If “schizophrenia” and “bipolar disorder” and such are not real “biologically based brain disorders” or “biochemical imbalances” then what does account for the difficult experiences and problems that get people these sorts of labels? One way of explaining them is as imbalances, though not necessarily “biochemically based” imbalances. (That isn’t to say biochemistry isn’t involved, since as living beings our bodies and brains function through biochemistry.) Instead, the idea is that in responding to life events, some of which may be difficult or overwhelming, our mind can go to extremes of one kind or another, and lose its balance. It can then be difficult, though not impossible, to get back to balance. Obviously traumatic experience is the most obvious example of this. To get through a traumatic situation, people go to extremes of fight, flight, freeze, and/or submit, in order to survive. The very thing we do to survive may also threaten our wellbeing, so later we might go to an opposite extreme to protect ourselves from the first extreme. Pretty soon, we may feel crazy, and fear that we might be crazy drives us, and often the people around us, to even more extremes. Vicious circles are created. “Flipping” from one extreme to another is pretty obvious in “bipolar disorder” as people go from very excited to very depressed and lethargic, etc. It isn’t so obvious in “schizophrenia” as the people with these labels often manifest two extremes at once, or they identify as one extreme while fearing persecution by another extreme that manifests as a “voice,” or some other combination. And things get more confused when mental health professionals label extreme versions of normal mental states as pathological, rather than understandable. I believe the most humanistic way of looking at “mad” mental states is to see them as extreme versions of everyday mental states. When people look at them that way, they can see that they are not so different from other people, and that they do have the option of moderating their extreme states, of finding a middle ground, to come back to the world shared by others. Of course, it isn’t always as simple as a need to move toward “balance.” Living creatures are not meant to be perfectly balanced; instead, as complexity scientists tell us, life happens “far from equilibrium,” or as a “balance between balance and imbalance.” We are moving systems, and total balance would mean perfect stillness, not a property associated with life! This means that people’s extreme states may also at times have something to contribute, and not just be a problem. So sometimes it is normality that is the problem, and being “more extreme” is actually wise or helpful in a given situation. I have spent some time mapping out some of the issues people go out of balance around, and identifying what a middle ground might be. I have put many of these issues into a PowerPoint display, which is available here. I have found it helpful with people to just identify these issues (which are issues we all face) and help people see where they have been going to one extreme or the other, and to help them see they also have the option of trying out the middle ground. Because often when people are “freaked out” they and others around them can’t identify that option. I think people are healthiest when they see themselves as having options, from the extremes to the middle, and they can pick what best seems to fit a situation. I hope the ideas I am presenting here will help some of you see more options, for yourselves and for those you help. There’s a lot more I could say about all this, so much so that I may write a book around this someday.

1. Mindfulness:
Giving in to, or Fight or flight:
appeasing, the being aware of
voices: the voices but not arguing with
feeling compelled voices or
Submitting to running from
to believe or act
voice them, such as
any particular
commands, through
way because of
passively distraction
them.
believing
statements by
voices, etc.

2. Notice dangers
Picture world Picture world
that are
as good and as dangerous,
prominent but
positive,
also possible so that one
to comfort self areas of safety. won’t be
and feel overwhelmed
Try to picture
relaxed. by any risks
world accurately
in regards to that weren’t
safety versus anticipated
danger.

3. The trauma or
Block out the The trauma or
stress is
trauma or stress
accepted as part
distress… intrudes into
of the story:
it just doesn’t everything:
but the story is
exist…numb. it seems to be
still ongoing and
is free to move in happening right
positive now and is
directions overwhelming

4. I can check in
I think or feel My thoughts
with myself and
it: and feelings
with others, and
– therefore it is make a are unreliable:
true, even if conclusion and others
everyone else based on what I offer so many
says it isn’t. notice: different
If I find later there opinions –
is a problem with there is no way
my decision, I will to decide what
change my mind. is true.

5. I can work
Try Too Hard: Not Try:
toward things
If something is and see what Working
worthwhile, I happens; towards things
must keep leads to
If the stress is too
working disaster and
much, I can let
towards it no impossible
go, at least for
matter how stress, so it’s
awhile, then I can
much I suffer. better to give
resume where I
left off. up before I
start.

6. I negotiate my
I define myself I am mentally
identity with
completely ill or
others. My
independently incompetent, I
identity
of others. If I cannot define
emerges out of
say I am myself.
the mix of what I
captain of a Others tell me
propose and
spaceship, who and how I
what I do, and
then I am. am.
how others see
what I propose
and what I do.

7. I negotiate my
I define myself I am
identity with
completely completely
others:
independently vulnerable to
of others: In general I care how others
how others see see and
I am
me but I am not a define me:
invulnerable.
captive of the
perspective of Often I can’t
others. I decide stand to be
what to make of looked at
how they see me. because of
what might
happen to me.

