Free Type by Alicia Hendley Page B

your grandparents and great-grandparents, numerous stressors existed during the Social Media Era. Daily life was unpredictable at best, with individuals falling in love on a whim and entering entirely unsuitable relationships, often on-line , as it were. Occupational choices were often made based on something as vague as someone’s interests , as if they were choosing an appetizer rather than a life’s career.” Dr. Witmer shakes his head. “In such an era, who can be surprised that the rates of psychogenic depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, as well as somatic illnesses such as chronic pain or recurrent headaches, began to skyrocket?” Dr. Witmer sighs. “First Years, it is thanks to the widespread implementation of Typology by Association Psychologists from across the globe that massive changes systematically took place in society, leading to true order, predictability, and balance for the first time. Such changes were of course welcomed by the majority of most countries’ constituents and have proved to be highly adaptive. They have led to a sharp decline in psychogenic mental illness in just two generations, as well as the closing of several pharmaceutical giants!” Dr. Witmer chuckles to himself, before turning back to the blackboard. “Antidepressants? I don’t think so!”
    Dr. Witmer then writes GENETIC across the board. “For decades there was debate in the scientific community in terms of genetics and mental illness. Which disorders seemed to have a genetic link? Which ones were more shaped by environment? In the Social Media Era, there was a belief that some highly complex mishmash between genes and environmental factors led to mental illness. To that I say, Poppycock!’
    I snort and turn to look at Noah, who rolls his eyes.
    “To review, the implementation of Typology led to a decline in many societal stressors, which in turn resulted in a sharp drop in the rates of all forms of psychogenic mental illness. This has let us identify for the very first time the remaining minority of individuals who are experiencing a mental illness that has a genetic cause. Sadly, such a cause is passed on from generation to generation unless something stands in its way to stop the transmission once and for all.” Dr. Witmer pauses again, to write HARMONY and SERENITY across the board. “After merely one generation had lived under Typology’s umbrella, Psychologists and other professionals were able to identify which persons presented a fleeting mental health condition, such as depression following a spouse’s death, and which individuals had long-term, permanent disease. For those with more minor, short-term difficulties, we have learned that sending afflicted children to Harmony for a Temporary stay or adults to Serenity, and having our standard intervention protocol applied, can eliminate any lingering psychogenic problems for good.”
    I suddenly sit up straight, afraid of what might be coming next.
    “We are then left with a few poor souls who clearly can’t benefit from the protocol, those individuals who have had the misfortune to have faulty genes passed on to them by their unwitting or selfish parents. These individuals experience chronic depressive disorders, unrelenting alcoholism, florid psychosis, mental retardation, or autism spectrum disorders, to name a few of the organic diseases that persist to this day. It is for these remaining patients that a lifelong stay in Full is clearly required, with a meaningful and rich life still provided to them.”
    My stomach starts to tighten and an image of James enters my mind. Don’t think about him. Don’t think about him .
    “First Years, it was clear to the early Association Psychologists that we needed to stop passing defective genes from one generation to the next. To ignore such transmission would have unnecessarily increased suffering and bordered on abuse. As a result, First Years, the dreaded surgical interventions I am sure you have heard about