carol was sitting up in bed with the remote control close at hand.she could tolerate daytime television.in fact , it helped divert her attention from her illness.the commercials , on the other hand , had a strange effect on her anxiety symptoms.she could feel her agitation growing out of control whenever they would come on.the mute button was her only defense.she knew how strange and frightening all of this was , but the counselor in her understood what was happening on a different level.she was the patient and the doctor , guiding herself through a terrifying journey.she would see herself through this.she had to.it was the only way to the other side .