8. Cognitive
Consumer: I Mental Health
approach: let’s
think or feel it, system: This
share some
therefore it is person is
perspectives on
correct. wrong and
where the
distress here mentally ill,
may be coming therefore we
from & how to must take
resolve it. Each control away
of us may be from her and
making some decide for her.
mistakes ……

9. Some mix of
Totally Totally
autonomy and a
focused on focused on
sense of
autonomy: belonging:
belonging:
self defining, has no self
sometimes self
others have no definition,
asserting, other
input or completely
times relaxes and
connection. defined by
lets others define
I am what I say self. Comfortable others.
I am. intimacy with
coexisting sense
of independence.

10. Medication
I don’t need Based on
decisions
any your
should be
medication: I diagnosis,
thoughtful, &
dumped it all you need to
should consider
out this stay on
possible
morning. medication
benefits, risks,
& the possibility the rest of
for reducing your life,
need for despite the
medication over side effects &
time by learning risk of early
new beliefs & death.
behaviors.

11. I hold beliefs
My beliefs are I question all
tentatively.
100% true and beliefs, even
I refuse to I’m open to what most
question them questioning my people take
at all. beliefs, but I do for granted.
so gently to avoid
I always “know” It’s hard for me
overwhelming my
what is true. to “know” or
ability to stay
organized. focus on
anything,
because I am
so uncertain.

12. I am vast, I
Dysfunctional Of course I
contain
Thought can’t control
contradictions
Control this, it’s not
(as Walt Whitman
Strategies: me doing it:
said). I don’t
I must control need to control these thoughts,
everything that everything in my images, &
happens in my mind, it’s only my impulses are
mind. actions that I coming from
need to focus on. the CIA or…..

13. Valuing
Overly valuing Fearing and
spontaneity but
spontaneity: resisting
also sifting
Whatever spontaneity:
through it: my
thoughts or My thoughts
spontaneous
impulses come and impulses
thoughts and
into me are true get me into
impulses are part
and correct trouble, I am
of me, but only
some of them fit “ill” and must
each situation strive to be
normal at all
costs

14. I can walk the
Too much Too little
edge between
creativity: I creativity: To
order and
can see avoid getting
chaos, I can
innumerable caught up in
consider a few
ways of chaos, I must
possible
interpreting the choose one
meanings and
simplest fixed
see how they fit
statement….. interpretation
the context, and if
necessary and stick with it
explore even no matter what.
further…..

15. I can hold on to,
Too much Too little
or let go of, my
creativity: I try creativity: In
creativity as
to win my way attempting to
appropriate, I
back to social avoid being
can find
acceptability by judged for
something of
convincing being bizarre, I
value in my
others of the end up being
uniqueness to
value of my too flat,
share with others,
bizarre “negative
while also letting
experiences symptoms.”
go of it when it
and
doesn’t work.
interpretations

16. I see myself as
I believe I don’t see
fundamentally
something is any problems
OK, but am
fundamentally with myself or
open to learning
wrong with my views:
about where I
me: this leads This means my
might be wrong:
to negative mistakes don’t
I usually catch
emotions and get corrected,
mistakes before
over-reactions instead they
they get huge.
in an attempt to get
correct things, compounded &
which often escalate till I’m
compounds in serious
problems. trouble.

17. Accept things
Comfort self Seek peace by
as belonging
by assuming a allowing
somewhere, but
very narrow everything in:
wrestle to put
identity: I am I won’t
them into
only what is perpetuate
perspective;
good and under internal conflict
everything I
control, that by trying to
experience is part
other nasty stuff reject any
of me, but I
is not me. thoughts,
continually sort
out what is most feelings or
helpful in a given impulses as
moment inappropriate

18. Coexistence of
No rationality Too many
some rational
or comparisons or
thinking with
comparisons: too much
irrational
A thought, spontaneity: rationality:
perception, or No ability to
Can compare
experience is decide, relax, or
things rationally
just taken as enjoy, because
but also has
perfect in itself, endless
enough of the
without comparisons,
spark of
comparisons or endless second
imbalance to cut
rational guessing, etc.
off comparison &
criticism.
move forward.

19. Some ability to
Experiential Emotional
practice
Avoidance: reasoning or
mindfulness;
Attempts are fusion:
Willingness to
made to not Emotions and
experience
have thoughts, other mental
whatever is in
emotions, content is just
one’s mind, but
impulses, taken as true in
also able to
perceptions etc. itself, and
disengage from it
which are allowed to
and see other
evaluated as determine the
perspectives.
“bad.” person’s
direction, without
rational criticism.

20. All things in
I must go to an I must always
moderation,
extreme to be be moderate:
including
safe and/or Being extreme in
moderation: It is
correct: Life is any way is a sign
normal to be
extreme and of sickness, I
extreme at times,
demanding, must always be
though I can also
and I must be in the middle,
be comfortable in
extreme in always be
the middle; I have
response. normal.
options.

21. Spontaneity
Totally Overwhelmed
mixed with
Spontaneous: by self-
modest editing
I think or do or self-criticism: criticism:
whatever I see flaws in
I value my
occurs to me, everything I
spontaneity but I
with no pause come up with,
can also step
for self- nothing is good
back from it and
criticism. I enough. I stuff
can often sort out
jump to any feeling that
the useful from
conclusions. might lead
the not.
toward a
conclusion.

