The Philosophic Solution for Self-realisation - Essay Example

The Philosophic Solution for Self-realisation Feeling alone amidst crowd may be philosophic solution for self-realisation. But when we look into Maslow’s need theory and the pyramid of needs to be satiated for achieving the apex position of self-actualisation, it becomes obvious that loneliness is illness rather than a curse. (Maslow A.H, 1970) Loneliness commonly refers to how individuals evaluate their level and quality of social contact. Wellbeing may not positively be correlated with the number of contact but greatly depends upon the nature of the contacts made1. In our case study of Peter, adverse life events in early adolescence might be the predictor of his depression. Substance abuse like alcoholism although is an associated outcome of depression, Peter our subject was in the clutches of alcoholism well early in his adolescence. The behavioral problems and emotional problems encountered by Peter reveals that the treatment for his depression received from the GP did not include any treatment with antidepressant drugs, as detection of depressive disorders did not found associate with long term outcome. (Anderson I.M., D.J.Nutt, J.F.W.Deakin, 2000). The case study of Peter is difficult to be discussed in the absence of any information like his mental status, Conversation styles, and intelligence. However a history of cross-gendered behaviour in adolescence is doubted to have caused the homosexual trait in him. The family background of Peter especially of his parents is of much importance to fix the location of his homosexuality, which unfortunately is absent in our study. It is not clear if Peter was forced to be a misogynist in his youth or not. Hence his homosexuality could only be ascertained theoretically with the help of literature available. Robert J Kus three theories ex[plain the accountability of gay alcoholism. They are: - 1) Gaybar ethnotheory, 2) multi-factor theories and 3) gay non- acceptance theory. 1) This theory accounts for higher incidence of alcoholism in gays than hetero sexuals. This theory explains that gay bars are the one and only place where gays are able to meet their fraternal mates. This ‘fraternity syndrome’ spreads a compulsive drinking habit among the gays. 2) These theories hold that internalized homophobia, self-hatred, shame and so on , the external oppression of a homophobic society and hiding ones identity are as important as gay bars in understanding the etiology and incidence of their alcoholism. 3) This theory comprises three stages. In stage I a gay man accepts his gayness as appositive one. In stage II, while seeing the self in negative state tries to rid the self of homophobia by learning more about the gay world. In the third stage of Acceptance a gay finds the acceptance of the gay identity as a positive aspect of self and get freed from the negative health elements. The guilt, low self-esteem and shame are thus becoming ‘nothing’ to the gay. (Robert J Kus, 1988) The guilt of homosexuality in Peter might have stemmed in his youth. This in fact is a crisis pertaining to the chronology. The age/period of his depression during when the awareness of sexuality in community might be the soil in which his sense of guilt grew. The current awareness in society about sexuality is quite different paving way for a better understanding of sex roles in social interactions and sexuality in general. A person’s social sex-role is an important aspect of overall identity. Eli Coleman puts forth his argument this way: ‘ Is the biological female with a male gender and social sex-role identity who is attracted to biological males with male gender and social sex-role identities a homosexual or heterosexual individual?’ Had such critical thinking on gender identities been possible in that age, Peter would have never been coming across any encounter with homosexuality at all. (Eli Coleman, 1988). Prejudice and its effects are still the barriers to the construction of a good theory about homosexuality and one can be optimistic that recent analysts have questioned the prevailing attitude towards homosexuality.( Francesca Denman, 1993). Stigmatisation from society was the cause of depression in most of the homosexuals2. As found in his narration, Peter’s alcoholic addiction is fixed at his age of thirteen. However the cause of this might have originated from his childhood. The familial problems stemming from early childhood should have caused him to fall prey to alcoholic addiction in his adolescence. Eric Berne’s definition of stroke, when applied to the childhood condition of Peter passes more light on the psychological disorder experienced by him. A stroke is a unit of recognition, when one person recognizes another person either verbally or non-verbally (Eric Berne, 1964). Infants/children deprived of handling, cuddling – in other words not receiving any strokes—are prone to emotional and physical difficulties. Berne postulated that adults too need physical contact just like infants, but have learnt to substitute other types of recognition in place of