The Mental Health Meanings of the Attack on Iran and the Confluence With Purim and Holi

PSYCHIATRIC VIEWS ON THE DAILY NEWS

It was about 10AM in the morning light, local time, when the first bombs of the darkness of war exploded in Tehran on Saturday during the Ramadan holidays month. Whether it was considered to be the irrational fear of Islamophobia in regard to Iran, or a rational and realistic response to appropriate fears of dangers, depends on your perspective. Besides being a conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, it is also an interfaith Islamic conflict between the Shiite Islam of Iran and the Sunni Islamic domination of most of the rest of the Gulf countries.

This evening marks the beginning of the related Jewish holiday of Purim. It commemorates the story of the stopping of the intended genocide of all Jews in ancient Persia. Shortly after Purim begins, comes the Hindu holiday of Holi, a colorful holiday celebrating the bringing of light out of darkness, of good over evil—and translated to psychiatry, mental health over mental disorders. We can be reminded of the dangers and violence by the rare “Blood Moon,” a total Lunar Eclipse early Tuesday morning in the United States.

Frequently in clinical psychiatry, we try to help our patients overcome the darkness of depression and other psychiatric disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder. We do have treatment-resistant depression, maybe a little like the resistance to change of authoritarian countries. Other treatments, some atypical, then need to be tried.

Since we are human, no wonder there is a parallel process of searching for the light out of darkness in patients on up to international affairs, though it gets more complicated as the numbers increase. Recovery in patients is like peace among the nations.

There is an essential human process that can contribute to these conflicts. We have an evolutionary tendency to fear others due to perceived danger. The response of scapegoating and then the quest for power often ensures. Our cognitive power, though, can correct the process when that all goes awry.

However, changing the hearts and minds within a country like Iran after 2 generations of a uniquely combined theocracy and repressive authoritarian state, or having a lifetime of clinical depression, is quite a challenge.

Currently, there are both public protests and public praise in Iran. Correspondingly, patients often feel ambivalent about treatment of their psychiatric problems.

Diplomacy in international conflict can be like psychotherapy and the interpretation of intrapersonal conflict. Psychiatrists have some essential knowledge of what causes such conflict in the first place and what we can contribute to all if we so desire and try.

Dr Moffic is an award-winning psychiatrist who specializes in the social, cultural, ethical, spiritual, and religious aspects of psychiatry, and since 2012 is in retirement as a private pro bono community psychiatrist. A prolific writer and speaker, he has done a weekdays column titled “Psychiatric Views on the Daily News” and a weekly video, “Psychiatry & Society,” since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. He has been an advocate and activist for mental health issues related to climate instability, physical burnout, and xenophobia, among other social justice causes, serving on many related local and national community and professional Boards. He serves on the Editorial Board of Psychiatric Times.