writing – LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

“Hypnotism” comes from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep:

“Hypnotism” comes from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep.

Here’s the lineage:
In the mid-1800s, Scottish surgeon James Braid coined the term “neuro-hypnotism” (from the Greek Hypnos, meaning sleep) to describe the peculiar trance-like state he was observing in patients.
Later he shortened it to “hypnotism.”
Braid originally thought this state was a form of artificial sleep, which is why he borrowed from the name of the sleep god.
However, he later realized hypnosis is not actually sleep but a special state of focused attention and suggestibility.

So the word “hypnotism” has its root in Hypnos, but the practice itself is closer to a waking state than to real sleep.

Here’s the connection between Hypnos in mythology and hypnotism:

Hypnos in Greek Mythology

Hypnos = god of sleep.
Son of Nyx (Night), twin brother of Thanatos (Death).
Lived in a dark cave where the sun never shone, surrounded by poppies (a symbol of sleep/dreams).
His touch or words could calm gods and mortals alike, sending them into deep rest.
He was gentle, unlike his brother Thanatos - his power was about relaxation, release, and altered states, not finality.

Why Braid Chose “Hypnotism”

When James Braid saw patients in trance states, their relaxed appearance, closed eyes, and dream-like quality reminded him of sleep → so he linked it to Hypnos.
The metaphor fit well: just as Hypnos could lull even Zeus to sleep, the hypnotist seemed to have power to shift consciousness and bypass resistance.

Symbolic Parallels

Entrance to another state → Hypnos guided mortals into dreams, hypnosis guides the mind into trance.
Suggestibility → In myths, Hypnos influences behavior by softening consciousness; in hypnosis, suggestions bypass ordinary awareness.
Between waking and death → Hypnos stands between alert life and Thanatos (death), just as hypnosis stands between wakefulness and unconscious sleep.

Later Misunderstanding

Because of the name, many thought hypnosis was literally sleep (even today people say “you look asleep in hypnosis”).
But modern science shows hypnosis is a focused waking state, not true sleep - though it shares the same imagery of rest, surrender, and altered awareness that Hypnos embodied.

So: Hypnotism inherits both the imagery and the mystery of Hypnos - a gentle power to lead the mind across the threshold of ordinary awareness.
Shervan K Shahhian

Here’s how you can create a weekly Mindfulness journaling plan:

You can build a weekly Mindfulness Journaling Plan:

Creating a weekly mindfulness journaling plan can help build emotional awareness, reduce anxiety, and foster mental clarity.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to structure your week for consistency and depth:

Weekly Mindfulness Journaling Plan

Daily Structure (10–15 min/day)

Each day, write in a quiet space without distractions. Follow a gentle flow:

Check-In (2–3 min):

How do I feel physically, emotionally, mentally?
One word that describes me right now.

Mindfulness Prompt (5–10 min):

Use the day’s theme below (see Weekly Schedule).
Stay nonjudgmental, curious, and present.

Gratitude or Closing (2 min):

One thing I’m grateful for.
One intention for tomorrow.

Weekly Mindfulness Schedule

You can rotate themes each week or keep them constant.

Day Focus Prompt Example Monday Awareness What sensations or thoughts am I noticing right now without judgment? Tuesday Emotions What emotion is most present today? Where do I feel it in my body? Wednesday Thoughts What recurring thought showed up today? Can I observe it like a cloud passing by? Thursday Self-Compassion In what area do I need kindness toward myself? What would a friend say to me?Friday Gratitude What small moment today brought me peace, comfort, or joy? Saturday Connection How did I connect with someone (or nature)? How did it feel? Sunday Reflection + IntentionWhat did I learn this week about myself? What intention do I want to carry forward?

Optional Tools

Mindful breathing (1–2 minutes) before journaling.
Body scan to anchor awareness.
Use pen and paper for deeper connection (but digital is fine too).
Set a timer to gently guide your sessions.

Tips for Success

Be gentle with yourself — skip a day if needed, without guilt.
Review entries weekly to notice patterns or shifts.
Pair with meditation or yoga for enhanced grounding.
Avoid self-analysis — observe, don’t fix.

Shervan K Shahhian

Reflective Journaling, what and how:

Reflective Journaling:

Reflective journaling is a powerful practice used in therapy, education, and personal growth to encourage deeper self-awareness, insight, and emotional processing. It involves regularly writing about your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and reactions in a way that promotes reflection and understanding.

What Is Reflective Journaling?

