By Dr. Rashid Al-Shashani We will speak of 'absenteeism'—or in one of its senses, numbing—which refers to departing from reality according to its traditional concept. This does not apply solely to medical anesthesia, which represents just one application of this theory, but to everything that falls under the state of seeking to bypass pain. Pain does not stem only from a physical blow or wound; far harsher than physical injury is the pain resulting from a psychological blow or wound that strikes the emotions, where the intentionality behind the damage renders it far sharper than non-intentional physical pain. Based on the foregoing, all means of elevating pain or eliminating the sensation of it—all forms of 'absenteeism'—fall within the scope of our discussion. This includes narcotic substances, whether used for medical purposes or otherwise, medications, beverages of all kinds, and even imagination, ideas, and dreams—referring both to plans for the future and sleep dreams alike. We will not discuss the cause of the pain here, as that belongs to an independent domain; we will begin from the stage following its occurrence. The pain has already occurred and concluded; our task is to navigate the severity of enduring it. In every form of 'absenteeism' mentioned, the individual or those dealing with them seek to shift mental management from one stage to another. The present stage is unsuited for making decisions; the human mind desires to disconnect from the onset of pain so it can later evaluate its cause and determine how to manage it. We must pay attention to the fact that all these states—a patient emerging from surgery as anesthesia wears off, a traumatized person emerging from their initial shock as their initial perception clears, the subsiding of a moment of astonishment followed by calm, or the psychological event receding over time—are sufficient to a phased accumulation between the preceding period and the subsequent one. The importance of this distinction does not lie in returning to the state prior to the shock, blow, or event, as returning to that state is impossible in every scenario. However, the importance of observing this phased accumulation means that we are facing a new state, one that differs from the state that was supposed to be the current reality had this shock, blow, or illness not occurred. This signifies a complete shift in the trajectory of life, imposing a change in the calculations of the individual and those around them regarding how they deal with the phenomena of the world and with others. Facing this unfamiliar reality, we must realize that another accumulation began the moment the flight toward 'absenteeism' commenced. There is even another prior stage that everyone must heed: the stage of complacency, or accepting the possibility of an event occurring while betting against its likelihood. This means the individual previously envisioned that pain was nearing their inner self, yet they continued to cling to a sense of comfort or sweetness that kept them captive to the assumption that the pain would not actually materialize. Envisioning the pain is itself a safeguard that the self shatters when it resorts to 'preliminary absenteeism,' choosing to discard fears or minimize their impact. The matter may differ when the prior pain is not envisioned, yet it aligns in that a message of some kind reached the individual, who repeatedly ignored it. Ignorance and lack of experience may take the form of 'non-envisioning,' but the difference between the two cases lies in the danger of self-rebound. The self punishes itself in 'preliminary absenteeism' due to its shortcoming regarding its own safety despite prior warnings, whereas in the second case, it finds a refuge where it may seek a pretext to leap once again onto the path of 'absenteeism.' If we return to the stage of flight after the pain occurs, we find a long path beginning at that point, which can be divided into stages built upon one another. This necessarily implies that a new structure in the person's life has begun to take shape, signifying a fundamental change in their inner self, psyche, and bodily state. In breaking down this stage—which begins with resorting to 'absenteeism' to numb the ability to feel pain—it progresses past the phase of considering these means and the hesitation it encompasses. This hesitation involves making decisions that were not in the owner's mind before, compounding the self's gamble when deciding whether or not to engage with these forms of detachment. It moves through the crisis of the outcomes of either decision and the reaction of the self and others, without ending simply upon concluding this engagement or the impact of the decision to refrain from it. We stand directly at the point of return from this journey of troubles, only to find that the person has reached a point of no return. This impossibility of return applies universally, but here it takes on a strange form. In one of its manifestations, this strangeness means that this person's trajectory was unlike most of their peers. Consequently, their interactions with others and others' interactions with them will not be normal. Note that 'normal' does not necessarily mean 'healthy' in the conventional sense; the opposite may well be true, meaning that the healthier state is precisely the one we are discussing. This point of no return inevitably results in the accumulation caused by the previous stages forging a new person we did not know before. This necessarily means that this person has come to view at least one other individual in a light different from how they once hoped to see them. Pay attention here to the word 'hoped': this leads