22. Willing to
Inability to Complete
question myself
calm self, to certainty and
but also able to
stop worrying being
decide when I
or decide on a unperturbed no
have questioned
path: matter what:
or fretted
Nothing is good enough: I am completely
enough, I must happy with my
After what seems
continue to fret thoughts and
like enough
endlessly. interpretations
worrying or
fretting, I decide even when they
what to do and are out of touch.
just do my best.

23. Detached from
Very attached Very detached,
the irrelevant,
to outcome, not attempting
Attached to
attempting to to control, not
living out core
control, caring caring to the
values:
to the point of point of self
being I do my best to neglect:
overwhelmed: act on my values
and once I’ve I deal with
I can’t let go potential
done my best, I
even if it’s frustration by not
let go of the rest.
unnecessary trying.
and/or it’s killing
me.

24. A balance
Too many Too few
between focus
associations: associations:
and ability to
I see so many make novel I see only one or
possible associations: two fairly dull
associations, so ways of looking
I can focus in at things.
many
conventional Excessive focus,
meanings, that
ways, but also things have
nothing makes
break free at meaning but it is
any particular
times to see new narrow and
kind of sense.
forms of sterile.
meaning.

25. Depersonalized I have my
feelings and Fused with
- experience body reactions
oneself as body reactions,
but I am also and feelings:
totally separate
from body and more than that: I can’t do or think
feelings: anything
independently or
in opposition to
them.

26. Overprotection Open to hearing
criticism but Collapse under
from criticism: criticism:
makes own
No criticism is decisions about Cannot sustain
accepted, even what to make of own point of
that which it: view, gives too
could be very much weight to
useful. Overly Can often see
criticism as partly critical views.
defensive.
true, partly not,
and use it
constructively.

27. Medium
Low arousal: High arousal:
arousal:
Not thinking Black and white
Making
about it, thinking,
distinctions and
dull, applying values, extreme
but also seeing reactions,
passive,
commonalities
not making and shades of highly polarized
distinctions or grey. Can make
seeing an effort and then
differences. let go.

28. “…accept the
Thinking that Letting go of
things I cannot
perpetuates too much:
change...courage
stress:
to change the Person does not
Person is things I can…” face or address
unwilling to see problems or
Person can do
any problem as even bother to
rational problem
too difficult to think logically
solving but also
solve, no letting about them.
“let go” of
go of problems
problems when
even as person
they are hopeless
becomes
or overwhelming
overwhelmed.

29. I can think
Fixed Dissociation to
through whether
associations protect from
associations
based on trauma
with the trauma
trauma: associations:
are relevant or
For example, irrelevant in a I avoid traumatic
my abuser wore given situation. over-reactions
a green coat, by under-
Balance between
now all green reacting, but
associate and
coats mean then I fail to
dissociate.
severe threat protect myself
from future
threats….

30. Conscious mind
Conscious Conscious
comfortably
mind seen as mind feels
shares power
one’s complete demoralized
with that which
identity and all and powerless.
is less
powerful even
conscious at any
though it is just
a fragment of given time.
the whole.

31. Open to input
Acts only on Acts on
from all feelings
consciously whatever
but integrates
approved feelings emerge
the feelings into
feelings and in the moment:
an overall sense
avoids, blocks
of values before Fuses with and
out, or
acting:
dissociates acts on feelings
others: Influenced by that are not
feelings but not subject to
Unstable or
overwhelmed by conscious
excessively
them. evaluation.
narrow identity.

32. There is a
There is no I am and will
problem, but it
problem: continue to be
doesn’t define
If anyone thinks me, and it’s the problem,
I have a potentially I’m mentally ill:
problem, that is temporary: I hope someone
a problem with I will pay attention, gives me a pill to
them. learn about it, get change me into
help, and try something not
different things, quite so bad.
and the problem
can likely be
resolved.

33. Relaxed
Numbing: Hyperarousal:
awareness:
None of this Every detail is
There are real
matters to me, critically
issues here for
I’m indifferent. me, but I can deal important, I must
with them in a be totally on
relaxed and guard.
coherent way.

34. I have some
I am weak, I fight others,
power and stick
others are bad they see me as
up for myself
and dangerous and
successfully:
dangerous: bad:
Because I assert
I need to watch I’m defending
myself, others
out for them, myself in the
aren’t so bad to
but there isn’t me and they don’t only way I know
much I can do. see me as bad how.
either.

35. Self affirmation
Excessive Excessive
combined with
aggression defending of
reasonable
toward self: oneself:
openness to self
I see myself as criticism: I see all critiques
deeply flawed, of myself as
Critical emotions
worthless, or voices or invalid, and so I
unsafe, guilty, thoughts are often block the
shameful, etc. partly wrong yet emotion or voice,
All my negative partly right: after or see it as
emotions and all I am simply totally external
voices are human. and evil.
correct.

