{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Issue 167 - Jessica Cruz","description":"We wrap up Lantern Month with a case study in PTSD, Jessica Cruz! Lock yourself in your apartment and listen now!  Issue 167 - Jessica Cruz Intro Thanks to everyone who joined us for the watch party Background (1:56) Jessica Cruz created by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke, and Ethan Van Sciver in Justice League #30 (July 2014) Jessica was on a camping trip with her friends when they witnessed mobsters burying a body - the mobsters killed her friends to prevent witnesses, but Jessica escaped When she returned, she suffered from anxiety attacks and agoraphobia, and locked herself in her apartment for four years When the Crime Syndicate of Earth-3 came to the planet and Power Ring was killed, his ring found Jessica and bonded to her because of her fear - the ring took over and led to her attacking the Justice League & Doom Patrol With the help of Batman & Hal Jordan, she learned to use the ring and control it, instead of letting it control her During the Darkseid War, his daughter Grail summoned the Black Racer to kill the Flash, she managed to overtake the ring\u2019s control long enough to jump in front and attack the Black Racer - it killed the entity in the ring, and left Jessica presumably dead, until a Green Lantern ring approached her and turned her into the newest Earth Lantern Hal partners her with Simon Baz, the other new Earth Lantern, and right after they start working together, they have to take on Atrocitus and the Red Lantern Corps, who are constructing a Hell Tower on Earth - they destroy the tower, but the Rage Seed was still implanted in the Earth She joins the Justice League, and helps them take on Doctor Manhattan (unsuccessfully) Gets stranded on an outpost alone in space for a year, and managed to fight off Sinestro Corps members when they came to the station in search of supplies - she earns a yellow ring after this, and joins the Sinestro Corps as the Lantern of 2814 Issues - Theme is \u201cYou got this\u2026 but what if you don\u2019t?\u201d (6:48) PTSD - Agoraphobia PTSD - Anxiety (13:05) PTSD - Imposter syndrome (20:41) Break (31:31) Plugs for SNEScapades, Last Sons of Krypton, and Jeremy Whitley Treatment (33:25) In-universe & out of universe are the same -  Skit (feat. Lauren from Legends of SHIELD) (39:02) DOC: Hello Jessica, I\u2019m Dr. Issues JESS: *deep breath & exhale* Hello Doctor DOC: What can I do for you? JESS: Well to be honest I\u2019m a little creeped out DOC: Why is that? JESS: This isn\u2019t what I expected.  Your office is\u2026 unique DOC: I have to admit I\u2019ve made some recent changes.  I have to keep up with the latest breakthroughs in therapy. JESS: It looks like you may have gone backwards instead. DOC: What do you mean? JESS: Well, first of all I thought there would be a couch.  Why is there a beanbag? And what is that lavender smell? DOC: I have come to realize that the environment is very important for patients to get better.  That beanbag is warm and comforting and lavender is known to be very soothing.  But I didn\u2019t stop there.  I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve noticed that tall lamp as well. JESS: Yeah, I think that\u2019s something that I should really talk to you about. It looks like something I\u2019ve been\u2026 Researching. DOC: it\u2019s part of my new concierge model.  I want to be able to dedicate myself to my patients more and in a fashion that will allow for the best results while not stressing me out.  But I apologize, I just realize I haven\u2019t really focused on why you want my help in the first place. JESS: \u2018Cause I\u2019ve been through some bad stuff, that\u2019s why.  And there are some serious times I feel like I can\u2019t do this at all.  DOC: Well I can\u2019t blame you for feeling that way. That\u2019s pretty common.  What does that do to you emotionally? JESS: It makes me wanna jump out of my skin sometimes.  I become a nervous wreck.  DOC: Anxiety.  Got it.  But I notice with what you have, clearly you have been managing very well for yourself. JESS: What, the ring?  That\u2019s part of the problem. Everybody thinks I have it all put together.  *Scoffs* It makes me feel like an impostor.  DOC: What's that saying, \u201cdress for the job you want?\u201d JESS: You\u2019re one to talk.  *Sarcasm* You don\u2019t really dress like a DOCTOR DOC: You know, I used to dress up in a full suit, but then I became more comfortable with who I am so I dress the way I want. JESS: Is that why you went with this color scheme for the office?  To match your personal preference? DOC: If you must know, I actually picked this as a compromise.  My favorite color is blue, and my daughter enjoys purple, so somewhere in between seems fitting. *pause* Why are you so fascinated with the random intricacies of my decor?  I\u2019m supposed to get to know your situation, not the other way around. JESS: *sigh* Is it really that obvious? DOC: You have been fidgeting for quite a while, you constantly look over your shoulder, and so far all you\u2019ve done is critique me to the point that if I weren\u2019t so chill about all of this I\u2019d be insulted. JESS: Like I said I\u2019ve been through a lot in my life. It pays to be safe. DOC: I don\u2019t expect you to go into details, but if you could at least identify what type of trauma you\u2019ve had it would be helpful. JESS: My face, rather my EYE, gives it away.  You\u2019re not stupid. DOC: That definitely looks like a source of pain and I\u2019m sorry.  But there\u2019s more to it than that. You seem distracted.  