Existential Therapy & Generalized Anxiety Disorder by katrinajunio

existential therapy

& generalized anxiety disorder katrina junio

I anticipated needing to wrestle to combine existential therapy, anxiety & art, but the three appeared to exist in tandem. It seems more difficult to pull them apart.

Part I:

Existential Therapy Introducing Existential Therapy........................................................ 6 Major Players..................................................................................... 8 Four Ultimate Concerns.................................................................. 10 Four Existential Ways Of Being.......................................................12 Part II:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder According To The DSM-5...............16 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Across The Lifespan.......................18 Part III:

Putting It All Together Existential Therapy, Anxiety & Symptoms.............................. 22–25 Existential Therapy, Anxiety & Art Therapy............................ 26–29 Existential Therapy Strengths & Limitations.................................30 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Cultural Implications......................32 Personal Process & New Awareness............................................ 34 References....................................................................................... 36

PART I:

existential therapy

(Sommers-F

lanagan, 20

18)

Martin Heidegger Martin Heidegger's Philosophy (1) thinking about things that have been neglected (2) BEING the way we are every day (3) DE-SEIN how we exist in space or being-in-the-world (4) UNDERSTANDING the nature of time & space Da-sein: limited (identities are fragile), questions meanings (potentiality-of-being), existence is always shared (being-with-others), and encountered in the world every day. (Takkal et al. 2018)

(Somm

ers-Fla

nagan,

2018)

Lu Xun Lu Xun coined the term "Zhi Mian" or "face reality" Similarly, Paul Tillich emphasized "the courage to be" and Rollo May "the courage to create" (Xuefu, 2016)

(Sommers-Flanagan, 2018)

Part II:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 15

(American Psychiatric Association, 2013

)

Anxiety disorders come in many shapes and s but generalized anxiety disorder takes the c most problematic (Simona, 2019; Timulak, 2018

sizes, cake as 8).

Anxiety shows up differently across the lifespan resulting from various situations, relationships, and circumstances (the above is just an idea). Young children tend to absorb their parents' emotions, which will likely effect their behavior. This may reflect diagnostic criteria, but make sense within context. While a child may appear worried, it may be more of a result of their surroundings (e.g. parents divorcing, violence in the home, sexual abuse, etc.) On top of that, they may feel pressure to do well in school and a social pressure for acceptance. This is all normal anxiety, with the latter to have potential to be constructive towards change & growth.

ric iat 13) h c 0 y Ps on, 2 n i a t c eri ocia (Am Ass 19

PART III:

existential therapy & generalized anxiety disorder

(Sommers-Flanagan, 2018) 22

sources for anxiety could also include going against moral compass in existential therapy this would mean not being authentic

(Sto

ry, 2

007

)

EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY (EA)

EA includes fate & death, emptiness & meaninglessness, guilt & condemnation. These things are normal and universal — simply part of the human experience (Paul Tillich, 1952).

(Rubin, 2016)

Existential Art Therapy in Groups THE DREAM SCENARIO

Tackling anxiety, death, meaning, responsibility & freedom in groups with generalized anxiety disorder. Sharing space & making the most of our short (also shared) existence. STARTING WITH + The Beck Anxiety Inventory test + Existential Anxiety Questionnaire

wrestling with the meaning of anxiety — something Rollo May deemed "an essential part of the human condition" (SommersFlanagan, 2018, p. 92).

THEN

helping those in the group ditch neurotic anxiety processing for a healthier version — and leaving neurotic in the past while we're at it. Encouraging clients to embrace freedom and take responsibility (Sommers-Flanagan, 2018).

AND

working to be incredibly present & transparent.

AND

facilitating art making while meaning-making!

AND 28

Paired with existential psychotherapy, art is able to help break down barriers, heighten awareness, and bring repressed meanings to the surface and into consciousness. (Lantz, 1993; Moon, 1990)

Strengths

Weaknesses

RELEVANT

TOO "DEEP"

Individuals who have had near-death experiences may be open and ready for existential therapy, because it seems relevant and interesting. VERSATILE

Folks from a variety of backgrounds and cultures can relate to death, freedom, existential isolation, and meaningless (Yalom, 1980). RELATABLE

Existential art therapists may be able to identify and contain countertransference by means of art-making. This may disrupt unhealthy processing and convey deeper empathy from the therapist (Lantz, 1993). ADJUSTABLE