36. I do what I can,
I surrender to a I never
then I make wise
higher power, surrender to a
choices about
or voice, even higher power,
when and how to
when it or let go in any
surrender or let
appears to be
go of the rest: way:
persecutory or
corrupt: I turn over power I take
only to what is responsibility for
Since I have no
real power, I
good or once I everything, even
have done what I the impossible. I
might as well
can to create what refuse to ever
surrender now
is good. lower my
and get it over
with. expectations.

37. It’s normal to be
Fear of going “Sealing over,”
a little crazy, but
mad: don’t even
I can catch
Hypervigilant for things before think about
signs of they get out of possible
madness, hand: madness:
attempts to
Not stressed by If I don’t think
control thoughts
minor anomalies, about madness
and emotions,
reacts strongly
but does then I won’t be
effectively bothered by it.
to minor
challenge
anomalies.
dysfunctional
reactions.

38. Mix of literal and
Excessively Excessively
metaphorical
metaphorical literal thinking:
thinking:
thinking:
I can both see I fail to see
Everything is connections and
distinctions, and
connected, and
see similarities similarities, for
everything is
that go beyond me the world is
everything else;
the distinctions. divided into
I’m dreaming
while awake. “Particle and Wave” categories that
have nothing to
“Wave”
do with each
other.
“Particle”

39. I let the memory
Remember so Refuse to let
occur, but I have
vividly it seems the memory
ways of reducing
to be intrude:
its intensity:
happening
right now: I can note that I stop the
reduced intensity memory from
The memory is
and remind myself retraumatizing
so vivid I get
it is just a memory me right now,
retraumatized
just by having it,
now. but I also fail to
and I still don’t integrate it so I
put it in context. will run into
problems with it
later.

40. Individuated:
Cutoff: Enmeshment:
I am connected to,
I’m not I am totally
but I am not
connected at all defined by, and
defined
to my ….. I’m drowning in,
exclusively by,
Family my …. my ….
Family Family
Feelings
Feelings Feelings
Thoughts or Thoughts or Thoughts or
voices voices voices
Etc. Etc
Etc.

41. Good mix of
Too intentional, Too
spontaneity with
too focused on spontaneous:
self control:
control:
I can focus on My conscious
I try to control mind is too
important
my thoughts and
intentions and self passive,
everything that
control, but I can associations are
goes on inside
also let go in made in a
me, I can’t even
let go in order to
various ways, to dreamlike way,
laugh, sleep, etc. there is no order.
sleep.

42. Willing to have
Over-valued Overly
the experience
experience: concerned with
but put it in
I see my perspective: controlling the
experience as experience:
I don’t need to
completely true
stop myself from I believe having
and significant.
having the the experience
experience, but I can destroy me
can put it into so I focus on
perspective & not trying to get rid
make too much of of it.
it.

43. I own my
I am my These thoughts
thoughts and
thoughts or or experiences
experiences,
experiences: are coming
though they
I must control don’t define me: from
my thoughts and somewhere
It’s what I choose outside of me:
experiences so
to do with my
that none of
thoughts and I’m not
them are evil or
crazy.
experiences that responsible, I’m
makes me who I the victim of
am. others.

44. I am both self-
I am I am completely
determining and
completely vulnerable:
vulnerable:
self-
determining: I choose my I can’t change
initiatives and anything, I have
I withdraw from
responses, but I no responsibility.
anything that I
am also I’m a victim.
cannot control.
vulnerable to
Only that which I
others and to how
decide is part of
what I initiate is
me.
received, both
internally and
externally.

45. Be open minded
Distrust any Distrust any
about safety and
feeling of fear or feeling
danger:
safety: of threat:
I accept the reality
Remember Remember how I
of uncertainty, I
times in the past
question both gave in to false
when safety
fears and feelings alarms in the
proved to be an
of safety, I make past. Suppress
illusion. Be on
guard!
as wise decisions the fear, full
as I can and then speed ahead!
correct course
when I detect a
mistake.

46. I prefer to
I desperately I don’t need
connect with
need you: you at all:
you, but I make
Without you I do, or find Nothing you say,
am nothing. others, if you think, or feel
aren’t there: means anything
You mean to me. I am just
something to me so independent!
but I am
something without
you as well.

47. I see everything
I put everything I see the world
as different in
into airtight without any
some sense yet
categories or categories at
also the same in
compartments: all:
some sense:
Everything is
I’m willing to I have no way to
completely
explore different organize my
separate and
senses, different perceptions or
has nothing to
do with anything
ways of make any sense
organizing out of them.
else. It’s very
information or not.
orderly.

48. Balance between
Positive Negative
under and over-
Symptoms: Symptoms:
reacting:
Mind is over- Mind protects
If I’m off balance
reactive in itself by under-
one way or the
response to
other, I quickly reacting to stress
stress and lack
self correct. I try or lack of control,
of control, jumps
but not too hard. by not trying etc.
to conclusions,
etc.

49. I have something
I am dominant: I am
to say, but I also
I don’t trust accept input submissive:
others or what from others: I can’t trust
they have to myself, and
I listen to different
say. I decide
viewpoints, then I others have all
what will
do some mix of the power; I will
happen, when,
going along with only get hurt if I
and how,
without input
others and oppose them.
deciding my own
from others.
path, depending
on the situation.

