What's a therapist to do when he finds himself going bonkers? Try asking the founder of analytical psychology-- Carl Jung himself. In 1913, at the age of 38, Jung found himself in what he called a "confrontation with the unconscious"-- otherwise known as a FREAKOUT. What ensued was 16 years of getting free, turn-of-the-century-style. In his spare time, Jung subjected himself to induced hallucinations, purposely straddling the line between the conscious and unconscious mind, and created a weird, unfinished work of genius which he called the Red Book.
Here is this possibly grandiose writer's possibly delusional diagnosis: Jung took on the role of maverick, offering visionary ideas and staying true to his convictions about the human psyche and pyschotherapy. As a result he found himself on the outskirts of his field and in opposition to the dominant culture of his time. That couldn't have been easy considering that he was a well-respected, successful and ambitious man with a family to support. Talk about a hot date with the unknown... I feel for you, dude.
To get the whole story, check out this article from the NY Times--" Carl Jung and Holy Grail of the Unconscious"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/magazine/20jung-t.html
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