Open Letter to the American Psychological Association

Dear Fredric Rabinowitz, Matt Englar-Carlson, et al.:

I am a husband and father of two small children. My wife was diagnosed with very aggressive, early-onset stage four colon cancer in late 2017. As of December of 2018, our FDA approved chemotherapy treatment options have been exhausted and we are moving into experimental clinical trials. I will not air the personal and family trauma we have experienced from this in a public forum, but I would characterize it as likely unimaginable for anyone who has never been through a similar situation. I am caring for my sick and dying wife of two decades, caring for my two children, running my business, and making the mental, physical, and economic preparations necessary for being a single parent.

The trait which has most helped me during this ordeal is my stoicism. I had considered reaching out to a properly credentialed and licensed therapist, in order to have one to fall back upon if necessary, which is why I find it unfortunate that the APA has designated stoicism to be “on the whole harmful.” I will admit that part of me wants to react angrily to your characterization, but I will refrain from such, because to do so would not be very stoic.

Funny how that works.