What is Reality? An exploration of the most important yet ignored topic in mental health. Presented at the Peerpocalypse Conference Seaside, Oregon

Transcription

1 What is Reality? An exploration of the most important yet ignored topic in mental health Presented at the Peerpocalypse Conference Seaside, Oregon April 10th, 2018 John Herold, MA

2 Learning Goals Become more sensitive to the word reality Uncover common assumptions about reality View reality as a multi-level phenomenon Reconsider the belief that you re weird Learn the basics of quantum mechanics

3 Some Personal History Extreme state / unusual beliefs Experienced things those around me did not, still do today My reality became quite wiggly when I was alone But few agreed with my assessment! Diagnosed bipolar Hearing Voices Network / Process Work 12:12 12/12/12

4 Roadmap Why explore reality? Reality and mental illness - the big assumptions Reality: A Process-Oriented view The Double Slit Experiment: How looking affects reality What to do with this information?

5 Why Explore Reality? Reality is mentioned a lot in mental health Those diagnosed with psychotic disorders are said to be out of touch with reality Come to think of it, most diagnostic labels dispute your reality But most mental health professionals aren t taught to think and wonder about the nature and behavior of reality

6 Shouting from the Rooftop Shouldn t we understand how reality works before labeling people as out of touch with reality?

7 Yes, Reality Matters Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions. People with psychoses lose touch with reality. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, such as thinking that someone is plotting against you or that the TV is sending you secret messages. Hallucinations are false perceptions, such as hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not there. (National Institute of Health)

8 A-ha! Uncovering big assumptions Apparently there s a reality out there that exists independently of us And we can be either IN TOUCH with it, or OUT OF TOUCH That implies reality is a solid, concrete, objective thing

9 Typical Reality Model One Reality: You re in or out Mentally Well Psychotic

10 Danger Danger! The Big Lie There s only one reality, independent of you And if you stray from that reality... there must be something wrong with you!

11 Wreckage from the Big Lie Marginalization Discrimination Identity theft Coercive treatment and/or abuse Loss of rights, power, lifespan

12 The Power of Consensus Those seated are experiencing a reality they can agree on. Because they agree, they think they get to define what reality is. But what about those of us standing? What s our reality?

13 Something s Missing Here... Reality isn t defined or well understood. It s just assumed As long as the majority of us perceive something, it is considered real Unshared experiences of reality = psychotic, mentally ill, crazy Mainstream models of reality don t accommodate unshared experiences

14 Individual Reality Similarities and Differences No big reality We all have our own reality Parts of reality are shared Others are unshared What if unshared reality takes over all of someone s awareness?

15 Out of Touch? A Better Way Partially in Shared Reality normal Apparently Outside Shared Reality psychotic

16 Mental Illness: A Conflict Model Instead of viewing mental illness as a disease or disorder Consider viewing it as a CONFLICT OVER REALITY Some people live in the reality most of us agree on Others are in a different reality, one that we don t agree on And there s a fight over which one matters

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19 Reality: A Process-Oriented View

20 Consensus Reality This model represents ALL experiences of reality Dreamland Essence

21 Consensus Reality aka objective reality The ice cream we can see The reality we can agree is happening Anything that can be measured The observable, material world Dualistic: I am not you Commonly assumed to be all of reality

22 Consensus Reality Exercise

23 Consensus Reality is Well Defended!

24 Dreamland aka personal reality The ice cream you cannot see Our inner experiences, feelings Our body experiences and dreams Things that don t fit, don t make sense What s present but isn t mentioned

25 Dreamland Exercise

26 Dreamland s Defenses

27 Essence aka psychic reality Where the ice cream cone comes together Experiences of oneness, unity, wholeness Psychosis, delusions, hallucinations Non-Dualistic: Everything is connected I am you and you are me Indescribable, fleeting most of the time

28 Essence Reality Exercise

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30 Essence Level Defense Strategy

31 All Levels of Reality Are Important! When we get stuck in one level, we sometimes get into trouble The key is to experience all three levels simultaneously or be a little psychotic all the time

32 Consensus Reality Dreamland Essence

33 Reality Science: Common Beliefs

34 The Material World is Made of Stuff (Like, duh!)

35 Stuff is Solid (How could it not be?)

36 Reality is Solid in the Big Picture (both surfaces as well as interiors are material and actual)

37 Reality is Unmovable Just an observer, not a participant

38 Reality is Here All the Time (eyes open, eyes closed)

39 Reality is Objective, Out There

40 Objective Reality / Physical Realism Living in a material world We live in a material reality that EXISTS And it exists whether or not anyone is watching That makes the material world fundamental How we observe it matters little Reality is independent of mind How you view it doesn t change its nature

41 Objective Reality / Physical Realism Reality is Here All the Time How could reality be any other way?

42 Reality is a Product of Your Mind Subjective Reality

43 Is the Universe Weird or is it Just Me?

44 The Universe vs. Me Prevailing assumptions Overall, the universe must be normal, not weird But I am weird, strange, unusual So that means there s something wrong with me Marginalized with labels, bipolar, mentally ill, psychotic, whatever...

45 The Universe is Also Weird A Quick Lesson in Quantum Mechanics

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47 How could burning my records affect anything? Answer: Because I erased information in my reality!

48 The Double Slit Experiment (from The Universe is Virtual )

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50 If Reality Were Objective (particles would behave like particles)

51 But That s Not What Happens (particles behave like waves)

52 Unless You re Recording Information! (recorders on = reality shows particles)

53 And When You Don t Record Information (recorders off, or erasing record = reality goes wavy again)

54 This is true with progressively larger particles Even Bucky Balls = gigantic objects by comparison!

55 The Simulation Hypothesis Quantum mechanics works at ALL scales Not just little things.

56 The Secret: Reality Behaves Like a Refrigerator The light only turns on when you open the door. What you see DEPENDS on whether there s a record of information!

57 Do You Have a Brain? (most of us don t) It depends: Is there a record of your brain s existence?

58 Example Is the arrangement of furniture in this room a fixed, objective thing? It depends!

59 Enter the Matrix (physical reality is based on information like a video game)

60 So What? Do you ever feel like you re in a dream? Have you ever felt connected to others, even at a distance? Have you experienced paranormal phenomena? Do you ever think you re the creator of the universe? Perhaps these are not signs of illness, but signs of awakeness

61 Quantum Entanglement / Nonlocality

62 Remote Viewing

63 Huge Implications! Quantum mechanics teaches us a lot How you view someone makes a difference in the most fundamental way Having an agenda is all it takes (recording data into consciousness) What about diagnosing, creating a physical record of that diagnosis? Remember, a record makes reality material, solid Being certain = nudges reality toward certainty Remaining uncertain = reality is more open and flexible

64 It Doesn t Stop There... Reality is a dreamlike experience because it is virtual, not objective Believing your senses is a type of altered state, a delusion Observer? You re a participant/creator of reality! There s no reality out there, only the one in here Open expectations = much more is possible Diagnosing people, even in your mind, can limit them

65 Keep in Touch! Online