That statement — “Until death, all defeat is psychological” — is philosophically true, depending on how you look at it. Let’s unpack it.

Why it could be true:

Mindset is everything: A person can fail repeatedly and still not consider themselves defeated. As long as the will remains, so does the potential for resurgence. This echoes stoic and existentialist thinking.

Psychological resilience: In war, sports, relationships, and personal goals — people bounce back from what looks like utter failure because they don’t internalize defeat. They mentally choose to continue.

Historical examples: Mandela, Malcolm X, Viktor Frankl — people who were imprisoned, humiliated, even tortured, and yet came out spiritually or mentally stronger. To them, defeat was never final unless they gave in mentally.

But there are caveats:

Physical or external limitations can sometimes overrule the psychological. Someone can want to stand, run, or continue — but illness, injury, or oppression may block that. So, the “defeat” in that case may be physical too.

Denial vs. resilience: Some people might refuse to see they’ve lost out of pride, not strength. So the mindset alone isn’t always a virtue — it depends on clarity and purpose.

So if you’re asking existentially or spiritually — then yes:
True. All defeat is psychological until death.

If you’re asking literally or practically — then:
Partially true, with context-dependent exceptions.

Shervan K Shahhian

(Please consult your medical doctor for further information.)

A Neuropsychological Assessment (or Neuropsych Assessment) is a comprehensive evaluation of how a person’s brain is functioning. It’s used to understand cognitive strengths and weaknesses by testing various mental abilities. These assessments are done by clinical psychologists with specialized training in neuropsychology.

What It Measures:

Neuropsych assessments test a wide range of cognitive functions, such as:

Memory (short-term, long-term, visual, verbal)

Attention and concentration

Executive functions (planning, organizing, problem-solving, self-control)

Language skills (understanding and producing speech)

Visual-spatial skills (understanding visual information)

Motor skills

Emotional and psychological functioning

Why It’s Done:

Neuropsychological testing can help:

Diagnose conditions like ADHD, dementia, learning disorders, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or psychiatric conditions.

Understand the impact of a brain injury or illness.

Guide treatment planning and educational or occupational support.

Monitor cognitive changes over time (e.g., in Alzheimer’s or MS).

What It Involves:

A clinical interview (medical, developmental, educational, psychological history)

Paper-and-pencil or computerized tests

Observations of behavior during testing

Sometimes questionnaires for family, teachers, or caregivers

Duration:

Can take 2 to 8 hours, depending on the referral question and how comprehensive the testing needs to be.

Shervan K Shahhian

Borderline Personality Disorder, what is it:

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by significant emotional instability, impulsivity, and difficulties in relationships. Individuals with BPD often experience intense, fluctuating moods, a distorted self-image, and a fear of abandonment. Their relationships can be marked by extremes, such as idealizing someone one moment and devaluing them the next.

Some common symptoms include:

Emotional instability: Intense emotional reactions to situations, often feeling overwhelmed by emotions.

Fear of abandonment: Extreme efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, such as frantic attempts to maintain relationships.

Unstable relationships: Switching between seeing others as all good or all bad, often referred to as “splitting.”

Impulsive behaviors: Risky behaviors such as reckless driving, unsafe sex, or substance abuse.

Self-image issues: A shaky sense of self, often leading to a lack of direction in life.

Chronic feelings of emptiness: A persistent feeling of being hollow or empty inside.

Intense anger or difficulty controlling anger: Episodes of anger that seem disproportionate to the situation.

Dissociation: Feeling disconnected from oneself, as if in a dream-like state.

BPD can be challenging to diagnose and treat due to the overlapping symptoms with other mental health conditions, but therapy, particularly Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), has been found effective in helping individuals manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Shervan K Shahhian

Understanding Dialectical Behavior Therapy:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that was developed by Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s, primarily to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). It’s based on the idea of balancing acceptance and change, helping individuals develop skills to manage intense emotions, build healthier relationships, and cope with distress.

DBT focuses on four main skill sets:

Mindfulness: Learning to stay present in the moment, rather than being caught up in thoughts or emotional reactivity. It’s about observing without judgment and accepting what is happening in the present.

Distress Tolerance: Building the ability to tolerate and survive crises without resorting to unhealthy behaviors. This involves techniques like self-soothing, distraction, and improving the moment.

Emotion Regulation: Understanding and managing intense emotions without letting them take control. It involves recognizing, labeling, and changing emotions in a healthy way.

Interpersonal Effectiveness: Developing skills to navigate relationships in a way that is both assertive and respectful. This includes skills for saying no, setting boundaries, and asking for what you need.

DBT is often used for people with self-destructive behaviors, like self-harm, suicidal ideation, or chronic emotional dysregulation. It has also been adapted for use in various other contexts, such as treating eating disorders, substance use disorders, PTSD, and depression.