Reflective journaling is more than just recording events — it involves:

Analyzing your thoughts and emotions
Exploring your motivations and behaviors
Learning from your experiences
Noticing patterns in thinking and behavior

Benefits of Reflective Journaling

Enhances self-awareness — Helps identify core beliefs, biases, and emotional triggers.

Supports emotional regulation — Provides an outlet for processing emotions like anxiety, depression, or frustration.

Encourages personal growth — Facilitates goal-setting and recognition of progress.

Improves critical thinking — Promotes deeper analysis of thoughts and decisions.

Assists in therapy — Complements psychological treatment by making insights more accessible.

How to Practice Reflective Journaling

You can use simple prompts or structured techniques. Here’s a general format:

Describe the experience

What happened? Where? Who was involved?

Express your thoughts and feelings

What were you thinking or feeling at the time?

Analyze the experience

Why did it affect you that way? What assumptions or patterns were present?

Draw conclusions

What have you learned about yourself? About others?

Plan for future action

How might you respond differently next time? What changes can you make?

Example Prompt Questions

What was the most emotionally intense part of my day and why?
What thought kept recurring today, and what does it say about me?
How did I handle stress or disappointment today?
When did I feel most like myself today?

Here are reflective journaling prompts specifically tailored to help process and understand anxiety and depression — both emotionally and cognitively. These prompts encourage compassionate self-inquiry, emotional awareness, and small steps toward healing.

For Anxiety

What triggered my anxiety today?

Can I identify a specific event, thought, or environment?

What was I afraid might happen?

Was this fear realistic or distorted?

How did my body feel during the anxious moment?

What physical sensations did I notice?

What helped reduce my anxiety, even slightly?

Was it breathing, distraction, talking to someone, etc.?

What would I say to a friend feeling the same way?

Can I offer myself the same kindness?

What can I control about the situation?

And what might I choose to let go of?

For Depression

How did I feel when I woke up today?

What thoughts or emotions were present?

What small thing gave me even a hint of comfort or peace today?

A moment, a sound, a gesture, etc.?

What thought or belief kept repeating itself today?

Is it true? Is it helpful?

What do I need right now, emotionally or physically?

What would help meet that need?

When did I feel most disconnected today?

What might help me reconnect (to myself, others, nature)?

What’s one small thing I can do tomorrow that feels manageable?

Even if it’s very small — like brushing my teeth or opening the window.

Combined Self-Compassion Prompts

What would I say to my younger self who felt this way?
Can I find one moment today where I showed courage, even if no one noticed?

mindfulness-based therapy

Great choice! Mindfulness-Based Therapy (like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, MBCT) encourages non-judgmental awareness of the present moment — especially helpful for managing anxiety and depression. Here’s a reflective journaling prompt set designed specifically within a mindfulness-based framework:

Mindfulness-Based Reflective Journaling Prompts

(For Anxiety & Depression)

1. Present-Moment Awareness

What am I noticing right now — sensations, thoughts, or emotions — without trying to change them?

Where in my body do I feel tension or discomfort?
Are my thoughts racing, still, cloudy, or sharp?
Can I describe my emotional state without labeling it good or bad?

2. Non-Judgmental Observation

What thoughts or feelings showed up today that I tried to avoid or push away?

How did I react to those thoughts/feelings?
Could I have let them pass like clouds in the sky?

3. Acceptance & Self-Compassion

In what moment today did I judge myself harshly?

Can I reframe that moment with kindness?
What would it look like to accept myself as I am right now?

4. Awareness of Triggers and Reactions

What external situation triggered emotional discomfort today?

What was my automatic reaction?
Was there a brief moment where I could have paused before reacting?

5. Letting Go

What am I holding on to that I no longer need?

A belief? A worry? An expectation?
Can I visualize gently setting it down, even for a moment?

6. Responding Instead of Reacting

Was there a moment today when I reacted automatically?

How could I pause next time to respond more mindfully?

7. Moments of Gratitude or Peace

Did I notice a small moment of calm, gratitude, or beauty today?

What was it? What did it feel like in my body and mind?

Mindfulness Journaling Practice Tips:

Write slowly and intentionally, pausing between questions.
Use breath awareness before and after journaling (e.g., 3 deep mindful breaths).
Practice non-striving — you’re not trying to “fix” anything.
End with gratitude, even if it’s simply: “I took time to care for myself by writing today.”

Shervan K Shahhian

Writing an in-depth personal essay, why:

Writing an in-depth personal essay, why:

Writing an in-depth personal essay can serve a variety of powerful purposes — intellectually, emotionally, creatively, and even spiritually.