us to speak of first impressions, which imprint an immediate image of anyone with whom one shares a relationship, regardless of its type or level, even if it is merely buying from a grocery store. In that moment of disappointment, the person sees a face in which they recognize their own reflection as seen by the other party during their very first encounter—an impression they may have both since forgotten, yet one that was decisive and real. Finally, you must know that the image of the person that changed in the eyes of the 'one who received the blow' does not change in isolation. Along with it change the places, details, and everything connected to that person, even the elements they dislike, which are too numerous to count. From this point begins the overarching concept of revolution—revolution as a fundamental rejection of submission to control. Lastly, it should be recalled that every creature interacts with this type of 'absenteeism' against their will, doing so at the very least during sleep. Sleep is one form of 'self-coma,' though this coma does not imply a disconnection from reality or the world, nor does it mean it stems from imagination or resembles it on the premise that imagination is the antithesis of reality. That is not the case. From here, as you marvel at the words of dream interpreters—whose practice we do not endorse—observe how the details of your dreams live within you without you understanding their purpose, except perhaps slightly and after time has passed. Achieving such an understanding may require a parallel form of 'absenteeism' that takes the shape of making decisions whose goal is to escape the present rather than to achieve the original plan's primary objective. This applies to all psychological pain regardless of its source, pain that may even take the form of nostalgia and longing. Rum News Agency
By Dr. Rashid Al-Shashani We will speak of 'absenteeism'—or in one of its senses, numbing—which refers to departing from reality according to its traditional concept. This does not apply solely to medical anesthesia, which represents just one application of this theory, but to everything that falls under the state of seeking to bypass pain. Pain does not stem only from a physical blow or wound; far harsher than physical injury is the pain resulting from a psychological blow or wound that strikes the emotions, where the intentionality behind the damage renders it far sharper than non-intentional physical pain. Based on the foregoing, all means of elevating pain or eliminating the sensation of it—all forms of 'absenteeism'—fall within the scope of our discussion. This includes narcotic substances, whether used for medical purposes or otherwise, medications, beverages of all kinds, and even imagination, ideas, and dreams—referring both to plans for the future and sleep dreams alike. We will not discuss the cause of the pain here, as that belongs to an independent domain; we will begin from the stage following its occurrence. The pain has already occurred and concluded; our task is to navigate the severity of enduring it. In every form of 'absenteeism' mentioned, the individual or those dealing with them seek to shift mental management from one stage to another. The present stage is unsuited for making decisions; the human mind desires to disconnect from the onset of pain so it can later evaluate its cause and determine how to manage it. We must pay attention to the fact that all these states—a patient emerging from surgery as anesthesia wears off, a traumatized person emerging from their initial shock as their initial perception clears, the subsiding of a moment of astonishment followed by calm, or the psychological event receding over time—are sufficient to a phased accumulation between the preceding period and the subsequent one. The importance of this distinction does not lie in returning to the state prior to the shock, blow, or event, as returning to that state is impossible in every scenario. However, the importance of observing this phased accumulation means that we are facing a new state, one that differs from the state that was supposed to be the current reality had this shock, blow, or illness not occurred. This signifies a complete shift in the trajectory of life, imposing a change in the calculations of the individual and those around them regarding how they deal with the phenomena of the world and with others. Facing this unfamiliar reality, we must realize that another accumulation began the moment the flight toward 'absenteeism' commenced. There is even another prior stage that everyone must heed: the stage of complacency, or accepting the possibility of an event occurring while betting against its likelihood. This means the individual previously envisioned that pain was nearing their inner self, yet they continued to cling to a sense of comfort or sweetness that kept them captive to the assumption that the pain would not actually materialize. Envisioning the pain is itself a safeguard that the self shatters when it resorts to 'preliminary absenteeism,' choosing to discard fears or minimize their impact. The matter may differ when the prior pain is not envisioned, yet it aligns in that a message of some kind reached the individual, who repeatedly ignored it. Ignorance and lack of experience may take the form of 'non-envisioning,' but the difference between the two cases lies in the danger of self-rebound. The self punishes itself in 'preliminary absenteeism' due to its shortcoming regarding its own safety despite prior warnings, whereas in the second case, it finds a refuge where it may seek a pretext to leap once again onto the path of 'absenteeism.' If we return to