tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post5693544323584254637..comments2024-02-11T18:16:53.445-08:00Comments on Janov's Reflections on the Human Condition: The Simple Truth is Revolutionary: Act-Outs Are a Funny ThingArthur Janovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16709863014923629409noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-83212056080395621452015-03-23T15:27:05.311-07:002015-03-23T15:27:05.311-07:00Hi Gary,
I managed that lifestyle whilst doing TM...Hi Gary,<br /><br />I managed that lifestyle whilst doing TM for a while. I found myself unable to maintain the social standing whilst 'falling apart' and becoming 'shabby' (again). . . I have to say I am looking forward to having a place of my own. I have cohabited (including with my adorable children) for far too long. I have also traveled around in my wagon playing itinerant carpenter for too long too. I have set my heart on yoga again because I already have a routine worked out from TM days. <br /><br />I am considering changing my name to A. Maslow and writing a case study on myself.<br />But I'm too busy being shabby. . .<br /><br />Paul G.<br /><br /><br /><br />Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006514330039884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-83600893831538696712015-03-23T04:06:04.432-07:002015-03-23T04:06:04.432-07:00Hi Paul
Not on the benefits of exercise presumably...Hi Paul<br />Not on the benefits of exercise presumably? I was saying so many people use exercise to release constantly building tension. In the Primal Center intensives, ex is hence usually forbidden (though sometimes requested by the therapist). In the absence of proper primal therapy I do regular ex (1) to release tension (2) for health. My natural hygienist diet (low fat, low protein raw vegan www.foodnsport.com) also keeps me FAR more relaxed - and incredibly healthy - than when I cheat with anything else; grains, dairy, cooked, caffeine etc and i sleep feeling incredibly relaxed and peaceful. GaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-60942199045714663242015-03-21T13:38:01.170-07:002015-03-21T13:38:01.170-07:00Hi Gary,
-"You could release (abreact) with e...Hi Gary,<br />-"You could release (abreact) with exercise and get many more benefits"-.<br /><br />What do you mean? Could you expand on that please?<br /><br />Paul G.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006514330039884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-736400224933730762015-03-20T12:00:54.669-07:002015-03-20T12:00:54.669-07:00An email answer to Frank:
"Frank; you said &q...An email answer to Frank:<br /><em>"Frank; you said "So... the question is why we understand so much about anything other than what is necessary to perceive what is right... scientifically speaking?" Right; Hitler, Stalin, Oppenheimer, Einstein (developed the atom bomb) genii all, but how much compassion did they have? How much natural empathy with other sentient beings? How much did it motivate them in their lives? Cerebral intelligence is the outstanding quality putting the "great men" (and women but patriarchal culture minimises them) up there in history, the inventors, discoverers, pioneers. But the real heroes? Art, Dr Douglas Graham, Juliet Gellatly, A S Neill, etc. Heard of them? Highly feeling, compassionate, committed, their achievements motivated by their compassion. <br />I mean, humans appoint themselves the most superior species on earth, yet my beloved dog Rosie is endlessly patient, accommodating, loving, trusting and yes, empathic, to me. I rescued her recently from 3 years on a 3 metre metal chain, thrown scraps for food, no affecton. Yet she is still the best friend I have. No human has ever come close. And look at how we treat animals. Gary"<br /> </em>Arthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-25234173580278284802015-03-20T11:57:08.453-07:002015-03-20T11:57:08.453-07:00An email comment to Paul:
""Hi Paul
Ivé ...An email comment to Paul:<br /><em>""Hi Paul<br />Ivé already done it; the primal center that is.