he human system naturally moves toward a state of harmony and wellbeing. Critical life functions—breathing, beating of the heart, metabolism of food—all happen autonomously. In this innate state of being well, we are deeply connected to ourselves, to others, and to the flow of life within the natural systems of the planet. This experience of connectedness is the essence of our human–ness, allowing us to feel deeply and fully, have purpose and meaning, and create and nurture life.
This capacity to feel fully and deeply can be overwhelmed as we face daily news of more death and destruction from climate calamities and human–perpetuated atrocities. We feel our own mortality. A sense of despair and fear creeps into the body–mind. Something inside of us recognizes our powerlessness in the face of the ever escalating global polycrisis. To cope with the ongoing uncertainty and volatility around us, the human system moves into a ‘survival’ state, disrupting the natural functioning of the body. A state of unease and unrest takes over. To protect the life that flows within us, the human system disconnects.
It is this departure, this disconnection from our natural, inherent state of being that is unfolding as today’s mental health crisis; a crisis which goes beyond personal challenges. This is also a collective psycho–spiritual crisis—one born of systemic injustice and inequity over multiple generations.
From this standpoint / Keeping this in mind, we can observe three co–occurring and interrelated phenomena. They fuel one another but are not causal. Each impacting the ways in which we relate to ourselves, each other and the global society and planet.
- Alongside a rise in authoritarianism and oppression, the human system disconnects from the natural flow of life. Ecological destruction and geopolitical conflict spurred by the need to maintain and grow power and control exacerbates this disconnect.
- Alongside a rise in polarization, radicalization, and separation, the human system disconnects from others. This fuels a pervasive sense of fear which is expressed through dehumanizing behavior, such as identity–based violence, sexual violence, and armed conflict.
- Alongside a rise in despair, the human system disconnects from its sense of self. Loneliness, depression, and self–harming behavior such as substance abuse and suicide are ways of coping with this despair.
These are the various shades of the mental health crisis of our lifetime. They can not be defined in terms of personality disorders or be treated clinically. They can not be seen as discrete symptoms nor be diagnosed in the prevailing medical model of mental health today.
Seen as a psycho–spiritual crisis born of systemic injustice and inequity over multiple generations, the path through this predicament is in reclaiming our human–ness. Personally and collectively, systemically and systematically. It is in the collective work of healing and pursuing liberation for all that we can come together to create a new world where everyone thrives.
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Reclaiming our human–ness
Photo by Min An via Pexels.
October 10, 2024
It is in the collective work of healing and pursuing liberation for all that we can come together to create a new world where everyone thrives, writes Romana Shaikh.
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he human system naturally moves toward a state of harmony and wellbeing. Critical life functions—breathing, beating of the heart, metabolism of food—all happen autonomously. In this innate state of being well, we are deeply connected to ourselves, to others, and to the flow of life within the natural systems of the planet. This experience of connectedness is the essence of our human–ness, allowing us to feel deeply and fully, have purpose and meaning, and create and nurture life.
This capacity to feel fully and deeply can be overwhelmed as we face daily news of more death and destruction from climate calamities and human–perpetuated atrocities. We feel our own mortality. A sense of despair and fear creeps into the body–mind. Something inside of us recognizes our powerlessness in the face of the ever escalating global polycrisis. To cope with the ongoing uncertainty and volatility around us, the human system moves into a ‘survival’ state, disrupting the natural functioning of the body. A state of unease and unrest takes over. To protect the life that flows within us, the human system disconnects.
It is this departure, this disconnection from our natural, inherent state of being that is unfolding as today’s mental health crisis; a crisis which goes beyond personal challenges. This is also a collective psycho–spiritual crisis—one born of systemic injustice and inequity over multiple generations.
From this standpoint / Keeping this in mind, we can observe three co–occurring and interrelated phenomena. They fuel one another but are not causal. Each impacting the ways in which we relate to ourselves, each other and the global society and planet.
- Alongside a rise in authoritarianism and oppression, the human system disconnects from the natural flow of life. Ecological destruction and geopolitical conflict spurred by the need to maintain and grow power and control exacerbates this disconnect.
- Alongside a rise in polarization, radicalization, and separation, the human system disconnects from others. This fuels a pervasive sense of fear which is expressed through dehumanizing behavior, such as identity–based violence, sexual violence, and armed conflict.
- Alongside a rise in despair, the human system disconnects from its sense of self. Loneliness, depression, and self–harming behavior such as substance abuse and suicide are ways of coping with this despair.
These are the various shades of the mental health crisis of our lifetime. They can not be defined in terms of personality disorders or be treated clinically. They can not be seen as discrete symptoms nor be diagnosed in the prevailing medical model of mental health today.
Seen as a psycho–spiritual crisis born of systemic injustice and inequity over multiple generations, the path through this predicament is in reclaiming our human–ness. Personally and collectively, systemically and systematically. It is in the collective work of healing and pursuing liberation for all that we can come together to create a new world where everyone thrives.
