dinner like a Cold War diplomat. “So sorry if I seem a bit unfocused, but you know I’ve just been having another go-around with depression,” I might have said, but then everyone would have felt obliged to ask about specific symptoms and causes and to attempt to reassure me, and those reassurances would in fact have exacerbated the depression. Or, “I’m afraid I can’t actually follow what you’re saying because I’ve been taking five milligrams of Xanax every day, though I’m of course not addicted, and have also just begun a new antipsychotic which I believe has strong sedating properties. Is your
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