GENIUS FORUMS

DHodges wrote:Maybe this is something that you really don't want to understand fully, like you don't really want to fully understand why serial killers or necrophiliacs are the way they are. Can you really understand it without getting a little bit of it in you? I think it's unhealthy to dwell on it too much.

But what about those that work the other side of it? Those that have to deal with these types of people because it is their job...albeit chosen (sometimes I wonder about that one). Not that I deal with bulimics, serial killers or necrophiliacs, but I do deal with others that reflect the darker side of man...and it is unhealthy, even though I am on the other side, it does get to you...eventually. Interesting thought.

passthrough wrote:But what about those that work the other side of it? Those that have to deal with these types of people because it is their job...

Pretty often, the people who work in therapy have come through the same things - I'm thinking of drug addiction in particular, where many therapists are ex-users. It generally seems to work pretty well, as the therapist has been there and knows what they are going through, and can offer realistic suggestions.

I guess the therapist has built up a certain immunity, having already spent a whole lot of time dwelling on it, from the inside.

DHodges wrote:I guess the therapist has built up a certain immunity, having already spent a whole lot of time dwelling on it, from the inside.

passthrough wrote:I do deal with others that reflect the darker side of man...and it is unhealthy, even though I am on the other side, it does get to you...eventually.

Even though a certain amount of immunity is built up, under certain conditions it can still be triggering - especially for someone who has been there. I've been through some eating disorders, and issues in that realm have been a major part of my life for the vast majority of my life, yet I've been a moderator on a pro-ana site for a few years not only without it being harmful to me, but it helps me stay out of the ugliness myself. Nevertheless lately, with all the body-image stuff and now this thread here, another ED (eating disorder) thread on another philosophy board, and recently joining another board that has a lot of body image stuff on it, as prepared as I am, even I'm having a few challenges.

For those who have not been there, some things are also more "contagious" than others - like eating disorders are much more "contagious" than child molestation. Most people who can work with child molesters ("can" meaning can muster enough forgiveness to be therapeutically useful) are not going to suddenly become sexually aroused by children. They will at most grow to consider child molesters basically decent people other than this one serious problem. The training is helpful to guard against even the contageous ones such as EDs, but even then the biggest part of the training is knowing yourself and recognizing your limits.

I think my current Asian obsession's eyes are unspeakably beautiful.

Elizabeth Isabelle wrote:
For those who have not been there, some things are also more "contagious" than others - like eating disorders are much more "contagious" than child molestation. Most people who can work with child molesters ("can" meaning can muster enough forgiveness to be therapeutically useful) are not going to suddenly become sexually aroused by children. They will at most grow to consider child molesters basically decent people other than this one serious problem. The training is helpful to guard against even the contageous ones such as EDs, but even then the biggest part of the training is knowing yourself and recognizing your limits.

It's not so much a question of obtaining the exact issue others have, but the fact that it can really start to affect your own psyche... by manifesting itself from within the darker side of you...one you never knew existed. After my short break with sanity, I did begin to see existence from a whole different perspective. It is good to know yourself subjectively and objectively.

Self-awareness is an equalizer.