A SUMMARY OF THE ANOIKSIS THEORY/MAP
AND HOW TO USE IT
THE ANOIKSIS THEORY states that there are five crucial elements that influence our subjective experiences. There is no set process or a specific order in which to explore these themes. Depending on the situation, it may be more relevant to first look at: ‘what is needed’ or ‘what has happened?’
WHAT SENSE-PERCEPTIONS?
The key: Identify how senses and perceptions are altered in an experience of Anoiksis.
In (Deep) Anoiksis our sense-perceptions alter more extremely - they can become hypersensitive or hypo sensitive.
EXAMPLE: Early recognition may be in experiences of colors changing. They may become more vivid or they may seem dull and off. Background noises may come to the foreground. We may experience time running faster or slower. We may become thin-skinned. Emotions or words may hit us very hard.
TIP: Think of it as suddenly being sensitive to sunlight. The light of the sun has not changed, the sensitivity to the light has changed.
WHAT STORIES?
The key: Discover the link between sensory experience and the story created and distinguish metaphorical significance from literal sense-making.
We rely so heavily on our senses that it does not occur to us to question them. Instead, we create stories, even if that story seems unusual because it supports our experience. In this stage, we can learn to distinguish metaphorical significance from what may feel like a literal truth.
EXAMPLE: Prevention can be found in understanding the play between the senses and the metaphorical and literal (underlying) meaning that is created. See a literal thought that “someone is poisoning me” as potentially born from a heightened sense of taste. Investigate personal significance: feeling unsafe? Alone or abandoned? Recognize the underlying need and act on it
TIP: Think of it as ‘WAKING DREAMING’ in which all associations can be experienced as literal or metaphorical realities.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The key: identify high impact life events and discover links between these events, sensory experiences, and meaning created.
In a model of Anoiksis, we enter the altered sense state of waking-dreaming in reaction to a disruption in our spiritual/mental/physical/emotional experiences. A series of high-impact life events may instigate such a disruption.
EXAMPLE: Being in love. Deep loneliness. Significant loss or death. Not fitting in. A broken heart, love-sickness, a messy divorce. Moving away from loved ones, forced migration, moving to a strange city, or a trip abroad.
TIP: Positive high-impact life events can be just as impactful.
WHAT BIO-FACTORS?
The key: identify how certain internal and external bio-psycho-social triggers influence altered sense-perception and meaning-making. Discover links between triggers and high-impact events.
In an Anoiksis Model, there are several major risk factors that (speculatively) influence the evolution of high-impact life events.
EXAMPLE: Sleep disruption, chronic stress, hormonal disruptions (puberty, menopause, pregnancy) nutritional disruption (vitamin deficiency), intergenerational trauma, fetus development, medicine, recreational drugs, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency.
TIP: Think of Anoiksis as a system, imagine a knot of string. Pull-on one loop and all the others may follow…they are interconnected and often feedback on each other. Focus on the system, on the phenomena, and how they relate. Don't focus solely on symptoms.
WHAT NEEDS?
The Key: Identify the deeper, core needs by piecing together information from all five themes. Create ways to practically serve those needs.
Deeply ingrained in the stories of our minds, bodies, and spirits lay our cultural metaphorical and literal influences in relation to our needs. The clues we have gathered from the previous themes - how our senses change, the stories we create, what disruption events happened, and our triggers - can help us discover what we need.
EXAMPLE: Needs can be basic such as financial security, healthy nutrition, safe shelter, or loving connections. When we are followed by the FBI, we may hold a need to feel safe. How to help a person feel safe? Needs are diverse. Some need to suppress experiences. Some need to make art. It is the job of ourselves, and our carers to listen to those needs and act.
TIP: Engage in authentic Deep Listening. Under a symbolic need is a need, is a need. Ask the same question 5 x and you will get a different answer.
THE ANOIKSIS EXPERIMENT
Made possible by
STICHTING DOEN
The Anoiksis Experience
In consortium with The Roomforthoughts Foundation, we received a grant from Stichting Doen for the development of the new VR psychosis simulation The Anoiksis Experience.
CREATIVE INDUSTRY FUNDS
The Anoiksis Map
A tool to help understand, navigate, and communicate experiences of psychosis (and more). Learn more about The Anoiksis Map here.
THE ROOMFORTHOUGHTS FOUNDATION
The Anoiksis Experiment