Is there anything else? JESS: You\u2019re definitely perceptive, I'll give you that. *grunts* I can\u2019t do this, ok? *angry* I CAN\u2019T DO THIS DOC: Whoa! I didn\u2019t mean to get you that upset JESS: Well you did\u2026  Not you really\u2026but\u2026what you\u2019re doing DOC: I\u2019m doing my job JESS: No you\u2019re doing someone else\u2019s job, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to figure out\u2026this could have been simple\u2026*changes to authoritative tone* this is official green lantern corp business.  This office has been on our radar for months.  We know who comes in and out of here but lately, something has changed. *sound effect for powering up* Please provide us with the appropriate information, or I may have to use force. DOC: Well at least you\u2019re nicer than the joint commission. *sigh*OK here goes.  I\u2019ve made a deal with a private equity firm\u2026 Of sorts.  It\u2019s not a complete buyout so I still have significant control.  Heck, they didn\u2019t even want money.  They just wanted my office to be able to accommodate certain situations, along with my professional expertise. JESS: Is that how you brainwashed Guy Gardner into thinking you\u2019re the best psychiatrist ever? DOC: What?  No, I JESS: * interrupting* and is that how you survived ATROCITUS without being obliterated? DOC: He just left on his own! I thought I was going to die! JESS: *phone rings* This call is important.  Don\u2019t\u2026move\u2026 DOC: *surprisingly calm* wouldn\u2019t dream of it JESS: Hello\u2026what? That was never supposed to happen in our lifetime\u2026I\u2019m not\u2026 you can\u2019t \u2026someone else \u2026ANYBODY else\u2026you\u2019re asking for failure! No! * hangs up* We have to leave now! *panicked* NOW! DOC: * phone rings* apparently it\u2019s my turn JESS: I don\u2019t care\u2026it\u2019s not that important DOC: You don\u2019t know that *answers* hello this is Dr. Issues\u2026  I didn\u2019t realize it was you.  Yes I do think that\u2019s relevant to what\u2019s going on right now.  I guess it fits in with being audited.  Okay I\u2019ll put in the orders JESS: We don't have time for this, we have to leave.  There\u2019s a creature that can destroy us all coming here right now and he is not about making friends.  It\u2019s another lantern\u2026  The only orange one!  DOC: *interrupting* Nope actually we have to stay. More importantly, when I tell you, you have to open that door. JESS: The closet?  You\u2019re gonna have us hide in the closet? This is ridiculous. DOC: We\u2019re not going in. He is. JESS: You\u2019re not trapping the greediest being in the universe in the closet! DOC: * deep sigh* Please understand that I am terrified right now and the only reason I\u2019m keeping calm is that this is what happens to me when I know there are things that must be done.  So for the sake of your life, mine, and everyone that we care about, just open the door when I say so. I\u2019m begging you. JESS: And when this doesn\u2019t work\u2026? DOC: Then I know I will have done everything I could and I know a hero such as yourself will fight to her last breath\u2026  But I hope it doesn\u2019t come to that. JESS: Every day is a fight.  Every moment.  The choice to get out of bed.  To eat. To smile.  Everyone takes that for granted.  And you really think I could fight that\u2026  whatever it is when it gets here? DOC: Thank you for fighting, and winning all of those so far.  So much anxiety is about \u201cwhat if,\u201c and you have to keep proving yourself.  The good news is there will come a day where you don\u2019t have to ask that question anymore.  Maybe today\u2019s the day. ***chant of MINE IS MINE AND MINE AND MINE AND MINE AND MINE AND MINE *** DOC: NOW! ***scream of NOOOOOOOT YOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUURS*** *** door opens then slams shut *** JESS: What was in- DOC: *answers phone again* Yes I was already putting them in\u2026  I think the HalJordanol should work if it\u2019s administered as an inhalant.  I\u2019ll admit I don\u2019t know what the normal vital signs should be\u2026  Not aware of any next of kin listed.  Estimated length of stay 5 to 7 days or epochs, whatever term is appropriate. *hangs up* JESS: What did you do? DOC: It will all make sense if you open the door again. JESS: Are you insane? We can\u2019t let him-  *stops abruptly* He\u2019s not in there, is he? DOC: See for yourself JESS: *opens door* It\u2019s empty\u2026  And it looks like a hospital room? DOC: Crisis area.  I\u2019m not a contractor but I\u2019m guessing there is some inter-dimensional stuff at play. JESS: Then where is he now? DOC: To be honest I don\u2019t know how to describe it, but if a hospital is the best analog, let\u2019s just say he\u2019s being held for observation with a plan to return to his residence. JESS: There is no way the Guardians authorized this DOC: I\u2019m no expert in those types of discussions.  All I know is, I have someone who can give a proper report of a system like this working for the first time. JESS: You\u2019ll need some official documentation DOC: Right now the best I can do is my card JESS: I can\u2019t read it\u2026  It\u2019s like it\u2019s in some sort of alien language. DOC: Yeah I actually can\u2019t read it either but for some reason I can understand it.  They messed up my name though. It says \u201cDr. Ishigo.\u201d They also said that this is only for Lantern situations. JESS: I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a mistake.  DOC: Nok. Ending (50:13) Recommended reading: Green Lanterns Next episodes: Ted Anderson interview, Animal sidekicks, Kang the Conqueror Plugs for social Apple Podcasts: here Google Play: here Stitcher: here TuneIn: here iHeartRadio: here Twitter Facebook TikTok  Patreon TeePublic Discord ","author_name":"Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling","author_url":"https:\/\/www.capesonthecouch.com","html":"