“as Kierkegaard murmured” or “as Schopenhauer once passive-aggressively shrieked” made me belly laugh and, once again, you've managed to teach me something *and* make me laugh. You have a rare gift.
Wait wait wait. When Jack Nicholson’s Joker said “I have given a name to my pain… and it is Batman” it was a _Nietzsche_ quotation?? OK, wasn’t expecting that. Maybe everybody else always knew this!
Ah, it was him. I remembered the black dog... but not who it was. And didn't think he used it therapeutically. But I'll look it up now you've reminded me - thank you!
Yeah - both the action of building it and, at the end, having tangibly achieved something are probably balm to the soul.
Of course, occupational therapy was pioneered as part of the raft of experimental treatments devised at Craiglockheart Hospital after WWI as treatment for shell shock, so it *is* possible that Churchill was aware that that was what he was doing
"Nietzsche knew all too well the struggles of the psyche, facing mental health challenges for much of his life, famously culminating in a complete breakdown after — the story goes — traumatically witnessing a cab driver brutally mistreating his horse in Turin in 1899."
You can tell that in his writings- he seems to be shouting at the reader on the page, in a desperate attempt to keep their attention...
Is it bad that I now have a deeper respect for Nietzsche knowing the culmination of his breakdown came after seeing an animal mistreated?
Having a dog I am somewhat on the fence with this as my dog is one of the things that daily keeps my spirit higher than it otherwise would be — though maybe that’s part of the point? Treat your mood like you need to go out and throw a stick for it for half an hour and you’ll look silly but feel better!
I think it's exactly that, and it's why the metaphor is so clever. No point hating that part of yourself, you have to learn to work with it, benefit from it and who knows, once in a while even enjoy it _ in terms of respecting/valuing the insights it brings.
Actually that makes a lot of sense. This moody little elf (or dog) inside is also good at coaxing you to do things you wouldn’t if it was always sunshine and rainbows
Exactly! And that's why a dog works better than a cat, too — because you can't tell a cat to either go for a walk or go over there and sleep... they'll just do what they hell they want ;-)
I think Radar O’Reilly on MASH spent an episode where, during conversations, he would gesture and say something like, “Ah, <some intellectual’s name>” in an effort to sound wise.
It's odd that the whole "Nazi" thing has stuck so aggressively to Nietzsche when a passing familiarity with his work would show that he would have regarded National Socialism as just another slave morality. Dude wasn't a natural joiner.
The therapeutic model I use is called ACT, which is partially based on a re-interpretation of BF Skinner's ”Verbal Behavior“ (Which was later demolished by Noam Chomsky, who hadn't read it). The most recent critique of Skinner is in Chomsky's spiritual descendant Stephen Pinker's «The Blank Slate» (Everything he writes about Skinner in that book is misquoted, misattributed, misunderstood, wrong).
There's not much to be done about that, but the quote from Nietzsche is interesting because it resonates with the ACT model - what's called cognitive fusion.Tthe techique or process you describe here is called cognitive defusion.
There's a lot of research on this. The most common model in trauma therapy - the one actually used - is to learn the client ways to distract oneself from intrusive thoughts and emotions (As a radical behaviorist, I believe in emotions, as in BF Skinners analysis from 1945). Which can be compared to peeing in your pants to stay warm.
The most efficient way to deal with difficult emotions is exposure - in various ways and form. The quote from Nietzsche, in an ACT context, is one method of exposure. Emotions are in general most troublesome when they're unfamiliar. Taking a step back, viewing them from outside, giving them a name are tried and tested techniques.
And fairly recent. They're counterintuitive and hard to learn.
That's incredibly interesting, thank you! Sounds like it's definitely worth giving a try, then. Thank you, really nice to have this put in a context from someone who knows the field.
Sometimes I call my depression The Black Dog, something an old online friend would use. It's a constant, faithful companion -- those with clinical depression will certainly know what I'm talking about.
"As for "the Kierkegaard murmured", I've got to admit my Danish is far far too weak to quote him lol. (So far, I can say "I don't know in Dsnish, which I believe to be the pinnacle of my multilingualism 😉). I do have his works downloaded, though, and took a part in the course on him on Courser in It's heyday, but don't remember much.
I guess it's time to listen to The Philosoper's Song by the Month Python at this point, no matter what the mood.
Thank you, Mr Smith, for yet another great post. You _do_ keep me on my intellectual toes (I hope that's ghe right expression, it's very early morning here in Poland, and I'm still waking up).
“as Kierkegaard murmured” or “as Schopenhauer once passive-aggressively shrieked” made me belly laugh and, once again, you've managed to teach me something *and* make me laugh. You have a rare gift.
:-) x
Wait wait wait. When Jack Nicholson’s Joker said “I have given a name to my pain… and it is Batman” it was a _Nietzsche_ quotation?? OK, wasn’t expecting that. Maybe everybody else always knew this!
Wow... maybe. I guess stranger things have happened... :-)
You do know of Churchill’s “black dog”, don’t you?