physical stimulation. While a child needs a cuddling the adult craves for a smile, a wink, hand gesture or any other forms of recognition. Berne emphasized that the ‘recognition-hunger’ in human beings need be satiated even with negative strokes like frown. Ignoring any transactional stimulus—absence of any stroke—is dangerous. As such Peter’s early childhood problems are assumed to have originated from absence of any stroke. Elderly patients with early-onset depression are more likely to have had a higher number of previous episodes, which also adversely influences prognosis compared to elderly depressed patients with late onset of illness. (Alex J. Mitchell and Hari Subramniam, 2005)This clearly indicates the care to be taken in our case of Peter, who is found to got depressed in his adolescence itself. The feelings of isolation felt by Peter out of his homosexual orientation and lack of social acceptance during the age got intensified. Addiction to alcohol exacerbated the situation and getting sober itself was hampered by imposing social barriers to the interpersonal support which was widely regarded as the route for recovery. AA had found and established excellent ways for making contacts with similar sober gay men which it considered vital for those seeking recovery. Alienation and isolation in gay men and lesbians would continue as long as they are denied equal rights and privileges of larger society. (Jeffrey R Guss, Jack Drescher, 2000) 2. BIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ADDICTION: - a) Effect on Brain: Alcohol is a depressant depressing the nervous system through its inhibiting effect on excitatory transmitters. It changes the structure of the membrane of the neuron, altering the neural transmission. Alcohol can also inhibit the action of inhibitory neurotransmitters. Thus in addition to depressing some neural activity alcohol can activate neurons that otherwise would not fire. This phenomenon is called ‘disinhibition’. b) Effect on physique: At high doses a drinker may feel warm because the alcohol increases the amount of blood circulation through the skin. In reality, however, the body is losing heat because alcohol also causes dilation of the peripheral blood vessels. Thus heavy drinking in the cold increases the chance of hypothermia and frostbite. Such high doses can bring on respiratory arrest, coma or death.( Stephen M Kosslyn, 2001) 3. PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT: - a) Depression and vicious cycle: Depression may be experienced by people with many different mental illnesses too. The familial problems met by our subject, Peter caused the situation for such mental illness. As the depression experienced by mentally ill people is difficult to be dealt with, before attempting to treat the depression it would be nice to understand in depth the effects and consequences of depression. Depression usually brings along with it a sense of social withdrawal in patients. It is this social withdrawal that plunges them to still dangerous suicidal thoughts. People with a weak will resort to substance abuse. Substance abuse like alcoholism drags the patient into the vicious cycle of ‘depression’ and ‘temporary relief’. Ongoing oscillation between these two creates an illusionary ‘coming along’; but in fact, patients are stranded at a stage devoid of even the temporary relief obtained so far from substance abuse/alcoholism. This is the point of last-straw of suicidal instinct. Other causes for depression include genetic predisposition, postpartum depression and trauma to the brain. (Tim Wilkins, 2000 ) b) Loss of Self-Power: Although alcoholism had been a co-symptom of depression in case of Peter, the inhibition about his homosexual trait is the chief cause of his losing his self-power. The inhibition out of lack of knowledge may perhaps be the reason for the defect. To understand this well we have to go back to Freudian explanation on human activities. Sigmund Freud’s explanation that the process and core of every human development centres on a predetermined role of sex is both credited and refuted by many researchers who followed him. But even the refuting researchers were unable to place a strong and vivid argument in their rejection in place of Freud’s views on sex. This sort of inability to explain a complex nature of self, ego and super ego is found to have its impact on psychotherapy and related clinical aspirations. Self-esteem is closely related to body image in practice. In the realization of Self, since mankind is yet to cross several thousands of miles, the self-esteem is quite natural to be subjected to constantly fluctuating between high and low levels. Whenever low self-esteem predominates, treatment along with therapeutic intervention becomes necessary. In this endeavour of minimizing low self-esteem, we have firstly to identify the forms of low self-esteem. People with low self-esteem act like either impostor or rebel or loser (Stephen M Kosslyn, 2001). Our subject of study Mr. Peter belongs to the last. Whatever be the shape or form of an individual with low self-esteem, the result is failure in social interaction, psychological depression, and non-productivity in academic and professional fields leading ultimately to self-destructive behaviour. The first step to overcome low self-esteem is to challenge the negative voices emanating from one’s inside. This will sow a seed for self-confidence, which would become a very strong hold in life to come up. Secondly, retrieving help and advice from others would canalize ones skill to judge and estimate others capability. This type of judging others capability can be developed into managerial competency. 