The “dialectical” aspect of DBT refers to the idea that two seemingly opposite things can both be true at once — such as the need to accept things as they are while also striving for change. It’s about finding a balance between these two perspectives.

Shervan K Shahhian

The symptoms of BPD:

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by a pattern of unstable moods, relationships, and self-image.

Common symptoms include:

Intense emotional reactions: People with BPD often experience extreme mood swings that can shift quickly, including feelings of sadness, irritability, or anxiety.

Fear of abandonment: A person with BPD may have an intense fear of being rejected or abandoned by others, leading to frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

Unstable relationships: They may experience relationships that are very intense, with shifts between idealizing and devaluing the other person. Relationships may feel chaotic or unstable.

Impulsive behaviors: These can include risky behaviors like substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating, or unsafe sexual practices.

Poor self-image: Individuals with BPD may struggle with a fluctuating or unstable sense of self, and may feel unsure about their identity or feel empty.

Self-harming behaviors: This can include cutting, burning, or other forms of self-injury, often as a way to cope with emotional pain.

Chronic feelings of emptiness: People with BPD may feel a persistent sense of void or lack of meaning in their lives.

Intense anger or difficulty controlling anger: They may experience frequent anger outbursts, or feel unable to manage their frustration.

Paranoia or dissociation: In times of stress, people with BPD may experience paranoid thoughts or feel disconnected from reality (dissociation).

These symptoms can significantly impact a person’s day-to-day functioning, but with proper treatment such as therapy (especially Dialectical Behavior Therapy), some people with BPD can learn to manage and reduce their symptoms.

Shervan K Shahhian

Understanding Trauma-Focused treatments:

Trauma-focused treatments are designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. These approaches recognize how trauma affects the brain, emotions, and behaviors, and they aim to reduce trauma-related symptoms such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Some of the most effective trauma-focused treatments include:

1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

• A structured approach that helps individuals process traumatic memories.
• Uses cognitive restructuring to change negative thoughts and beliefs.
• Includes relaxation techniques, exposure therapy, and coping skills.

2. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories.
• Aims to reduce emotional distress linked to trauma.
• Effective for PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.

3. Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)

• Gradual exposure to trauma-related thoughts, feelings, and situations.
• Helps reduce avoidance behaviors and fear responses.
• Used primarily for PTSD treatment.

4. Somatic Experiencing (SE)

• Focuses on bodily sensations and releasing stored trauma in the nervous system.
• Helps regulate the body’s fight-or-flight response.
• Encourages awareness of physical sensations linked to trauma.

5. Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• A therapeutic model that helps individuals process trauma by understanding different “parts” of themselves.
• Encourages self-compassion and healing of wounded parts.

6. Mindfulness-Based Trauma Therapy

• Integrates mindfulness meditation and grounding techniques.
• Helps individuals stay present rather than reliving traumatic experiences.
• Used in combination with other treatments.

7. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

• Incorporates movement and body awareness to process trauma.
• Helps individuals reconnect with their body safely.

Shervan K Shahhian

Understanding Mindfulness-Based Interventions:

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are structured programs that incorporate mindfulness practices to enhance mental and emotional well-being. These interventions stem from Buddhist traditions but have been adapted into secular therapeutic settings. They focus on cultivating present-moment awareness, acceptance, and nonjudgmental observation of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations.

Key Mindfulness-Based Interventions:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR):

• Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 1970s.
• Originally designed for chronic pain and stress management.
• Combines mindfulness meditation, body scanning, and gentle yoga.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT):

• Integrates mindfulness with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Developed to prevent relapse in individuals with recurrent depression.
• Helps recognize and disengage from negative thought patterns.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):

• Uses mindfulness alongside behavioral strategies to enhance psychological flexibility.
• Encourages acceptance of difficult emotions rather than avoidance.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):

• Developed for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotional dysregulation.
• Combines mindfulness with distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP):

• Adapted for addiction treatment.
• Helps individuals develop awareness of triggers and cravings.

Core Components of Mindfulness-Based Interventions:

• Focused Attention: Directing attention to a specific object (e.g., breath, body sensations).
• Open Monitoring: Observing thoughts and emotions without attachment or judgment.
• Non-Reactivity: Learning to respond rather than react impulsively.
• Self-Compassion: Encouraging kindness towards oneself, especially during distress.

Applications in Psychology and Parapsychology:

In psychology and parapsychology, you might find MBIs interesting for exploring states of consciousness, psi phenomena, and altered states. Mindfulness has been linked to increased intuition, enhanced self-awareness, and even altered perceptions of time and space, which might intersect with CRV practices.

Shervan K Shahhian