The Pandemia has mirrored to us a very painful and striking reality. It has mirrored a debilitating illness and the image of an economic crisis that has occurred in our society due to severe viral infection/illness, lockdown, fear, lack of energy or tiredness, isolation and depression.
Byung-Chul Han a South Korean-Born professor of Philosophy and Cultural studies at the University of Arts in Berlin, writes about the psychological disorders of “Depression and Burn Out Syndrome” represents a deep crisis of human freedom. The concept of freedom has turned into a compulsion of achievement, instead of giving us satisfaction it translates into a persistent need to achieve more and more and has led us into self-exploitation and burnout.“We are optimizing ourselves unto death”.
What is uncanny he says; “Is that those who catch Covid-19 may suffer from an illness that presents with extreme tiredness and fatigue, however healthy individuals are also suffering from tiredness, fatigue, isolation and depression, and many of them are experiencing a “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” expressing that “their batteries no longer charge” even when they are not infected.
In his book “Pandemic ! Covid-19 shakes the world, Slavoj Zizek a Lacanian
Psychoanalyst also a professor of Philosophy at the University of Berlin, studies the effects of the “Burnout Society” in Third World Countries and stresses that the exploitation at the the hands of others is as important as self- exploitation or even more important.
Slavoj Zizek and Byung-Chul Han both explain that Social Media is producing an
“Ego Culture” that erodes both community and social interaction. We are always on display and this constant “being- on- display” of the ego, is making us tired. During the Pandemia we have developed our Psychotherapy offices at home with telemedicine and it is the solitude that begets us and begets our patients. We are tired because we are not getting distracted by social contact.
We are seeing our patients and colleagues through the reflection of Zoom mirroring meetings and we constantly look at ourselves in the mirrors of our zoom meetings,increasing our narcissism. This looking at ourselves in the reflection of the Zoom has led to an increase in cosmetic surgery procedures !!
There is even a new diagnosis “Zoom dysmorphia” defined by an increased perception in our observed physical flaws during our zoom meetings that leads to despair. We can’t look at each other in the eyes, so that the concept of the gaze in Winnicott’s terms is gone. The absence of the “others gaze” interferes with our emotional validation, development and stability.
Our Rituals are disrupted and there is evidence of a social fault line. We can’t
attend concerts, funerals or graduations. We are more and more interested in survival than in making contact with each other.
“Every age has its signature afflictions, Byung-Chul Han says. “The Bacterial age“ existed and it ended with the discovery of antibiotics, The Viral Age with illnesses like Influenza and Covid now have vaccines.
The twenty first century is defined by Psychoneurological Illnesses like Depression, ADHD, Personality Disorders and Burned Out Syndrome”. Medication, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis are the current forms of treatment and intervention.
In our consulting rooms we are hoping to restore our therapeutic mirrors into our practice. “The concept of mirroring for both Winnicott and Lacan is crucial to emotional stability” It plays a critical role in the person’s notion of self and others.
References:
Slavoj Zizek “Pandemic” Covid-19 Shakes the world OR Books first printing 2020 OR Books
Slavoj Zizek “Pandemic 2” first printing 2021 OR Books.
Byung-Chul Han “Psychopolitics” first printing 2014 OR Books
Byung-Chul Han “Capitalism and the death drive” first printing 2021 Polity Press.
Byung-Chul Han “The Palliative Society” first printing 2021 Polity Press.