Here are some layered reasons why one might write a personal essay:

1. To Understand Yourself More Deeply
Writing forces clarity. When you try to put your experiences into words, you begin to see patterns, connect events, and uncover meanings you might have missed. It’s a tool for self-analysis.

“I write to know what I think.” — Joan Didion

Your own story, when explored deeply, becomes a mirror. It reveals not just what happened, but how you were shaped by it — and how you’ve shaped yourself since.

2. To Heal and Transform
An in-depth personal essay can be a healing act. Putting painful or complex experiences into language can be cathartic, even liberating. In psychology, this is similar to the therapeutic process of narrative therapy — rewriting the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.

Writing gives you authorship over your life’s narrative, helping you move from being a character in the story to becoming its conscious narrator.

3. To Make Meaning of the Human Experience
What seems personal often resonates universally. Your specific struggles, insights, and transformations might echo in someone else’s life. An in-depth essay can be a bridge — between your inner world and the collective human experience.

Personal becomes universal when it’s written honestly and insightfully.

4. To Preserve a Moment in Time
Our memories fade, our perspectives shift. Writing a personal essay is like freezing a piece of your life in amber. It preserves not just the facts, but the emotions, the questions, and the state of being that surrounded a moment in your life.

5. To Share Wisdom or Inspire Others
Sometimes, your story contains hard-won truths, spiritual insights, or lived wisdom that others might benefit from. A personal essay can be an offering — a kind of soul-to-soul transmission.

Especially if you’re someone walking a path of exploration, healing, or awakening, your words can be a light for others navigating similar terrain.

6. To Develop as a Writer and Thinker
Writing a personal essay hones your craft: it builds voice, style, structure, and perspective. It’s where the memoirist meets the philosopher, the storyteller meets the investigator.

It asks:

What is really going on with me?

What does this say about the world?

How can I express this with beauty, honesty, and precision?

Shervan K Shahhian

What is Rhetorical Epistemology?

Rhetorical epistemology is a field of study that explores the intersection between rhetoric and knowledge. It examines how language, discourse, and communication shape and influence our understanding of truth, beliefs, and knowledge. Rhetoric, in this context, refers to the art of persuasive communication and argumentation.

Rhetorical epistemology recognizes that knowledge is not solely based on objective facts or empirical evidence but is also constructed and mediated through language and communication practices. It emphasizes the role of rhetoric in shaping what is considered valid knowledge and how it is constructed, justified, and communicated within different contexts.

This field explores questions such as:

How does language and rhetoric influence the creation and dissemination of knowledge?
How do rhetorical strategies and argumentation shape our perception of truth and reality?
How do different social, cultural, and historical contexts affect the construction of knowledge?
How do power dynamics and ideology influence the rhetorical construction of knowledge?

Rhetorical epistemology draws from various disciplines such as philosophy, communication studies, linguistics, and rhetoric to examine the relationship between language, rhetoric, and knowledge. It is concerned with understanding the ways in which rhetorical practices and strategies shape our understanding of the world and influence our beliefs and values.

Overall, rhetorical epistemology offers insights into how language and communication practices contribute to the construction, validation, and dissemination of knowledge, shedding light on the complex relationship between rhetoric and our understanding of truth and reality.

Shervan K Shahhian

Critical Thinking, a great explanation:

Critical thinking, a great explanation:

Critical thinking is a cognitive process that involves analyzing and evaluating information, arguments, or situations in a systematic and logical manner. It goes beyond simply accepting or rejecting ideas and encourages individuals to question, explore, and assess the validity of claims.

Here’s a breakdown of key components of critical thinking:

Analysis: Critical thinking involves breaking down information into its essential parts to understand the underlying structure or components. This includes identifying key concepts, relationships, and assumptions.

Evaluation: Once information is analyzed, critical thinkers assess its quality, relevance, and reliability. They consider the source of information, the evidence provided, and the logic of the arguments presented.

Inference: Critical thinkers draw logical and reasonable conclusions based on the information available. They go beyond the surface and make educated guesses or predictions about what might happen next.

Problem-solving: Critical thinking is essential for effective problem-solving. It helps individuals identify and define problems, explore possible solutions, and make informed decisions.

Reflection: Critical thinkers reflect on their own thought processes, biases, and assumptions. They are open to revising their views in light of new evidence and are willing to consider alternative perspectives.

Curiosity: A key aspect of critical thinking is a genuine curiosity and a willingness to explore new ideas. Critical thinkers actively seek out information, ask questions, and engage in continuous learning.

