pixel

< Return to All Episodes

THE SCHIZOPHRENIA COMPLEX: How Do We Love Those in Chaos?

Jan 26, 2023

A blond woman's face (Eve Maram) is shown next to the cover of her book, the Schizophrenia Complex.

Guest Eve Maram, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and Jungian analyst in Orange, CA. Her book, The Schizophrenia Complex, presents a clear-eyed and compassionate understanding of our encounters with severe mental illness.

The submergence in unconscious chaos that defines schizophrenia triggers negative emotions in others—yet Jung on psychosis showed that we are different from those patients only in degree.

Significantly his Word Association Test proved that the unconscious influences everyone’s daily life in multiple ways.

Moreover, Jung’s psychiatric work with psychotic convalescents led to his ground-breaking discovery of the collective unconscious, humanity’s mythopoetic substrate.

Understandably we shy away from people in psychosis because they are living out our own radical and universal mad parts. But, instead of turning from the schizophrenia complex, we can acknowledge our shared darkness and stretch into connection.

Then, as Eve Maram’s story depicts, we may find eros has the power to constellate hope, courage, and tenacity in the face of chaos, helping us discover that we are more than before.

Here’s the dream we analyze:

“I am about to play tennis on a public outdoor court with 4 or 5 other guys and a coach. As we are walking onto the courts, I ask “are there any tennis prodigies from the neighborhood who play here?” Coach says no and I am a little disappointed. We spread out on the courts to get ready for a drill, and I step into a big pile of dog poo. I am disgusted, and I yell out to the other guys. They don’t hear me but they do notice that I am walking off the court. Just outside of the court, I stomp and scrape my shoe in a small grassy area, but I can’t get the dog poo off. It is clinging to my shoe with claws-it is actually a furry brown creature. At first, I think it is dead but as i stomp it comes alive and starts to fight back.”

REFERENCES:

Eve Maram. The Schizophrenia Complex. https://a.co/d/9NORqZJ

Nathan Filer. This Book will Change Your Mind about Mental Health. https://a.co/d/atN5Syv

John Weir Perry. The Far Side of Madness. https://a.co/d/gxpIuXu

GIVE US A HAND!

Hey folks,

We need your help. Please become our patron and keep This Jungian Life podcast up and running: https://www.patreon.com/ThisJungianLife

JUMP IN THE POOL – THE WATER’S FINE!

We’ve created Dream School to teach others how to work with their dreams. A vibrant community has constellated around this mission, and we think you’ll love it. Check it out: https://thisjungianlife.com/enroll/

RESOURCES:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisJungianLife/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisjungianlifepodcast/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisjungianlife/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThisJungianLife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe8QSBLNlv765pT097FDeLA  

Enroll in the Philadelphia Jungian Seminar and start your journey to becoming an analyst: https://www.cgjungphiladelphia.org/seminar.shtml  

We’ve published our first book together

In Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams, we present a systematic and comprehensive method for understanding the messages of our dreams, translating C. G. Jung’s brilliant insights into a practical, self-guided method for excavating the hidden wisdom of your dreams.

ORDER NOW

Learn to work with your own dreams

If This Jungian Life podcast or Dream Wise have spoken to you on a deep level, and you’re feeling ready to learn more about dreamwork and the world of Carl Jung, then our 12-month online program, This Jungian Life Dream School, is for you. Dream School is your opportunity to take the wisdom of Dream Wise even deeper – through a lively community, monthly meetings with Joe, Lisa, and Deb, and optional virtual dream groups. Join us in Dream School for a year-long adventure into the luminous world of your dreams.

Learn More

Want more?

Support Dreams and Depth: Join our Patreon community today
Don’t Miss Out: Submit Your Dream now for a chance to be featured on our podcast
Help Shape Our Show: Your suggestions inspire new discussions. Share your ideas for our next podcast.
Stay inspired every day: Connect and grow with our vibrant community. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube for exclusive updates and engaging discussions on soul growth, empowerment, insight, and creativity.