The Despair

We have seen many people in our clinic over the years who were experiencing some form of nervous collapse. We assured each one that there is a point to all of this: it is not the capricious imposition of a cruel fate. Rather, it is a unique opportunity to reclaim the love, confidence, fearlessness and uniqueness of our childhood. It is a journey of rediscovery of the true self, a higher self.

So often we hear the plaintive cry, “But why does it have to be so hard, so terrifying?" Our simple answer uses the analogy of the fish which is thrown up by a wave on to the dry riverbank. The discomfort it experiences is very obvious and impels the fish to use all of its ingenuity and strength to struggle and strive to get back in the water again.

Like the fish, if there was no distress we would not be motivated to seek out the life-giving waters – the inner harmony, love, joy and courage – that lie waiting inside us for our return.

Another way of illustrating that only good can come of a nervous breakdown is to use the analogy of the sugarcane. Look what happens soon after it reaches the pinnacle of its success, standing so tall and strong in the fields: first of all a raging fire spreads through it, then it is cruelly hacked down at the base, then chopped into pieces, crushed, boiled and finally dried. After all of the terrible traumas it has to endure, what is the end result? Sugar so sweet.

In the same way destiny arranges for us to be broken and crushed so that we too can discover the sweetness that was lying concealed beneath the thick skin of the ego. This innate sweetness is love, peace, joy and a commitment to be true to oneself. Without the trauma, tears, confusion and terror perhaps we would never know that such treasures lie waiting within.