the stage of flight after the pain occurs, we find a long path beginning at that point, which can be divided into stages built upon one another. This necessarily implies that a new structure in the person's life has begun to take shape, signifying a fundamental change in their inner self, psyche, and bodily state. In breaking down this stage—which begins with resorting to 'absenteeism' to numb the ability to feel pain—it progresses past the phase of considering these means and the hesitation it encompasses. This hesitation involves making decisions that were not in the owner's mind before, compounding the self's gamble when deciding whether or not to engage with these forms of detachment. It moves through the crisis of the outcomes of either decision and the reaction of the self and others, without ending simply upon concluding this engagement or the impact of the decision to refrain from it. We stand directly at the point of return from this journey of troubles, only to find that the person has reached a point of no return. This impossibility of return applies universally, but here it takes on a strange form. In one of its manifestations, this strangeness means that this person's trajectory was unlike most of their peers. Consequently, their interactions with others and others' interactions with them will not be normal. Note that 'normal' does not necessarily mean 'healthy' in the conventional sense; the opposite may well be true, meaning that the healthier state is precisely the one we are discussing. This point of no return inevitably results in the accumulation caused by the previous stages forging a new person we did not know before. This necessarily means that this person has come to view at least one other individual in a light different from how they once hoped to see them. Pay attention here to the word 'hoped': this leads us to speak of first impressions, which imprint an immediate image of anyone with whom one shares a relationship, regardless of its type or level, even if it is merely buying from a grocery store. In that moment of disappointment, the person sees a face in which they recognize their own reflection as seen by the other party during their very first encounter—an impression they may have both since forgotten, yet one that was decisive and real. Finally, you must know that the image of the person that changed in the eyes of the 'one who received the blow' does not change in isolation. Along with it change the places, details, and everything connected to that person, even the elements they dislike, which are too numerous to count. From this point begins the overarching concept of revolution—revolution as a fundamental rejection of submission to control. Lastly, it should be recalled that every creature interacts with this type of 'absenteeism' against their will, doing so at the very least during sleep. Sleep is one form of 'self-coma,' though this coma does not imply a disconnection from reality or the world, nor does it mean it stems from imagination or resembles it on the premise that imagination is the antithesis of reality. That is not the case. From here, as you marvel at the words of dream interpreters—whose practice we do not endorse—observe how the details of your dreams live within you without you understanding their purpose, except perhaps slightly and after time has passed. Achieving such an understanding may require a parallel form of 'absenteeism' that takes the shape of making decisions whose goal is to escape the present rather than to achieve the original plan's primary objective. This applies to all psychological pain regardless of its source, pain that may even take the form of nostalgia and longing. Rum News Agency
By Dr. Rashid Al-Shashani We will speak of 'absenteeism'—or in one of its senses, numbing—which refers to departing from reality according to its traditional concept. This does not apply solely to medical anesthesia, which represents just one application of this theory, but to everything that falls under the state of seeking to bypass pain. Pain does not stem only from a physical blow or wound; far harsher than physical injury is the pain resulting from a psychological blow or wound that strikes the emotions, where the intentionality behind the damage renders it far sharper than non-intentional physical pain. Based on the foregoing, all means of elevating pain or eliminating the sensation of it—all forms of 'absenteeism'—fall within the scope of our discussion. This includes narcotic substances, whether used for medical purposes or otherwise, medications, beverages of all kinds, and even imagination, ideas, and dreams—referring both to plans for the future and sleep dreams alike. We will not discuss the cause of the pain here, as that belongs to an independent domain; we will begin from the stage following its occurrence. The pain has already occurred and concluded; our task is to navigate the severity of enduring it. In every form of 'absenteeism' mentioned, the individual or those dealing with them seek to shift mental management from one stage to another. The present stage is unsuited for making decisions; the human mind desires to disconnect from the onset of pain so it can later evaluate its cause and determine how to manage it. We must pay attention to the fact that all these states—a patient emerging from surgery as anesthesia wears off, a traumatized person emerging from their initial shock as their initial perception clears, the subsiding of a moment of astonishment followed by calm, or the psychological event receding over time—are sufficient to a phased accumulation between the preceding period and the subsequent one. The importance of this