Irvin D. Yalom’s theory of death anxiety is rooted in existential psychology, highlighting the inherent fear and apprehension individuals experience when confronting their own mortality. According to Yalom, death anxiety operates in everyday life as a pervasive, often unconscious, fear of the unknown and the inevitable end of one’s existence. This anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as the fear of losing loved ones, the fear of aging, or the fear of facing life’s uncertainties.

People often employ defence mechanisms and avoidance strategies to cope with death anxiety, which can lead to psychological distress and a limited, unfulfilled life. These coping mechanisms might include denial of death, obsessively seeking distractions, or conforming rigidly to societal norms to gain a sense of security.

To address death anxiety and lead a more fulfilling life, individuals can engage in existential exploration and acceptance. This involves acknowledging the reality of mortality, embracing the present moment, and finding meaning in their lives. Yalom’s therapy techniques often encourage clients to confront existential concerns directly, engage in authentic self-reflection, and cultivate a sense of purpose. By doing so, individuals can reduce their death anxiety, live more authentically, and find greater satisfaction in their existence.

In the world of therapy and mental health treatment, there are various approaches that aim to help individuals cope with past traumas, anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is one such approach that has gained significant attention. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR therapy has gained widespread recognition for its unique benefits in addressing various mental health challenges.  

EMDR therapy works on the premise that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the brain, causing emotional distress and negative beliefs about oneself. The client focusses on the target memory while simultaneously following the therapist’s hand movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. This process helps to free the traumatic memory and allow the brain to process it in a more adaptive way.  

At its core, EMDR therapy is renowned for its success in treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research consistently supports its efficacy, demonstrating significant reductions in trauma-related symptoms and distressing memories. This therapeutic approach empowers individuals to confront and heal from past traumas effectively.  

One of the most striking benefits of EMDR therapy is its capacity to deliver quick and lasting results. Compared to some traditional therapeutic techniques, clients often report experiencing relief from distressing symptoms in a brief period. This short progress can provide much needed hope and encouragement on the path to healing.  

Furthermore, individuals who have undergone EMDR therapy frequently report a significant reduction in intrusive thoughts and distressing flashbacks associated with traumatic memories. By reprocessing these memories, EMDR therapy enables clients to gain control over their emotional responses, leading to a more peaceful and balanced life.  

While initially designed for trauma, EMDR therapy has shown remarkable adaptability in addressing a wide range of mental health issues such as clients reporting relief from anxiety disorders, phobias, depression and more. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for therapists and clients alike, offering a holistic approach to emotional wellbeing.  

Additionally, EMDR therapy delves into the core of negative self-beliefs and allows them to be reframed into positive self-perceptions. As traumatic memories are reprocessed, individuals often experience a boost in self-esteem and self-worth. This shift in self-perception can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth.  

The benefits of EMDR therapy are both profound and well documented. Its effectiveness in resolving trauma, rapid relief from emotional distress, versatility in addressing mental health challenges, and positive impact on self-esteem making it a valuable resource for those seeking healing. It offers hope and recovery to those who have experienced emotional distress and helps individuals move forward in their lives with a renewed sense of well-being.  

Reference 

EMDR Toolbox: Theory and Treatment of Complex PTSD and Dissociation 

by Jim Knipe 

Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, is often quoted as stating, “until you make the subconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Whether Jung stated this or not I believe this quote reflects Jung’s emphasis on the importance of exploring and understanding the unconscious mind in the process of self-discovery and personal growth.

Imagine that your mind is like an iceberg, with the tip above the water representing your conscious thoughts and the massive, hidden part below the water symbolizing your unconscious. The unconscious contains your hidden desires, fears, memories, and beliefs.

When you are not aware of what’s in your unconscious (the underwater part), these hidden thoughts and feelings can influence your actions and decisions without you realizing it. You might feel compelled to do certain things or react in specific ways, and it can seem like these choices are beyond your control.

Jung’s point is that if you never explore and understand what’s hidden in your unconscious, you may think that these hidden influences are simply “fate” or things that happen to you beyond your control. However, they are the product of your own mind.

To take control of your life, you need to bring these hidden thoughts and feelings into your conscious awareness. By doing so, you can make more deliberate choices and decisions, rather than feeling like you are being pushed around by unseen forces. In essence, it’s about understanding yourself better and taking charge of your destiny instead of attributing everything to fate.

Have you ever found yourself in an uncertain or dangerous situation without fully understanding why? Despite the fact that no one else appears to be concerned by it, something still seems odd to you. When it comes to trauma therapy and healing PTSD a lot of the focus gets put on the cognitive reprocessing aspect of trauma treatment. 

You may not be aware of it, but every day as you experience the world, you are taking in hundreds of social cues from your surroundings. We take up on other people’s body language, facial expressions, speech tones, and more. We are always actively observing and engaging with the world and other people as part of the human experience.  

