pixel

Episode 21 – Living with a Crazy Parent

Aug 23, 2018

Living with a parent who is seriously impaired can be traumatic and have lasting consequences. Fortunately, resources for healing and resilience are also available, and premature encounters with shadow can be a call to consciousness and yield gifts of effective and creative depth.

In the episode, we mention the book The Inner World of Trauma: Archetypal Defenses of the Personal Spirit by Donald Kalsched.

Here’s the dream we analyze: “My bandmate and I are in an underground burial chamber which is dimly lit by torches. At some point, we come across a large tomb/coffin. The coffin was black and was decorated with a golden “stick figure” men with very large, erect penises. They looked a lot like prehistoric cave drawings of people. There was a smaller coffin inserted into the top of the larger, which could be removed and slid back. My bandmate removes the smaller coffin and opens the lid; inside is the rotting, decaying body of an infant girl. It’s at this point in the dream I remember feeling particularly unsettled. At that point, both of us knew we were supposed to be the two-wheeling this coffin out of wherever we were. We were supposed to be the funerary procession.”

Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

8 Comments

  1. Donna Hayes

    I so enjoy listening, thank you. Hope to submit a dream soon.

    Reply
    • Joseph23455

      Thank you so much Donna. We deeply appreciate your support.

      Reply
  2. Richard Donovan

    Really enjoy your podcasts. I’m a semi retired clinician.
    It is refreshing to hear your thoughtful reflections. As you know, in too many staffings today the emphasis is more about how the meds are working. Sad.

    Reply
    • Joseph23455

      Thank you so much Richard. We’ve also sat in on our share of staffings before we became analysts – oye!

      Reply
  3. charlotte hastings

    Thank you so much for the podcast – every time I go to listen, I seem to hear just what I need. The topics covered have contributed to my healing, understanding and to re-engaging with Jungian therapy – a good friend initiated me into your work and I love her even more for it! Thank you again, it’s great work which I am happily sharing around too!

    Reply
    • Joseph23455

      Thank you Charlotte! It warms our hearts to hear from you.
      Lisa, Deb & Joe

      Reply
  4. Rhonda G Williford

    On the issue of “impairment in the functioning of their life,” what about the disruptive influence they may have on others’ lives”? — even if by external standards their life may seem to be “successful.” For example, a “successful” profession who treats his subordinates abusively — and all too often gets away with it. As someone who has studied workplace abuse for years (retired labor lawyer), this scenario is not that unusual. Second-hand “dysfunction,” but nonetheless very real. Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Trevor Ford

    Hi – the episode refers to show notes, but I cannot find them! Where may I access the show notes for podcasts? Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Trevor Ford Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *