‘Running Is My Therapy,’ Says Man Who Would Really Benefit From Actual Therapy
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A local man who often describes running as his therapy is in dire need of the real thing, Dumb Runner has learned.
Wayne Shuster, 32, has been a runner for about five years, sources said, and has been saying “running is my therapy” for almost as long. According to those same sources, however, Shuster’s emotional and mental issues go back even further—and Shuster himself seems unaware of how deeply rooted they are.
“Wayne is a good person,” said one friend, who, like the others, requested anonymity. “But, man, if I. hear him say ‘running is my therapy’ one more time…”
“This is a guy who can’t sustain a romantic relationship for more than a few months, is super anxious and irritable half the time, and clearly self-medicates with alcohol,” the friend added. “I’m glad that he finds running helpful—he would be worse off without it, no question—but what Wayne needs is, you know, actual therapy.”
Another source close to Shuster agreed.
“I think what Wayne means is that running, for him, is therapeutic, which is fair,” that source said. “But it’s not therapy. There’s a huge difference.”
Various clinical psychologists, briefed on Shuster’s background, generally agreed.
“I can’t diagnose someone I’ve never seen, obviously,” said Robbie Chater, Ph.D., a psychotherapist. “But Mr. Shuster certainly sounds like a good candidate for talk therapy.”
“At a minimum, I would encourage someone like him to make an appointment with a licensed mental health professional, just to try it out.”
Reached for comment, Shuster dismissed any suggestions that he might benefit from such a session.
“Nah, I’m good,” he told Dumb Runner. “Running is my therapy.”