distinction does not lie in returning to the state prior to the shock, blow, or event, as returning to that state is impossible in every scenario. However, the importance of observing this phased accumulation means that we are facing a new state, one that differs from the state that was supposed to be the current reality had this shock, blow, or illness not occurred. This signifies a complete shift in the trajectory of life, imposing a change in the calculations of the individual and those around them regarding how they deal with the phenomena of the world and with others. Facing this unfamiliar reality, we must realize that another accumulation began the moment the flight toward 'absenteeism' commenced. There is even another prior stage that everyone must heed: the stage of complacency, or accepting the possibility of an event occurring while betting against its likelihood. This means the individual previously envisioned that pain was nearing their inner self, yet they continued to cling to a sense of comfort or sweetness that kept them captive to the assumption that the pain would not actually materialize. Envisioning the pain is itself a safeguard that the self shatters when it resorts to 'preliminary absenteeism,' choosing to discard fears or minimize their impact. The matter may differ when the prior pain is not envisioned, yet it aligns in that a message of some kind reached the individual, who repeatedly ignored it. Ignorance and lack of experience may take the form of 'non-envisioning,' but the difference between the two cases lies in the danger of self-rebound. The self punishes itself in 'preliminary absenteeism' due to its shortcoming regarding its own safety despite prior warnings, whereas in the second case, it finds a refuge where it may seek a pretext to leap once again onto the path of 'absenteeism.' If we return to the stage of flight after the pain occurs, we find a long path beginning at that point, which can be divided into stages built upon one another. This necessarily implies that a new structure in the person's life has begun to take shape, signifying a fundamental change in their inner self, psyche, and bodily state. In breaking down this stage—which begins with resorting to 'absenteeism' to numb the ability to feel pain—it progresses past the phase of considering these means and the hesitation it encompasses. This hesitation involves making decisions that were not in the owner's mind before, compounding the self's gamble when deciding whether or not to engage with these forms of detachment. It moves through the crisis of the outcomes of either decision and the reaction of the self and others, without ending simply upon concluding this engagement or the impact of the decision to refrain from it. We stand directly at the point of return from this journey of troubles, only to find that the person has reached a point of no return. This impossibility of return applies universally, but here it takes on a strange form. In one of its manifestations, this strangeness means that this person's trajectory was unlike most of their peers. Consequently, their interactions with others and others' interactions with them will not be normal. Note that 'normal' does not necessarily mean 'healthy' in the conventional sense; the opposite may well be true, meaning that the healthier state is precisely the one we are discussing. This point of no return inevitably results in the accumulation caused by the previous stages forging a new person we did not know before. This necessarily means that this person has come to view at least one other individual in a light different from how they once hoped to see them. Pay attention here to the word 'hoped': this leads us to speak of first impressions, which imprint an immediate image of anyone with whom one shares a relationship, regardless of its type or level, even if it is merely buying from a grocery store. In that moment of disappointment, the person sees a face in which they recognize their own reflection as seen by the other party during their very first encounter—an impression they may have both since forgotten, yet one that was decisive and real. Finally, you must know that the image of the person that changed in the eyes of the 'one who received the blow' does not change in isolation. Along with it change the places, details, and everything connected to that person, even the elements they dislike, which are too numerous to count. From this point begins the overarching concept of revolution—revolution as a fundamental rejection of submission to control. Lastly, it should be recalled that every creature interacts with this type of 'absenteeism' against their will, doing so at the very least during sleep. Sleep is one form of 'self-coma,' though this coma does not imply a disconnection from reality or the world, nor does it mean it stems from imagination or resembles it on the premise that imagination is the antithesis of reality. That is not the case. From here, as you marvel at the words of dream interpreters—whose practice we do not endorse—observe how the details of your dreams live within you without you understanding their purpose, except perhaps slightly and after time has passed. Achieving such an understanding may require a parallel form of 'absenteeism' that takes the shape of making decisions whose goal is to escape the present rather than to achieve the original plan's primary objective. This applies to all psychological pain regardless of its source, pain that may even take the form of nostalgia and longing. Rum News Agency
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Op-Ed: Self-Coma
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