The Psychosis of Michael Beard (p2)

Today was my second meeting with Mr. Beard. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. He maintained his usual elusiveness about his problems but his mood was considerably less somber this time. In fact, he was quite the opposite. He came in with his left hand wrapped in a mess of gauze and ducttape I think. Parts of it were already crimson. His eyes were an unusual shade of bright green. I've never seen it before. I'm sure they were brown last time. I'm guessing he was wearing those colored contacts. He seemed to find everything that he or I said to be some part of a hilarious joke. Maybe he's Bipolar or at the least Hypo-manic.

Every so often throughout the session, he would flex his hand and his bandage would turn a little more red and him a little more chipper. I think he may suffer from Deliberate Self-Harm Syndrome. That might be what one of his 'primal' problems is. I don't know yet, but something is definitely off with the guy. When I asked him what had happened he would only say that it was a minor cut and not to worry about it. I asked him if he inflicted it upon himself and he replied "Ya know, it's been said before that pain is the only thing that's real. Sometimes I think that must be right, 'cuz we sure aren't." He then fell into a fit of laughter at some joke that only he understood. I think I'm going to start recording our sessions. I may have my brother see if he can find out anything about this guy as well. I don't think I'm cut out to handle him. This is way out of my league. I think I'll see if I can find someone else to refer him to. I'm just a relationships counselor and this is way beyond that.

~A.R.S.