Eigenangst

December 20, 2021 Cognitive Insights, Sociocultural Issues No Comments

This is the fear of the own deeper layers of mental processing. It’s a powerful direct driver of many negative happenings at the macro and micro scales in the world.

‘Eigenangst’ is a German neologism (by me). I encounter its meaning in the indefinite sound of it.

Without conscious awareness

One is not consciously aware of what happens in deeper, non-conscious layers. This obfuscates the source of Eigenangst, which makes it even more frightening. One may feel anxious and doesn’t even know where this feeling comes from.

It is the feeling of not being in control. No living organism likes this. In the human case, an additional issue comes from the source being inside oneself. It’s like some alien monster creeping to grab one from inside. Curiously, this also makes many people afraid of their very positive Inner Strength.

Macro, for instance, in politics

These are only some slivers, of course.

On the right side of the political spectrum, Eigenangst shows in looking for some enemy outside of the own group. This may be a foreign invader who tries to destroy one’s culture, or it may be the political opposition who ‘acts like an alien’ (probably through a presupposed weakness or stupidity).

On the left, Eigenangst shows in not readily finding common ground since, for this, one regularly needs to delve deep inside. The right gets the commonality almost for free (the slogan, the enemy, the simple message). The left needs to develop it in a continually changing world. With much Eigenangst, this is a hard nut to crack. So, one sees endless quarreling.

The far-right and the far-left are just two ways – much alike in this – in which the Eigenangst shows in aggression. In this, the object of aggression is eventually far less critical than the aggression itself.

Micro, for instance, in personal relationships

Here too: only some slivers, of course.

Eigenangst leads many couples to endless bickering. It is far easier to see in the other what one is afraid of inside oneself. Much aggression – overtly or covertly – goes into changing or throwing away that very mental substance.

R.D. Laing (1927-1989), a so-called anti-psychiatrist, was famous for showing how the family-as-system can lead to profound mental illness – ‘madness’ – in individuals. Eigenangst plays a substantial role in how family forces lead to such extremes.

More generally, Eigenangst may lead people to avoid depth in their relationships. Friends are less threatening in this than spouses.

Cause and consequence of inner dissociation

[see: “Inner Dissociation is NEVER OK!“]

Eigenangst is existential in this. The fear is one of losing oneself and at the same time of finding (contacting) oneself.

This may lead to a curious obstructing of one’s progress from the inside. In therapy/coaching, people who come near to their depth may somehow feel this as a terrifying experience, a ‘fear of the abyss inside,’ and try to obstruct the change they need and very much want. The ‘O’ (obstruction) in G.I.M.O. is always important to explore.

It is especially challenging on top of a negative stream underneath.

This is a non-conscious social flowing in the same direction with many other people. When encountering the Eigenangst in oneself and in others, it may feel like a multi-headed dragon. Danger ahead. This may substantially heighten the power of ruthlessness.

If you try to help in this setting, you should be aware of possible backlash. As an AURELIS-coach, for instance, this is of utter importance. The best defense is to try to get clean with your own Eigenangst.

The world needs you.