President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the “Psychology Summit” seminar organized by Akansel Educational Consulting. In the online seminar, Tarhan delivered a presentation titled “Spiritual Solutions to Psychiatric Problems.” Touching upon the role of religious coping methods in psychiatry, Tarhan emphasized the importance of abstract reasoning. Highlighting that intention is one of the core elements of the dimension of meaning, he stated that being part of a greater meaning can strengthen psychological resilience.
The online seminar drew great interest from participants.
“Seeing this requires abstract thinking…”
Emphasizing the importance of abstract reasoning, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that “Spiritual solutions and religious coping methods stand out as an area that offers solutions in matters where psychiatry falls short. Here, it is important to underline the difference between the concrete and the abstract. This is called abstract reasoning. For example, when you look at an apple, there is a seed in the center. A person who thinks concretely only sees that seed, but someone who thinks abstractly sees an apple within that seed because within the seed, there is indeed another apple. There is a life program in it, a DNA, it's written. To be able to see this requires abstract thinking, that is, seeing the unseen. That’s why science considers all possibilities: creation, spirituality, and religion included. Because science is not biased. You place something in a lab; if you prove it, it is verified. If you can’t prove it, then either it’s not true, or it’s not yet ready to be proven,” he explained.
“Intention is one of the most fundamental elements of the meaning dimension”
Drawing attention to the existence of spiritual organs in humans, Tarhan said:
“Just as we have organs in our bodies like the heart, lungs, and stomach, we also have spiritual organs. Just as we have systems like the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, and the circulatory system physically, we also have similar systems in our spiritual structure. The word ‘manevi’ in Arabic means ‘meaningful.’ Everything has a concrete aspect and an abstract aspect, that is, a dimension of meaning. In our language, ‘spiritual’ is often equated solely with religious meaning, but that is not correct. In fact, everything we do has a dimension of meaning. Music, art, and all areas of life carry meaning. For example, if you have an antique item and you take it to a copper market, it may be worth almost nothing. But if you take it to an antique market, it might be worth a thousand lira because its meaning is known there, and that is where its value emerges. Everything has such a meaning dimension. When we say that humans have spiritual organs, this is what we mean. Here, intention is one of the most fundamental elements of the meaning dimension. The neuroscientific correlates of intention are being studied as well. This topic is closely related to the concept of conscience. Our spiritual structure is divided into mind, ego (nafs), and heart. The corresponding elements in the body are the brain, consciousness, the quantum universe, and realms beyond the physical. Just as quantum is a field, so too are these spiritual structures.”
"Prophet stories are lessons in motivation"
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the feeling of awe brings a sense of peace to individuals and said that "Spiritual values have ten fundamental therapeutic powers that can be used in all kinds of illnesses. The first of these is to evoke a sense of awe in a person. This feeling brings consolation, tranquility, and peace. Avicenna has a beautiful saying: ‘Physicians sometimes cure, but often console.’ This feeling of awe creates inner calm and peace. In Arabic, the word ‘peace’ (huzur) comes from the root meaning ‘present.’ A person is considered at peace when they can face both positive and negative events in life with a prepared mindset. Martin Seligman calls this 'authentic happiness.' A person can be happy even in prison, or in a palace, and it is all about perspective. This is the sense of awe. Sincerity and prayer are other aspects of spiritual strength. Adding meaning to life is another spiritual power. Patience, delaying gratification, resilience training, and maintaining hope also fall within these spiritual values. Gratitude, appreciation, and forming warm connections strengthen psychological resilience. Compassion enhances empathy, cultivates emotional richness, and encourages cooperation and reconciliation. Traits like honesty, accountability, justice, and predictability help form the sense of being a competent and trustworthy individual. Prophet stories, in this context, serve as motivational lessons. They enhance a person’s ability to form deep and natural social bonds and contribute to building a structure that inspires trust in others."
“We must establish this triple balance”
Speaking on the concept of self-transcendence, Tarhan said that “Health, wealth, and wisdom must be balanced. If we cannot establish this triad in our lives, if we cannot place the plate of our mind evenly, it will tip over, and everything will scatter. This is also related to Maslow's hierarchy of psychosocial needs. At the end of his life, Maslow added the concept of ‘self-transcendence’ to his pyramid, but somehow this information was hidden or not widely published. When published, self-actualization was placed at the top, although what truly belongs there is self-transcendence. Maslow advocated that one should not only realize oneself but also help others, that is, helping others. People who have spiritual experiences can achieve self-transcendence in this sense. They can attain a sense of fulfillment this way. And this is something that can be learned. Research shows that spiritual experiences are linked to areas of the brain involved in emotional regulation, self-perception, and social relationships. Additionally, scientific findings indicate that individuals who assign high personal importance to religious and spiritual matters and place these values at the center of their lives show up to an 80% decrease in depression rates."
