UPS 'N DOWNS
While working out in our basement, I'm always looking for something diverting to watch on TV, especially while on the treadmill.
Recently, I stumbled upon Better Things, starring the very pithy Pamela Adlon. It's about a single mother living in Los Angeles, who tries to navigate an acting career while raising three daughters on her own, as her ex is a dick.
The series streams on Hulu, so, unfortunately, there are commercials, which I usually mute or try to fast forward through (no can do, the bastards).
Anyway, two of these spots deserve a bit of "dissection," if you will.
The first spot depicts a very curvy young woman, thirty-something, I'd guess, going about her day under a narrative that talks about depression and what a blessing it is to find help, or "peace" as she refers to it, via prescription drugs. And these drugs are available online at Forhers.com, where they tout their services as "mental health care for real life."
You can "feel better in just a few steps," by taking the online assessment, after which you're connected with a provider, who then prescribes the magic pills.
Mein Gott, how things have changed! And please don't infer that I'm making light of depression and/or anxiety as I have my challenges with both. But, this new, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! approach to treatment is something else, again. I don't know why I should be so surprised in a society where instant gratification is not only desired but expected. I'm guessing that's what the "real life" part of For Her's tagline is alluding to.
But, if this helps depressed women emerge from their rabbit holes, I'm all for it. All I know is, I have to meet with my psychiatrist every three months without fail or no more Xanax for me.
I didn't delve much further into Forhers.com because I don't want to receive shit-tons of emails from this company or entity or whatever it is, but I noted that they also dispense products for hair loss and skin care. That said, the only For Hers commercials I've seen are the ones that target depression because you know, we broads are always depressed.
And then, there's For His. Or, Forhis.com. In this spot, as you might expect, the focus is on men. But, I guess the only thing men get depressed about is their dicks. But, cheer up guys because guess what?
"It's never been this easy to get hard."
At least, that's what For His promises. How? By skipping the awkward doctor's visits and getting generic Viagra shipped directly to you.
If that's not friggin' awesome, I don't know what is.
From the looks of things, erectile dysfunction, or, ED, is not just an older dude's issue. Young men also struggle for wood. I wonder why, with all those viable hormones still coursing throughout their bodies. We women, on the other hand, have to deal with vaginal atrophy, which makes sex uncomfortable AF, or downright impossible, but normally that doesn't happen until we have a bit of dust on us.
As with For Hers, I'm guessing that the boys must first go through an assessment on Forhis.com before they can hook up with the "practitioner" who will dispense the magic pill that will allow them to well, hook up.
Aside from erectile dysfunction, For His also addresses premature ejaculation and genital herpes. As for penis envy, you dudes are on your own.
Yes, For His puts the focus on the peepee, but men who are experiencing hair loss or skin issues or, just like we gals, depression, can also find quick and easy solutions for those, so they can get on with their lives and put all that shit behind them.
Isn't it interesting, though, that the For Hers commercials target depression while the For His spots focus on boners? Is there some correlation, here?
I could be wrong, but I suspect there is. I'm thinking that what, For Hers and For His are implying, and not all that subtly, is that when our men can't get it up, we get down.
Crikey. For all the things we chicks get depressed about, it would appear that limp dicks are right up there with world hunger.
Too bad there's not a pill for that one.
© Sherry McGuinn, 2022. All Rights Reserved.
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Sherry McGuinn is a slightly-twisted, longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. She is currently pitching her newest screenplay, "The Month We Fell Apart," a drama with dark, comedic overtones inspired by a true story, as well as "DEAD TIRED," a female-driven, ass-kicking thriller.