

It has happened to me. More than once. Almost never a good thing. Not the Ativan, but the anxiety.

Want to hear something strange? Whenever I see a cop or a patrol car my stomach sinks. It’s just automatic. I don’t know why. My dad was a cop for his entire career. So I know that there are good cops. But I still have this wave of anxiety wash over me when I see one. If I end up in an encounter with one, well then the anxiety elevates to a new level. Why? Because it usually means I’m in trouble and am going to be punished.

Some people feel this way about pastors, ministers, priests, imams, rabbis, etcetera. Most people will acknowledge that there are good ones. But usually, when someone is being called in, anxiety creeps in because, usually, in their experience, they’re in trouble and are going to be punished.

I’ve never taken Ativan. I know lots of people who have. In fact, even though the name’s been changed to protect the innocent, this cartoon is based on true events.

Do you relate to this cartoon?