Month: November 2012

Searching…

Searching for My Soulmate

Where is she?
I stared out the window — (Windows XP, to be precise).

And then… I saw her.

“Do you believe in ideal love?” I asked.
She smiled and replied,
“We can search…” — (Google search)

So began our journey — through the endless expanse of virtual space.

Along the way, we met Plato.
He said,:“There is an ideal form for everything…”

“Do you think the number 1 truly exists?” he asked.
“If it plays a real role in your world, then its perfect form, number one,from which every other copy developed,must exist somewhere — beyond perception.”

“If you can draw a circle,” he continued,
“there must be a perfect circle — untouched, eternal — that your mind echoes.”

We kept searching for the ideal…
But every answer only raised more questions.

“Can I believe your love is ideal?” I asked her.
Paranoia — it’s a habit I can’t shake.

Then suddenly…
She disappeared.

And in her absence,
Agony.
Emptiness.
Darkness — thick and absolute.

Dear soulmate…
I think I felt it from the very first moment I saw you.

I tried to dismiss it —
Told myself it was just an illusion,
A passing fascination with a beautiful face.

But denial failed me.
The feeling only grew, stronger, deeper…
Helplessly, I gave in.

I had always believed romantic love was foreign to me —
A language I could never speak.

But now, even your silence,
Your absence,
hurts.

Where are you…?

Plato whispers once more: “The perfect form exists…
…up above, beyond the sky.”

“Can you show me the way?” I plead.
Walk over the water…forward,
with faith.”

Future cant be futile.

The Role of Conditioning in Schizophrenia and Human Relationships

Dr. Nelson Kattikat

The Role of Conditioning in Schizophrenia and Human Relationships

When Pavlov first described the concept of the conditioned reflex, he may not have foreseen its far-reaching implications—especially in understanding complex mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Similarly, while Skinner expanded on operant conditioning, the depth to which conditioning shapes psychiatric phenomena may still be underappreciated.

I propose that schizophrenia is, in part, a disorder of maladaptive conditioning.

The characteristic withdrawal of individuals with schizophrenia into their inner world may be understood as a learned response to persistent negative, painful, or overwhelming external stimuli. This retreat into internal preoccupation becomes a coping mechanism—a form of self-withdrawal—where the individual seeks refuge from a threatening or unmanageable environment.

Over time, this intense inward focus leads to heightened sensitivity to internal cues at the expense of external reality. In such a state, a faulty conditioning process begins to occur: neutral or random internal stimuli become associated with pathological responses.

For example, a particular internal sensation or thought may become linked with an auditory hallucination—hearing voices when no one is speaking. Another internal cue might be associated with a fixed false belief—a delusion. These associations are not random; they are learned and reinforced, albeit unconsciously, forming a self-sustaining loop of psychotic symptoms.

I have noticed similar patterns of conditioning in other domains, particularly in marital discord.

In distressed relationships, negative emotional conditioning can occur between partners. Over time, due to repeated conflicts, a partner’s voice, facial expression, or mere presence can unconsciously trigger a cascade of negative emotions—resentment, anxiety, or anger. These responses are not always rooted in the current situation, but in learned emotional associations developed through past painful interactions.

Even when both partners desire peace and reconciliation, their unconscious minds may resist, reacting automatically to conditioned triggers. Neutral conversations can become emotionally charged—not because of the content, but because the stimulus (partner’s tone, words, or presence) has been paired repeatedly with distress in the past.

This illustrates that conditioning doesn’t only occur in experimental settings—it’s an integral part of human experience, influencing behavior, relationships, and even the emergence of psychiatric symptoms. Understanding these dynamics can help us develop more effective therapeutic approaches, whether through cognitive-behavioral interventions, desensitization techniques, or deeper insight-based therapies that aim to recondition the mind toward healthier associations.

In conclusion, conditioned learning—both positive and negative—plays a profound role in mental health and interpersonal functioning. Recognizing and addressing these patterns can be key to both understanding and healing.