Communication: Critical thinking involves effectively expressing ideas and arguments. It requires the ability to articulate thoughts clearly, listen actively to others, and engage in constructive dialogue.

Skepticism: Critical thinkers approach information with a healthy dose of skepticism. They don’t accept claims at face value but instead seek evidence and reasoning to support or refute those claims.

In summary, critical thinking is a multifaceted intellectual process that empowers individuals to approach information and problems with a discerning and analytical mindset. It is a skill that can be developed and refined over time through practice and a commitment to intellectual growth.

Shervan K Shahhian

How to built a Positive Narrative:

How to built a positive narrative:

Building a positive narrative involves framing information and stories in a way that emphasizes optimistic and constructive aspects. Here are some tips to help you create a positive narrative:

Start with a Positive Tone:

Use positive language and optimistic expressions.
Frame statements in a way that conveys hope and possibility.

Focus on Solutions:

Instead of dwelling on problems, highlight solutions.
Showcase how challenges can be overcome and improvements can be made.

Highlight Success Stories:

Share examples of individuals or groups who have achieved positive outcomes.
Use real-life stories to inspire and motivate your audience.

Emphasize Progress:

Acknowledge and celebrate any progress, no matter how small.
Demonstrate that positive change is happening.

Provide Context:

Explain the background and context of situations to help people understand the larger picture.
Frame challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.

Use Empowering Language:

Choose words that empower and uplift.
Encourage a sense of agency and control.

Be Inclusive:

Include diverse perspectives and voices in your narrative.
Showcase collaboration and unity.

Use Visuals:

Incorporate positive imagery that supports your narrative.
Infographics, photos, and videos can enhance the positive impact.

Avoid Blame and Criticism:

Minimize negativity by avoiding blame and criticism.
Focus on constructive feedback and improvement.

Frame Challenges as Opportunities:

Present challenges as opportunities for growth and development.
Highlight the potential positive outcomes of overcoming obstacles.

Cultivate a Sense of Gratitude:

Express gratitude for positive aspects, achievements, and collaborative efforts.
Foster a mindset of appreciation.

Encourage Engagement:

Encourage your audience to participate and contribute to positive initiatives.
Create a sense of shared responsibility.

Provide Clear Direction:

Outline clear and achievable steps toward positive outcomes.
Help people see a path forward.

Be Authentic:

Authenticity adds credibility to your narrative.
Share genuine stories and experiences.

Stay Hopeful:

Maintain an optimistic outlook, even in challenging situations.
Inspire hope by showing that positive change is possible.

By incorporating these elements into your communication, you can create a positive narrative that inspires and motivates your audience.

Shervan K Shahhian

Confabulation in Mental Health, what does that mean:

Confabulation in Mental Health, what does that mean:

Confabulation in mental health refers to a memory disturbance where an individual unintentionally fabricates or provides inaccurate information to fill in gaps in their memory. This phenomenon is not an intentional lie or deception; instead, it involves the creation of false or distorted memories without the person being aware that the information is incorrect.

Confabulation can occur in various mental health conditions, including certain types of dementia, amnesia, brain injuries, and psychiatric disorders. It often involves the person genuinely believing in the accuracy of the information they are providing, even though it may be inconsistent with reality.

The causes of confabulation can be diverse, including damage to the brain’s frontal lobes, which play a role in memory and executive functions. It can also result from the brain’s attempts to make sense of fragmented or incomplete memories.

It’s essential for healthcare professionals to distinguish between intentional deception and confabulation, as it can provide valuable insights into the underlying neurological or psychological issues that may be contributing to the phenomenon. Understanding confabulation can be crucial for developing appropriate care and support strategies for individuals experiencing this memory disturbance.

Shervan K Shahhian

Pop Psychology, what is it:

Pop Psychology, what is it:

While pop psychology can serve as an introduction to psychological concepts for the general public, it’s important to recognize that it may oversimplify or misrepresent the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. For a more accurate understanding of psychology, individuals are encouraged to explore the field through reputable sources, academic literature, and consultation with qualified professionals.

Pop psychology, short for popular psychology, refers to simplified and easily accessible psychological concepts and ideas that are often presented in mainstream media, self-help books, and other forms of popular culture. It encompasses psychological concepts that are simplified or exaggerated for mass consumption, aiming to appeal to a broad audience.

Pop psychology often focuses on self-help advice, personal development, and quick fixes for common psychological issues. It tends to simplify complex psychological theories and research findings, presenting them in a way that is easy to understand but may lack the nuance and depth found in academic psychology.

Shervan K Shahhian