Ah, it was him. I remembered the black dog... but not who it was. And didn't think he used it therapeutically. But I'll look it up now you've reminded me - thank you!
No, not therapeutically, as far as I know. But he did start an EDM band (no, now I’m getting confused. Get your paws off me, dog!!)
Churchill's therapy was occupational. Whenever he was depressed he used to do a bit of bricklaying
Probably an extremely effective plan!
Yeah - both the action of building it and, at the end, having tangibly achieved something are probably balm to the soul.
Of course, occupational therapy was pioneered as part of the raft of experimental treatments devised at Craiglockheart Hospital after WWI as treatment for shell shock, so it *is* possible that Churchill was aware that that was what he was doing
He was a smart guy. I suspect he might have been...
LOL
Ah, so that's who my friend borrowed the expression -- Churchill. Thank you.
"Nietzsche knew all too well the struggles of the psyche, facing mental health challenges for much of his life, famously culminating in a complete breakdown after — the story goes — traumatically witnessing a cab driver brutally mistreating his horse in Turin in 1899."
You can tell that in his writings- he seems to be shouting at the reader on the page, in a desperate attempt to keep their attention...
Yes, true.
Is it bad that I now have a deeper respect for Nietzsche knowing the culmination of his breakdown came after seeing an animal mistreated?
Having a dog I am somewhat on the fence with this as my dog is one of the things that daily keeps my spirit higher than it otherwise would be — though maybe that’s part of the point? Treat your mood like you need to go out and throw a stick for it for half an hour and you’ll look silly but feel better!
I think it's exactly that, and it's why the metaphor is so clever. No point hating that part of yourself, you have to learn to work with it, benefit from it and who knows, once in a while even enjoy it _ in terms of respecting/valuing the insights it brings.
Actually that makes a lot of sense. This moody little elf (or dog) inside is also good at coaxing you to do things you wouldn’t if it was always sunshine and rainbows
Exactly! And that's why a dog works better than a cat, too — because you can't tell a cat to either go for a walk or go over there and sleep... they'll just do what they hell they want ;-)
I think Radar O’Reilly on MASH spent an episode where, during conversations, he would gesture and say something like, “Ah, <some intellectual’s name>” in an effort to sound wise.
Strong tactic ;-)
It was “Ah, Bach.”
It's odd that the whole "Nazi" thing has stuck so aggressively to Nietzsche when a passing familiarity with his work would show that he would have regarded National Socialism as just another slave morality. Dude wasn't a natural joiner.
Exactly! People do tend to just believe what they're told... which I guess was part of his point!
This resonates at a lot of levels.
The therapeutic model I use is called ACT, which is partially based on a re-interpretation of BF Skinner's ”Verbal Behavior“ (Which was later demolished by Noam Chomsky, who hadn't read it). The most recent critique of Skinner is in Chomsky's spiritual descendant Stephen Pinker's «The Blank Slate» (Everything he writes about Skinner in that book is misquoted, misattributed, misunderstood, wrong).
There's not much to be done about that, but the quote from Nietzsche is interesting because it resonates with the ACT model - what's called cognitive fusion.Tthe techique or process you describe here is called cognitive defusion.
There's a lot of research on this. The most common model in trauma therapy - the one actually used - is to learn the client ways to distract oneself from intrusive thoughts and emotions (As a radical behaviorist, I believe in emotions, as in BF Skinners analysis from 1945). Which can be compared to peeing in your pants to stay warm.
The most efficient way to deal with difficult emotions is exposure - in various ways and form. The quote from Nietzsche, in an ACT context, is one method of exposure. Emotions are in general most troublesome when they're unfamiliar. Taking a step back, viewing them from outside, giving them a name are tried and tested techniques.
And fairly recent. They're counterintuitive and hard to learn.
That's incredibly interesting, thank you! Sounds like it's definitely worth giving a try, then. Thank you, really nice to have this put in a context from someone who knows the field.
Sometimes the dog is just a bête noire, but regardless, I'm taking him out for a walk this afternoon.
I hope you had a productive walk and have come back on good terms ;-)
Sometimes I call my depression The Black Dog, something an old online friend would use. It's a constant, faithful companion -- those with clinical depression will certainly know what I'm talking about.
"As for "the Kierkegaard murmured", I've got to admit my Danish is far far too weak to quote him lol. (So far, I can say "I don't know in Dsnish, which I believe to be the pinnacle of my multilingualism 😉). I do have his works downloaded, though, and took a part in the course on him on Courser in It's heyday, but don't remember much.
I guess it's time to listen to The Philosoper's Song by the Month Python at this point, no matter what the mood.
Thank you, Mr Smith, for yet another great post. You _do_ keep me on my intellectual toes (I hope that's ghe right expression, it's very early morning here in Poland, and I'm still waking up).
It is, and thank you! Really glad the piece resonated :-)
Smart essay. Thanks, Michael 😉
Thank you!