<br />Already gone into the empathic non primal counsellor thing too. I don´t think it works and often can be harmful. As you say, it´s not an option to cross the barrier into primal pain with a non primal person, but also rarely possible You´re vulnerable once opened up and in danger from someone who isn´t trained. At best, you´ll have your 3rd line tears & misery validated as "releasing" or "cathartic" or some such nonsense - if the counsellor is into that - and considered sufficient for healing. In fact there is a danger, in my view, of getting stuck in a groove and deepening it (neurosis) and the "therapy" making present life unnecessarily painful and confusing. No insights will occur, and no progress will be made, so what is the point? You could release (abreact) with exercise and get many more benefits. I cry when I need to on the 3rd line; until I get proper primal help, that will have to do. Gary"<br /> <br />Best<br />Gary<br /> "</em>Arthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-37049271149361576462015-03-18T17:46:07.813-07:002015-03-18T17:46:07.813-07:00Hi Paul thanks for your reply. I just responded wi...Hi Paul thanks for your reply. I just responded with a long post , but I think I pressed the wrong link and it disappeared before I could submit it, darn. I will try to post again tomorrow, it's close to 1am here and time for my bed. GoodnightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-35825678827424506422015-03-18T14:28:30.653-07:002015-03-18T14:28:30.653-07:00Hi,
Being a UK resident I seem to be constantly wa...Hi,<br />Being a UK resident I seem to be constantly waking up to General Custer's dictate:<br /><br />-"Go West Son"-.<br /><br />More seriously though, I feel it is ok to feel stuff on the 3rd line, perhaps touching on the 2nd. . . and with the help of an empathetic counselor. . . but that will sooner or later lead to lower pains. . . and that cannot be accessed without specialist help from the Primal Center OR suppression of the pain with a prescription for antidepressants / strong painkillers.<br /><br />Paul G.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006514330039884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-28401457202978933692015-03-18T14:20:18.834-07:002015-03-18T14:20:18.834-07:00Hi Sheri,
Yep; I tried so hard to become somethin...Hi Sheri,<br /><br />Yep; I tried so hard to become something 'more / better / different' when I was a teenager I almost totally lost myself. . . . . . . . . . . I'm lucky to have found my way onto this blog 36 years later. Never too late to be real eh?<br /><br />Paul G.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006514330039884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-13057382789961903972015-03-18T14:15:39.647-07:002015-03-18T14:15:39.647-07:00Hi Gary,
-"Dumping is usually benign, making...Hi Gary,<br /><br />-"Dumping is usually benign, making it harder to recognise"-.<br /><br />Absolutely, and an understatement in the extreme. . . 'sitting on the fence', 'deference', 'tergivistation', 'detente', 'obfuscation', 're-framing'. . . There's 6, how many more can you think of?<br /><br />Paul G.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006514330039884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-58114364162662904942015-03-18T14:10:27.217-07:002015-03-18T14:10:27.217-07:00Hi Anonymous,
I have made some very serious mistak...Hi Anonymous,<br />I have made some very serious mistakes in my life as an adult and I also am still learning to acknowledge those 'errors'. . . Such bitter pills to swallow; but they also resonate down to earlier pains and rejections and makes being an 'adult' so, so difficult.<br /><br />I am certain some other people (with more power than I) exploit this 'conscience' of mine to make themselves feel better. Luckily for me I have never stooped that low. . . Luckily for me when confronted by others feeling remorse for what they've done wrong, well, I have started to feel remorse for my 'wrongs' too. I think it's called empathy. Thank goodness for empathy. . .<br /><br />Occasionally I have felt and acted impulsively vindictive but pretty quickly I felt revulsion at my own evil fantasy or act and put the brakes on; then I screwed my courage back onto my conscience (where it belongs). . .<br /><br />It never ceases to amaze me how SOME people just can't help themselves unconsciously climb up onto the suffering of others and lord it over them. . . <br /><br />F*****s !<br /><br />Paul G.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02006514330039884557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-88396207918309239272015-03-18T14:01:56.999-07:002015-03-18T14:01:56.999-07:00Jan: Ingmar Bergman was one of the great people I ...Jan: Ingmar Bergman was one of the great people I knew. He brought me to Sweden to see one of his films. I got there in this dark room and I said to him, Hey I do not speak Swedish. He said not to worry. The room goes dark and suddenly a man appears behind me and starts whispering the dialogue in my ear. Within minutes it was as if I was watching the film in English. He visited me at the clinic and afterwards said, with all this chaos there must be a lot of creativity going on. <br />Thanks Jan for the kind words. I think your case is important because there is something we can do with some epilepsies. artArthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-12501286063153118952015-03-18T14:00:10.428-07:002015-03-18T14:00:10.428-07:00An email comment:
