Morita therapy is a lifestyle-based psychotherapy initiated by Dr. Shoma Morita (1874-1898) as a treatment for mental illness (neurosis, neurosis, psychopathy). It has been supported by many patients and continues to be practiced today.
During my university years, while poring over books on mental illness and psychology, I became interested in Morita therapy. I learned about a Morita therapy self-help group called “The Discovery of Life Association” and attended several meetings.
Regarding the theoretical aspects of Morita therapy, known as Morita Theory, I found some of the terminology outdated, and some of the content was not entirely convincing.
For example, Morita Theory states that the cause of mental illness (neurosis) is a genetic predisposition to be overly meticulous, followed by fixation on symptoms and physical conditions, leading to the onset and worsening of symptoms.
I felt that while such a situation exists, it is not the essence of the cause.
I didn’t feel like I had become unable to behave naturally as a result of meticulously paying attention to how others perceived me or being overly concerned with their gaze.
It was more like I suddenly became unable to socialize naturally.
At the time, my symptoms of scopophobia (fear of being stared at) were severe, and I remember feeling exhausted when I attended a “Life Discovery Meeting,” constantly shifting my gaze because I was worried about the gaze of the person sitting in front of me.
I experienced depression, inferiority complex, shame, and anxiety due to my symptoms and the resulting failures in social life, and these did not improve even with the actions based on Morita therapy.
Morita therapy claims that symptoms and emotions improve as you act and live your life, but it didn’t work easily for me.
Furthermore, I didn’t think I was acting or living my life without being particularly “as I was.”
And after attending the “Life Discovery Meeting” a few times, I stopped going.
At the time, I didn’t really understand the good aspects of Morita therapy.
Nowadays, I believe Morita therapy is generally considered the best available method for managing the lifestyle, behavior, and treatment of people with mental illness.
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