If we have a trauma history, one of the challenges we face is being able to regulate our autonomic responses like fight, flight or freeze to feel safe within our bodies and with other people. The Polyvagal (or the Science of Safety) theory is an important scientific development in the way we can learn to overcome these challenges because trauma also interrupts our ability to regulate our nervous system responses and feel safe in relationships.  

The primary principle of Polyvagal theory for the treatment of trauma is that trauma gets stored as a reflexive habitual state of your neurological system, not merely in your mind or in your memory. In order to feel calmer, have better relationships, and make better decisions, people can learn to activate that comfortable sensation in their bodies with the help of the researchers and clinicians who created Polyvagal therapy.  

There are three states of your nervous system: the ventral vagal, which is safe and social; the sympathetic, which is fight or flight; and the dorsal vagal, which is shut down. Polyvagal theory talks about the system of the vagus nerve which runs between our brain and our organs. These nerves send messages to and from our organs (such as the stomach and lungs). It is set up very well to bypass the trauma responses to triggers that are not an immediate danger as it acts as a brake on these responses within our nervous system. 

It is possible to reduce your levels of stress hormones, slow down your heartbeat, and relax your body and mind by taking slow, deep breaths that last at least five seconds on each inhale and exhale. By pushing the organs up against the vagus nerve and expanding the lungs and diaphragm, deeps breaths send a signal to the brain that everything is fine.  

By calming the nervous system and stimulating the vagus nerve, we strengthen our ability to regulate our nervous system and raise our threshold for distress. We can also more easily distinguish between triggers that don’t pose a threat and ones that demand a fight-or-flight response when we are less on edge.  

Psychiatrist Irvin Yalom is one of my favourite authors. He has written extensively about the art of therapy and has touched the lives of countless individuals seeking insight into human nature and personal growth.

In his seminal book, Existential Psychotherapy (1980), Yalom, introduced the concept of the “four givens of existence.” These givens are fundamental truths about human life that can serve as a compass for navigating the complexities of our existence. Understanding and embracing these givens can help us live richer and more fulfilling lives.

Death: The first given is our mortality. We are all going to die someday. While this may seem morbid, acknowledging our mortality can be liberating. It reminds us to make the most of our time, pursue our passions, and cherish our relationships.

Freedom: Yalom’s second given is freedom and the responsibility that comes with it. We have the freedom to make choices and shape our destinies. Accepting this responsibility empowers us to take control of our lives and make choices aligned with our values.

Isolation: Human existence can be inherently lonely. Despite our connections, we ultimately face our experiences and emotions alone. Recognizing this isolation can lead us to seek meaningful connections and nurture our relationships, fostering a sense of belonging and support.

Meaninglessness: Finally, Yalom emphasizes the potential for meaninglessness in life. Life may not come with inherent meaning, but we have the capacity to create it. By finding purpose, setting goals, and seeking personal growth, we can infuse our existence with profound meaning.

These four givens offer us a roadmap for living a rich life. By embracing our mortality, exercising our freedom responsibly, fostering meaningful connections, and actively seeking purpose, we can navigate life’s challenges and find fulfillment in the journey. Yalom’s wisdom reminds us that life’s richness is not just about accumulating material wealth but about embracing the essence of our humanity.

I recently stumbled across a wonderful article by Brian H. Ge and Fan Yang from the University of Chicago titled, ‘Transcending the self to transcend suffering.’

This perspective paper explores the role of self-transcendence in helping individuals endure suffering. It posits that self-transcendence, which involves looking beyond the self and adopting a larger perspective that includes concern for others and the world, can aid in the endurance of suffering at multiple psychological levels.

Firstly, on the affective level, self-transcendent experiences such as awe, flow, and compassion can supersede and reduce the salience of negative emotions arising from suffering. These experiences create a positive affective state that lessens the weight of negative emotions.

Secondly, on the cognitive level, self-transcendent thinking provides a larger frame of reference that helps individuals contextualize their suffering and make meaning from it. This broader perspective enables individuals to reconcile their suffering with their existing meaning systems, reducing the cognitive challenges posed by suffering.

Lastly, on the motivational level, self-transcendence counters hedonically-oriented motivations that can lead to negative coping strategies in response to suffering. It motivates individuals to fulfill their need for self-transcendence, which can lead to a more purposeful and goal-oriented approach to suffering.

These three mechanisms of self-transcendence may also promote prosocial behaviours and strengthen social support networks, further aiding in the endurance of suffering. Overall, this theoretical framework provides insights into how self-transcendence can help people endure and transcend suffering, improving their overall well-being.

Reference:

Ge BH and Yang F (2023) Transcending the self to transcend suffering. Front. Psychol. 14:1113965. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1113965