50. I am creatively
I am always I am always
maladjusted:
focused on maladjusted:
being adjusted I can roll with
to things as things as they are I totally resist
they are. when that makes things as they
sense, but I can are, even when
I can’t change
also pick a good fighting against
things so I just
time to make a them leads to my
accept them as
they are, even
stand and work for self destruction
meaningful and no real
when they are
change. change in what I
rotten.
don’t like.

51. Healthy dialogue
Creativity Spirituality
between
without without
spirituality and
Spirituality: Creativity:
creativity:
Metaphor is Seeing no
I can come up
taken as real,
with metaphors, metaphor for
rather than as
images and words experience, no
pointing at
for things, but also way to express it
something else
beyond it.
recognize that or put it into
reality goes words or images,
beyond those it is
containers. overwhelming.

52. What’s going on
What is going What’s going
in my mind
on in my mind on in my mind
partly represents
is what is real. has nothing to
reality and partly
I don’t need to doesn’t: do with reality:
look outside of
I engage in an The contents of
my mind or
ongoing my mind are all
question it in
meaningful crazy, and I am
any way, if my
mind says it’s
interaction where I helpless to
test out ideas and engage with the
real, it’s the
clarify what’s in world in any
literal truth.
my mind. meaningful way.

53. Focus on living a
Excess focus Excess focus
good life:
on conflict: on
I don’t waste appeasement:
I am always
energy opposing
ready to do It’s better to give
the voices just for
battle with the
the sake of in to the voices,
voices, my goal
conflict, but if they even when they
is to drive them
push for are
out of existence.
something that will unreasonable,
harm my life, I will rather than risk
stand firm against upsetting them.
it.

54. I see a spectrum
Fight or flight: Freeze or
of choices:
I take extreme submit:
I can pick
action to avoid I take no action to
whatever seems
or defend avoid, or
like the most
against what completely give in
appropriate
threatens me. to, that which
behavior,
including options threatens me.
in the middle This protects me
ground between from damage that
fight/submit and could be caused
flight/freeze. by attempts to
fight or flee.

55. Wise choices
Overly risky Excess risk
about what kinds
behavior: avoidance, or
of risks to take:
I avoid noticing too many
I am thoughtful “safety
risks that are
regarding which behaviors”:
present, so I can
risks are best
feel free to move I avoid danger
avoided and
ahead in my life even when risks
which risks it
no matter what. are low compared
makes sense to
take so I can to potential
move forward. benefits, and this
stops me from
moving forward in
my life.

56. Can worry to a
Avoid worry Overly values
realistic degree,
and see it as a worry:
then drop it:
threat:
I need to worry Worry is
Worry is necessary to
enough to come
dangerous to protect me from
up with a
me. I need to having bad things
reasonable plan,
distract myself happen to me.
then I can just
so I don’t worry,
proceed with the
I can’t control
plan and see how
my worry if it
things work out.
starts.

57. I can put the
Hate abuser Felt need to
abuser into
and reminders remember the
perspective
of abuser: abuser & the
rather than see
I want to myself through abuser’s
eliminate even a his/her perspective in
trace of the perspective: order to defend
memory of the against it:
I’m not scared of
abuser from my In order to be
reminders of the
life, so I don’t safe, I must
abuser because
have to feel remember the
they are no longer
victimized abuser & his
a big deal to me.
anymore. perspective.

58. I can face
I need to calm I need to face
external threats
and soothe the demands of
while also
myself no the external
managing to
matter what: threat no matter
avoid over-
If I fall apart stressing myself: what effect that
inside, I will be has on my
I focus on doing internal world:
completely
what I can & then
useless, so I I can’t take time
avoid over-
need to lie to to attempt any
stressing by
myself about self soothing.
letting the rest go.
external threats
if necessary to
calm myself.

59. I get to know
I don’t want to I am willing to
myself gradually:
understand face anything
myself or my I make sure I have about myself,
past resources to fall even that which
experience: back on so that I I’m not ready to
can handle handle:
Please distract
difficult
me from myself, I don’t have any
experiences as it
or numb me out, sense of
comes time to
no matter what preparedness or
face them.
the cost! pacing, so I
overwhelm
myself.

60. I honor my
Reacting to my I see a need to
uniqueness but
unique self, hide my
also explore
and my unique weirdness from
what I have in
traumas and others:
common with
unusual
others: This means that
experiences, I
seem weird to I can follow social instead of trying
others: norms when that to express myself
makes sense, but with others, I am
But I just act on more focused on
I also get around
what I feel, even hiding myself,
to expressing
if the social which makes me
what is different
consequences weird.
about me.
are not good.

61. I have lots of
I’m spiritually I’m evil and
faults but that’s
fine, perfect doomed:
understandable:
just as I am:
I move toward I’m in hell
I don’t need to already,
what I see as
do a thing to persecuted
good as best I
make anything endlessly, full of
can, changing
better, I’m evil, there is no
course as I learn
invulnerable, way out.
more, and this
perfect, beyond
process of doing
criticism.
what I can is
perfectly
acceptable.

