| This is a transcribed copy of Growing Pains. Feel free to edit or add to this page, as long as the information comes directly from the episode. |
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DR. MAHESHWARAN
So, this... is a typical human skeleton. Now, a couple of months ago, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl allowed me to X-ray them for research purposes. Their charts look like this; only their gems appear on a radiograph. [clears throat]
And this… is your chart, definitely a human skeleton. There is a clear history of numerous fractures, like here on the skull. Everything is perfectly aligned! It’s almost as if the bones healed themselves the instant the injuries occurred.
STEVEN
That’s good, right?
DR. MAHESHWARAN
Well… You seem to have made a series of miraculous recoveries, but that doesn’t change the fact that you experienced trauma. You've recovered physically, but... have you recovered mentally?
STEVEN
You think there’s something wrong with my brain?!
DR. MAHESHWARAN
Not wrong; it’s that adverse childhood experiences or childhood trauma can have a lasting impact on how your body responds to stress. This can affect your social, emotional, and physical development. When humans are in crisis, the brain releases the hormone cortisol. Your heart races, your muscles tense; I’m wondering if your body is reacting to a gem equivalent of cortisol… Steven, do you remember anything bad in your childhood that... particularly stuck with you?
STEVEN
I guess… I kind of freaked out when they cancelled my favorite ice cream… and then I got attacked by a giant bug monster… and I got trapped on a bubble and almost drowned; I lost control of my body and turned into a blob of cats, I almost turned so old I died...and Amethyst almost died. Pearl did die... Garnet got destabilized right in front of me… I woke up with a black eye, imprisoned on a spaceship…
DR. MAHESHWARAN
Steven, this is serious!
STEVEN
But... that was just the early stuff!
DR .MAHESHWARAN
I think all these experiences have been subjecting your body to a harmful amount of stress, and that’s affecting your ability to respond to new forms of stress in a healthy way! You’ve been dealing with genuine threats from such a young age, your body is now responding to minor threats as if your life were in danger!
STEVEN
But why am I only swelling up now?
DR. MAHESHWARAN
Stress is less harmful when we have people we trust to help us through it. Maybe if… If you losing your supportive relationships, or if you had a recent experience that was particularly awf--
[Steven starts to swell up and turn pink, groaning from pain; Connie enters the exam room]
CONNIE
What's going on? [Steven's swelling continues, changing size] Mom! What's happening?
DR. MAHESWARAN
I don't know; I just asked if he'd had any stressful experiences lately.
CONNIE
Steven, you don't think...
STEVEN
It's not you, Connie: it's everything that's happened befiore!
DR. MAHESWARAN
What is he talking about?
STEVEN
You haven't told your mom?
DR. MAHESWARAN
Told me what?
STEVEN
It's not your fault, I- I think I just need you to leave!
DR. MAHESWARAN
This is a medical emergency! I am not leaving!
CONNIE
Mom, us being here is making it worse!
STEVEN
Aarghh! Oh no! [Steven's head hits the ceiling] Please, just... just go.
CONNIE
Steven!
STEVEN
I... can't... be around you right now!
[Steven gasps with strained breath; Greg enters the exam room]
GREG
Steven!
STEVEN
Dad?
GREG
I'm here.
CONNIE
Come on, Mom, let's give them space.
DR. MAHESWARAN
Right.
STEVEN
H- how did you know I was here?
GREG
Connie called me about an hour ago.
STEVEN
Connie... Thank you.
CONNIE
Yeah... I'll be here when you're ready.
GREG
Uh, Steven... I'm sorry. If I'd have known, I--
STEVEN
It's fine, Dad; you were busy, and- and I didn't know what was going on.
GREG
Come on, Steven, talk to me.
STEVEN
I... uh, well, I um... I proposed to Connie!
GREG
You what?
STEVEN
She said no.
GREG
Oh, Steven.
STEVEN
My body -- it's reacting like it's the end of the world. I think I've seen the world almost end so many times now that everything that goes wrong feels that... that extreme. I should be feeling so good these days: the Earth is safe, it's Era 3, but I'm- I'm swelling up over these third-era problems. What do I do? How do I move on from all the stuff I've been through? How do I live life if it always feels like I'm about to die?
GREG
It's gonna be all right, Schtu-ball; I'm here for you.
STEVEN
I just... I want to go home.