Anxiety, anger, and hopelessness pluck us sharply and part us from the stable and situated part of our self which we require most in the moment but it too feels parted and we are dissolved in our worries. Ideally, we are to dissolve worries in us and not drown in them. Though those moments of being metaphorically on our knees appear like a climate, it couldn’t be farther from the truth just like we appear to be farther from our better selves in such moments. It’s a storm we have to weather, whether we feel like ducking or eyeing it.
The duo of suspicion and anxiety served a lifesaving purpose while we were evolving. Our minds had to constantly lookout for food and watch out for the predators. Our defence mechanisms have stayed more or less the same over the millennia but not the human condition. Humans have become the apex and exponentially giveth the latest (in advancement). The mind which in part has led the technological revolution has another part the wiring of which still remains traditional. This old wiring hampers our flow through time and allows anxiety or related issues to anchor our sailing ships unpredictably every now and then.
Modern science moved beyond biology into psychiatry very late. For reference, serious interest in biology and genetics started in the 19th century only but the same mind began to look into itself even later than that. Even to this date, the study of mental health has been stymied by the separation of psychiatry and neuroscience in the sense that the mental issues in the former become disorders in the latter. This adversely shrinks the foundational basis needed for a good understanding of the errors of our minds. This is more pronounced in the Anglo-Saxon countries which includes the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For example, in Germany the psychiatry students are taught neuroscience and vice versa which makes the diagnosis better and effective. Such an approach is better suited for our advancing understanding of mental issues. Adding to this is the new found component of metabolic health which, now under wide study and research, also happens to affect our moods and emotions.
Eventually modern science will marry the individual streams of psychiatry, neuroscience, and gut health into a trifecta which would enable holistic care for the issues of our mind, which as now science is increasingly finding out are not limited to our emotions or genes in but also to the neurobiology and metabolic health. Our environments, whether personal or natural, play a key role. For example, in three separate announcements in February 2024, different groups announced the discovery of biomarkers that could predict the risks of dementia, autism and psychosis. More such innovations, with added thrust from AI, are underway.
Till such time, one may find refuge in the philosophy and understanding of human nature. There is a plethora of texts since the time immemorial which offer timeless wisdom; it held good then, it holds solid even now.
Philosophy helps if it is practical and this shows in the school of stoicism and concept of living with dharma as covered in the previous article. The problems we face today are as many as the comforts we cocoon into. But anger, anxiety, and stress are the hallmarks of today’s world more than ever. This explains the rise of mindfulness, retreats, and nature baths as the excursions we go into often. Ironically, we were once more in tune with those excursions before we tread into the lifestyle reflected by our glass houses and concrete blocks. This only shows that despite everything, the solutions to most of our mental issues are doable, convenient, and approachable if we have the will and willingness.
If one were to skim through the advice offered for managing emotional stress from the likes of modern organisations like the American Psychiatric Association (APA) or the old age wisdom of stoicism and the sanatana dharma, one finds that nothing much has changed when it comes to slaying our inner demons.
Positive reinforcements such as relaxation techniques including deep breathing, visual imagery, tai chi or yoga etc are offered with equal zeal by the modern, mediaeval and the ancient wisdom. As I shared in the last article, the ancient dictates of santana dharma foremost talks about indriya nigraha (sense control) and control of the mind with the help of yoga as the foundational tool for living according to one’s dharma and requirements of the life which can be hard sometimes.
Stoic Epictetus says, Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it’s justified, can quickly become irrational. So, use cold hard logic on yourself.”
There is an important aspect one has to understand and apply which is the idea of dichotomy of control given by the stoic philosophy. We can control some things while others stay beyond our comprehension and control. Yet we tend to delve more in the uncontrollable even though those are the exact moments which come as an opportunity to get stronger and better or accept the law of karma. In both situations, equanimity is essential. The moments of hardships are like the theatre where our life’s play requires us to take a seat, and see objectively with a sense of detachment, to witness the unfolding of life which cannot be understood or make sense of every time but one must find the courage to be grateful. Facing situations do give stress and tension, but they can be tamed with the arsenal of right tools and willingness to keep walking. Remember: pain, uncertainty, and constant work are the fabric of life; feeling good or bad are the outcomes of our work and approach.
Did you know?
Our amygdala is a threat detector which is one of the earliest primitive mechanisms of our brains and because of this we are primed to seek out sounds and visuals which signal danger and this is an autonomic thing. However, its counter is relaxation and gratitude practice which is voluntary and hence harder. That’s why we tend to live with the same painful thing many times but harder to laugh at the same joke repeatedly. Hurt lingers longer naturally while smiles need our will to be stronger. (Build gratitude muscles daily!)
An anecdote on acceptance and wisdom from ancient Indian folklore:
An old lady, Gautami, lived with his son as her only life support. One day, she found her son dead, killed by a snake bite. Her neighbour Arjun Naka, a hunter by profession, came to the grieving mother and was shocked to see Gautami’s son bitten by a snake. He acted fast out of dismay and caught the snake. He showed it to Gautami, seeking her permission to kill the snake. To his further shock and surprise, Gautami requested him to set the snake free. Her view was that no one can avert what is destined and her son won't come back, if the snake is killed. The snake spoke that he is not to be held responsible for the boy's death because he did not bite him of his own volition. Rather, his action was under the influence of the Lord of death. The snake said that he is nothing more than an instrument in the hands of death, so if anyone is responsible, it is death. Then the Lord of death appeared and pleaded not guilty because he presented the same logic as that of snake’s to prove his innocence by saying that death follows the instructions of the powerful Lord Kala (time). Listening to this, Lord Kala came to the sport and he too pleaded his helplessness because the cause of death is his own karma that had led to his destruction, and he said that being the God of time, he could not save Gautami's son from the consequences of his own actions.
This story is not shared to instil fateful acceptance of everything in life because nihilism is equally bad as it makes us do nothing. It’s just a reminder of what a mind can achieve in the moments of despair. Such values of nonviolence and compassion never go waste if karma is something one believes in and if one doesn’t still one never regrets having shown these virtues. The opposite is particularly painful and regrettable in the longer run.
One can make every day worthwhile by remembering that in a day any number of things could go wrong and there is only our response that guards us against those events. It’s helpful to imagine the worst-case scenarios and prepare upfront for emotional responses you would offer. Our internalisation is totally our doing. We have full power there with our intellect. Don’t imagine power to be something which can control the vastness of the outside world. As scriptures say, our bodies are a microcosm of the macrocosm, so it’s even more powerful to conquer what only lies visible to us. Every day is a task for internal strength and this is inevitable till we live. Better nail it or get pinned down.