“Sincerity means purity and good intention”
Addressing the neuroscience of sincerity, Tarhan explained that “Only 20% of communication is verbal, while 80% is non-verbal. In this non-verbal communication, what matters most is sincerity. Sincerity means purity (ihlas) and good intention. There is neuroscience behind sincerity too. Our brains have mirror neurons, which are divided into emotional and motor mirror neurons. This mirror neuron system is related to empathy. Mirror neurons are essential for the theory of mind. On a neurochemical level, when someone is sincere, they secrete oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Oxytocin is the bonding hormone, while dopamine and serotonin are hormones related to pleasure and happiness. These chemicals help reduce uncertainty in our lives. Uncertainty is one of the four main existential anxieties defined by Irvin Yalom. Attempts to explain death, the search for freedom, the need to overcome loneliness, and the pursuit of meaning are all parts of this anxiety.”
"Trust is the fundamental component of peace"
Tarhan emphasized that without trust, there can be no effective treatment: “It is crucial to understand the concepts of equality, fairness, and justice. All of these are concepts rooted in meaning. Expecting infinite mercy from the Creator is possible only by adhering to divine justice. Justice brings peace to the individual. For example, a skilled shoemaker selects the best leather to make the finest shoes. Intelligent people strive to bring out the best of their talents. We should aim for this in our lives as well. Trust is the foundation of peace. Without it, health and healing are not possible. When patience and hope come together, they remind us of the story of the Prophet Job. The expectation of healing and the feeling of hope exist alongside negative and positive patience. Negative patience is endurance in the face of threats, calamities, and illnesses. Positive patience is perseverance toward a set goal. The sense of privacy is also very important here. We need to think according to both tangible and intangible values, and these require empathy. To be a good person is the rent of our existence.”
“To fix the world, we must start with ourselves”
Emphasizing that one can find happiness in ordinary things, Tarhan said: “If we want to add meaning to others’ lives, we must begin fixing the world with ourselves. Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself. We must learn to find happiness in the simple things. If we live this way, our sincerity will activate the mirror neurons in others’ brains when we try to help them. This builds trust. People are convinced and internalize what we say as if it were sacred knowledge. But first, we must believe it ourselves. We must believe in the knowledge we share. It is very important to take daily notes at the end of each day asking: ‘What did I do about this today?’ This is my most important piece of advice to my colleagues. Writing things down increases retention by 50%. If you do not take notes, information often fades away. Putting things into writing is invaluable. We should apply this framework to our daily lives and add meaning to the work we do. Human life is like a ship leaving the harbor if it has no destination or compass, the wind will drift it off course, and it will sink. Life works the same way…
“Keeping the sense of hope alive is the foundation of psychological resilience”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that being part of a greater purpose can enhance psychological resilience and said that “Instead of trying to fix a person’s negative traits, we should identify their character strengths and work through those positive traits. It is about helping the individual develop a positive perspective on life events. In this regard, positive psychotherapy methods are quite effective. The goal of positive psychotherapy is not to correct the negative but to reinforce the positive. Whereas classical psychotherapy confronts a person with the threat aspect of an experience and tries to develop a strategy in response, positive psychotherapy sets the problem aside and focuses on the meaning gained from the experience and the lessons life has taught through it. This process is also related to the concept of post-traumatic growth. Challenges are seen as experiences that help individuals grow and become assets in the future. People are taught that their pain is temporary and that these difficulties will strengthen them. In this way, individuals become more resilient in the face of adversity. Feeling that one is part of a greater purpose and keeping the sense of hope alive is the foundation of psychological resilience. When hope and patience come together, individuals gain endurance and grow stronger psychologically. Once we teach psychological resilience, anxiety can be brought under control. Because anxiety is essentially a message, and it is a signal. It tells us: ‘Fix something!’ It points out the need for a change in direction. When a person discovers this search for meaning, they can achieve inner peace.”
“Anhedonia and lack of willpower are two of the most significant symptoms of depression”
Speaking about the main symptoms of depression, Prof. Tarhan stated that “The inability to enjoy anything, also referred to as anhedonia in medicine, is a condition where the person derives no pleasure from life. It is one of the eight main symptoms of depression. The person loses interest in eating, drinking, reading, going out, or any activity in general and feels a lack of interest in life. This does not necessarily have to be accompanied by sadness, grief, or sorrow. In fact, while pain, sorrow, and sadness are considered positive symptoms in depression, lack of interest is among the negative symptoms. Sometimes a state called abulia, meaning lack of will, difficulty in making decisions or choices, may also arise. Anhedonia and lack of willpower are two of the most critical signs of depression. Clinically, depression is suspected when symptoms persist for at least three days. If they last more than 15 days, it may be diagnosed as major depression. The diagnosing physician evaluates the periods when the person feels at their worst. Alongside biological treatments for depression, determining the most suitable therapy technique for the individual is extremely important. Spiritual therapies may not be suitable for everyone. That’s why our treatment toolkit must include a wide range of options from psychopharmacology to cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, and positive psychotherapy. The most appropriate method should be selected for each individual, and treatment should be personalized.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)