62. Improved
Identify with Identify with the
perspective
the status quo new viewpoint
evolves out of the
before the tension between developed in
trauma: previous response to the
Everything viewpoints and trauma:
would be OK if I those resulting
Everything will be
could just go from the trauma:
better if the new
back to that. I value all my beliefs and
experience though perspectives just
I need to wrestle to win completely
find the right and blow the old
perspective on it. patterns away.

63. Improved
Identify with Identify with the
perspective
the status quo psychosis:
evolves out of
before the
the tension Everything will be
psychosis:
between better if the new
Everything previous beliefs and
would be OK if I viewpoints and perspectives just
could just go the psychosis: win completely
back to that. and blow the old
I value all my
experience patterns away.
though I need to
wrestle to find the
right perspective
on it.

64. My identity is
I am what I am I am not what I
always
identified as: have been
emerging:
Whatever I am identified as:
I am not just what
currently doing Whatever I am
I have already
and however I currently doing or
done or how I
am seen, that is being seen as,
have already
who I am. has no
been seen, rather,
I am also the relationship to
process of who I am.
recreating myself
to meet each new
circumstance.

65. I can learn to
I need to I need to attach
escape from or
escape from or even when it
cause change in
destroy the “dark side” of hurts:
whoever hurts others, while
me: I can’t afford to
maintaining
be alone, so I
I need to positive
need to accept
withdraw from or connections:
any pain as being
destroy those I experiment with my own fault and
who hurt me no trying to change see the other as
matter what. myself, my blameless.
relationships and
others to make this
happen.

66. I balance
I love I want to destroy
respecting and
everything and all of creation:
enjoying things
everyone as they are with
absolutely: I am unhappy, so
taking action to everything and
Everyone and meet my needs:
everyone must
everything is A good balance go, or be
perfect just the can emerge from obliterated.
way it is, so I the tension
have no right to between the
alter or hurt appreciation of
anything, even if things as they are,
my needs are and the need to
unmet. move and change.

67. I make a
Overly focused Giving up
reasonable
on control: control:
attempt at
I must control control, then let I can’t control
my own the rest go: anything so why
thoughts and I try to create a try.
feelings, and good impression,
also control but I accept that I
what others am always only
secretly think partly in control of
and feel about what actually
me. happens.

68. Self esteem that
Self esteem no Self criticism
incorporates
matter what: without
reasonable self
I am determined criticism: restraint:
to think positive I am open to I am determined
about myself no realistically seeing to see all my
matter what. I both my strengths faults, even those
block out and weaknesses, that are
information that and my self imaginary.
doesn’t fit my esteem is based
positive on seeing myself
thoughts. relatively clearly.

69. I try to use good
Ignore context, Context
judgment:
I know what changes
things are: I proceed with my everything,
best judgment, but nothing can be
I will go ahead
then if I see trusted to be as
based on my
substantial it seems:
current
evidence that I
perceptions I must be
might have
without paying hypervigilant for
misjudged, I
any attention to the subtlest
reevaluate.
wider context or indicators that
contrary may show that
evidence. everything is
different.

70. I am imperfect
I am innocent, I am bad, but
and vulnerable,
alone, and also very
but I do have
helpless: powerful and
some value and
Others harm me power: allied with
when they want, powerful others:
I experiment in
for no good I choose to harm
looking for ways
reason, and myself, or I
to escape
there is nothing I choose to let
mistreatment,
can do about it. others harm me,
either by changing
myself or because it is the
changing punishment I
relationships. deserve. It will
make me better.

71. Uncertain yet
Overly Overly reliant on
finding spiritual
vulnerable after denial after
safety in
trauma: trauma:
uncertainty:
I cannot rely on Through my new
I cannot rely on
anything to keep spiritual/magical
any “thing” to
me safe. method, I can
keep me safe.
Previous now be
But I can trust the
knowledge has invulnerable to
process of doing
been shown to the kinds of threat
my best, then
be inadequate. that happened
letting go in each
moment. before.

72. Work, then relax
Let go of Stress out
everything endlessly

73. Balance of
Magical All my problems
realism and
thinking: are real:
magic:
I can solve any I am weighed
I start solving my
problem just by down by how
problems with
imagining a overwhelming it
imagination
solution, I don’t all is.
(which is enough
need to be
in itself for the
practical.
imaginary
problems!) but
then I follow up
with practical
action.

74. I’m human and
I’m bad, I’m good,
imperfect, and
important important others
the others are as
others are are bad:
well:
good:
When we have I must get away
I can bond with from them, or
conflict, I assume
these others defeat them.
I will be right
even though
some of the time,
they hurt me
and they will be
(I deserve it for
right some of the
being bad.)
time.

75. I’m a mix of good
“Bad me” “Good me”
and bad, and
paranoia: paranoia:
others are as
I anticipate well: Since others are
others will not so good, I
We will probably
persecute me expect they will
hurt each other
because of my persecute me.
sometimes, but
badness.
not all the time.

