In the Name of Love

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Is God All In Our Head?
By Moira McMahon

In Episode 322, Violet and Amelia team up to treat Claire, a patient who believes she has been touched by God.

Claire isn't a stranger to Oceanside Wellness. Despite three years of intensive therapy with Violet she remained a miserable and unhappy person. Then one morning, she woke up a changed woman. She smiles. She gives to charity. She fallen in love with her husband all over again. She's sure that God has come into her life.

Miracles happen, maybe everyday. However, Claire's husband Irwin is more than a little concerned that his wife's sudden transformation is closer to dementia than a spiritual awakening.

Violet consults Amelia to rule out a physical reason for Claire's new state of mind. Amelia discovers Claire is growing a tumor in her temporal lobe. This is an area of the brain partially responsible for mood, and for feelings of well-being and spirituality. The tumor is causing her newly found bliss. It's also killing her.

The tumor has to come out. But Claire isn't ready to say goodbye to God. After Amelia lays out the life and death stakes she's in, Claire reluctantly decides to go through with the surgery.

Once the tumor is gone, so is Claire's spiritual connection. She reverts to being angry and cantankerous. Her husband can no longer tolerate her demeanor and leaves her. Worst of all, Claire now knows what she's been missing her whole life. Violet understands and relates to losing happiness. She knows the hard, painful steps to take to find your way back. Violet promises Claire she'll work with her to rediscover the happiness Claire briefly tasted.

But what if it doesn't work? What if Claire's tumor was her only chance at a fulfilling existence? Her only chance for happiness?

Would Claire be better off living a short but happy life?

Can someone really change?

What do YOU think?