The Image of an Iceberg
The iceberg is an excellent example to represent the psyche, the totality of the human mind, both conscious and unconscious. Even the behavior of an iceberg follows the behavior of most human beings. It moves slowly and continuously and is led by the currents of the ocean. What lies beneath the surface of an iceberg is hidden but makes up the largest part of the iceberg. The only way we become aware that something is under the surface of an iceberg is when it collides with something outside of itself.
Looking Deeper
And so, it is with human beings. Most of who we are, body, mind, and spirit, is hidden from us. Until, of course, we encounter an event, situation or individual that forces us to look deeper into what is happening beneath our conscious awareness that is prompting our thoughts and actions. This encounter is often perceived as a crisis of some sort. Because of the nature of crisis, emotions create a strong reaction within us. And we then become caught up in the chaos that ensues after a crisis.
There is a part of the brain that does not respond to verbal cues or language. That part only responds to images and symbols. When we look at an image, such as the iceberg, it allows both areas of the brain to engage in a deeper, more holistic response. It allows us to better comprehend the unique complexity of a human being. It helps us to understand why we do and how so much of what we do and say is not what we intended.
We struggle to express ourselves verbally through the images that we see in our mind. And we often respond in a manner that is far removed from what we meant. Our reactions and behaviors as well follow this pattern. We find ourselves over or underreacting to an incident and have no idea why or where that reaction came from. We often don’t know where our behavior, expressions, or language originates. Even when we think we know, based on what our conscious awareness, the iceberg reminds us there is so much more beneath the surface of which we know nothing.
Making the First Step
Psychotherapy is often the first step we take in achieving a better understanding of what drives us to do what we do and why we do it. Very often a crisis or event in our lives causes us so much discomfort that we feel like we need to do something or “go crazy”. It may take the form of crippling depression, overwhelming anxiety and panic or an outburst of anger that was clearly an overreaction to the event.
Psychotherapy has come a long way since Freud and Jung. There are now more effective interventions that help us to gain insight and awareness much faster than before. The most recent innovative intervention is EMDR, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This protocol has been studied extensively due to the growing body of knowledge regarding the brain and how it responds to talk therapy. This protocol allows the non-verbal parts of the brain to be accessed in a manner that can be utilized to resolve traumatic events from early onset.
Children don’t have the brain development to comprehend or understand what is happening, so it is just tucked away in some remote part of the brain until a time as an adult we are sufficiently strong and stable enough to recall the event and allow it to be articulated and explored.
Types of Help
EMDR empowers the client by allowing the client to express in his own words thoughts realized now as an adult with a fully functioning brain. The therapist becomes the facilitator who enables the client to discover for himself what has been buried deep within the crevasses of his own psyche.
So, when you look at the iceberg, I hope it reminds you of how much of yourself you have yet to discover. Despite some discomfort, it can be an adventure of a lifetime. Although the interventions and protocols evolve, the image of the iceberg remains an accurate symbol for the psyche. This particular image resembles a top view of the dissected brain. Its convolutions, shadows and ridges mimic the terrain of the human brain. Each section holds secret information in the iceberg that scientists are continuing to discover. So it is with the brain.
Neuroscience is currently doing with the brain that scientists do with an iceberg: delving into the deep parts to discover what is hidden under the surface deep within the heart of the iceberg. The difference is the scientist works to discover what’s in an iceberg. However, with a human, we are left to delve into our own hidden areas.
Understanding our Shadows
Icebergs have shadows, people have shadows. We can look out at the iceberg and when we look under the surface, we see the shadows. With humans, our shadows are behind. We have no idea they even exist at first. Not until we make a conscious decision to turn around and face our shadows directly.
Suzette Doescher, LCSW-S
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates knew what he was talking about.