"As In A Mirror
“Funny” e...An email comment:<br /><em><br />"As In A Mirror<br /><br />“Funny” enough, reading about Act-outs in Art’s Reflections I got a feeling that my life raced past. The memory process is fascinating in the sense that many interpretations that I had, during decades, of old memories, I now revise. I’m able to do that because I have re-lived much of the imprint that propelled my neurotic behavior and values.<br />During the first half, I was often quick to distort and create erroneous interpretations of symptoms, events and situations (both of my own and other’s). My need to “confidently” impress those around me, was was an unconsciously propelled process, which was deeply confusing for myself because of its lack of harmony with reality.<br />During the second half, having lived the Evolution in Reverse / the Primal Principle and demystified my repressed pain = epilepsy, my understanding of act-outs and act-ins has improved and continue to do so. (In this connection it is worth mentioning the unique fact that I spontaneously got liberating and dramatic confessions from both my parents about my two devastating childhood traumas.)<br /><br />Having read the act-out-Reflections a couple of times, I got a feeling that I saw my life in a mirror. Inside the mirror were additional mirrors reflecting episodes from my life. Suddenly I remembered a film of Ingmar Bergman, “Through a Glass Darkly”, which 1961 received an Oscar. The Swedish title of the film was “Såsom i en spegel” which, in a straight translation, means “As in a mirror”!!!! The film left a deep impression, like all Ingmar Bergman’s movies. The fact that Max von Sydow, who plays the husband Martin in this family drama, came from the same school, and it’s theater, which I belonged to, added another dimension to my experience. <br /><br />Ingmar Bergman film 1961, the same motif as Art Janov's Reflection, 2015, concerning act-outs and act-ins. The theme elaborates the consequences of what happens when our parents deny us love, attention, and touch during the first and most critical stages of life. Bergman understood, intuitively, to visualize our unconscious pains and hold up a mirror for us. (The film ends with the following, tragically revealing, words from Martins 17-year-old son Minus: “Papa spoke to me!” ).<br /><br />Janov has, through his development of The Primal Principle, taken us a step further and guides us, by re-living our pain, into the unconscious. For me, it feels like magic, to read Art's brilliant description of his own and everyone's tendency to act-out our unconscious. I can feel how I got it all together, 55 years after I developed epilepsy and saw “Through a Glass Darkly”.<br /><br />Fascinating and satisfying to follow how Art, after the age of 90, just like another of my favorites, Picasso, did, continues to be productive and inspire the world.<br /><br />Jan"</em>Arthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-12205624779137126032015-03-18T12:21:17.518-07:002015-03-18T12:21:17.518-07:00Hi anonymous. Liked your post. I've been at ...Hi anonymous. Liked your post. I've been at a kind of juncture in my travels to wellness. In my family there have been 2 different examples to follow--either be ego-centric, for yourself type or sensitive and empathetic toward others. I found myself I in a split second choosing the latter even though the first seemed more natural just not long ago. Maybe eventually I would have chosen the right path.<br />I said to myself I don't want to be harsh to people or friends or those who are dependent on me. It was a deliberate choice, rather than natural.<br />I think the rewards are worth it when you continue to feel for other people. And it is worth it to continue letting yourself feel. Because eventually it seems there's a world of feeling people (in many ways) out there that you can better see and relate to. And the bad actors are also more visible too and you know not to trust them.Sherihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03600090931780217359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-53468427637226736152015-03-18T06:44:20.190-07:002015-03-18T06:44:20.190-07:00Frank: We know about medication but our therapists...Frank: We know about medication but our therapists" instincts are better. ArtArthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-19097238255728070862015-03-18T06:43:01.789-07:002015-03-18T06:43:01.789-07:00Frank: In my youth I was addicted to stories where...Frank: In my youth I was addicted to stories where there was final justice because as you say when we are punished over and over we do look for ultimate