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Symptoms, Addictions and non-ordinary
States of Consciousness
Working with psychosomatic and somatic
symptoms, addictions and unusual states of consciousness we often find
that they
contain a hidden resource for the individual, the relationship and even
society and the culture as a whole.
Case Example: A woman in her mid-40ties dreamt that a tiger was
about to strike her with its claws. At the same time, she
complains of a chronic rash which develops whenever she feels stress.
Her usual relational style is rather shy and adaptive. When she
focuses on her scratching, her cat-like nature emerges: It asks her to
pursue what she wants in life and in her relationships. In her
symptom she finds an aspect of nature which is oppressed. Liberating the
cat-like nature is her individual work but at the same time
it is worldwork- addressing edges society and shared cultural values impose.
Physical and Psychosomatic Symptoms
and Illness
"Symptoms are potentially meaningful and purposeful conditions.
They could be the beginning of phantastic phases of life, or they could
bring one amazingly close to the center of existence. They can also be
a trip into another world, as well as the royal road into the
development of the personality." (Mindell: Working with the Dreaming
Body, 1985)
Body symptoms and illnesses can be very painful and threaten our sense
of identity. Yet, they also can have the potential to wake us up.
Process Work observes the potential meaning behind illness. Like night
dreams, our symptoms too can be are expressions of our potential.
With mindful attention and awareness, our bodies reveal who we are beyond
our social roles and conventional being.
A. Mindell: Quantum Mind and Healing, Charlottesville, VA, Hampton Roads,
2004
Process Work with Addiction
"Addiction can be seen as
an effort to relate to parts of ourselves which our sober life-style excludes,
and which we cannot access and
use deliberately. In this sense, addiction is an attempt at wholeness"
(Hauser: Message in the Bottle - Process Work with Addiction.
Journal of Process-oriented Psychology, 1994-1995.
Addictions can been seen as opportunities to leave everyday consciousness
and step into dreamlike states in which we have contact
with the unknown. If we unfold the potential of these altered states of
consciousness, follow and go deeper into these experiences,
then we find useful information and unexpected solutions. Process Work
with addictions attempts to unravel the meaning and messages
of our cravings for food, smoking, sex, drinking, etc. and discover the
deeper meaning behind them.
Reini Hauser consults health professionals in the field of addiciton.
He offers workshops for clients and professionals and presents this
approach at addiction conferences (Spirit and Addiction, The Open Center
New York). See a synopsis
of an article on Process Work
with
Addiction.
Extreme States of Consciousness
and Spiritual Experiences
"Any psychotherapy which
mirrors collective ideals, but ignores and pathologizes altered states,
runs into the risk of being racist and sexist.
If "health" means "acting like the majority", then
being "unhealthy" means that all minorities are in danger of
being pathologized by the
mainsteam in any country." (Mindell in: Journal of Process oriented
Psychology 1994.)
From many perspectives, extreme states of consciousness are illnesses
which require psychiatric intervention, including medication and
hospitalization. Process Work emphasizes psychological interventions:
following the experience of the person and the system may help
to unfold and complete a state. Interventions are based on the idea that
non-ordinary states, when supported and validated, can lead to
meaningful transformations of the individual, the family and the community.
Arnold Mindell: City Shadows. Psychological Interventions in Psychiatry.
London: Routledge 1988.
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