Why is fear so frightening?
Fear is the shadow that flickers just beyond the candle’s reach, ancient and intimate, threading through the marrow of every human soul. It is not merely an emotion—it is a force, a whisper from our deepest past that echoes through the present. Born in the oldest part of the brain, it speaks in the language of instinct, not reason. A sudden noise, a silent stare, the unknown—all summon its presence. And once summoned, fear floods the body with a storm of urgency: heart pounding, breath tight, muscles ready to flee or fight, even if there’s nowhere to run. What makes […]
How an existential experience of absence can be dealt with in psychotherapy?
The Phenomenology of Absence: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Emptiness, Loss, and Presence
Absence is an enigmatic force that threads its way through our lives, often unrecognized yet profoundly shaping our emotional and psychological experiences. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the longing for something unattainable, or the subtle emptiness we feel when something familiar fades, absence is more than just a void—it is an emotional and existential experience that colours our perception of the world. From phenomenology to neuroscience, from Gestalt therapy to literary exploration, absence invites us to reflect on what is missing, what we long for, and how we navigate the spaces between presence and nothingness.