4. SOCIALTEL/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS ON HOMOSEXUALITY: - There is distinction between homosexual orientation and homosexual behaviour. Homosexual behaviour is fairly common in adolescence and some heterosexual individuals will engage in homosexual behaviour under certain circumstances when access to the opposite sex is prevented. The current study of Peter also revolves around homosexuality and related guilty consciousness in him. The multifaceted aspects of human sexuality and sexual identities are to be understood in depth. Conceiving sexual behaviour in relation to sexual identity alone is insufficient. Sex-role identities differ from individual to individual. Conventional male dominant sex roles are found in some females. Similarly, traditional subservient female sex roles are found in males too. Males with such subservient female sex roles, when get attracted to dominant male sex roles in other males are considered homosexuals. Thus, the psychic and internal attractions between sexes involve permutation of external sexual identities and internal psychic sexual orientation. The other classifications of sexuality such as heterosexuals and bisexuals also come under this. Common social outlook in relation to sexual identities is usually muddled with sexual orientation, which is purely individual and varying with environment. Adaptation with this common social outlook and internal sexual orientation becomes uneasy in case of homosexuals and lesbians. Helena and Leslie (2004) had conducted a study to find the levels of depression, androgyny and self-esteem in 112 Irish homosexuals and heterosexuals. They found that Irish homosexuals were more androgynous than heterosexuals. The team also found that self-esteem and depression scores in homosexuals did not differ much from those of heterosexuals. Among the Irish psychological sex-role category had more powerful influence on psychological health than sexual orientation. (Helena M. Carlson and Leslie A. Baxter, 2004 )While all other traits and behaviours of human beings are able to be analysed in the light of Abraham Maslow’s need theory, the sex needs of human are not able to be analysed in its light. A separate and in depth research is needed to incorporate the sex roles and sex needs of human beings in the development of the Ego and the Self.(Maslow A.H, 1970). 5. RECOVERY SUGGESTIONS: - a) Bio-medical treatment: Psychotherapy is more effective treatment for depression than pharmacological intervention alone. Combined psychotherapy with medication was also found ineffective when compared with psychotherapy alone. However, the relapse rate was found to be higher among depressives treated with combined treatment than with mere psychotherapy. (John M. Grohol, 1995) b) Creating Self-Esteem: Self-esteem is critical for a person to be emotionally stable, to have the ability to have friendships, and to be happy and content in life. When one acts out with negative behaviour, it is time for intervention and act in that direction. There are three types of intervention. First, there is denial, ignore the problem or deny that the negative behaviour has occurred. This, of course, does not work and will only make things worse. Second, direct interceding and bringing the situation under control by calling the patient into accountability. This usually results in further reducing self-esteem. It is only a temporary fix, as the depressed patient with low self-esteem will only act out more often. Third, allowing the patients to bring themselves into accountability. This is the right thing. Best of all, not punitive of the negative behaviour, but rewarding them for proper responses reinforces their choice of correct behaviour and that builds relationships. The training of the correct behaviour is reinforced. Self-esteem is enhanced by affirming themselves as a person who chooses correct behaviour. No crying, no yelling, and no more stress; keeping them in a right track in which they can move independently and confidently is the aim of creating self-esteem. Self-management is the door to be knocked for this purpose. Rethink.org has commendable facilities to carry out this process of self-management for their clients. They place the person with mental health problems at the centre of decision making, working in partnership to set goals and identify steps that can be taken while ensuring their support. The encouragement and information about moving on make the clients informed choices about their future. The Self