justice. artArthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-47947905583253967162015-03-18T06:40:27.567-07:002015-03-18T06:40:27.567-07:00Another email comment: "As I really feel emot...Another email comment: "<em>As I really feel emotionally rough most of the time and don´t have the money (or hope to) for primal therapy again, I´d really appreciate a piece from you on self primalling. And also overload. My understanding of your position is that self primalling is impossible - though there are many anecdotes about people starting primalling by themselves; Dr Michael Holden for one. I´ve wondered for decades if I´m overloaded and even when I do read something on this issue, it doesn´t explain it to my satisfaction and i´m still left no wiser about my own condition, let alone how to deal with possible overload<br /> <br />All the best"</em>Arthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-78267981829320972152015-03-18T06:38:04.905-07:002015-03-18T06:38:04.905-07:00Surfaceyourrealself: Thanks, keep it up and good ...Surfaceyourrealself: Thanks, keep it up and good idea to establish a website. artArthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-58173803400296317832015-03-18T06:34:58.894-07:002015-03-18T06:34:58.894-07:00An email comment:
"Hi
I’m a devout reader of...An email comment:<br /><em>"Hi<br /><br />I’m a devout reader of Arthur Janov’s blog. I could of sworn I recently read mention of when ‘Beyond Belief’ is coming out. End of this year? But now I can’t find where I thought I saw that. Do you know? I’m just curious.<br /><br />I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this book. I’ve been in process over the last couple years of separating myself from a spiritual community and teacher. Not an easy task by any means. I’m grateful for the experience both the good, bad, ugly and everything in between. But even more for stepping out of it and seeing the deep rooted imprints that allowed me to create this situation in the first place. It’s all just part of the trial and tribulations of my life. If it makes me stronger, more aware and more awake in the end, so be it. I’m up for the challenge of evolution, and moreso what’s on the other side when I get real with myself.<br /><br />I’ve read about 6 of Janov’s books over the last year or so. It’s helped considerably in the process. I live in Hawaii and at some point I do hope to make it to the Center to go through the Primal Therapy Intensive and really get down and dirty with myself and what lies below.<br /><br />Thank You for sharing this incredible work.<br /><br />Aloha!"</em>Arthur Janovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009571728800026496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-40699846516634885392015-03-16T16:29:48.431-07:002015-03-16T16:29:48.431-07:00Hi Paul
I remember as a teenager that one of the ...Hi Paul<br /><br />I remember as a teenager that one of the worst things to be thought of in our minds was that we were weird. It was a time that you want to "fit in" and be thought of as a sane person. Many of us did feel weird, strange, alienated. I think that is the time when therapy would be receptive because kids are just full of questions and doubts and have unveiled insecurities. As you infer, as adults we push those thoughts away and try to fit into "programs", squash our doubts and the chance of becoming normal and not miserable.<br /><br />SheriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-55003252122300597442015-03-16T13:04:01.617-07:002015-03-16T13:04:01.617-07:00Fairness is my "Act-out" which I suppose...Fairness is my "Act-out" which I suppose is justice too. Being bottom of the pecking order in my family was my life sentence. At least I feel it now. I have felt the fury and rage at never being consulted and being ignored.planespotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05315637682741508786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-3946974920005601772015-03-16T04:54:31.113-07:002015-03-16T04:54:31.113-07:00Art, Paul, Sheri
What you´re all identifying is th...Art, Paul, Sheri<br />What you´re all identifying is the way everyone dumps to avoid their own pain. In any social situation, it happens, or you have lots of solitary situations where no one else pays, like solitary drinking or crying or self imposed isolation. The social dumps are all lies, though because nobody knows about primal,pain, nobody sees it. So people are oblivious to the fact that social conventions like handshaking, smiling insincerity, uptightness round physical contact, the harsh,taut face and terse voice, blaming someone for your hurt when all they´ve done is trigger pre existing hurt, and so on...are all defences against primal pain. Dumping is usually benign, making it harder