Anomalous Experience Recovery Model

[Roger Waldram]

Hello. First I'll 'check in' with some personal info followed by an explanation of what on earth is 'anomalous experience', next I'll attach the model followed by a link to my blog that has the abstract from my doctoral thesis.
1. I'm a 62 year old insulin-dependant integrative psychotherapist. In my 20's I saw & heard stuff others didn't, stopped injecting insulin & had a near death experience. I was committed, diagnosed acute schizophrenia & 'treated' with largactil & ECT that I hated. After discharge I remained on insulin & made the changes needed including no anti-psychotic meds.
2. Homolous means the same so anomalous means not the same or odd, different strange & includes a full range of this experience with no psychiatric diagnosis-check out 'Varieties of Anomalous Experience' by Krippner & others.
3. Diagnosis rests on belief & perception so experience can be seen & treated very differently-my 8 years research was with now mental health professionals who had recovered & my question concerned 'madness' & 'spiritual experience'-I'm not talking about religious-stuff, seeing that as quite different. Here's the link http://www.vinepartnership.co.uk/index.php?page=blog Warning-there's a smiling picture of me on the 1st site page that I find spooky!
4. The model suggests we start off as a homolous being (? Mal-Adaptive=pleasing others), after stress-overload, linked-losses, life-crisis, drugs or ritual we enter an anomalous world. There we can't sleep or concentrate, see, hear or think symbolically & that's horrendous for us & those closest. Recovery includes sanctuary, good relationship, & using stress and feeling-management tools. Then we become more aware, capable and resilient.

As a rider to what I've said this is rigorous qualitative research but nevertheless subjective & may not be a good 'fit' for you-it can't be & was never intended to be a universal 'remedy'. However it offers a different perspective that can be integrated with current mental health discourse e.g. using medication to manage symptoms for the time being etc.
Now I'll try & upload the model-be great to hear from you here or on the blog..
All the best,
RogerView attachment Anomalous Recovery ref.doc

 

[Apotheosis]

Very Interesting Thanks.

 

[Roger Waldram]

Thanks Apotheosis I was beginning to think what I'd said had fallen into a black hole-tho' it is a holiday weekend, I guess....
Be great to get some more feedback

 

[Apotheosis]

Thanks Apotheosis I was beginning to think what I'd said had fallen into a black hole-tho' it is a holiday weekend, I guess....
Be great to get some more feedback

This site is like a black hole sometimes.

I was going over some of your Old posts; very interesting, I could have done with someone such as yourself for psychological help. I think that for many of us; the words, terms, & concepts of 'Recovery' can be very difficult, & not entirely accurate to personally apply for ourselves.

Is Anomalous Experience entirely pathological? How much are things about learning ways to cope better, & to find the support that we need; instead of recovering from some state? How much are the issues here of learning to cope with the ways in which 'we' have been treated & reacted to - more significant than the issues of personal recovery?

I tend to separate things out. Some things I'm recovering from - other things I'm learning to cope with - without proper guidance, support or appropriate help.

By far amongst the biggest issues for me have been those of social isolation & exclusion, & lack of proper support.

 

[Roger Waldram]

For me anomalous experience is just very different, like a different domain, & that can be great. However, there are times when I need to have my feet on the ground. Once went to a shamanic workshop-made my own drum with bloody fingers-no thimbles (!) & the shaman spoke of the golden road of spirit & the orange road of earth-important to walk with a foot on each. Too much time with spirit & the power gets cut off 'cos we didn't pay the bill & too down to earth=boring.
So important to learn & use the tools I think-tho' amidst positivity realistically if our situation is awful it's really rough for us. Learning to cope is vital I know. So good to build healthy relationships-people, music, art, animals, 'gods' anything that lifts our spirits I think. Time for me to take our border collie for our walk, ATB, Roger

 

[Apotheosis]

For me anomalous experience is just very different, like a different domain, & that can be great. However, there are times when I need to have my feet on the ground. Once went to a shamanic workshop-made my own drum with bloody fingers-no thimbles (!) & the shaman spoke of the golden road of spirit & the orange road of earth-important to walk with a foot on each. Too much time with spirit & the power gets cut off 'cos we didn't pay the bill & too down to earth=boring.

I fully agree. We need balance.

So important to learn & use the tools I think-tho' amidst positivity realistically if our situation is awful it's really rough for us. Learning to cope is vital I know. So good to build healthy relationships-people, music, art, animals, 'gods' anything that lifts our spirits I think. Time for me to take our border collie for our walk, ATB, Roger

Yes, I fully agree too. Enjoy the walk.