Management Programme run by Rethink facilitates and supports people in taking active steps towards their own recovery. c) Emphasizing the value of Altruism: If mere code of morals and better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, Peter would have easily come out of his alcoholic fetters well in advance at his youth itself or he might not have fallen prey to the liquor monster at all. It is the power that makes us live that will make everything right or wrong. What is the power? Some say it is God. Existentialists view differently that everyone bears responsibility for his own actions. However, it is true that every one lives for at least one more person than the self. Likes, dislikes, love, clashes and compromise are all part of the game of life. But the truth that every one needs at least a person to lean on can not be challenged or skipped. Altruism is sown only in this soil of need for another. The befriender who was available for Peter was one such person who instilled such altruistic awareness in Peter. The role of AA in this venture was found to be great. Alcoholic Anonymous had portrayed a vivid picture in the mind of Peter about whom he lived for. Selection of group of people with similar defects and illness was meticulously infused in him even without his awareness. Such an altruistic approach had made himself a befriender for those affected by alcohol. The introducer and inmates of AA had opened a wide gate to show Peter that there were people like him or even worse who have come up. This feeling of togetherness had gradually wiped away Peter’s aloofness as he began to sail in the same boat of his friends. The undertone of the Postulates 4, 5 & 6 of the twelve steps of AA clearly goes along with the recent research finding by Robert Jay Green (2003) that the therapeutic approach should support the clients whatever sexual orientation the client ultimately takes and the clients’ integrity and interpersonal relatedness are the most important goals to be achieved. (Robert-Jay Green, 2003) 6. CONCLUSION: - Depression is a mood disorder that prolongs for at least 2 weeks along with loss of interest in almost all activities. The symptoms of depression when found should be addressed in proper manner so that the cause of depression can be neared. The case study we have chosen of Mr. Peter revolves round his adolescent inhibition about his homosexuality and subsequent impacts of addiction to alcoholism. Once the root cause of depression is detected, it is easy for the patient to alleviate the problems arising out of it. De addiction centers are chiefly focusing to get the clients involved in their day to day normal functioning initially. The approaches followed by these centers are mainly psychological and social. The diminished effect of pharmacological intervention reveals that the problem is chiefly psychological rather than physiological. The impact of social stigma plays crucial role in either exacerbating the psychic fall of the depressed homosexuals or lifting them up from the den of darkness. Recovery of Peter as a whole depicts the clear picture of his involvement and propensity to come out of the hell which he had achieved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Reference list— Alex J. Mitchell and Hari Subramniam, 2005, “Prognosis of Depression in Old Age Compared to Middle Age: A Systematic Review of Comparative Studies”, American Journal of Psychiatry 162: 1588-1601 Anderson I.M, D.J.Nutt, J.F.W.Deakin, 2000, “Evidence based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with anti depressants: a revision of the 1993 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines”, Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol.14. Issue 1.pp .3-20 Eli Coleman, 1988, “Psychotherapy with Homosexual Men and Women: Integrated Identity Approaches for Clinical Practice, Haworth Press Inc, ISBN:0866566384 Francesca Denman, 1993, “ Prejudice and Homosexuality”, British Journal of Psychotherapy, Vol.9. Issue 3, pp 346-358 Helena M. Carlson and Leslie A. Baxter, 2004, “Androgyny, depression and self-esteem in Irish homosexual and heterosexual males and females” in Behavioural Science, Springer, Netherlands. Jeffrey R Guss, Jack Drescher, 2000, “Addictions in the Gay and Lesbian Community”, Haworth Press ISBN 0789010372 John M. Grohol, 1995, “Psychotherapy for Depression: Your First and Best Treatment Choice”, Article retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression on 14.01.08 Maslow A.H (1970) Motivation and Personality, 2nd ed, Harper and Row, New York Robert-Jay Green, 2003, “When therapists do not want their clients to be homosexual: A Response to Rosik’s article”, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Vol. 29, Issue. 1 pp 29-38 Robert J Kus in Michael W.Ross, 1988, “Psychopathology and Psychotherapy in Homosexuality”, pp 25-28, Haworth Press, ISBN 0866564993 Stephen M Kosslyn, 2001, “Psychology: The Brain, The People, the World”, Allyn and Bacon, Boston. Tim Wilkins, 2000, “Homosexuality and Depression”,@ Exodus International http://www.exodus.to/content/view/200/52/ Read More