Common to many different kinds of crisis is a turning point, where old
attitudes and behaviors must make way for change. It is at this moment,
signaled by anxiety, even panic, that the creative leap is required.
Verena Kast, in her wonderful narrations of actual case histories,
describes the typical psychic background of a crisis, as well as the
developmental possibilities contained in them. One such case begins: "A
young man, twenty eight years old, an analysand in therapy with me for
some six months, called me around midnight to tell me he was about to
kill himself. To my question "So what is it this time?" he responded at
length. The phrase "this time" not only revealed my aggression in the
face of a suicide threat, there was also a story behind it. Both the
analysand and his wife had already made several suicide attempts. Both
had used their suicide attempts to manipulate each other. Both were well
informed about medications and knew how much one can take without
causing irreparable damage. Since these scenes had repeated themselves
with a certain regularity, it was difficult to keep the gravity of the
situation in mind."
Brought to life in this book is an authentic note of hope to those who
suffer and to those dedicated to helping them.
Dr. Verena Kast is a training analyst at the C. G. Jung Institute of
Zurich and professor at Zurich University. She lectures in Europe and
the United States. Her other books include The Nature of Loving:
Patterns of Human Relationship (Chiron), A Time to Mourn (Daimon),
and Joy, Inspiration, Hope, and the Process of Individuation (Texas
A&M University Press).
