Question
The four existential crises—freedom, isolation, death, and meaninglessness
Existential Models
The four existential crises—freedom, isolation, death, and
meaninglessness—are ultimate concerns that form the bedrock of existential
models. They provide a unique lens through which we can understand and address
the challenges faced by individuals grappling with substance use disorders.
Here are some ideas to get you started in this discussion.
Choose one of the following discussion prompts and respond to it in your
initial post. You need not respond to more than one.
·
Existential models are
just one lens through which to view addiction. How might integrating
existential perspectives with other counseling models enhance our holistic
understanding of substance use disorders?
·
How does the exploration
of freedom, isolation, death, and meaninglessness in the context of addiction
resonate with your own understanding or experiences? Are there aspects that you
find particularly thought-provoking or challenging?
·
How would you evaluate
existential crisis in U.S. society as a contributing factor to the high rates
of substance abuse disorders in the United States?
·
Share what about the
Week 6 reading stood out for you or offered information you can use immediately
at school, home, or work.
Response Guidelines
Read the posts of other learners and respond to at least two. As you respond to other learners, share your professional experiences and feedback regarding their posts, or seek clarification. How have your experiences resonated with their ideas?
Learner 1:
How would you evaluate existential crisis in U.S. society as a contributing factor to the high rates of substance abuse disorders in the United States?
During the COVID pandemic shut down in 2020, we saw a significant
increase in substance use across the United States. Applying the existential model
to this particular case would be appropriate in terms of it being a crisis.
Individuals potentially faced death by being sick or had loved ones around them
that passed away. Isolation increased as workplaces closed and employees moved
to remote over computer in their own homes. A lot of the freedom that we took
for granted was taken away when we were no longer able to move about or enjoy
leisure activities as we wanted. All of these factors plus more time on our
hands alone had a lot of people contemplating the meaning of their lives
leading to increased anxiety and depression.
Learner 2:
I love existentialism. I was raised by a hyper religious mom who was
raised Catholic and then sent me to these nondenominational MEGA church camps
and it was like a whole thing. I also saw The Matrix when I was like 9 and it
just kind of broke my brain and I have spent my whole life in kind of this
existential consideration of the universe most days. I've also just experienced
doing and working with people who have experimented with various substances
over the years and I often come back to the idea of religion and the concept of
a deity. Even AA discusses a "higher power" and I always worried that
that would be a turnoff for people who had a bad experience with the church.
Religious Trauma is real and I do think that there is a way to talk to people
with SUD's about how vast and complex the world is without mentioning God. But
God is pretty existential. Or the idea of a creator of the entire thing-
universe, planets, time, taxes, voting, grade school, our inner child, our
addictions, and our pain… that's all A LOT. I think some people use to quiet
the questions of their mind. I think some people use because they haven't
sought answers to some of those complex questions and they are, as our book
said, searching for some meaning or purpose within their lives.
A yoga teach I knew always started class with, "Close your eyes and
connect with the God of your highest understanding. However you conceptualize a
god, do it, then thank them for this opportunity to breath."
I don't know if we will meet the person we imagine to invite us into an
afterlife or if we will get unplugged when we stop breathing, but I try to
think about all the fun I get to have until that happens and remind myself if I
want to stay "plugged in" I might as well live in a way that will
make me proud when I see my life highlights and the end of it all.
I will say that I know this from my personal and professional life; this
take on the hugeness of the world is a mindset that can come off as REALLY
dismissive or minimizing of people's very real problems of this world. It also
is not super relatable to a lot of people. So tread with caution.
-Robert Stearns
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