Clients can focus on learning what's most meaningful to them CLINICALLY PROVEN

Existential trauma therapy has been clinically proven to help combat veterans, chronic illness couples, migration crisis couples, hyper somatic families, victims of assault and sexual assault, and physically abused teens living in foster care (Lantz & Raiz, 2003)

Not everyone with generalized anxiety disorder may want to (or be ready to) contemplate death & make meanings. Existential therapy may go "too deep" for clients who would prefer to talk about their issues at more of a surface level. TOO AMBIGUOUS

Some clients may prefer a less ambiguous and tangible form of therapy, like CBT. NOT A QUICK FIX

Clients may want a "cure," something existential therapists do not do (Story, 2007). NOT SCIENTIFIC ENOUGH

Existential therapy is not reliant on scientific research because it is "inauthentic" (Sommers-Flanagan, J, 2018) and thus, insurance may not want to cover the cost. THERAPIST EMPHASIS

Since existential therapy is under the umbrella of humanistic therapy (Rubin, 2016), the therapist is a key player. The therapist having an "off day" could cause major disruption. 31

Cultural Implications for those with generalized anxiety disorder from different backgrounds

Demographic

Trauma*

Challenge

Folks experiencing homelessness

Poverty, hunger, lack of resources

Prisoners

Experiences that led to prison, life in prison

Existential therapy works to free clients from false narratives and rigid thinking.

Combat veterans

War, near-death experience

Refugees

War, famine, dislocated

Victims of assault & sexual assault

Assault/sexual assault

Abused teens living in foster care

Abuse, experience with court & process

Folks struggling with addiction

Whatever event(s) led to substance abuse

While this process provides more opportunity, it also adds more anxiety to the mix. Existential therapy helps clients take action by attacking what's making them anxious head-on. In doing this, they're able to "[create] a worthy existence." (Corey, 2005, p. 145)

The DSM-5 tends to pathologize children from more collective cultures, where it's normal for youngsters to be well-connected. Casual language of US folk tends to invalidate, minimize, and trivialize those who actually have generalized anxiety disorder. This can downplay those seriously struggling from anxiety and contribute to the problem. Of course, the DSM doesn't delve into environmental factors. Then there's the issue of reporting. Even if a cultural group is riddled with generalized anxiety disorder, they may not have the resources to research it. "Anxiety" & "panic" most likely translate differently among cultures. Some cultures prioritize relationships over individual success. Relational worries may look like a single mom worrying over how she will feed her kids & pay rent.

Inspiration from student-le seminar 4/27/2021

While the DSM-5 does not distinguish between "normal anxiety" and "neurotic anxiety," existential therapy emphasizes one form ("normal") as healthy & productive and the other ("neurotic") as toxic.

Resources American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Cautionary statement for forensic use of DSM-5. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Corey, G. (2005). Existential therapy. In Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (7th ed.) (pp. 128-161). Thompson Brooks/Cole. Lantz, J. (1993). Existential family therapy: Using the concepts of Viktor Frankl. Jason Aronson. Lantz, J., & Raiz, L. (2003). Play And Art In Existential Trauma Therapy With Children And Their Parents. Contemporary Family Therapy 25(2), Human Sciences Press, Inc. Moon, B. (1990). Existential art therapy. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas. Moon, B.L. (2009). Existential art therapy: The canvas mirror (3rd ed.) Charles C. Thomas. Rubin, J. S. (2016). Approaches to Art Therapy (3rd ed.) Routledge. Shumaker, D., Killian, K., Cole, C., Hruby, A., and Grimm, J. (2020). Existential Anxiety, Personality Type, and Therapy Preference in Young Adults. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 60(6) 849–864. DOI: 10.1177/0022167817702783 Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2018). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice (3rd ed). Wiley. Story, M. (2007). Existential Art Therapy, Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal, 20(2), 22-34, https://doi.org/10.1080/083 22473.2007.11434771

Takkal, A., Horrox, K., & Rubio-Garrido, A. (2018). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ART THERAPY, 23(3), 136–142. https://doi. org/10.1080/17454832.2017.1384031 Xuefu, W. (2016). Zhi Mian: Approaching Healing/Therapy Through Facing Reality A Chinese Approach to Existential Thinking and Practice. World Congress for Existential Therapy (2015). Presentation, London. Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. Basic Books.

"all art is existential" Shaun McNiff