Issue 4 Vol. 35 1993

Circumstances in Germany on this and the other side of astonishing and prejudice

MISSELWITZ, I., BORMUTH, M.

We - a female neurologist and psycho-therapist from Eastern Germany and a West German doctor who now works in psycho-therapy in an institution in Jena - felt that owing to our shared views on the importance of the psycho-somatic aspect of illness, we had in common the situation of being an outsider and that we also suffered under cross-cultural differences. Here we wish to put forward our "subjective" experiences to assimilate and put in relation to each other in the specific form of pairs of opposites - intentionally exaggerated - which are intended to stimulate discussion.

One result of our "workshop" was for example that the above-mentioned cross-cultural differences were found to be of a relatively superficial nature and that we discovered we were in many respects more similar than we sometines really wished to admit. The recognition of this fact alone can perhaps help us to cope with everyday situations, in the same way that seen in the light of larger world-wide problems, our own problems are put in a better perspective and seem far less serious.

The lively discussion that resulted left in its wake the impression that one still had a great deal to say and that the discussions must definitely be continued.

Keywords: psycho-somatic illnesses, prejudices

Short Title: Misselwitz, I. (1993) PsyBeit 4:293

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