to recognise. Generally, only major overreactions are seen as such. <br />I feel most angry at the routine dumping - rationalised & justified by religion, social consensus, whatever it takes, when it is challenged - on children and animals. In both cases, the abuse is socially and institutionally condoned bullying, there´s no two ways about it. The justifications come out because, I think, on some level people know it´s wrong and they automatically defend aganst their guilt, just after they defend against their pain by crushing someone elses or na animals freedom. (By the way, this is from Gary; I can´t work out how to post under my name). <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-3017225372983636932015-03-16T04:51:14.672-07:002015-03-16T04:51:14.672-07:00Long time I have been looking for the answers. Fir...Long time I have been looking for the answers. First I've read Alice Miller's books, later I found out your articles. Thank you, just than you mr Janov. Sorry for my english.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17667358260371704333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-51177457622809440562015-03-16T03:43:53.595-07:002015-03-16T03:43:53.595-07:00I've read this post every day since it came ou...I've read this post every day since it came out. Every day it invokes a different feeling.<br /><br />This morning it led me to feel exactly what my mother's childhood was like. Why she was impelled to "choose" the career she did.<br /><br />Why she did to me what she and my father did. Why if I re-establish contact with her years after severing it, nothing will have changed.<br /><br />I started a website last month, http://SurfaceYourRealSelf.com that curates scientific research I'm interested in from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, often with my point of view of how applying principles of Primal Therapy apply to the findings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-81410779975592426382015-03-16T03:32:12.130-07:002015-03-16T03:32:12.130-07:00Hello Paul, I am at the stage in recovery where I ...Hello Paul, I am at the stage in recovery where I am learning to accept and acknowledge when I am wrong, it is a painful process as the shame and fear of annihilation are so visceral. <br />However now there are times when I approach my defects with a sense of excitement, as it is another key to knowing myself free from my false self created to survive my toxic childhood. Learning to accept myself as human, and not needing others and myself to be perfect so I can protect the fragility of my shattered soul.<br /> <br />I have discovered some of my responses are so physiologically set that at times I can do nothing but wait for the waves of fight, flight, freeze (and fawn) to subside, regulate and then respond instead of reacting to people challenging me on making others wrong. I do wonder when/if my physiology will always be thus impaired, will I always have a physiological limp, but even if that is so, I now have more of my internal tools to not be overcome with shame and internally collapse.<br />I have found at this stage that I physically need to move to challenge the 'freeze' response,- it is not always enough to get something psychologically.<br /><br />It pains me that so little of the plight of humans is acknowledged and worked with in society, the more I work on myself the more society's imprints and acting in/out are clearly seen and it is miserable. As a result I often feel more alone which is not good for us limbic creatures. It is at those times that I have to choose, do I go continue forward in healing or stay as 'mad' as society...? If I stall at least some sort of connection is maintained. But for myself I have noticed if the work on yourself is deep enough which includes your physiology, then stalling/stopping does not appear to be an option for long. The body/soul is inherently moved towards actualisation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420173096635836108.post-44082707243523204212015-03-16T02:50:12.218-07:002015-03-16T02:50:12.218-07:00Can a medication be of help to get past the proble...Can a medication be of help to get past the problem of being undetected?<br /><br />"The amount of pain we can manage is what our systems can integrate". But if there is an way to open and close in time to what we can handle the pain ... handle the pain that might be readable electrochemically seen and medications could be a means to get past what we otherwise do not automatically experience... and we remain in a state of unconsciousness of it? Especially when it comes to the symptom of being professional?<br /><br />FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02242354226308728116noreply@blogger.com