“YOU ARE GOING TO BE OKAY!” Words of reassurance are the first therapy offered to people who awaken after a surgery, or are revived after an accident, or just before the disclosure of a fearful diagnosis. “You are going to be okay” often goes along with the summary of what now needs to happen to make things better. “You’ll need to stay a few more days in the hospital and then you can go home and finish recuperating there.” Or, “We’re on the way to the hospital and the doctors there are ready for you.” Or, “We’ll do chemo and then radiation and it might be a hard year but the chances are good that you’ll be your old self again afterward.” “You are going to be okay,” in these circumstances, means “Things are uncomfortable now, but you will get well. You will be better.” But it doesn’t always happen that way.