Such an important distinction. I am a therapist myself. The more and more I do this work the more I come to believe that sitting in discomfort and facing, it is the healthiest way to move through life.If you have time and interest would love for you to check out my work, I have found it very interesting and helpful to connect with other
You always inspire me to have an hour-long session, if not two, of deep introspection of 'self', not just from psychological point but from spiritual, Islamic lens as well.
'Depression' is being marketed like iPhones, tattoos and piercings. If you don't have it, you're out of step with the in-crowd. You're not depressed? Gee, what's wrong with you? Get with it, girlfriend!
People are not as depressed so much as they are discouraged and demoralized, but demoralization and discouragement are not (in so far as I know) designated as clinical conditions, so the pharmaceutical marketing opportunities are limited.
We are deluged with questionaires and recorded messages asking us if we are depressed or considering harming ourselves. Once the 'depression' box has been ticked, the sick-care industry can then sell you all kinds of stuff- drugs, counseling and the ultimate cash-cow bonaza: the 'teatment program'! All financed by way of corporate/government contracts that syphon public money into private hands.
Does that sound cynical? 'Scuse me. I'm from Missouri.
If they replaced the 'do you feel depressed?' tick box with 'do you feel cynical?' or 'do you feel like you're being conned?' , it would be more on target.
I love this!! Gurwinder discussed something similar and it's so scary and confusing how people have redefined success as emotional ease. I strongly identify with the 'original' definition of success and mental health as it's outlined here and I worry that people who do may decrease in the population as time goes on. Thank you for sharing this.
Totally agreed. I would only add that the redefinition of emotional success as ‘happiness’ and ease is deliberate. It is useful for the population of a capitalist society to be constantly craving ease and pleasure. They are then commodities that can be priced and sold.
Zahra, I so appreciate your concise analysis of the Neoliberal marketing torment we live through and the need to face our pain and fears to have meaning and depth, as we traverse the pathway to the next day. You are such a blessing the way you live your life. Your gathering of sources and presentation give me wonder in this life and time.
This was wonderfully written Zahra, well done! As someone who has been reading a bit of Dr. Carl Jung's work recently, I really appreciated the inclusion of his quote from volume 16 of Practice of Psychotherapy. I agree with his premise that suffering and pain are inevitable, but we shouldn't lose hope and become dejected when confronted with this reality. Rather, we need to develop our ability to find meaning and come to terms with his harsh truth of life, and find ways to accept these as being part and parcel of human existence and not let them defeat us. That is not to say we should become apathetic or cold, but rather understand that these things will happen to all of us, from the wealthiest to those of most humble means, and it is a shared experience across all of humanity that we can learn from and feel deeply but also help us become stronger.
I especially appreciated your use of Jung's concept of "integrating the shadow", because I think that speaks to the fundamental disconnect people have with who they are/their values and what society sets as expectations for them to define their worth (one's bank balance/net worth, the amount of material possessions one has, one's socioeconomic status etc). I think the better goal we should aim for is "contentment", because being satisfied with one's lot in life and living a life on one's own terms and having a strong purpose in life are in my view, more valuable and lasting than the ephemeral state of happiness. Dr. Maslow's concept of self-actualization also struck me as something we can all hopefully aspire to, and reminds me of the Japanese concept of "ikigai" or reason for being. When we strive to be the best person we can be and are driven by a noble and positive aspiration, it gives us purpose, meaning and something to aim for, which helps us stay centered in a rapidly shifting and noisy world.
Such an important distinction. I am a therapist myself. The more and more I do this work the more I come to believe that sitting in discomfort and facing, it is the healthiest way to move through life.If you have time and interest would love for you to check out my work, I have found it very interesting and helpful to connect with other
So glad to hear that and absolutely will do! 🙏🏻
You always inspire me to have an hour-long session, if not two, of deep introspection of 'self', not just from psychological point but from spiritual, Islamic lens as well.
The greatest feedback I could ever reveive! So glad to hear that 🙏🏻
'Depression' is being marketed like iPhones, tattoos and piercings. If you don't have it, you're out of step with the in-crowd. You're not depressed? Gee, what's wrong with you? Get with it, girlfriend!
People are not as depressed so much as they are discouraged and demoralized, but demoralization and discouragement are not (in so far as I know) designated as clinical conditions, so the pharmaceutical marketing opportunities are limited.
We are deluged with questionaires and recorded messages asking us if we are depressed or considering harming ourselves. Once the 'depression' box has been ticked, the sick-care industry can then sell you all kinds of stuff- drugs, counseling and the ultimate cash-cow bonaza: the 'teatment program'! All financed by way of corporate/government contracts that syphon public money into private hands.
Does that sound cynical? 'Scuse me. I'm from Missouri.
If they replaced the 'do you feel depressed?' tick box with 'do you feel cynical?' or 'do you feel like you're being conned?' , it would be more on target.
Such a great discussion, Zahra!
Thank you!
I love this!! Gurwinder discussed something similar and it's so scary and confusing how people have redefined success as emotional ease. I strongly identify with the 'original' definition of success and mental health as it's outlined here and I worry that people who do may decrease in the population as time goes on. Thank you for sharing this.
Totally agreed. I would only add that the redefinition of emotional success as ‘happiness’ and ease is deliberate. It is useful for the population of a capitalist society to be constantly craving ease and pleasure. They are then commodities that can be priced and sold.
It always goes back to capitalism doesn’t it?
Zahra, I so appreciate your concise analysis of the Neoliberal marketing torment we live through and the need to face our pain and fears to have meaning and depth, as we traverse the pathway to the next day. You are such a blessing the way you live your life. Your gathering of sources and presentation give me wonder in this life and time.
Thsissss is sooooo amazingggfg , something that needs to be said out loud and made veryyyyyy common
This was wonderfully written Zahra, well done! As someone who has been reading a bit of Dr. Carl Jung's work recently, I really appreciated the inclusion of his quote from volume 16 of Practice of Psychotherapy. I agree with his premise that suffering and pain are inevitable, but we shouldn't lose hope and become dejected when confronted with this reality. Rather, we need to develop our ability to find meaning and come to terms with his harsh truth of life, and find ways to accept these as being part and parcel of human existence and not let them defeat us. That is not to say we should become apathetic or cold, but rather understand that these things will happen to all of us, from the wealthiest to those of most humble means, and it is a shared experience across all of humanity that we can learn from and feel deeply but also help us become stronger.
I especially appreciated your use of Jung's concept of "integrating the shadow", because I think that speaks to the fundamental disconnect people have with who they are/their values and what society sets as expectations for them to define their worth (one's bank balance/net worth, the amount of material possessions one has, one's socioeconomic status etc). I think the better goal we should aim for is "contentment", because being satisfied with one's lot in life and living a life on one's own terms and having a strong purpose in life are in my view, more valuable and lasting than the ephemeral state of happiness. Dr. Maslow's concept of self-actualization also struck me as something we can all hopefully aspire to, and reminds me of the Japanese concept of "ikigai" or reason for being. When we strive to be the best person we can be and are driven by a noble and positive aspiration, it gives us purpose, meaning and something to aim for, which helps us stay centered in a rapidly shifting and noisy world.