76. Flashback
Flashback Flashback is
defines a portion
defines shut out:
of the past, but
who/where I am
doesn’t It has no reality at
in the present
dominate the all
present

77. Good balance of
Persist in Persist in
short and long
behavior with strategy with a
term strategies:
short term hoped for long
payoff despite term payoff,
reasonably despite intense
clear evidence short term costs
it will lead to a and the absence
huge long term of clear
problem: evidence that
long term payoff
will come true

78. Good judgment
Be flexible to fit Have faith to
about when to be
immediate persist despite
flexible and
context: what is believed
when to be
Even when this unbending: to be a
means giving up temporary lack
I make good of confirmation
on longer term
decisions about from immediate
strategies.
when to hold to context:
my faith and when
to change my Even when costs
ideas to fit new are great and
circumstances. current feedback
indicates strategy
won’t work.

79. Uses magic or
Fail to use Think “magic”
imagination
“magic” or or imagination,
when needed to
imagination can be applied
experiment with
even in areas as a solution in
reshaping how
where it best an area where
things are seen,
applies: some other kind
but also takes
Because of this, practical action of action is
one is a victim of when that is needed:
what has been called for. Believes in
imagined by solutions that
others or other don’t work, and
parts of self. doesn’t do what
would work.

80. Constantly
Protect self Use “magic” or
evolving and
from failing to imagination or
complex
perceive a biased
perception of a
threat by being perception to
mix of threat and
biased toward increase sense
safety:
seeing it: of safety:
I can often find
I’m not afraid to I know how to
safety in the midst
look on the dark look on the bright
of danger, and
side, but side! But I fail to
see the danger in
sometimes I see detect many real
assuming too
threats that threats.
much safety.
aren’t real.

81. Opposing bad
Destroying Just letting
decisions but
people’s people destroy
supporting
autonomy in themselves:
autonomy:
order to “save”
them: Coercion used only A person’s
as a last resort to autonomy is
Prior bad
block really major respected, even
decisions are
bad decisions: to the point of
seen as proof
emphasis is on letting them carry
that person’s
helping person out bad decisions
autonomy must
regain autonomy that destroy
be restricted in
combined with themselves and
the future by
competent hurt others.
medications and
decisions.
other means.

82. Expectations fit
Too great of Too few positive
the
positive expectations:
circumstances:
expectations or
the wrong Person learns to Important
expectations: expect what is opportunities are
available & adjusts missed because
Unrealistic
expectations to there is no
expectations lead
changing expectation that
to frustration and
circumstances. they are
suffering.
available.

83. Balance of
Too much Too little
attachment and
attachment: attachment:
detachment:
I need things to I don’t care if
I can value things
be a certain way,
and people and there are losses
I don’t let go
attach to them, but and wounds, in
even when
I can also let go fact I prove it by
hanging on leads
when hanging on inflicting them on
to overwhelming
leads to too much myself!
stress.
stress.

84. Balance of use of
Excess thinking Things are
categories and
in categories: excessively
ability to see how
I see things just individual events specific:
in terms of pre- or people don’t I see things only
fabricated totally fit the
as individual
categories category:
events, as I result
(seeing things
Categorical my senses are
excessively in
enough to not be overloaded by the
terms of
overwhelmed, but “blooming
categories, and
also able to get buzzing
not specifics, is
free of categories confusion”
associated with
when that is
depression.)
helpful.

85. Balance of going
Excessively Goes to
out to extremes
centered: extremes and
and coming back
Always stays to center to gets stuck
close to the regain flexibility: there:
center in an Looks like healthy Expresses
attempt to retain attachment, where freedom from the
flexibility, but in child balances tyranny of the
so doing loses exploring with center by going to
the capacity to going back to an extreme, but
go to extremes, parent for then loses
in other words, comforting & flexibility by being
loses flexibility. nurturing. extreme.

86. Balances need to
Grabbing at Giving up
maintain hope by
straws to “see” attempts to
noticing all
a way of possibilities for control, being
controlling an control, with need hopeless:
out of control to “weed out”
situation: Person may give
illusory pattern
up even though
Often sees perception that
some pattern of
illusory patterns could lead to
misguided
acting would
because looking have worked to
efforts.
so hard at faint control the
associations. situation.

87. Dynamic tension
Too little Too much
between
toleration of toleration of
acceptance of
uncertainty: uncertainty and uncertainty:
This leads to efforts to resolve This leads to
jumping to it:
being incurious,
conclusions, to This leads to a lack of interest, a
reduce the nuanced view, negative
uncertainty. which includes symptom.
both ability to make
conclusions and an
ability to see past
conclusions.

