Going Mad to Stay Sane

Book excerpt: Self-destructive behaviour has traditionally been viewed in an entirely negative light. As a result, attempts are constantly made to 'fix' it without asking what its actual purpose may be. Going Mad to Stay Sane invites us to rethink our attitudes. It sets out to understand the soul's purpose in visiting violence upon itself; substance abuse, compulsive sexuality, obsessive dieting or the grandiose hauteur of a superiority complex all come under scrutiny. In analysing its roots and its manifestations, the author asks us to consider the possibility that the impulse to visit violence upon oneself may be the only means available for the soul under siege to preserve itself and state its distress. Self-destructiveness is a notoriously difficult phenomenon to bring to healing, not least because the various schools of psychology have such partisan attitudes towards it, approaching it from within the narrow parameters of their chosen theories. This book, rather than arguing for one perspective or another, finds a place for them all within the compass of a mythical tale: the story of King Midas, who wished for everything he touched to be turned to gold. Through the tale of King Midas, Andy White shows how our self-destructive urges can also point the way to our salvation. Andy White was born and brought up in Africa. He trained in London, practised as a psychotherapist for many years and now lives in North Devon as a writer and artist. www.andywhiteartist.com Coming soon, ''Path to Wholeness'', a guide to the individuation process. ''A Tao of the Soul'', says Satish Kumar.