Dr Claire Arnold-Baker

TRANSFORMATION THROUGH EXISTENTIAL CRISIS

War and Peace“They say: sufferings are misfortunes,” said Pierre, “But if at once this minute, I was asked, would I remain what I was before I was taken prisoner, or go through it all again, I should say, for God’s sake let me rather be a prisoner and eat horseflesh again. We imagine that as soon as we are torn out of our habitual path all is over, but it is only the beginning of something new and good. As long as there is life, there is happiness. There is a great deal, a great deal before us” (p. 918)

What is Crisis?

• A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger

(Oxford Dictionary)

Different Types of Crisis

Homeostasis

Victimization

Social

Responsibility

Physical

Ref: Emmy van Deurzen, Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness (2009)

What happens in a crisis?

What is Crisis?

The word crisis stems from the Greek Krisis which means ‘decision’

What is an Existential Crisis?

What makes a crisis an existential crisis?

5 Features of an Existential Crisis1 We realise what we thought was normal and common sense is

subject to chance, and uncanny in nature. We realise there are more options than we allowed ourselves to imagine

2 Recognising our freedom in this way causes us to feel ANXIETY

3 Heightened awareness of death makes us re-examine our live

4 There are many choices available but we have no wisdom or certainty that we will make the right choice

5 We must always choose and suffer from our choices – that is our everyday burden.

Existential Crisis - MotherhoodUmwelt• Living in Time

Eigenwelt• Develo

ping a relationship

• The Unknown

• Life is Different

• Motherhood Identity

• Difficult Times

Uberwelt• The Unknown• Life is Different• Challenging

Expectations

Mitwelt• Being

with Others

• Developing a relationship

What happens in an existential crisis?

•Shock / shell-shock / disbelief•Anxiety – feeling the need to do something or scared that something else might happen•Sharing the experience•Making sense of what has happened•Action – finding a way to move forward

Transformational Process•Need time to feel safe

• Feelings of shock need to be acknowledged

• Recognise and mourn the loss

• Take responsibility for your actions/response in the crisis

• Become open to new possibilities and let go of the old

• Re-evaluate yourselves and your world

Existential Crisis effects all dimensions of existence

Spiritual

Personal

Social

Physical

References• Arnold-Baker, C. (2015) How becoming a mother involves a confrontation with existence: an existential-phenomenological exploration of the experience of early motherhood. Other thesis, Middlesex University / New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/18278/

• Van Deurzen, E. (2009) Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness, London: Sage