88. Needs and Values
A need or value Denied need or
are integrated:
is denied: value suddenly
Each need or value becomes
This may reduce finds some kind of
conflict with dominant:
place, in a
other needs, but dynamic, shifting A long pent-up
perhaps out of balance. Nothing demand may be
awareness, is either totally satisfied, but
pressure to denied or totally perhaps at
meet the denied dominant. enormous cost to
need builds up. other needs and
values

89. My experiences
My experience My experience
have some value
is meaningless, is completely
and potential
it is just the meaning, but I meaningful and
result of an may need to sort accurate:
illness: out in just what
All my
It is just the sense:
conclusions are
result of a I don’t need to completely true
chemical reject any of my and I don’t have
imbalance, or experiences but I to doubt or sort
random misfiring may have to through any of
due to a brain search to find a them.
disease wise interpretation
of them.

90. Psychotic
Psychotic Psychotic
experience is
experience is experience is
seen as having a
seen as mix of danger and seen as very
entirely sick or possible value: good:
bad:
Health is seen as Efforts are made
To be healthy I coming from to have more of it
must seek to get sorting out the & encourage
rid of every bit of misleading aspects whatever is
this kind of of the experience causing it.
experience & of from potentially
whatever is helpful aspects.
causing it.

91. Balance of
Divergent Convergent
Divergent and
Thinking: Thinking:
Convergent
Also seen as Thinking: Also seen as a
loose Person can narrowing of
associations or alternate between associations,
even both thinking styles fewer unusual
dissociation, in a way that experiences but
leads to unusual integrates into a also something
perceptions & good life. like “negative
experiences, symptoms,”
common in common in
poets, visual mathematicians,
artists. engineers etc.

92. Having one’s own
Live in one’s Fail to even
world but also
own world: have one’s own
relating that
Be so unique in world to the world world:
the way one of others: Be so focused on
sees things and One is able to being “normal”
expresses about focus on the points that one has
things that of contact between nothing of one’s
others cannot one’s own world own to contribute,
connect, there is and the world as nothing to say.
no seen by others, so
communication. communication
happens.

93. I have a semi-
Being too Being too
permeable
closed off from sensitive to the
boundary with
others and others and the world and
from the world: world: others:
I use judgment to What I hold as
What I hold as decide when to true can be easily
true is not hold onto my views overwhelmed by
affected by despite the views of
exterior disagreement, and others or by
evidence or by when to change random bits of
what others them. I am just the external
think. somewhat open. world.

94. I make
Assume too Assume too
assumptions:
much: little:
but also can open
I refuse to them up to I question too
question my questioning when much, don’t know
assumptions, they aren’t working what to assume,
my perceptions, out well. can’t organize my
and my perceptions or
conclusions. make
conclusions.

95. I trust in my own
Mistrust in the Blind trust in the
efforts working
spontaneous, spontaneous, or
alongside the
or Nature, or spontaneous, or Nature, or Spirit:
Spirit: Nature, or Spirit: Since I am so
Because I lack My own efforts trusting, I make
trust, I must rely have a role, but I no efforts to sort
exclusively on don’t get things out for
my own efforts, overwhelmed myself, or to
and so I get because I can also question what
overwhelmed. let go and trust. pops into my
head.

96. Both methods of
Overly focused Overly focused
processing are
on left brain on right brain
used:
processing: processing:
only that which The gifts and the
is in words and/ limits of each Patterns are seen
or makes logical method of in ways not easily
sense is real… processing are put into words or
noticed and communicated,
respected. and no attempts
are made to
logically sort
things out.

97. Balance of
Micro- Lack of
spontaneity with
managing management of
management:
mental events: mental events:
I trust my mind but
I feel the need to also I’m aware it I give up trying to
control every can make manage how my
aspect of how I mistakes, and I mind works, it’s
think, feel, and have a process of out of control.
process detecting and Whatever I think,
perceptions: it’s working through feel, perceive just
overwhelming! them where is what it is. I
possible. don’t notice
mistakes……

98. Who’s responsible for what hurts? Abused children usually blame
themselves, but as adults, may shift to blaming others excessively….
Realistic locus of
Excessively Excessively
control:
internal locus external locus of
of control: Sometimes I run control:
into trouble
I’m not being I’m actually quite
because others
abused or good, but various
are hostile,
abandoned, it’s external forces
sometimes I
only that I’ve (other people,
create my own
been bad, as voices, or
problems. I can
soon as I entities) are evil
learn to respond
change that and are
appropriately to
everything will persecuting me.
each situation.
be better.

99. Two Extremes in Seeking Safety, Not Very Compatible……
Guard against
Focus on Focus on
either ignoring
defending maintaining
threats or seeing
against exaggerated internal sense of
external threat, threat: safety, guard
guard against against
feeling too safe I seek to be vigilant
perceiving too
internally: but not
much external
hypervigilant, to
to maintain threat:
maintain a feeling
vigilance. of safety without to maintain
being oblivious. stability.

100. CBT for psychosis includes “off the map” exploration:
Follows charted
Therapy by Columbus
routes when that
formula: therapy:
makes sense,
I just do what is but also willing I set off not
in the therapy to explore knowing where I
manual, whether uncharted am going, get
it works or territory: there & don’t
makes sense to know where I am,
When I explore
the individual then get back and
uncharted
client or not. don’t know where
territory, I tend to
I always know I’ve been.
make charts as I
exactly what I
go as much as I
am doing
can.
though.