Psychological health in times of crisis...Know thyself.

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It can be difficult to maintain a coherent sense of identity , self-worth, or even _basic competence_ - in the face of multiple stresses occurring concurrently, in life.

### This is 'that time' the one we are now in, globally. The effects of over inflated governments, via socialist policies implemented this past few decades, has reached ripping point. And rip it will - just like it always has - _every_ time in history when this confluence of inflated governments, and socialist-esque style policies occurs. ### Challenges to old patterns become inevitable, and with that _change_... it can become very, psychologically, stressful.. Without the order that produces our identity - the social fabric and stability of our environment - the world around us becomes more chaotic and it will feel less amenable to our wants and needs. #### So how do we adjust successfully to these new environments? We organize our external world by first organizing our internal one. If the shocks to the patterns of our life are serious enough, and we do not find a way to absorb those shocks , we become susceptible to a psychological breakdown. Intense emotional turbulence arises in the face of a 'disintegrating self'- which can , and is, caused by the disintegration of the stable, external, norms , found in daily life. Feelings of being 'overwhelmed' are common, even with a relatively minor disturbance to regular life and habits. If the emotional disturbance is _chronic_, maybe due to some global crisis (as well might be unfolding right now)- a 'societal wide' breakdown of sorts - then populations will tend to be in a state of fear depending on the nature of these threats. (and making the covid-19 psi-op and the fear mongering of whole continents, something with a very different and insidious, agenda). #### It's this threat to our 'sense of self' that's the most dangerous.

With a knowledge of _the process_ that leads to psychological breakdowns steps can be taken to fortify the psyche. Knowledge is most certainly power - _power over yourself_ in the case. What first must be recognized in this process - and can seem to be counter intuitive - is that a breakdown is _not_ a descent into a more disordered mental state. It is in fact - a re-establishment of order. But not a good one - It is _maladaptive_. (having an adaptation or changed feature, but one that is not suitable for particular condition). The extremes of psychological breakdowns tend toward two forms: Severe depression. Psychosis. Severe depression can be one of the 'disordered states' that precipitates a breakdown, and it can be replaced it with an _ordered state_ . One of of utter despair and hopelessness, in which the individual is convinced that things will not get better - and so withdraws from life. The intense emotions of extreme anxiety (that preceeds a break down into an ordered, severe, depression) is replaced by apathy and a psychological 'deadness' to the world. The other extreme is the _psychotic break_. The _process_ of a psychotic break unfolds, as it follows the events of one's life. An acute crisis, or more long term, chronic problems that pile up over time. This can utterly destroy any semblance of a healthy sense 'of self'. When this type of break _occurs_, the individual will enter the panic phase of the process. _The 'disintegrating self' and the psychic disorientation this creates, will bring to the fore intense emotions to such a degree that the individual becomes incapable of any proper interaction with their environment_. Eventually, the panic becomes so overwhelming that the psyche _reimposes order_. This is called the stage of _the psychotic insight_. The psychotic insight occurs when the panic-stricken individual succeeds in putting things together by _devising a pathological way_ of seeing reality. By doing this, rationalization of his abnormal experiences (extreme panic) occurs. This phenomenon is called 'insight', because the patient sees meaning in his extreme panic experiences - but the 'insight' itself, is actually, also psychotic. It is founded within the mental processes that occur only in a state of psychosis. Complete gibberish can appear as complete clarity, in this state. This 'psychotic transformation', of panic to order, will enable a person to experience themselves and the environment in strange and unique ways.

This state of psychosis is preferable to the panic phase that preceded it. (honestly). #### _Psychosis is an abnormal way of dealing with an unbearable situation_. We are most susceptible to any breakdown when stricken by intense emotions. ...societal breakdowns, financial trauma's, or anything that makes a 'normal life' transition, to one of feeling like you're 'under siege' in some way. The first step to ward off a psychological breakdown is to follow the advice of Henry David Thoreau: _"when in doubt slow down"_. If we ever feel that our emotions are reaching a fever pitch or spinning us around in circles, we need to interrupt the dynamic. _The worst way to go about trying to avoid acute panic - is to try to reason or argue with the emotions._ The best way to deal with this situation is ignore it! I do not mean pretend it isn't there - but to use some form of activity to relax and 'recenter' - change your focus.. Carl Jung - who endured a crisis so intense that he flirted with psychosis, would draw and paint to calm his racing mind. _Whatever changes you focus, is the important thing_. Weightlifting, walking, some hobby or a conversation with a friend, it doesn't matter... even... doing... absolutely.... _nothing_. What _is_ essential, is that we have a 'refocus' tool. There are also other steps that we can take, ones that will inoculate us from descending into 'the pits of despair'. _Avoiding things_ that make us susceptible to a breakdown in the first place, is one such step... Turning off the MSM fear porn, for example.(especially in todays environment). _The cognitive dissonance created by a hundred different perspectives - some real and some fake - is a perfect recipe for inducing panic attacks_. Devoting time to genuinely rewarding activities is also another way to staying centered. Creating things, learning things, building things, fixing things... #### It's important to fill the void left by the crisis. Establishing new habits and new activities creates order.

#### Structure, meaning, and feelings of accomplishment - may be the difference between descending into the disoriented state of a 'disintegrating self' and remaining psychologically stable. "....never let a good crisis go to waste.." , said by some narcissistic politician, if remember correctly. Listen to a politician! (you'll _never_ hear me say that again). A crisis can make us more prone to a psychological breakdown, but these same times, are ripe for achieving what is called a 'psychological breakthrough'. #### 'The breakthrough' is the exact opposite of the 'breakdown', ....as our sense of self _does not_ lose touch with reality. (as in psychosis), nor does it descend into utter apathy and despair (as in depression). Instead, one's sense of self is now reordered around _new_ values and _new_ patterns of life - ones that are more functionally adaptive in the times of great disorder and chaos. *** On a personal note, and from my own life experience - the more chaotic your life has been to date - the better suited you'll will be adapting to the coming chaos. (I don't know _what_ a 'stable life' even is, tbh. ..Anarchy ? Just another regular day to me.) Good luck people! _Embrace reality_...

...and don't ever let reality get you down - only madness lies down that path.
Originally posted here: https://hive.blog/hive-122315/@lucylin/psychological-health-in-times-of-crisis-know-thyself